Basically...
Yes some people resort to these type of fake conversions. Some people just don't know any better. They really want to be Jewish and the first shul they find is a reform or conservative. They go to a few lessons etc..and then convert. But years later this brings much pain, when their children (who grow up thinking they are Jewish) want to get married or move to Israel or become frum and study at a yeshiva etc. Suddenly, their entire world collapses when they learn "your mother did not do a real conversion, you are not Jewish".
So all these reform, conservatives and charlatans like Asher Meza of "bejewish.org" and others (who I can name privately) are actually doing a lot more harm than good.
Some have good intentions while others know what they are doing fooling people and do it for the money or for the attention.
Real conversion is very very hard! It may take a year, a year and a half in not more. Real rabbis will not allow anyone to just convert. It will also require money. Moving to a community, paying your conversion teachers, paying the conversion application fee, paying for the mikvah etc..
Even after one coverts, one may always get people who forget that they need to be welcoming and will always make rude remarks about "converts". When you meet someone new and they know you converted, the first thing they want to know is "so, did you convert to get married?" or they will try to quiz you on your knowledge. Others will always try to correct you when you say something or do something Jewish. (like a blessing etc)
The point is, this is a hard road. It's not all open doors. It will have a lot of doors closing in front of you- but if you have faith in Hashem, you will find that the right doors will open for you. This is never like when people "convert" to some xstian religion and everyone is loving and welcoming. You will find that Torah Jews will always be welcoming. Because of the law to love the convert who converted (note, it is convert who converted, not gentile who converted. Since gerim are as if they had always had a Jewish soul). In fact, to be a convert who converted means that the person always had a potential neshama inside. Others even think that the souls of ALL Jews, even those who would eventually convert, were at Mt Sinai as well. So Torah Jews who know the commandment to love the gerim will be open and welcoming. And pray to Hashem that you find such people. But be prepared for the few rotten apples who try to put you down. Ignore them. Remember that everything is from Hashem and people are just messengers. Also note, that after conversion, no one is ever allowed to remind you of when you were not Jewish. Furthermore, no one should ever embarrass you either. Sadly, I have heard of such cases. It is better to be informed and ready than taken by surprise later on...or sugar coat it.
I must also warn you. In Israel, conversions done by reform or conservatives have to be legally accepted by the state but are NOT accepted by the Israeli religious system. Meaning that if you convert in your home country and live a year in a Jewish community (unless you have the right of return through your father and can immigrate now) the religious courts would not be able to recognize you. But the state would. Which essentially means nothing other than have an ID that says you're Jewish. Not because one is, but because the government is forced to recognize it- yet having no halachic standing. However, when it comes to Orthodox conversion across the world, the state of Israel will only recognize the Orthodox Batei Din that the Israeli rabbinical court choose to recognize. This means that not just any orthodox rabbis can actually do the conversion. It has to be someone on the actual list of authorized courts by the rabbinical court in Israel.
The reason for this is because...the Orthodox courts have no say in what reform or conservatives do...thus the state of Israel accepts them. But the Orthodox courts in Israel DO have a say in Orthodox courts around the globe; and the state will consider what the Orthodox courts rule in regards as who is a Jew (based on what Orthodox court one chose.
This is a very selective list. I would recommend you double check that your nearest Orthodox Beis Din will be accepted in Israel.
Also, a big controversy in Israel has been the religious courts voiding some conversions. This is only in cases when someone who converted comes back to a court for whatever reason, and under questions reveal that while they converted, they do not keep Shabbat or Niddah etc. Yes, there have been some cases of these people being told their conversions are revoked. If I am not mistaken, there was a similar case in the UK.
Basically, double check where you end up going.
I know that all these conservatives and reformists claim they can do easy and fast conversions. But that's just the problem. It's not fast or easy. To do a halachic conversion, one must do the process the Beis Din has set forth. Maybe it won't be overnight, but if one really has a Neshama inside, it can be done.
Topic: Is a conversion appropriate in this circumstance? (Read 60768 times)