Shlomo Amar: Leadership and Legal Perspectives of the Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi
As the former Rishon LeZion—the title held by the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel—Shlomo Amar has served as a pivotal spiritual leader for the Sephardic community within the Land of Israel and for Jewish populations globally. His tenure and subsequent influence have been marked by significant efforts to define Jewish identity, navigate the complexities of immigration, and address the legal intersections of religion and state.
Key Facts
- Role: Former Rishon LeZion (Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel).
- Ethiopian Jewry: Advocated for the immigration of the Falash Mura, ruling them as unquestionably Jewish.
- Bnei Anusim: Met with descendants of Inquisition-era Jews in Portugal to evaluate their halakhic status.
- Civil Marriage: Proposed limited civil marriage for non-Jews and unaffiliated immigrants.
- Law of Return: Proposed removing the conversion clause to restrict automatic citizenship to Jews by birth.
Advocacy for the "Lost Tribes" and Ethiopian Jewry
Rabbi Amar has been a vocal proponent for the Falash Mura, descendants of Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) who were forced to convert to Christianity. He asserted that anyone related to a member of Beta Israel through matrilineal descent qualified as Jewish should be brought to Israel by the government.
In 2004, following recommendations from the Chief Rabbis and the Knesset, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced a plan to bring approximately 18,000 Falash Mura to Israel by 2007, though the plan remained largely unimplemented. Rabbi Amar expressed deep regret over the delay in bringing Ethiopia's Jewry home, stating that "no amount of heartfelt words" could change the culpability of those responsible. With the consent of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Amar ruled that it is forbidden to question the Jewishness of the Falash Mura community.
Engagement with the Bnei Anusim
In 2004, Rabbi Amar traveled to Portugal for the centennial of the Shaare Tikvah synagogue in Lisbon. During this visit, he met with the Bnei Anusim—descendants of Jewish families who were forced to convert during the Inquisition but continued to practice Judaism in secret.
This meeting was historic, as a Chief Rabbi had not met with Portuguese Marranos (another term for Bnei Anusim) in centuries. While Amar promised to establish a committee to evaluate the halakhic (Jewish legal) status of the community, the committee's delay led to the formation of the Comunidade Judaica Masorti Beit Israel to seek formal recognition.
Proposals on Civil Marriage and Citizenship
In September 2005, Rabbi Amar proposed a nuanced approach to civil marriage in Israel. Unlike his predecessor, Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, who suggested civil marriage for all, Amar proposed it specifically for non-Jews and those unaffiliated with any religion.
This proposal aimed to address the status of roughly 300,000 immigrants, many from the former Soviet Union, who hold Israeli citizenship but whose Jewish status is not recognized by the Chief Rabbinate or Orthodox standards. Amar sought a dialogue between the rabbinate and representatives of these immigrants to resolve the issue.
Amending the Law of Return
In November 2006, Rabbi Amar submitted a draft bill to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert proposing a significant change to the Law of Return. He suggested removing the conversion clause, which would mean that converts from any stream of Judaism—including Orthodox—would no longer receive automatic citizenship.
Under this proposal, the Law of Return would apply only to those born to Jewish mothers. Amar argued that this would prevent the creation of "two peoples" within Israel and stop the conversion process from becoming a political tool for immigration rather than a religious journey. He suggested that converts should instead undergo a naturalization process via the Citizenship Law.
This bill was partly a response to Supreme Court deliberations regarding Reform converts in Israel. Amar feared that if Reform converts were allowed to stay but could not marry other Jews (due to the Chief Rabbinate's lack of recognition), they would marry non-Jews, further polarizing the state. While supported by some religious politicians like Zevulun Orlev, the bill faced criticism from Reform and Conservative movements, as well as figures like Menachem Mazuz and Yossi Beilin, who viewed it as discriminatory.
Summary of Rabbi Amar's Major Positions
| Issue | Position/Action | Goal/Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Falash Mura | Ruled as "unquestionably Jews" | Facilitate immigration of Ethiopian Jewish descendants |
| Bnei Anusim | Met with Portuguese descendants | Evaluate halakhic status of Inquisition survivors |
| Civil Marriage | Supported for non-Jews/unaffiliated | Solve status issues for religionless immigrants |
| Law of Return | Proposed removing conversion clause | Ensure citizenship is based on birth; prevent political conversion |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shlomo Amar?
Shlomo Amar is the former Rishon LeZion, serving as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel and a spiritual leader for the Sephardic community.
What is the Falash Mura?
The Falash Mura are descendants of Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) who were forced to convert to Christianity but are recognized by Rabbi Amar as unquestionably Jewish.
What are the Bnei Anusim?
Bnei Anusim are descendants of Jewish families who were persecuted by the Inquisition, particularly in Portugal, and who have maintained Jewish practices in secret.
Why did Rabbi Amar propose changing the Law of Return?
He proposed removing the conversion clause to ensure that automatic citizenship was reserved for Jews by birth, arguing that this would prevent the conversion process from being used primarily for immigration purposes.
What was Rabbi Amar's view on civil marriage?
He expressed willingness to support civil marriage specifically for non-Jews and people unaffiliated with any religion, particularly to help immigrants from the former Soviet Union.