why do jewish rabbis discourage people from becoming jewish?

Question

I wonder why do jewish rabbis discourage people from becoming jewish?

Answer 1

I certainly wouldn't say that Rabbis discourage people from converting to Judaism, they just don't actively proselytize like many other religious groups do. Also, the conversion process is really quite long and involved (much more so than the analogous processes in Christianity and Islam, from example), so they generally want to test the commitment of the convert before beginning.

Answer 2

I have never heard of a Jewish rabbi discouraging someone from becoming a Jew. I used to go to a Jewish Synagogue for the Bible study because the Rabbi had more knowledge about the Old Testament than anybody I knew of (I am not Jewish) After my class they had an adult study for people who wanted to become a Jew. I have never known the Jews to be anything but welcoming.

Answer 3

Because Judaism is not like other religions, becoming Jewish takes hard work and sacrifice and Judaism is much harder for converts to maintain than it is for someone who is born Jewish. A convert found to be lax in his practice of Judaism can actually have his conversion revoked. So the Rabbis want to make sure a person is truly dedicated.

Answer 4

They do not give membership away easily..An orthodox conversion may take years...It takes about the same time as a 4 year degree in some cases. That is why most people convert through a modern organization. They want to preserve the q.c. With only 13 million of them left they better relax their requirements.They are 1/5 of 1% of the worlds population. Muslims make up more than 25% or 1.5 Billion.Talk about a little dog with a big bite... huh??

Answer 5

Because it's just not necessary or required.

Judaism is not like Christianity or Islam; Those two religions preach that if you don't convert, you're going to hell.

In the Jewish view, all people (Jews and Gentiles) are on equal footing, have free choice to do good or evil, and have equal access to God.

The difference between Jew and Gentile is just that Jews are given more responsibility in the world (more commandments).

The Torah outlines 7 universal laws from all mankind (both Jews and Gentiles) to follow, known as the Noahide Covenant.

http://www.highcouncilofbneinoah.org

Answer 6

I'm a Rabbi and will answer but first I have to say:

I would pay cash money for people who don't know the answer to a question not to answer questions they are unqualified in any way to answer.

You do NOT have to be born Jewish to be Jewish. Being Jewish is NOT about ethnicity outside the head of Zionist nutters, it about being a slave to G_d to serve him through keeping his Torah.

Who is a Jew is determined in Jewish law by the same standards as who is a slave: If you're mother is Jewish, you are Jewish. You have no choice.

If a person wants to become Jewish, he must go through the ritual G_d has established for a person to go through in order to be enslaved to Him in that way.




So Why do Rabbis discourage people?




The answer is that there is little benefit to the person in becoming Jewish, potentially a lot to lose; there is little benefit for the Jewish people in accepting this person as Jewish, and potentially a lot to lose.

Judaism teaches that the righteous of all nations have a portion in the world to come, so long as they keep the 7 laws that Adam and Noah were told to keep. These are basic things like not stealing, murdering, or marrying your sister. SO the person is not gaining a grand reward for converting.

OTOH, Judaism has 613 basic law headings and 1000s of minor laws, many of which can be broken without thinking, and have unbelievably high penalties.

So he can potentially go from being one of the rightous among the nations, with a portionin the World to COme; to being one of the wicked among the Jews destined to eternity in Gehinnom. (Yes, this is possible; for all those Jews ready to say gehinnom is for 12 months only. Actually learn out the inyan before correcting someone.)

It is only ethical to make sure he knows, and to discourage him from makinga potentially disastrous choice.

Now, selfishly, the whole Jewish people gets judged by G-d annually. If we come out on the bad side of judgement we get suicide bomings, evil leaders, plagues, etc. Adding the wrong person to the Jewish people adds a lot to the bad side of the scale, and little to the good side.

So the real question is why would a Rabbi accept someone for conversion? The answer is that there is only one reason: This person really loves serving G-d and wants 1000s of demands placed on Him by G-d simply for the joy of serving. He must also feel the potential punishment of hell is worth the opportunity to serve G-d in these additional ways.

One fellow, after he was a convert for 5 years said to me: "I've lived as a non-Jew, and after I lived as a Modern Orthodox. Now that I'm fully practicing, I would give up both my legs and my right arm for the priviledge of keeping the commandments even if there was no reward at all and all it ment is I didn't have to live like that again."

He's someone we want.

Answer 7

You have to talk to a rabbi about this, not strangers over the internet. It takes a lot of study and often 2-3 years. (by the way, I don't think its offensive that you call Jewish people Jews, we are Jews)

Answer 8

I didn't know Jewish rabbits were any different than ant other kind of rabbit. Oh rabbis! Sorry I don't know. Whats the difference if I'm a Christian Atheist or a Jewish Atheist? xx

Answer 9

So the ones who come to convert who persevere (i.e. even after discourangment they still want to convert) will be sincere in their efforts to convert.

In addition, there is an example given in the Bible where Naomi discouraged here daughter in law, Ruth three times before finnally allowing her to come with her to the Jewish people.

Answer 10

Because you can't "become" Jewish. Being Jewish means you are a descendant of Abraham. It would be like deciding you had different grandparents. The Jews are, after all, God's Chosen Race. If just anybody could join, it wouldn't be any fun.

However, if you are persistent enough, and/or have married a devout Jew, they have a theological exemption. It says that you were supposed to be Jewish, but your soul got confused and ended up in the body of a gentile. So it's really more like being transgendered than converting. Only you don't have to get the whole thing cut off, just the end.