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Orthodox Group Starts Campaign Against Israeli Conversion Law

July 13, 1971
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An Orthodox group calling itself the “Committee for the Preservation of Judaism” announced today that it has started a world-wide campaign to get Jews to send letters and telegrams to Premier Golda Meir protesting the wording of Israel’s Law of Return. The group claims that the omission of the words “by halacha”–religious law–from the text permits the registration of converts as Jews even though their conversions did not comply with halachic standards. According to the group this “could lead to the assimilation of Jews.” A spokesman for the committee said it was composed of “young volunteers, rabbis and students from major yeshivas.” He said a branch office has been opened in England and that others will be opened shortly in Italy, Australia and other parts of the world. The committee is circulating a pamphlet which says, “As a result of this outrageous law your own children may some day face the dilemma of not knowing whether or not they are marrying a Jew.”

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