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ISRAEL GOVERNMENT FUNDS AGGRESSIVE
ULTRA ORTHODOX CAMPAIGN TO CONVERT MINORS
Leading Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi: The Commandment "Love Thy Father and Mother" Does Not Apply In The Case Of A Child Who Has Become An Orthodox Convert - The Israeli Government has increased the allocations in the annual budget for the year 2002 to eighty Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) missionary groups for their aggressive campaign to "return" and "convert" secular Jewish adults and youngsters to Orthodoxy. Despite the severe economic crisis in Israel, which has led to deep cuts in social services and education, these groups have received increases. Many of the new converts are minors who are recruited outside the gates of secular schools and temped by various methods including free meals, computer games, parties and outings. In the conversion process many of the children have left their homes and on the advice of the Rabbis promoting the conversion have broken off all contacts with their parents and families. According to the halachic ruling by former Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a child is not obliged to fulfill the Commandment "Love thy Father and Mother" if they attempt to prevent his becoming a convert to Orthodoxy.