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Friday April 9, 1999

Conversion proposal ignites fresh debate

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Labor Knesset member Yossi Beilin has touched off a fresh storm in the religious-secular debate with a contro
Beilin details the idea in his latest book, "The Death of the American Uncle," an examination of Israeli-diaspora relations on t

In addition to calling for civil marriage in Israel, he proposes "secular conversions" to help guarantee Jewish continuity.

In an interview with the Israeli daily Ha'aretz this week, Beilin expressed concern over the shrinking size of the Jewish population in the diaspora amid continuing intermarriage and assimilation.

Secular conversions, he said, would attract some non-Jewish mates of Jews who want to join the Jewish people but are unwilling to undergo a religious conversion.

Deputy Housing Minister Meir Porush, of the United Torah Judaism bloc, denounced Beilin's proposal as "dangerous and irresponsible."

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