Halachot and Customs
Conversion in the Army: Is It Valid?
Question
Hello, was a conversion performed by the army? Is the conversion valid and effective? And if not, what is the claim of the judges who performed the conversion?
Answer
Hello and blessings,
It depends on the convert.
Some of the military rabbinical courts are not particular about acceptance of observance of the mitzvot as part of the conversion. According to halacha, conversion is not effective without acceptance of the mitzvot, and therefore one must examine whether the convert truly accepted upon himself the yoke of the mitzvot at the time of the conversion or not.
With blessings,
Binyamin Shmueli
