A gentile can convert to Judaism, right?

Question

In exploring my spirituality I was talking about going to a synagogue to listen to a service in hopes of learning something (Rosh Hashanah began Friday). He told me that I could forget about converting, no one can convert. Your mother has to be Jewish for you to be considered Jewish....

Answer 1

Wow, that ATK is a first-class bigot and hasn't the slightest clue what he or she is talking about. If I were a Muslim, I would be pretty insulted by someone saying such things with the name of G-d, in Arabic, as their logo. In Hebrew, it would be something we call a "chillul Hashem" (lit. desecration of the name), which is what happens when someone who supposedly lives by G-d's teachings acts in a distinctly ungodly way. It's basically bad PR for G-d, or in this case, it's at least bad PR for our Muslim cousins. But getting back to the matter at hand...

Anybody who wants can convert to Judaism. One of the other answerers mentioned some famous converts, among them Ruth, an ancestor of King David. But did you know that the prophecies teach that the Messiah will be descended from King David? In other words, the Messiah, G-d's annointed, and future king of the Jewish people will be descended from a convert. And yet there are people saying conversion is impossible - nonsense!

I would say this, though. Judaism doesn't actively seek converts. The simple reason is that you don't NEED to be Jewish to be "saved," or anything like that. If you want to get on His good side, according to Torah, simply keeping the Noachide Laws would do you a lot of good. If you were to decide to convert, you can expect some resistence. But that's simply because we only want people who are absolutely dedicated to convert. Because once you become a Jew (and a Jew-by-Choice, or a "ger," is absolutely, 100% Jewish with the same priveleges AND responsibilities as every other Jew), you can't undo it. And things that wouldn't count against you as a non-Jew (for example, there's no law that says people can't eat say, ham, or shelfish - those precepts are aimed directly at the Jewish people, as part of a call to holiness), would count against you as a Jew.

In any event, compare the so-called Jewish exclusivism to other religions, that all make the same basic claim of being G-d's elite, and who condemn all those outside the faith to eternal agony in the fires of hell or something like that (something Judaism doesn't do).

Again, nothing in Judaism says you have to be Jewish if you're not born into it. And to be a Jew requires a certain lifestyle - every waking moment is about serving Hakadosh Baruch Hu (The Holy One - Blessed is He). I mean, I don't want to scare you. A lot of it is fun, and truly pious Jews always serve G-d with sincere joy. But it's not for the person who thinks they can get away with being true to their beliefs one day a week, or two days a year (sadly, many of my fellow Jews act in this way).

There are two ways to be Jewish. Be born to a Jewish mother, or convert. Both are completely, one hundred percent valid, assuming they're in compliance with Torah law (that its, that you either convert in accordance with Torah law, or your mother is Jewish according to Torah law). Don't let anyone trick you into thinking otherwise.

If you want to learn something, maybe try Aish.com. Aish HaTorah does lots of neat inspirational pieces, and they can be very informative. Or for sort of a basic primer on Jewish observance (including articles on common Jewish symbols, the Hebrew language, our people's history, etc.), jewfaq.org is a good start. I must have read every article on that site before visiting a synagogue for the first time.

Anyway, good luck, a gut yor (happy new year), and I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for.

Answer 2

Of course. Famous converts to Judaism include people like Ruth (King David's great grandma); Onkelos (famous rabbinic commentator), etc.

But conversion is just not needed.

You don't need to be a Jew to have a perfectly good relationship with God.

The Bible contains 7 main laws for all nations to follow (both Jews and Gentiles) (the sheva mitzvot b'nei Noach)

Answer 3

Who told you that? People convert to Judaism all the time. While you wouldn't be ethnically Jewish, you could be religiously Jewish.

Answer 4

yeah, you can convert. did a rabbi say this? he is required by jewish law to turn you away three times. try again.

ignore what ATK below me says. anybody is free to convert to judaism and become a full jew. we just do not go around begging people to join like islam does, since we don't believe only jews go to heaven. but like i said, the rabbi will turn you away several times, to test your dedication. as well, some rabbis really will not convert people, if they are not trained to do it. jewish conversion laws are very strict, and any untrained rabbi performing a conversion would make the conversion invalid.

Answer 5

Baloney. Anyone can convert to Judaism. Talk to a rabbi in regards to what you will need to do. I'm pretty sure their our classes and such - I'm Christian and am unfamiliar with Jewish customs but I know many who have converted.

Answer 6

No according to Judaism you cannot convert to their religion unless you and your children marry to jews for several generations and only then your children's children's children's children's ... can join Judaism.

That's why they call you a gentile! Because Jews believe that they are chosen people and all the gentiles are not. So how can a not-chosen people join the chosen ones, impossible.

You can join Islam though, we Muslims do not discriminate. Islam is for everybody. We believe in One God and His messengers (Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Ishmael, Jesus...etc)

More info on my profile.

Answer 7

ATK is an idiot.Have you ever heard of a gentile or christian marrying a jew and converting? They have to in order for the marriage to proceed.

Answer 8

You can. Sammy Davis Jr. did decades ago