As preliminary, I am a physician in Fargo, North Dakota. I was raised orthodox Jewish and went to an orthodox yeshiva in Coney Island. I graduated with highest honors as Valedictorian from Yeshiva Sharei Zedek.
Although my ex-wife's father was Jewish, her mother was not, and so my ex-wife went through a full orthodox conversion over two years. We provided the conversion certificate signed by three orthodox rabbis to Rabbi Hecht. We also provided proof of the Mikvah for the conversion. The Rabbi who directed the conversion over the two years was a well regarded orthodox Rabbi recognized by the Israeli Rabbinate.
My ex-wife continued to be Shomer Shabbos and maintained a kosher home throughout our marriage. We were living much of the time in the Midwest and attended the only available synagogue which was reform but maintained ourselves as orthodox Jews.
Our family recently moved to Fargo, ND and, because of my ex-wife's conversion, there was a need for proof that she converted to orthodox Judaism. Our Chabad rabbi recommended reaching out to the Chabad Beth Din in Brooklyn led by Rabbi Mordechai Hecht. We reached out to Rabbi Hecht and provided all required documents to him.
I do not know Rabbi Hecht well, but I recall wonderful orthodox rabbis during my years in yeshiva and afterwards, including our head Rabbi Mallen Galinsky and Rabbi Alconon Scheinerman and Rabbi Picus from Seagate, Brooklyn
Rabbi Mordechai Hecht is not cut from their cloth. Before Rabbi Hecht even initiated an evaluation, we were informed by our local Rabbi that Rabbi Hecht questioned the legitimacy of the rabbi who diligently instructed my ex-wife and is recognized by the Israeli Rabbinate
Moreover, he infrequently responded to requests for help. It was difficult to get any response from him. Finally, once proof was provided--and after a prolonged delay and repeated requests with no response--we received a denial of status.
When I responded to his delayed email and asked for guidance regarding the denial, he never responded, nor did he provide an explanation for the denial.
Again, I know little about Rabbi Hecht. I do not know him personally, nor do I know the other rabbis in the East Flatbush Beth Din, but given my wonderful experience throughout my life with caring, dedicated rabbis--and a quite different experience with Rabbi Hecht--I would recommend against this Rabbi--and by extension--the Beth Din of East Flatbush--based on his lack of professionalism and the lack of caring that should be the cornerstone of Rabbinical character in our community read more