Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea
Is a conversion appropriate in this circumstance?
muman613:
Rafeli18,
I am quite active on the forum. I have been involved since 2008 and have been online virtually every day except for Shabbat and Yom Tovim (Holidays) so feel free to drop me a PM or a question in the forum. As I said previously, I sincerely hope that I can help Jews and Noachides and those seeking to learn for conversion purposes. I try to reply as soon as I realize there is a question, and on occasions when I can't answer myself I will ask my Rabbi for his opinion on the topic.
But I think there are also several others here who can help you also. So let us move forward on this journey. As LKZ pointed out being Jewish is both a blessing and a curse, keeping commandments may just necessitate your separating from some of the activities you involved yourself with prior to conversion.
rafeli18:
--- Quote from: muman613 on July 16, 2013, 12:35:57 PM ---Rafeli18,
I am quite active on the forum. I have been involved since 2008 and have been online virtually every day except for Shabbat and Yom Tovim (Holidays) so feel free to drop me a PM or a question in the forum. As I said previously, I sincerely hope that I can help Jews and Noachides and those seeking to learn for conversion purposes. I try to reply as soon as I realize there is a question, and on occasions when I can't answer myself I will ask my Rabbi for his opinion on the topic.
But I think there are also several others here who can help you also. So let us move forward on this journey. As LKZ pointed out being Jewish is both a blessing and a curse, keeping commandments may just necessitate your separating from some of the activities you involved yourself with prior to conversion.
--- End quote ---
I'm really appreciative of all your help that you've given me these past 2 days. The links you've given me seem to convey a fountain of knowledge of the religion which I sincerely hope will aid me on this path to spiritual fulfilment. I also can see where you're coming from with regards to being jewish as both a blessing and curse. It would indeed be foolish of me to think that adhering to the 613 commandments laid down by Hashem would be easy which is clearly not the case. To be honest anti-Semitism in London is increasing under the guise of being pro-palestinian and anti zionist and this has led to a rise in attacks towards jews especially by the muslim community.
Given your expertise in the field of conversion have you ever encountered someone my age before and if so did they ever appear before the beth din and pass the criteria become jewish?
ChabadKahanist:
--- Quote from: rafeli18 on July 16, 2013, 01:10:27 PM ---I'm really appreciative of all your help that you've given me these past 2 days. The links you've given me seem to convey a fountain of knowledge of the religion which I sincerely hope will aid me on this path to spiritual fulfilment. I also can see where you're coming from with regards to being jewish as both a blessing and curse. It would indeed be foolish of me to think that adhering to the 613 commandments laid down by Hashem would be easy which is clearly not the case. To be honest anti-Semitism in London is increasing under the guise of being pro-palestinian and anti zionist and this has led to a rise in attacks towards jews especially by the muslim community.
Given your expertise in the field of conversion have you ever encountered someone my age before and if so did they ever appear before the beth din and pass the criteria become jewish?
--- End quote ---
Not to disrespect anybody here but IMHO your best bet is to go www.theus.org.uk & find your closest Orthodox synagogue & talk to the local rabbi there about teaching you & sponsoring you to go to the London Beth Din.
Before you go to the Beth Din you will need a sponsoring rabbi & the above website is your best bet as I said.
The above website is the congregational arm of the Beth Din.
muman613:
--- Quote from: rafeli18 on July 16, 2013, 01:10:27 PM ---I'm really appreciative of all your help that you've given me these past 2 days. The links you've given me seem to convey a fountain of knowledge of the religion which I sincerely hope will aid me on this path to spiritual fulfilment. I also can see where you're coming from with regards to being jewish as both a blessing and curse. It would indeed be foolish of me to think that adhering to the 613 commandments laid down by Hashem would be easy which is clearly not the case. To be honest anti-Semitism in London is increasing under the guise of being pro-palestinian and anti zionist and this has led to a rise in attacks towards jews especially by the muslim community.
Given your expertise in the field of conversion have you ever encountered someone my age before and if so did they ever appear before the beth din and pass the criteria become jewish?
--- End quote ---
I am not an expert in the field of conversion, just am familiar with helping people in my community who have sought this option. I agree that the best course of action for you is to get in contact with an Orthodox Rabbi, while I recommend Chabad for just about everything, any valid Orthodox Rabbi should be able to provide you with the actual resources required.
Conversion to Judaism is not a thing which I think can be done with Online courses alone. Judaism is a communal religion where you must be involved with your community in order to be counted among the Jewish people. This requires you to invest time on Shabbat to learning with your community, taking part in the Sabbath services and Torah reading. Most good Orthodox Rabbi's do a thing called Kiruv (outreach) where they will bring people into their homes on Sabbath in order to provide an environment conducive to Jewish spiritual and intellectual growth.
When I first returned to Judaism I hooked up with a nearby 'progressive liberal' synagogue. But I quickly realized that it was not fulfilling to me to practice a man-made religion (reform) which so obviously did not come from the Torah. Luckily for me there was an Orthodox Rabbi who would come to that shul on occasions and invite members to come to his Shabbatons at his home. He also was the Campus Rabbi for a local college and I got quite involved with that schools Jewish life. Eventually that Rabbi moved away and a Chabad Rabbi took his position, and thus I got more involved with Chabad.
Find yourself a real Rabbi with whom you feel comfortable. We can help you with questions here, but nothing can compare to having a real Rabbi (especially when you really want to convert).
muman613:
Kiruv more specifically relates to a Jew reaching out to another Jew, but Chabad should be able to help non-Jews who want to be a part of the Jewish people.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/676588/jewish/What-is-Kiruv.htm
What is "Kiruv"?
By Baruch S. Davidson
Kiruv is a Hebrew word that means "bringing close," and can mean any form of bringing someone or something close—physically, emotionally, or spiritually. With regards to other people, kiruv is the fulfillment of the biblical obligation to "Love your fellow as yourself."
The term is commonly used in reference to Jewish outreach, which is aimed at bringing other Jews closer to G‑d and their Jewish heritage. Out of love for your friends, you share with them the beauty of the Torah and its precepts, knowledge that you are lucky enough to be privy to.
Although encouraging fellow Jews to strengthen their commitment to Judaism has always been a Jewish value, this concept has reached new dimensions in the last sixty years, and has become what is referred to by many as the "Kiruv Movement."
The upheaval created by two world wars, and specifically the destruction of the religious Eastern European Jewish communities, left a societal split in the Jewish community, with a historically unparalleled trend leaving many Jews estranged to the teaching and traditions of their ancestors. Sensing that this was the call of the hour, the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (1880-1950), started the idea of organized Jewish outreach. Disregarding both the counsel of well-intentioned friends as well as the ridicule of antagonists, he encouraged his followers, young and old, to dedicate their lives to reversing the erosion of Torah life in the Jewish community.
This idea was cultivated by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak's son-in-law and successor, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch. Teaching that no Jew is "secular," and that the Torah is the birthright of every Jewish soul, the Rebbe, through his shluchim, or emissaries, founded educational centers for Jews of all ages, and brought mitzvot to the streets and to the homes of Jews of all backgrounds and affiliations. Currently, there are more than 3000 Chabad Centers around the world, all devoted to advancing this goal.
With the passage of years, this approach was, thank G‑d, adopted by many segments of the Jewish community, and the outreach attitude has now become all but universal.
To conclude, R. Aizik Homiler, a venerated chassid of the first three Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbes, would relate an oft-repeated adage he had heard from older chassidim:
Have affection for a fellow Jew and G‑d will have affection for you.
Do a kindness for a fellow Jew and G‑d will do a kindness for you.
Befriend a fellow Jew and G‑d will befriend you.1
Best wishes,
Rabbi Baruch S. Davidson
FOOTNOTES
1.
Hayom Yom, 27th of Cheshvan.
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