Conversion: Facts and Myths

          When it comes to conversion issues in Judaism it is important to bear in mind that Judaism does not solicit converts. The reason for this is that in Judaism, (unlike in other religions) non Jews (‘Gentiles’) do not need to convert in order to receive “salvation.” Whoever keeps the Noachide Code – the Seven Commands of Noah (see below) is considered a righteous gentile and recieves a portion in the ‘world to come’ – and will even be resurrected together with the Jewish people.
          The Noachide Laws are as follows:
          1. Do not worship idols
          2. Do not speak blasphemously about G-d
          3. Do not murder
          4. Do not steal
          5. Do not commit adultery, incest or homosexual acts
          6. Do not be cruel to animals (specifically this prohibits eating the limb of a live animal)
          7. Establish a judicial system and courts to administer the above six laws)
          To be sure, gentiles should accept these commands not just because they make sense but because they form part of the Torah given to the Jews at Mount Sinai.However, as mentioned, gentiles are not required to convert in order to gain “salvation.” [For a broader discussion on the Seven Laws of Noah visit www.asknoah.com]

          On the other hand if a non-Jew insists on adopting Judaism in full he/she is fully entitled to do so, but only after a significant period of study, observation and full commitment to Jewish living. This process needs to be all conducted under the supervision of a proper Jewish religious court (Beth Din).

          [It should be noted that from time to time some Jewish media publish articles and adverts from the ‘movement for Reform Judaism’ advising people who have “female partners who do not want to convert to Judaism “to contact Rabbi… of …synagogue” who will tell them about “other ways of giving your children Jewish status!” This is a complete sham! There is NO WAY to confer Jewish status upon anyone, other than through the due process of “Halacha” (Jewish law – based on the Talmud and Codes and practiced by Jews the world over for millenia). It is a travesty and a deception to suggest to the public (Jew or Gentile) that couples who have intermarried or have long term relationships can confer Jewish identity on their children other than through the Halacha as supervised by an authentic Jewish court (Bet Din). At the very least the organizations need to be open and honest and informing the public that the so-called “other ways of conferring Jewish status” will not recognized by Orthodox communities the world over – just as Reform/Liberal conversions themselves are not recognized as legally valid. This honesty would go a long way to helping people decide more effectively what process to follow should they wish to convert.]

          Returning to the general discussion on conversion, consider the following: a person not born in England but who wishes to become a citizen can only do so through the accepted proceedure as defined by the Home Office. Everyone understands and accepts that any alternative ‘organization’ offering its own ‘proceedure’ to ‘confer British citizenship’ would not only be unnaceptable, it would be ILLEGAL and even punishable by law!

          This is precisely the situation with regard to the Jewish people; sadly, there are certain groups who claim that in order to ‘save the Jewish people’ it is necessary to dispense with various aspects of Judaism they consider “inconvenient,” “difficult” or “out of date.” Reform is one such group (innocuously calling itself a “stream” of Judaism ) and it is Reform who have unilaterally deemed their own criteria regarding Jewish practice including conversion and the “conferring of Jewish status.” The fact remains: these groups and their so called “courts” have absolutely no Jewish legal validity whatsoever.

          In this country the process of conversion is supervised exclusively by the London Beth Din (tel. 0208 343 6270, email info@bethdin.org.uk or visit http://www.theus.org.uk/the_united_synagogue/the_london_beth_din/conversion/)

          One more point. Although according to Jewish Law, Jews are not permitted to marry non-Jews or live with them as man and wife, in the event that they do, we are still required to extend respect, kindness and compassion to both Jew and non-Jew in such relationships and even encourage the non Jewish half of the relationsip to convert according to Jewish Law (Halacha) by contacting the London Beth Din.

          June 11th, 2011