A long time ago, during the periods after our Expulsions from the Land the center of Judaism began to move, to refocus to where the action was. It was the battle between the Babylonian and Yerushalmi Talmuds. Who would reign supreme? Where was the center of power? Which Rabbis had the final say?

As we all know, despite the limitations of Judaism in Galus, eventually Bavel won and Eretz Yisroel was relegated to the backwaters of Jewish vitality.

But as to be expected (and desired I must add) that eventually would change.

Eretz Yisroel has returned to being the center of Jewish vitality.

There’s the obvious, with this year more Jews living in Eretz Yisroel than in Galus.

Then there’s the less obvious, such as Rabbis in Israel attempting to reinstate the Sanhedrin, and others running Yeshivot that are learning how to reinstitute and develop the national and Temple-based aspects of Judaism that we had to temporary put on hold.

On the other side of the Yarden we have the RCA announcing what I can only describe as pointless, toothless, and certainly positionless resolutions.

But the most obvious example of Eretz Yisrael reasserting its centrality is the new declaration (which will be enforced) by the Israeli Rabbinate, which will require Israeli Rabbinate testing and certification for any Galus Rabbi who wishes to perform conversions or divorce.

There is no doubt that the Rabbinate will uphold this rule, and despite the soon to be heard complaints, and arguments (and name-calling?) at the affront to their authority we will see Galus Rabbis beginning to abide by the ruling because they will have no choice (though preferably because they will realize that Eretz Yisrael is where the action is at).

The center has returned.

But one thing can be sure, whatever the RCA has to say about this – it will be equivocal.