Professional Documents
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PERSPECTIVES ON CONVERSION
Special Symposium Shavuot 5777
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Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series Shavuot 5777
kind, would never think of saying with questions I hear the most celebrate Shavuot, we take time to
something like what the Gemara is common comment of all, Youre so think about how we could be more
describing to anyone. I think that the inspirational! Can you share your sensitive towards converts and baalei
rabbis of the Gemara also believed story? teshuva. Not just because Megillat
that most people were decent and Rut discusses the famous convert of
Now, to people who arent converts
kind and didnt need to give mussar the same name but because when
or baalei teshuva that last comment
telling people not to make such the story was over, Rut went on
may seem harmless, but I would like
statements. The rabbis were possibly to just be Rut, a regularshomeret
to argue otherwise. When someone
using such an extreme example to mitzvah memberof the tribe. Stories
becomes a baal teshuva or a convert
illustrate a different point about such as Ruts can definitely be a
he or she spends a certain amount of
how it feels for the convert in this source of inspiration, but as we seek
time learning how to fit in to the frum
situation. If you were in this converts out inspiration, we also need to be
community. What to say when, how
shoes, how would you feel? Attacked? sensitive to the impact it has on
to dress, what hechsherim to look for,
Embarrassed? Isolated? Inferior? I others. I, and many, many others,
these are all things we have to navigate
believe the rabbis would also apply dont want to be treated as a separate
as we find our place in the religious
this thinking to other questions posed group that the rest of the community
world.1 After this transitional period
to converts that seem to be more finds inspiration from. We just want
we just want to be accepted like any
pareve. Questions like, Why did you to bake challah, daven in a minyan,
other frum from birth person (FFB).
convert? Was it hard to keep Shabbat? learn Torah, and enjoy a night out like
In other words, we want to pass.
What do you miss from before? anyone else. So please, dont make
Once we have integrated into Modern
If you have been following me so far, us pay for our supper by harassing us
Orthodox society, we dont want
then you can already see where that with questions. We just want to drink
others to remind us of our past. Can
conversation I was describing usually our tea.
you imagine someone reminding you
goes. It comes out that Im a convert of a car accident you had at 16 after
(surprise!) and then the questions you were well into your 20s? Now Endnotes
become increasingly more invasive. imagine that happening when youre
1 I encourage you to read Becoming Frum:
At this point I tend to do one of two surrounded by strangers who want How Newcomers Learn the Language and
things, feign fatigue or steel myself to ask all sorts of probing questions Culture of Orthodox Judaism by Dr. Sarah
with another cup of ginger tea. After about the incident, over 10 years later. Bunin Benor for more information on this
about 10 minutes of being peppered transition.
I would like to suggest that as we
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Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series Shavuot 5777