de@moscom.UUCP (Dave Esan) (02/19/85)
[There are too many previous articles to reference.] The present discussion on conversion has many areas where it may naturally lead; however there is an area that we should try to avoid, and that is generalization. Not all Orthodox agree on anything, as a matter of fact, there is probably little that they do agree on. The same applies to the Conservative and the Reform movements. Not all Orthodox consider the other movements to be heretical, nor do all the members of the other movements consider the Orthodox to be too frumm. Lets avoid general attacks, and concentrate on the issues. I have serious difficulty with non-Orthodox conversion, but not for religious reasons. I just am not sure what they accomplish. While my statistical base is small, I have seen people who converted through the Orthodox process act, think and feel Jewish, and become pillars of the community. I cannot say that for those I've seen who converted other- wise. One even converted after Purim, and on Pesach ate chometz (leavened bread) (the two holidays are 30 days apart). I am sure that there are people who converted Conservative and Reform who are Jewish (to use the running definition). I would be interested in other people's experiences. I would also be interested in why someone would convert and then not observe, unless of course the conversion was for marriage. (Hmm, seems to be a point buried here --).) David Esan (!moscom!de)
darin@tmq.UUCP (Darin Adler) (02/26/85)
> I have serious difficulty with non-Orthodox conversion, but not for > religious reasons. I just am not sure what they accomplish. While > my statistical base is small, I have seen people who converted through > the Orthodox process act, think and feel Jewish, and become pillars of > the community. I cannot say that for those I've seen who converted other- > wise. One even converted after Purim, and on Pesach ate chometz (leavened > bread) (the two holidays are 30 days apart). From someone who is against generalizations, this seems an interesting opinion. You seem to interpret the practical aspect of conversion is differently than I do. In my mind, conversion is simply an expression of the desire to become a Jew. Whether or not the convert becomes Jewish is really up to them, just as each Jew has the choice of how to observe the religion. I do NOT agree that conversion process must be difficult, to filter out those whose faith and Jewishness would not be good enough. > I am sure that there are people who converted Conservative and Reform who > are Jewish (to use the running definition). I would be interested in > other people's experiences. I would also be interested in why someone would > convert and then not observe, unless of course the conversion was for > marriage. (Hmm, seems to be a point buried here :-).) > > David Esan (!moscom!de) I know only one convert to Judaism. She lives in a small town where there are few Jews and only one synagogue. This is basically a Conservative congregation. She definitely thinks and feels Jewish, although her husband has not converted (and probably never will). Her children have already left home, so they have no effect on the situation. I would not be horrified if I found her eating chometz during Pesach any more than if one of my Jewish (conservative) neighbors did the same thing. The fact that she did decide to convert is a stronger affirmation of faith than any details of the conversion process she underwent (which I am not familiar with). Darin Adler ...!ihnp4!tmq!darin