For an accompanying handout for this podcast, please click below or visit this podcast episode at www.elmad.org/pardes-live/.
Jewish status issues are among the most divisive and painful in the Jewish world. The numbers of individuals who are Jewish in the eyes of some, but not all, are growing all the time. This issue is especially acute in Israel – whereas the Law of Return recognizes the right of one who has a Jewish grandparent to receive automatic citizenship, the Chief Rabbinate, which has authority over marriage, divorce, and burial, recognizes only those born of a Jewish mother or have converted, according to their standard of Halakha, as Jewish. Together we will explore the legal background of this controversy, tracing sources from the Talmud to contemporary opinions, in order to better educate and equip ourselves to form thoughtful opinions about this topic, which is so central to contemporary Jewish life.
This class was recorded as part of the Summer Pardes Executive Learning Seminar: Ruth & Esther: From Rags to Royalty (July 3 – 7, 2016). The Seminar will be running again this December 18-22, 2016. For more information, visit our website at http://www.pardes.org.il/executive/.
