The High Court of Justice provided the Reform and Conservative movements on Wednesday with a ray of hope in their ongoing struggle to recognize Jews converted by their rabbis in Israel.

Responding to a request submitted by the Israel Religious Action Center, the advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel, Israel’s top court ordered the state to explain why individuals who are converted by Reform and Conservative rabbis in Israel are not entitled to benefits provided by the Law of Return. […]

Signed by Supreme Court President Miriam Naor, the order requires the state to submit its answer within 60 days.

Responding to Wednesday’s decision, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Reform movement in Israel, called on Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit to “take a bold but necessary step” and announce that in light of the court’s decision, the state withdraws its opposition to Reform conversions.”