Editing Conversion to Judaism (section)

===1987: Brichto proposal===
In 1987, American-born British rabbi, [[Sidney Brichto]], of the country's [[Liberal Judaism (United Kingdom)|Liberal Judaism]] movement, published widely-discussed proposals for a historic compromise between progressive streams of Judaism and [[Orthodox Judaism]]. He advocated for the Orthodox [[Beit Din]] to oversee contentious areas. In return, progressive rabbis would earn respect from the Orthodox rabbinate, a degree of recognition and a role in Beit Din processes concerning progressive Jewry.<ref name=one>{{cite news |last=Kleerekoper |first=Victor |date=26 February 1993 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261664606?searchTerm=Perth%20Hebrew%20Congregation |title=Can we be one community? |newspaper=The Australian Jewish News |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref> Brichto's proposals encouraged rabbi [[John Levi (rabbi)|John Levi]] to support such an initiative in [[Melbourne]].<ref name=one/>

Among Brichto's proposals, progressive streams of Judaism would stop processing their own conversions to Judaism.<ref name=jcohen/> Instead, their prospective converts would have their status conferred on them by an Orthodox Beit Din.<ref name=jcohen/> The Beit Din would be expected to show more leniency than usual, but only expecting that those before them demonstrate knowledge of Orthodox practice rather than observance.<ref name=jcohen>{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jeffrey |date=18 November 2008 |url=https://www.thejc.com/judaism/how-chief-rabbis-have-battled-against-reform-yy7ycrjz |title=How Chief Rabbis have battled against Reform |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref>

The proposal was rejected by [[Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits]], then [[Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth]]. Jakobovits reasoned: "How can an Orthodox Beth Din validate a conversion without kabbalat mitzvot [acceptance of the commandments]?"<ref name=jcohen/>

However, in 1990, the Chief Rabbi-elect, [[Jonathan Sacks]] was more favourable to the proposal.<ref name=jcohen/> In a letter to Brichto, he wrote: "As soon as I read your article... I called it publicly 'the most courageous statement by a non-Orthodox Jew this century'. I felt it was a genuine way forward. Others turned out not to share my view." He continued: "It will be a while - 18 months - before I take up office. But I believe we can still explore that way forward together. For if we do not move forward, I fear greatly for our community and for Am Yisrael."<ref name=jcohen/>