Do you think that Orthodox Jews should make conversions easier?

Question

I think that a big problem in judaism is that the different denominations have different standards for who is and isnt Jewish. I think that Orthodox Jews should ease thier stndards and the three major movements should come up with a mutual compromise. For example, a person who is rasied reform Jewish but has a Jewish father and not a jewish mother should be considered Jewish if he was truly rasied to be Jewish.

I shoudl add, that orthodox Judaism holds anyone born of a Jewish mother is Jewish regardless of observance, but somone who converts to judaism is only Jewish if he accepts the strict orthodox lifestyle, otherwise his conversion can be revoked.

To names are much too confining:

I see your point and I think it's a good one, but I think that we should let people become Jewish if they want to be Jewish. It isnt fiar for somone who is born jewish but not religious at all to be considered Jewish and have someone who truly wants to be Jewish be denied.

Answer 1

I see your point. Do you know the historical significance of the mother determining whether a person is considered Jewish or not?

You probably do, but I'll explain it for the others. If the father determined whether a person is Jewish, Ismael would have been considered Jewish because his father was Abraham. Instead, Issac was recognized because his mother was Sarah.

However, since we now know that both parents equally contribute genetically (23 chromosomes), we should consider what science has determined. Both parents are important, but the child ultimately will either accept or reject his or her religion.

Therefore, a person who has the desire to be a particular religion should be able to make that decision regardless of which parent has the lineage. If your father is Jewish, you too should be able to be recognized as being Jewish as well.

Answer 2

This is such a tough question. There are jerks like "NamesAreMuchTooConfining" who seem to have an exclusionary attitude about Judiasm. Yet the survival of the faith, the traditions, and teachings are at risk if we don't make it easier to for people to convert.

While I don't ever want Judiasm to actively seek converts, someone who comes to the temple in good faith, should be more easily accepted. I don't want the fact that my wife is not Jewish to discourage my willingness to educate my son in the faith. Yet, it already has done that.

This is why we attend reform temples, where my son (born from a non-jewish mother) will still be accepted as a jew. The jewish faith will never survive via the Orthodox/Hasidic movement.

The asker is correct - it will only survive once the 3 major movements can agree on a list of basic standards to be followed.

Answer 3

first off oyvey22 is completely wrong.

second why not raise the standards to above the Orthodox so that we have one national standard?

Listen I have no problem with Reform and Conservative movements converting people but please dont expect me to regard them as Jewish if was dont in a way that violates Halacha (Jewish law) that has been around for over 3,000 years.

their are only three things needed for a convert.

acceptance of the laws of the Torah (in front of witnesses)

ritual dip in Mikvah to signify the change

and a circumcision for men.

what exactly do you want to change in those three????

as for the father, what decides if someone was rased Jewish? are Jews for Jesus condiderd a Jewish upbringing? how about Humanistic Jews that do not belive in G-d?

you see the point I am making. If you say that upbringing results in Jewishness where do you draw the line and how.

as for if a person converts though a Orthodox converstion and then changes his mind and even becomes a Christian. The converstion is still valled (that is why it takes so long, not because we want to punish the person but because we only want people who wont back out and will stay Jewish.)

I hope this helps you understand how complicated the situation is.

Answer 4

You've got a great point. It's true that in Judaism, you're only considered born Jewish if your mother is Jewish, but if you are raised to believe in the religion, they have no reason to reject you. After all, what do they have to lose by having another member?

Just so you know, many Orthodox Jews don't consider any Reform or Conservative Jews to be real Jews at all.

Answer 5

I think that jewish law shouldn't be changed. In other words, I think the reform and their likes can shove their "improved" versions of "judaism" up thier kishkas.

If someone wants to be jewish, then they should have a real conversion. But if they don't want to go through with all the actual requirements for converting ot judaism, then they'll just have to live as a gentile (they can be noahites). (to my ears, your quesion sounds like "well, why can't we consider christians or muslims jews also? Why can't we allow idol worship? why can't atheism be part of judaism too? and so on and so forth.)

judaism isn't about "jewish culture". It's about jewish law. all these people who claim to want to be jewish should think about that.

Update: You're right. It's not fair. But it's not about being fair. No-matter how much someone wants to be from the tribe of levi, if they're not then they're not. The bible isn't about being fair. To be honest, I'm a little surprised that judaism allows for converts at all (since it appears to contradict what almost seems to be the concept of a jewish dynasty). But it does allow for converts. All that is asked is that they conform to the rules of conversion. As for non-religious jews -- well, that's part of the dynasty. I saw a good analogy recently. A king may have a son who's a bum, but that son is still a prince. But a commonfolk guy may be very refined, but that doesn't make him royalty. (Obviously we expect refined behavior from a prince, and a prince who acts like a bum is certainly not seen as a prince, though it is understood they he technically is one.)

cheerio

Answer 6

The problem being----------Conservative and Reform Judaism is growing so fast--------the Orthodox will someday be such a minority, they will have no say. Right now, it is horrible that the Orthodox make it so hard on other Jews, in Israel, it is like a theocratic state. People do not seem to like theocratic governments in other countries (mainly Muslim countries). They should get rid of this system in Israel.

Answer 7

We had the original standard for thousands of years. You broke away and made your own standards. We won't compromise. We follow exactly what the Halacha says, with no changes. You want all the psudo-religious and non-religious groups to compromise, go for it. But count us out!

Answer 8

No