A list of 160 diaspora rabbis who have had testimonials of Jewish status rejected by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate contains five from Britain.
The list of Orthodox, Conservative and Reform rabbis emerged over the weekend after it had been handed over by an official in the Chief Rabbinate to Itim, a campaign group which helps those who experience bureaucratic problems proving their Jewish identity.
But Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau said he had been unaware of the list’s existence.
Three of the UK names are Rabbi Blue, presumably Rabbi Lionel Blue, the former convener of the Reform Beth Din, who died last year; Rabbi Rodney Mariner, another former convener of the Reform Beth Din; and Rabbi Mark Winer, a former senior rabbi of the West London Synagogue.
