The Supreme Rabbinical Court in Israel wants to hear for the second time in a week from a woman whose conversion by a prominent U.S. rabbi was rejected.
Three months after Israel’s Chief Rabbinate rejected his authority to perform conversions, one of America’s most prominent Modern Orthodox rabbis joined with Natan Sharansky to advance a message: The rabbinate needs to become more open. But not too much more.\n\n
When Andromeda Stevens, 46, found herself falling in love with Judaism, she knew it was time to convert. She and her husband, Glenn Stevens, who live in Beverlywood, started living a Jewish life together years before they were married, and Andromeda converted after the wedding. “I liked the traditions, and the meaning behind the traditions,” she said. “The symbols were very logical to me and very supportive of humanity and living a justified and good life. I found that really appealing. It was very contrary to my Catholic education.”
Israel\’s high court reversed two annulled conversions to Judaism and affirmed thousands of others.
Briefs
When Susanne Shier first heard about the mikvah, the ritual immersion bath that\’s part of the conversion process, she was a bit leery.
\”I got nervous about it,\” she told The Journal before her immersion in March.
When Sandra Caplan, a Jew-by-choice, was dying, her husband promised her that he would work toward a unified conversion process for the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements.
Reform and Conservative leaders in Israel had hoped Israel\’s Supreme Court would resolve a years-long struggle for recognition in Israel.
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