The head of the Rabbinical High Court in Israel (Rabbi Sherman) has fired Rabbi Druckman who he says is being too lenient on conversions (in effect, invalidating thousands of conversions that Druckman has performed). Sherman says by being stricter on conversions he would be supporting "national unity." But instead - I'm afraid the reality of his decision will create more strife and division.
Read this article: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/8016
Sherman actually says a deaf person cannot convert, because being deaf you can't hear yourself pray. And if you can't hear yourself pray - you're not obligated to pray - and therefore you cannot "fulfill this mitzvah." So Sherman takes a leap and says... and therefore you cannot observe all the mitzvahs as a deaf person - so therefore you cannot be given a convert status because you cannot observe "ALL" the commandments. But if you're not obligated to pray, than you're not breaking that mitzvah... this Rabbi is very scary because he has so much power.
Recent News Article about the controvercy: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331213971&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
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