A shocking story has sent waves of concern through the frum community and throughout Eretz Yisroel. A yeshiva bochur, preparing to register for marriage, discovered to his shock that he is not Jewish according to halacha.

The incident came to light during routine lineage verification by marriage registrars, whose careful procedures prevented a serious error. The chosson, a full-fledged yeshiva bochur who has lived his life entirely according to the highest standards of Torah and mitzvos in the charedi community, was stunned to learn that he is not Jewish.

The discovery occurred in the context of a professional conference focused on improving services, implementing new technologies, and refining administrative and halachic procedures. The conference was hosted by the Givat Shmuel Religious Council for marriage registrars from across Eretz Yisroel and attended by the Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services, Yehuda Avidan.

The revelation has sparked urgent discussions about the importance of strict verification processes in marriage registration.

While this story comes as a complete shock to most, the Rebbe warned of this exact scenario more than 55 years ago if the Israeli government and the frum community in Eretz Yisroel would not take immediate, urgent action.

For decades, the Rebbe cried out in pain at farbrengens, time and again warning of the terrible consequences if the Israeli government did not fix the “Mihu Yehudi” law, which allowed a non-Jew to register as Jewish without having converted according to halacha.

The Rebbe beseeched, pleaded, and cajoled the government and the frum parties in Eretz Yisroel to take action, warning of the dire consequences if they failed to heed the call. The Rebbe often quoted the possuk, “Why have I come and there is no man? I have called and there is no answer,” an unanswered cry.

In fact, this exact scenario was described by the Rebbe (Farbrengen, Chof Av 5731):

“A young man who doesn’t know that his mother and father registered him at birth as ‘Jewish’ when crossing the border into Eretz Yisroel… the young man had no idea he was a non-Jew at the outset. He had been registered as Jewish at birth and never concerned himself about the matter.

“He arrived in Netanya or another city, and because he saw that he was registered as a Jew, he made friends with other children. Being sharp, he went on to learn in a yeshiva. He sits in shiur, listens attentively, and if he has a question, he goes to the Rosh Yeshiva. The Rosh Yeshiva is pleased with his Torah insights and has no idea that the student is a non-Jew, because the father didn’t tell him, the mother didn’t tell him, and the student himself doesn’t know!”

The Rebbe went on to describe what would happen when it was time for him to get married:

“When someone wants to arrange a match for a daughter, the practice in Eretz Yisroel has become that families go to the major yeshivos and ask the Rosh Yeshiva who is a good young man. Naturally, if the student has studied for five years in a major yeshiva and the Rosh Yeshiva is pleased with him, no one will think to investigate who his father and mother are!

“Thus, when the Rosh Yeshiva says that this student is diligent, persistent, and worthy of leadership in Eretz Yisroel – in the sea of Torah – the parents of the girl don’t investigate. They rely on the Rosh Yeshiva’s judgment… and the family may introduce their daughter to him without concern.”

“If one does not verify properly in a yeshiva whether he is genuinely learning Torah, one cannot rely solely on the documents. One must know his status, understand what must be investigated, and inquire about when he came to Eretz Yisroel, who his father and mother are, and all the other details that need to be clarified.

“If, however, a young man goes off to a yeshiva and it is known that he has learned there for many years, that he is successful in his studies, and that no issues have been noted, then one can rely on the judgment of the Rosh Yeshiva, the mashpia, the maggid shiur, and others. When all of them praise him, there is no need for further investigation, and the family may introduce their daughter to him without concern – because the proper safeguards have already been applied…”

Fortunately, a greater tragedy was prevented because the registrars had the foresight to carefully check the documents of this bochur. However, the Rebbe described how, unfortunately, some may forgo verifying all evidence simply because the bochur learns in a yeshiva – even though he may be a goy!