Ahavat HaGer International Conversion Court
Rabbi Haim Amsalem
Av Beit Din of the Ahavat HaGer International Conversion Court
His path
Rabbi Haim Amsalem was born in 1959 in Oran, Algeria, to a family of Moroccan origin, and came to Israel as a child. He studied at the Kisse Rahamim yeshiva and received rabbinic ordination in 1980.
He served as a community rabbi in Israel, and later as rabbi of the Sephardic community "Hekhal Haness" in Geneva, Switzerland. From 2006 to 2013 he served as a member of the Knesset.
Rabbi Amsalem was among the founders of the Giyur KeHalacha network of conversion courts, where he serves as a dayan and Av Beit Din. Today he heads the Ahavat HaGer International Conversion Court in Jerusalem.
His teaching on conversion
At the heart of his teaching is the idea of "Zera Yisrael": people with Jewish roots, for example on the father's side, who are not Jewish according to halacha. In his view, halacha calls for bringing them close, and a beit din may ease their conversion process within what halacha requires.
Rabbi Amsalem builds on the rulings of Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel, of blessed memory, Rishon LeZion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, and on the moderate tradition of the sages of Sepharad and North Africa. He deciphered and published manuscripts by North African sages on conversion, to show that the welcoming approach is part of the halachic tradition itself.
A central part of his work is the return of the descendants of the Anusim to the Jewish people, which he sees as the fulfilment of the prophets' vision of gathering the dispersed of Israel. This is also the source of the name of the association that operates the court, Mekabetz Nidchei Israel ("who gathers the dispersed of Israel").
His books on conversion
Zera Yisrael
Halachic studies on conversion and on descendants of Jews who come to convert. The central book of his approach (2010). In Hebrew.
Mekor Yisrael
A continuation of the halachic study of Zera Yisrael and conversion (2010). In Hebrew.
She'erit Yisrael
Responsa, studies, letters and lectures on conversion. In Hebrew.
Tachu Einayim Mere'ot
On the tradition of halachic rulings on conversion (2014). In Hebrew.
VeChayalim Yigbar
A booklet on the conversion of IDF soldiers of Jewish descent. In Hebrew.
Libi LeChokekei Yisrael
A booklet against the annulment of conversions. In Hebrew.
Nidchei Yisrael Yechanes
A booklet on the return of the descendants of the Anusim to Judaism. In Hebrew.
Shesh Teshuvot
A recently discovered manuscript by North African sages on conversion. In Hebrew.
Re'ach Nichoach
Documents and essays from the archive of Rabbi Yahya Ben HaRosh, head of a beit din in Morocco, ending with the booklet "Giyurei Kenitra". In Hebrew.
Other works
Rabbi Amsalem has written many works of halacha and Jewish thought, among them "Birkat Chaim" on the Rambam and the Shulchan Aruch, the responsa "Minchat Chaim", "Simchat Chaim" on the tractates of the Talmud, "Parcha HaGefen", "HaChok LeOr HaHalacha" and "Derech Chaim". He has also published the writings of North African sages.