UNITED STATES
Rabbinical Council of America
Committee Reflects Cross Section of Community, Including Women and Men, Converts, Mental Health Professionals, Rabbis and Other Professionals
Oct 29, 2014 — The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) today announced the members of a committee that will review its current Geirus Protocol and Standards (GPS) conversion process and suggest safeguards against possible abuses. The RCA committed to forming this committee following the recent arrest of Rabbi Barry Freundel, of Washington, DC, which brought to light the need for a thorough review of GPS to identify changes that will ensure a more effective and appropriate conversion process.
Rabbi Leonard Matanky, President of the RCA, named the following individuals to the committee:
• Mrs. Evelyn Fruchter, a convert to Judaism and an attorney specializing in litigation;
• Rabbi Shmuel Goldin (chair), Honorary President of the RCA and Rabbi of Ahavath Torah, Englewood, NJ;
• Mrs. Abby Lerner, educator and teacher of family purity laws;
• Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, Rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, New York, NY;
• Mrs. Bethany Mandel, a convert to Judaism, former staff member at Commentary Magazine, and freelance writer who recently authored a column entitled, “A Convert’s Bill of Rights”;
• Rabbi Yona Reiss, Av Beit Din, Chicago Rabbinical Council; Dayan, Beth Din of America; and Chairman, GPS;
• Mrs. Bracha Rutner, Yoetzet Halacha (advisor in Jewish law) for the Riverdale, NY and Washington, DC communities;
• Mrs. Shana Yocheved Schacter, CSW, a psychotherapist in private practice;
• Rabbi Yaakov Shulman, Rabbi of Congregation Talmud Torah, Brooklyn, NY who is an experienced member of a rabbinic tribunal for conversions;
• Rabbi Adam Starr, Rabbi of Young Israel of Toco Hills, Atlanta, GA;
• Rabbi Kalman Topp, Rabbi of Beth Jacob Congregation, Beverley Hills, CA.
“Our hearts continue to go out to those victimized by the unconscionable actions of a Rabbi they trusted in the conversion process,” said Rabbi Matanky “The RCA recognizes the inherent sensitivities and vulnerabilities involved in the conversion process and will do all it can to ensure that such victimization will never be repeated. We believe the formation of this committee, reflecting a cross section of our community, is an important first step in this regard.”
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