Why Not Make It Easier to Convert?

it is very disrespectful to imply that someone to convert should get rid of pets, in case you don't know pets are members of families and to some people they are very important for emotional and psychological support. Anyone who would suggest I should abandon a pet in order to convert would have been kicked out of my life asap. Reply

Don't Hold Back I don't understand why everyone here is complaining about difficulty. If you truly, in your heart feel you are Jewish, and want to convert, you will drop everything for it.

You will get rid of your dogs, you will read, and memorize all that is important, you'll keep every mitzot needed.
In the end of the day, the only thing stopping you, is you.
Hashem gives to all. Whether you're Moshe, or balaam.
I have been on a hard emotional battle for a long time. The only thing that keeps me going is Hashem. I knew I wanted to be close to him my whole life. First I found the worst book ever made, a Catholic bible.
I eventually crawled into a Christian church. After seeing the vast form of hypocrisy at work, I left. I eventually found a Noachide group. They felt it was okay to play Jewish by building a sukkah, practicing shabbat, etc.

If there's a Jew out there that is willing to sponsor me, I'll do anything. I'll sleep on the floor, and work for free. Reply

My conversion I am married to a non religious jewish man, we have 4 daughters together. When my girls were between 10 and 15 years old. I worked hard, never gave up in what I believed it. It took a while but I along with my four daughters were able to convert with orthodox Rabbis. My husband has become more religious and my girls finished their schooling in a Yeshiva. The decision was the right thing and the best thing I have done. Reply

I found some of the requirements impossible, in UK we are asked to live with a religious family in the same house. But when you have kids and pets this is very difficult or practically unrealistic, we would our best to relocate and actually we did relocate in the first place as we moved to UK to be able to convert since in our country there is no recognized Bet Din, I refused to give up my pets - so we had to choose a non Orthodox option. Reply

To CK I could say that it goes both ways. I would say that about half of the people with whom I've worked dropped out but the other half have made it to the finish line. I don't know why you were not successful. May you find what makes you happy. Reply

Trying to convert to Judaism is like falling in love with someone who doesn't love you. No one is to blame. That's just the way it is. Best advice is to just move on. If you have Jewish ancestors like I do, forget about them - just as their Judaism has forgotten you. Reply

I know quite a few Gerim (running a Gerus group on Yahoo with over 2500 members for the past dozen years) and several of their rabbis. From where I sit and from the feedback that I've received, most Orthodox Jews who are sincere in their orthodoxy welcome Gerim. Most Gerim living in vibrant orthodox communities receive regular invitations to join orthodox families at Shabbat and holiday meals. Some Gerim marry other Gerim but others marry Jews-by-birth. And yes, I do run into the occasional Jew who is not willing to believe that a Ger really made it into the Jewish Community.
Part of the issue is how well we prepare the Ger to join the community. Orthodox Judaism should not be considered a religion but a community united by blood and belief. It teaches that one is never where he should be but is on the road to where he should be. One must always study and grow. No one, and especially not a Ger should be happy where s/he is but constantly improve... Reply

Thank you for your article! I appreciate reading Chabbad educational material and I'm so thankful that Chabbad reaches out to teach both Jewish peoplecand Non Jewish people. It is an act of love to be involved likevthis in the world. Thank you!
My thought about this particular article is that I absolutely agree that the commandments should never be diluted for anyone except obviously the ones we aren't able to fulfill due to circumstances beyond our control, the temple services for example. In other ways we can make conversion easier by being more enthusiastic. As it is the tradition in some places to follow the example of Ruth and discourage conversion, this policy can be hurtful to others who really want to convert. Those who want to convert are already exposing their vulnerabilities and hoping to be accepted and not hurt in the process of learning. Wounds from other religions can make it easy for them to turn away from G-d altogether. Reply

The process is not as hard as one would think......BUT The process of learning and applying is very easy. Or maybe for me someone who grew up with zero religion in the home and has only known Judaism through years of individual learning and this awesome website. I never had to reprogram my thought process, I never had to pull way from family, but trying to fit in. But finding a community welcoming has been the hardest. This is not true for the Reform community or most of the Conservative community where I live but completely true for much of the Orthodox community near me. So one tends to go to the friendliest community only to be consistently told that conversion would never be "real". And I get it trust me, weed out those who are not sincere. But when the community is so small and everyone questions or judges the other for not being authentic this pushes converts and other Jews even further away from everything even Torah. So no let's not make conversion easier by shortening the length or material. But it should be more welcoming. Reply

Live as a Jew By all means, become a Jew. My suggestion is to first live as a Jew, make sure everyone you know knows you are now a Jew, wear symbols so people outside of your immediate family and friends will see that you are a Jew.

Then let us know if you notice a difference in how you are treated - and, if so, how you feel about that difference.

Just curious. Reply

In reply to John S, (Practicalities) To be Jewish is to be included in the convenantal relationship the Jewish people have with the Almighty. Potential converts to Judaism should not worry too much about rabbis, a beth din, or study and practice. Rather, one should begin talking directly with the Almighty - just as one would discuss things with his or her closest friend. Talk with Him in the morning upon waking up. Talk with Him in the afternoon. And talk with Him in the evening, before going to bed. And if one can remember the Almighty before and after every meal, then that's a tremendous accomplishment. Ultimately, Jew or not, one is alone in his or her encounter with G-d. Each of us is forever alone in that awesome, enduring confrontation. Reply

Practicalities If a person dedicates him or herself to the study and practice of Judaism, the it would follow that the person is Jewish- religiously speaking. On the other hand, unless they are officially 'welcomed into the tribe' though whatever process, it follows that they are not 'a Jew'.

Can a person be Jewish but not be 'a' Jew? Objectively, one would think so, although there would obviously be a great issue with not being allowed to participate in various functions and activities with (tribal) Jews.

In going this route, one could plausibly point to Ruth and just 'be Jewish' by declaration and then proceed to live as the Torah commands. I know this flies in the face of centuries of Jewish practice of the Beit Din- but for all practical purposes, if a person subscribes to and follows the tenets of a faith then they are OF that faith, whether they belong to a specific social group or not. Reply

Standards I have worked with several Batey Din and would like to add:

Even if a Beith Din were to publish its academic and social requirements, there are still personal issues that can sway them to require more or less from a given candidate. Thus publishing exact standards might lead to other issues. The main questions include asking themselves if the candidate is ready for conversion and ready to dedicate her/his life to Torah and Mitzvoth.

That said (and would make the following a bit more difficult) it would be nice for the various Batey Din (both RCA and Haredi) to unite on establishing a minimum standard which would then be published. Batey Din will have to option to require less on an individual basis but would be bound to report the percentages of their candidates who got a pass. It would also be published that this is the lowest common denominator and that virtually all Batey Din have additional requirements. There is something like this in "The Gerus Guide". Reply

Easy? Of no value. If we are to hold dear the Hebrew bible, then where does G-d say things will be easy and, therefore, with value?

I have learned that when someone doesn't work for something, they don't value it, even as a gift. The value comes from far deeper than 'easy.'

How many people here who have children made their children's lives easy and without problems and responsibilities? Reply

To Preston As I wrote earlier - call Rabbi Zvi Romm. Don't assume. Reply

CONVERSION I am a 71 year old male who has been trying to convert to judaism for a number of years! it is totally impossible! the reason being is that at my age it is totally impossible to absorb all the books that you expect people to learn! i was no good at studying in my younger days let alone all this! other jews have told me that even they don't know all these things you would expect a convert to know. Reading the torah and believing in G-d the way i do should be more then enough! in other religions it usually is. why not this one? Eventually i will find a no frills Rabbi to convert me with little or no fanfare. I Will get a certificate and that will be it like 3 people i know. if anyone has any insight on this i would love to hear from you. G-D bless you all!!!!! Reply

19+ years so far.. I have been trying to convert for 19+ years. I have been welcomed into the extreme liberal groups with open arms. I have even been acting (the only one there willing to do it even if unofficial) layleader for Bagram airfield for the US troops.

I don't live in an active Jewish community and probably never will be able to. But that don't change how Jewish I feel every day and my efforts to keep as frum as I can and follow the mitzvot.

I'll never give up.
I just wish I could get orthodox to throw me a bone.

Sigh... Reply

To Preston Friend, forget about conversion. It's like falling hopelessly in love with someone who is never going to love you back. It will break your heart in the end and will leave your soul hurt and alone. You say you cannot read and retain information. I tell you truly it would not matter even if you knew everything there is. It would not help you. It would not make you a Jew. No one will help you. Your destiny is a burning loneliness - an unbearable abode. They say there you may encounter the Lonely One - blessed be He. They say it is a covenantal privilege, an exacting and sacrificial role. Reply

To Preston Rabbi Zvi Romm leads the RCA Beith Din for New York. Look him up and speak to him. I have seen the impossible happen and rabbis do make allowances for senior citizens. Reply

Converting To Judaism well i guess its going to be impossible for me to convert then. i am 71 and at this age it is impossible to learn everything there is thats required. someone who is younger and can retain information i can understand. if someone has any ideas feel free to comment, I still want to convert if anyone has any information. if it involves reading a lot of books then i cannot do it. thank you all for listening to me. Reply