MKs backing conversion bill not welcome in Chicago, Jewish leader warns

Any Israeli lawmaker who supports controversial Israeli legislation putting conversion matters exclusively in the hands of the Chief Rabbinate should consider him or herself persona non grata in Chicago, the leader of the city’s Jewish community said Tuesday.

“The Federation in Chicago will not be hosting any member of Knesset that votes for this bill. None. They will not be welcome in our community,” Steven Nasatir, the president of the Jewish United Fund (JUF) / Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, told The Times of Israel.

“We’re past the time when we’re standing and applauding and being nice because they’re members of Knesset or because they hold this position or that position. People who don’t have the understanding of what this bill means to the Jewish people — God bless ’em, but they’re not welcome in our community, period.”

On Sunday, the cabinet approved legislation critics say grants the ultra-Orthodox a de facto monopoly over conversions to Judaism in Israel. The bill would pull the government’s recognition of private conversions, i.e., those not conducted by the Chief Rabbinate. Also on Sunday, Israeli ministers voted to renege on their earlier commitment to significantly upgrade the pluralistic prayer platform at the Western Wall. Both moves drew vehement criticism from Diaspora Jewish leaders and Israeli politicians across the political spectrum.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/mks-backing-conversion-bill-not-welcome-in-chicago-jewish-leader-warns/