How come Syrian Jews do not accept converts or recognize conversion to Judaism?

Question

Do they think the bible is wrong or what?

Answer 1

Allow me to poke my nose in:

To our understanding Jews are actually the House of Israel, that is a race from one father Jacob whom God Almighty called 'Israel' had 12 sons, among them was most known is Prophet Joseph. Moved to Egypt, settled there and later Pharaohs of Egypt made them their slaves. Moses was from the same race or family and God All-wise took him for a prophet. Hence, Jews had 12 chieftains and 12 tribes.

It is interesting to notice that some of the Jews believe that others can convert to Judaism. – However, it leaves me a bit confused?

Answer 2

Anyone can convert to Judaism; we are not a 'race'. I have no idea why Syrian Jews would feel differently; Jewish religious law defines who is Jewish and it allows for converts. In fact, in the Talmud it states that converts are particularly dear to G-d because they chose Judaism, rather than just being born into it.

Hopefully one of my fellow Jews will see this question and give more info than I am able to :)

EDIT HABIB

Allow me to clarify :) Jews are not a 'race'; we are a nation, a family, a people, a religion. But we are not a race and the proof of this is that within the worldwide Jewish community there are people from all ethnic backgrounds, from China to India to Yemen and so on.

Anyone can convert to Judaism. It's not as you state that 'some Jews' believe this: it is fact.

Look at the bible ('old' testament) - Ruth was a convert!

I hope this has helped clarify. For more info, check out http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/

Answer 3

Syrian Jewish Communities Attitudes to Conversion
In the early twentieth century the Syrian Jewish communities of New York and Buenos Aires adopted rulings designed to discourage intermarriage. The communities would not carry out conversions to Judaism, or (normally) accept as members converts from other communities, or the children of mixed marriages or marriages involving converts. In some instances, however, they have recognised conversions carried out by the Rabbis in Israel. This law heavily discouraged people from converting because in order to convert they would have to travel to Israel and back, showing great commitment toward Judaism. It should be noted that Rabbi Jacob Kassin has been known to make conversions in very specific situations. Hacham Uzziel, then Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, was asked to rule on the validity of this ban. He acknowledged the right of the community to refuse to carry out conversions and to regard as invalid conversions carried out by other communities in which marriage is a factor. At the same time he cautioned that persons converted out of genuine conviction and recognised by established rabbinic authorities should not be regarded as non-Jews, even if they were not allowed to join the Syrian community.
The ban is popularly known within the Syrian community as the "edict" or "proclamation" (in Hebrew, takkanah). Every twenty years or so, the edict is reaffirmed by all leaders and rabbis of the community, often with extra clauses. A full list is as follows:
Buenos Aires, 1927 (R. David Setton)
New York, 1935 (R. Jacob Kassin)
New York, 1946 "Clarification"
New York, 1972 "Affirmation"
New York, 1984 "Reaffirmation"
New York, 2006 "Reaffirmation".
There has been some argument as to whether the ruling amounts to a blanket ban on all converts or whether sincere converts from other communities, not motivated by marriage, may be accepted. The relevant sentence is "no male or female member of our community has the right to intermarry with non-Jews; this law covers conversions which we consider to be fictitious and valueless". In the 1946 "Clarification" a comma appears after the word "conversions", which makes it appear that all conversions are "fictitious and valueless", though this understanding is not uncontested. Today the Syrian community's rate of intermarriage with non-Jews is less than one percent, as compared to anything up to 50% among American Jews generally.

Answer 4

It is their own idea which is a very insular idea but most other groups condemn them for this ruling .

Also have to comment that my boss who is not Jewish is in a 2nd marriage to a Jewish woman part of this community which is really telling. They don't accept converts but no problem with a Jewish woman marrying a non-Jewish man as she is very much part of the community.

Answer 5

I once knew a rabbi who quoted a cartoon character named Pogo who said, "we have met the enemy and he is us." At times like this, I tend to agree with him.

Answer 6

it is only passed to someone who's mother is Jewish.