By COLlive reporter
A group of Chabad Shluchim from across the world spent long hours this past month to prepare for a test that would help them become recognized by the Israel’s Chief Rabbinate.
Meeting at Agudah Shul in Crown Heights, 38 Chabad rabbis advanced their rabbinical studies by learning about verifying Jewish ancestry, officiating weddings and properly writing a valid Kesuba document.
“The fate of the Jewish future lies in your hands,” stated Rabbi Yochanan Gurary, Chief Rabbi of the Israeli city of Cholon and a member of the Chabad Rabbinical Court of Israel.
“Future generations will be relying on the documents that you fill today to verify who is Jewish, who is a Kohen or a Levi,” he said in his opening remarks on Friday. “That is why Israel’s Rabbinate takes extra caution with such matters.”
His colleague from Cholon, Rabbi Pinchos Althaus explained that since religious affairs in Israel are government controlled, the bureaucratic process is often as complex as halacha itself.
The goal of the Kiddushin course, offered by Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch – Central Committee of Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbis in the United States and Canada, was to have to have weddings performed by Chabad rabbis recognized in Israel.
Those who passed the test would also be accredited to officiate weddings in Israel for their community members from abroad, he said.
Addressing the rabbis were Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky, Rabbi Mordechai Farkash and Rabbi Nochum Kaplan of Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch.
While Chabad steers clear from performing conversions, this course has enabled a total of 120 Shluchim to be recognized by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate to perform weddings. The most recent group of graduates were in Miami, Florida.
This looks wonderful. Great job all.