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The Supreme Court is not taking a halachic position.

Also, the Supreme Court was filling a void, as the Knesset failed to legislate the matter for the past 13 years, yet it was "discriminating" acceptance of conversions based on political decisions without legislation. That can't happen, and the Supreme Court, after waiting for many years, finally said if the Knesset is not going to legislate the matter, we will. And, the Law of Return already accepted non-Jews, as being Jewish is not a requirement of the Law of Return. The Law of Return accepts immigration to Israel if one has a  single Jewish grandparent, and thousands upon thousands of non-Jews have immigrated to Israel over the years based on that.

That being said, I don't think anyone is surprised by the decision, but many are angry. The thing is, the State of Israel is a secular state. it is not a State based on halacha and Torah, even with many religious and/or traditional citizens. It is a secular State based on secular law and secular society.

It always amuses me when people somehow expect secular politicians and a secular legal system to act according to religion, and get upset when they do not. For political reasons the secular politicians at times find it prudent to "throw bones" to the religious, or to consider the religious position when legislating or setting policy, but in general they are secular, think secular and are building secular society. They will do secular things, and will prefer secular things, except when it is not politically prudent. There is no reason to get angry or surprised when a secular State sets secular policy - that is to be expected. Until there is a halachic State in the Land of Israel, there is no reason to expect or even demand that they follow the halacha.

The Supreme Court is not deciding Reform converts are Jewish. The Supreme Court is saying that because you didn't legislate the matter, you have to equally recognize State-processed converts and privately converted converts.

Don't get upset when Netanyahu or Gantz or Biton or Akunis or Steinitz or whoever eats treif food, desecrates Shabbos, talks to the Reform, etc  -they are secular Jews running a secular State. If they choose not to, it is for political considerations, but we can't expect better of them, because these are not their values.

And one more thing, people used to say the Reform should not get angry that they are legislated against or when policy is set against them. They say, if they want power, they should love here in greater numbers and attain the necessary power. Looks like this is happening now. The Reform are increasing their power. And it has been happening on the watch of the religious/Haredi powers.

So, if the decision stands, people will have to pay attention to whom they marry and look into their background. Just like everywhere else in the world.

If you cannot figure out how to function in a non-halachic State, found one.

  -- former Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan Rav Yaakov Ariel

I have yet to fully understand the position of the Haredi parties with the State and the Rabbanut. On the one hand they support it and want the law to only allow Rabbanut and State conversions (probably in part because it is at least somewhat controlled by them..) but then talk against conversions performed by that very system...

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weirdly enough, I think she interviews better in Hebrew than in English!

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Everyone is blaming everyone.

The Haredi parties are the most upset, obviously. They are super upset at the Court, but also at the Likud for being in charge for the past 13 years and knowing this was coming to a head but never moving forward with legislation on the matter and never allowing the Haredi parties to advance the issue.

The Likud is upset at the Court, saying this decision will hurt the Law of Return, but their anger seems half-hearted to me.

Smotritch is blaming the Haredim for dragging their feet for so long and not pushing legislation, thus letting this happen.

Some are upset at Gideon Saar for not yet condemning the Court decision.

Labor is not upset but is taking credit saying that Rabbi Gilad Kariv and his peers have fought for this for a long time and are now seeing the fruits of their efforts.

this is going to cause chaos and the anger won't go away so quickly. This will likely feature as a main focal point in a number of election campaigns in the coming weeks...

  -- MK Yitzchak Pindrus (UTJ)

I think UTJ has a fair complaint, but I still get a kick out of how they sit in the government all along, they are part of the government decisions, but then complain about them, sign loyalty commitments, declare loyalty and support regularly. If they really felt taken advantage of or picked on, they should have left the government a long time ago and not signed any commitment pledges for the future.

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this is cute

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