What do born Jews think of those that convert to Judaism? Why is it such an ethnic deal? Is it the because Abraham was in that area of the world and his followers were the same ethnicity? Why are converts, to Orthodox Jews, not really Jewish? I'm just curious, I don't mean to offend.
2007-10-13 04:35:51 · 7 answers · asked by scottishbeauty 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
we love converts, we embrace converts, everyone is welcome.
we just don't run around proselytizing, threatening people with hell if they don't believe as we do.
but anyone who wants to join is welcome.
they are fully jewish. i know many people in our orthodox community, and there are several converts,and they are fully accepted by everyone.
2007-10-13 04:46:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think that there were Orthodox Jews who felt that way but I also know of potential converts who were not entirely comfortable with not being ethnically Jewish. The problem was their own feelings and perception.
Personally, I've known sisterhood presidents, and congregation presidents who were converts. I've also known non-Jews who've attended Jewish services for years without converting, although they could not be formal congregation members.
Orthodox conversions are the only conversions fully accepted by the Rabbinate in Israel. For those planning to convert and live there, and Orthodox conversion is obviously the best road to take; it's even more difficult to accomplish in Israel.
On the other hand, one can be converted by Reform and Conservative rabbis as well.
In this country, most of us come from Central or Eastern European stock and I'm afraid that's made us rather insular. In Israel, I dated Jews of Iraqi, Moroccan, and Yemeni background and had Ethiopian neighbors.
I also worked with and became friendly with several people and families from the Bombay (now Mumbai) community in India. They had no interest or social contact with the Jews who'd immigrated from southern India and have a distinct community!
Pretty hard to have "an ethnic thing" after spending time there and seeing what a world religion Judaism is and should be regarded as.
Incidentally, I'm a baby boomer raised in New Haven, Connecticut, where in the 1930s and '40s Irish Catholics and Italian Catholics were often disowned by their families even if they had Catholic Church weddings, and Irish families shunned Italo-Americans who came to their Masses. Same with German and Irish Catholics in the Midwest in the 19th Century.
The "ethnic thing" exists in all groups. It's just "weirder" and more exotic in "others".
Sandi
2007-10-13 12:35:36 · answer #2 · answered by sandirs 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just do you know it's a Jewish holiday today and every Saturday.
I'm not Orthodox but I know the Orthodox scene and have many many Orthodox friends so I think I can answer:
The thought that Orthodox Jews don't think of converts as real Jews is a misconception--it's true that they only accept Orthodox converts as Jews, but Conservative doesn't accept Reform converts as Jews, so it's not a concept unique to them. It's not such an ethnic deal if your mother is Jewish according to Orthodoxy you don't need to convert but if she's not then you need to. We don't restrict people to convert based on families, anyone can do it, it's just a long and hard process. We love converts. We just don't seek them out.
2007-10-13 11:58:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Converts, assuming they converted properly, are full Jews from the point of view of Orthodox Jews. The key there is "properly converted".
Jewish religious law has specific requirements for conversion and if they are not met then the convert is not Jewish.
2007-10-14 09:41:32 · answer #4 · answered by BMCR 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, there is not supposed to be any difference in the eyes of a congregation between one that is born Jewish and one that converts. Jews are not supposed to differentiate between the two. If they are being treated differently, then they are in a bad group, go find another synagogue.
2007-10-13 11:40:32 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
hey...im jewish. ive gone to jewish schools my whole life(im 17)but im not an expert in your question so let me try to help....I personally do not think that it is bad to convert to Judaism. If you agree with our religion, than I am ok with you converting. However, my school rabbi told us yesterday that a couple came to him and asked him to convert them because "they wanted to be able to convert back to christianity"...basically, they wanted to "go on the same path as jesus". so obviously, my rabbi turned them down. otherwise, he does convert people if they truly want to be jewish. I dont think that it has anything to do with Abraham......I believe that it is because their mothers arent Jewish. That is sort of a big thing in Judaism. If your mother is not jewish and your dad is, you are technically not jewish. That might be the big deal....its not one to me though.
2007-10-13 11:42:24 · answer #6 · answered by Lauren 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not sure why, but I think converts to any religion make more effort to do things properly.
2007-10-13 11:39:18 · answer #7 · answered by overmel 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋