Inter-Faith Series, Judaism: Why do you not seek to convert people to your faith?

Answer 1

Well a few reasons.

1. Its hard enough to encourage people who are Jewish to be more observant, why take on the extra load?

2. Their is no concept in Judaism that someone who is not Jewish needs to convert or they will suffer as a result.

3. being an observant Jew is not an easy task, if someone truly wants to do it then they will come to you, trying to convert people that will latter drop out or do it half way is not worth it.

Answer 2

Converting others to Judaism is actrually a massive responsibility for the person who is doing the conversion- and an activity which can lead them to erring and sinning themselves! Why? There is a commandment "Do not place as tumbling block before the blind" Its easy enough to understand at a literal level, but at a deeper level it also means to not do something that will cause another person to err and thus be worse off than they were before.

Where this comes into play is as follows: Everyone, regardless of religion, has a path to righteousness and a place in the world to come. For the non-Jews, if they behave in a manner that is in line with the 7 Noahide laws, then they will be righteous and merit a place in the world to come- for Jews, it is through the 613 commandments.

So, coming back to the first point- what is easier, to follow 7 laws or 613 laws? Its a no brainer- 7 laws are much easier to follow. So, when we convert somebody, we are giving them an additional 606 laws that previously did not apply to them previously. Its not just a stumbling block- its a concrete barrier across the road! The person doing the conversion has to educate the convertee well enough that they will know enough about the laws to undertake to follow them, and know how to do so at a practical level- if they don't, the person is going to err and thus the teacher is in violation of the commandment!

So making sure someone is serious about conversion is imperiative. If the person is not serious, and the teacher has not tested them, the teacher is in violation of the commandment and, additionally, has caused another person to sin. If the person is serious- then it is a massive mitzvah to bring them into Judaism.

So we do not evangelise- we have no desire to cause peopel to sin, or to sin ourselves. Since non-Jews can be righteous without being Jewish, we are happy to let them go their own way.

Answer 3

I think it has to do with the goals of Judaism. It is to make *this* world a better place for all humanity - regardless of race, religion, etc. Jews are simply a people who have committed to work together toward that goal.

It seems to me that Christians become very insecure about their "beliefs" when they find others who don't agree with them. Why else would they have spent centuries trying to eliminate the Jews?
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Answer 4

I think gratvol's middle reason is the core: we simply do not believe that one needs to be Jewish either to lead a moral life, or to have a place in the world to come. Hence, there's no religious imperative to try and convert anyone.

Answer 5

Some are called to be chosen people and some are not.

In the end, it is not necessary to be Jewish in order to have salvation from G-d. Gentiles can follow the Noahide covenant.

And as the first answerer said - they don't want sheep.

Answer 6

I seen the spiritual evolution of most religions the Jew are not the conquering religion, they work for what works for balance and nature.... I'm not sure they know but they followed the lead extremely well... it is not theirs to guide or lead but to be who they are... and as nature heals they will evolve with the rest of us...... there is omens in their cultures of what they serve..

Answer 7

Because Judaism is as much about blood lineage as it is about religious heritage.

Answer 8

Because they do not like sheep.