2000th Convert Cermony. Photo: IDF Spokesperson

More Articles Commemorating 40 Years Since the Sinking of the INS Eilat IDF Launches Aerial Attack Against Terror Cell IDF Thwarts Attempted Weapons Smuggling Recent IDF Operations In Judea Samaria and Gaza War Heroes Celebrate Sukkot with the President IDF Forces Thwart Attempted Breach into Israel All Articles

“The greatest challenge facing the Jewish community living in Israel is an internal one, how best to expand our community”, said the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi during the '2000th Convert’ ceremony held in the Prime Minister’s Sukkah, Sunday afternoon. 

“Perhaps the goal of Israel and Jews all over the world is that for every soldier in the IDF, a thousand Jews should be brought to Israel, perhaps 2 million Jews can be brought here this way.”

The ceremony was held in the presence of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, Head of the IDF Human Resources branch, Major General Elazer Stern, and Chief Military Rabbi, Brigadier General Avichai Rontzki.

The ceremony was also attended by 40 soldiers who completed the expedited conversion process through the ‘Nativ’ program.  The program, which has had over 2200 successful graduates since its start, was created in the Education and Youth corps in order to allow those soldiers who wished to convert to Judaism the possibility while still serving in the army.
As part of  ‘Nativ’, soldiers must complete 7 weeks of courses, instilling in them a sense of Jewish identity, heritage and culture.  Those wishing to continue the conversion process can sign up for further seminars, eventually completing their conversion as legal Jews in the military rabbinical court.

“It is the IDF’s number one priority is to defend and secure Israel’s existence while at the same time preserving its essence.  This can only be accomplished by preserving our traditions”, added the Chief of Staff.
: