what are some things rabbis say to prospective converts to discourage them from converting?

Question

just wonderin'

Answer 1

First of all, mamabear has no idea what she is talking about.

Anyone is allowed to convert to Judaism--it's just Orthodoxy that makes it hard because they want to test a convert's commitment since, after all, you'll be spending years of your (and your rabbi's) life in this study: which would all go to waste if you change your mind at the last minute. Here are some things that rabbis typically say to convince someone NOT to convert.

"But before you start, consider a few things. When a Gentile wants to become Jewish, the Rabbis are required to try to dissuade him. Only the very sincere make it through the entire process. And the process can take a long while. It may not turn out to be easy."

"Becoming Jewish means that most of what you were taught about spirituality until now will be irrelevant, and in many cases wrong."

"You must also accept the fact that it is Hashem's Torah that defines what is right and what is wrong, what is spiritual and what is mundane, what elevates a person and what lowers him. Human beings do not make those determinations, and every such decision that a Rabbi makes is based on Torah precedent, i.e., established Jewish Law."

"Your life style will also change, as well as the way you think about many things. Even the meaning of some words will change, especially if you have been Christian: words like "confession," "heaven," "patrilineal descent," "Messiah," "savior," and others."

"It also means that your relationships will change. Not all your friends will be happy that you've become Jewish. Worse yet, your family members might disown you, as often happens."

"When your parents, your siblings, even your children, sit down to eat a meal, you will often not be allowed to join them. You won't even be able to attend some of their joyous occasions. It is forbidden for a Jew to enter most non-Jewish places of worship. If your own baby sister gets married in a church, you will not be able to attend."

"And you will have to learn many rules. You will have to wear less revealing clothing all year round (which in the summer can make you feel hotter); you will have to be concerned wherever you go about the food you can buy and eat; you will have to make sure that you don't carry anything in your pockets outside your home on the Sabbath, and many other considerations. You will need two sets of dishes, two sets of pots and pans (and at least one more set for Passover), and you will have to keep different types of food separate. You will have to wait six hours after eating meat foods before eating dairy foods. Judaism will guide your steps and your thoughts every moment of your waking life."

"As a convert to Judaism, you will be a Jew -- a full-fledged Jew. Think about the word "Jew" for a minute. It's a title we bear proudly, yet it's a word that comes from many mouths as a curse and insult. Of course, that's silly. It's like when a little boy thinks he's insulting a girl by calling her "girl!" Not only is it not an insult, but it should be borne proudly and openly."

He might ask you if you're sure you're doing the right thing by exposing your children (or prospective children) to the dangers of anti-Semitism, he might simply tell you he's too busy (in which case, it's a coin toss--he could either be too busy or trying to dissuade you). He could also simply not work with converts, which often happens.

This is a good page to read on the subject (where I took the quotations from) http://www.beingjewish.com/conversion/becomingjewish.html

Answer 2

Trying to convert someone can easily under mind their ability to understand religion.

Answer 3

"You'll be giving up Jesus"
"To be Jewish, ones mother must be Jewish"
"You'll be taking long lessons"

This is a good question--few people are allowed to convert into Judaism--The Jewish firmly believe that if one's mother was born Jewish that her children are automatically Jewish. It does not matter what culture/religion the father is/was.

Answer 4

join the darkside luke, it is in you

Answer 5

You are going to hell if you don't.....whatever!

Answer 6

"You can't eat pork."