the classic halachic view
"A great representative of the classic halachic view was Rabbi Benzion Uziel, who served as chief Sephardic rabbi, first in British Mandate Palestine and then in the State of Israel, from 1938 to 1953.
Rabbi Uziel argued that not only may rabbis do conversions in less than ideal circumstances, but they are obligated to do so — even when the would-be convert is not expected to become fully observant religiously. Since so many conversion cases involve intermarriage or potential intermarriage, Rabbi Uziel believed we should perform conversions in order to maintain whole Jewish families that can raise Jewish children within the Jewish community. He viewed himself as being “strict” in his opposition to intermarriage, not as being “lenient” in matters of conversion. Historically, the halacha has allowed rabbis to draw on the full array of halachic sources; to consider the nuances of each individual conversion case; to use their own judgment on whether to accept or reject a candidate for conversion. Now, the halachic options have been sharply curtailed. A rabbinic bureaucracy is usurping the authority of individual rabbis."
Rabbi Uziel argued that not only may rabbis do conversions in less than ideal circumstances, but they are obligated to do so — even when the would-be convert is not expected to become fully observant religiously. Since so many conversion cases involve intermarriage or potential intermarriage, Rabbi Uziel believed we should perform conversions in order to maintain whole Jewish families that can raise Jewish children within the Jewish community. He viewed himself as being “strict” in his opposition to intermarriage, not as being “lenient” in matters of conversion. Historically, the halacha has allowed rabbis to draw on the full array of halachic sources; to consider the nuances of each individual conversion case; to use their own judgment on whether to accept or reject a candidate for conversion. Now, the halachic options have been sharply curtailed. A rabbinic bureaucracy is usurping the authority of individual rabbis."
A scrivere queste parole, che sono una dura condanna del rabbinato ortodosso contemporaneo non è uno studioso Reform alla ricerca di precedenti all'interno della tradizione (anche perché il gioco della ricerca di questo tipo di antenati è, come minimo, fuori moda). E' nientemeno che rav Marc Angel, persona nota per la pacatezza di toni e da decenni rabbino capo di Shearith Israel, la più importante sinagoga sefardita del mondo. Il testo completo dell'articolo sta qui.
Marc Angel è uno di quei leader ebraici noti per l'alto valore che danno al principio dell'unità del popolo di Israele. Che anche da quell'ambiente si levino voci forti e chiare contro la deriva dell'ortodossia contemporanea dovrebbe fare piuttosto riflettere. Dal mio punto di vista maggioritario (non ortodosso, cioé) mi chiedo cosa avrebbe pensato rabbi Uziel della distinzione tra accettazione delle mitzwot e osservanza delle stesse, che pare sia un artificio che va di moda in Italia.
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