Detroit MI, September 26, 2008…A fully functioning Beis Din serving Detroit and its environs will subscribe to the standards of Gedolei Yisroel in universally accepted conversions, it was announced by representatives of the Vaad Harabbonim of Detroit and the Eternal Jewish Family following a meeting between Rabbi Leib Tropper, Chairman of the Rabbinic Board of the EJF, and the Vaad Harabbonim. The Beis Din agreed to follow the standards on geirus as per the piskei din of such past and present poskim as Hagaon Rav Moshe Feinstein zt"l, Hagaon Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l, the Minchas Yitzchok, Hagaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlit”a and Hagaon Rav Reuven Feinstein shlit"a.
Following his visit to Detroit, Rabbi Tropper said that he was extremely impressed with the caliber of the dayanim and that he had no doubt that “it would emerge as one of the model botei din” around the world. He said that he was overwhelmed by “the warm reception and sincerity of the Beis Din” in adopting the standards of Gedolei Yiosroel in universally accepted conversions. The rabbonim and dayonim of the Vaad Harabbonim who participated included Rabbi Doniel Neustadt, Yoshev Rosh - Vaad Harabbonim, Rabbi Meilech Silberberg, Rabbi Chaim Bergstein, Rabbi Ari Kostelitz and Rabbi S. Zachariaish, former Chairman of the Vaad Harabbonim. The rabbonim complimented EJF on its accomplishments since being founded three years ago. They were enthusiastic about becoming part of a growing network of Botei Din in the U.S., Israel, and Europe that would follow the geirus standards of the leading poskim. The rabbonim also thanked EJF Chairman Mr. Tom Kaplan for his support of this new affiliation between EJF and the Beis Din.” While EJF does not establish batei din, it works with existing and botei din in formation that function in accordance with the standards of the foremost Gedolei Hatorah.
The Detroit Beis Din, which was established 26 years ago, is the 18th in the worldwide network of botei din that subscribe to the EJF standards. Other Botei Din are located in Israel and Europe. In the US, the Botei Din function in such cities as Baltimore, Monsey, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Montreal, Miami, Lakewood, Dallas, Toronto, Houston, and Vancouver.
