LEAPING CONVERSIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 2005/ Adar II 20 5765 Israel’s Supreme Court ruling on non-Orthodox conversions ‘a personal victory’ for ARZA. Landmark ruling removes an obstacle to State recognition of Reform conversions and has implications on the involvement of Reform Jews in the future of the Jewish State

The Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), the Zionist arm and voice of the Reform Movement in the United States and an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism, sent its congratulations today to the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) on the news of a landmark decision by Israel's Supreme Court that removed one of the obstacles to the recognition of non-Orthodox conversions in the Jewish State. Earlier today, The Israel Supreme Court ordered the government to recognize “leaping conversions,” non-Orthodox conversions in which the study process was conducted in Israel but was finalized overseas. Such individuals will now be considered Jews according to the Law of Return, a humanitarian policy which awards immediate citizenship and benefits to Jews wishing to settle in Israel.

The ruling is widely viewed as a major victory for Reform Jewish interests in Israel, as it removes an obstacle to complete recognition of all denominations of Judaism in the eyes of the government. The court ruled on two petitions filed by the Center for Jewish Pluralism and the World Union for Progressive Judaism. The case had been fought in the Court by lawyers affiliated with IRAC, which is supported in part by ARZA.