Israel's Supreme Court Recognizes Conversions for Immigration Law

The case originated from a petition by Rosanie Michal Reyes, a Filipino citizen who arrived in Israel in 2005 as a caregiver and underwent conversion through "Ahava HaGer" in 2018. Although the Jerusalem District Court had previously ruled in her favor, the state appealed the broader principle of recognizing the private court itself. The Supreme Court found "Ahava HaGer", which is led by Rabbi Chaim Amsellem, to be a serious and legitimate Orthodox court that rigorously tests the sincerity of conversion candidates.

The justices stated there was no reason to differentiate between "Ahava HaGer" and the "Giyur Kahalacha" network of courts, which is already recognized and where Rabbi Amsellem also serves as a rabbinical judge. In his remarks, Justice Amit emphasized the importance of adopting a lenient approach to accepting converts, citing Maimonides and the Talmud. Rabbi Dr. Shaul Farber, chairman of the "Itim" organization, welcomed the decision but criticized the state for wasting resources fighting legitimate conversion courts instead of passing a permanent conversion law. Meanwhile, a Knesset bill is currently seeking to restrict Law of Return eligibility to Orthodox conversions only.