The Jewish Approach to Converts - Judaism

1. Judaism's Positive Approach to Converts

2. Relating to Converts

Judaism's Positive Approach to Converts

The laws relating to Jewish converts are amongst the most astounding laws in the Torah. Despite all of the

Any non-Jew who truly and earnestly seeks to join the Jewish people may do so.

criticism directed at the Jewish people on the grounds that Judaism is racist, the Torah teaches us that any non-Jew who truly and earnestly seeks to join the Jewish people may do so.

The wretched Germans ruled out the possibility of allowing non-Germans to join their shallow race. Even Jews who had assimilated and converted to Christianity were viewed as Jewish in the eyes of the racist Nazis. This, however, is not the way pf Judaism. Rather, any non-Jew who wishes to join us may do so according to Jewish law.

It is true that we are "racists," but we are racists in the positive sense of the word. We feel an obligation to rectify creation, as Rabbi Menashe of Iliya would say, "So long as even a single worm in the crevice of a stone is discomforted, the redemption has not arrived." As Jews, our most natural desire is that all people be blessed with happiness and we are forever working to better the world.

The horrid Nazi racists, on the other hand, who considered themselves "the chosen people," understood chosenness in an impure and negative sense. They believed that they deserve the best of everything and that everybody must serve them and work for them. We Jews, however, are inherently compassionate. We even show compassion to our adversaries.

Therefore, if a German or an Arab should seek to join the Jewish people, even if he is the son of a fierce anti-Semite, we shall accept him and love him like any other Jew. Moreover, we shall love him even more than other Jews, in keeping with the commandment to "love the convert, for you too were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 10:19)

Relating to Converts

After a person converts to Judaism he is like any other Jew. In fact, one must be more sensitive to his feelings than those of other Jews. This is because of the extreme difficulties that a convert faces. After all, it is not easy to leave one's people and one's home in order to join a wise nation with an ancient culture and rich tradition, which is not so easily absorbed even after many years of study. This extreme transition calls for great inner strength, and even the slightest insult can undermine a convert's confidence and cause him great despair.

This explains why the Torah takes such a firm stand on this issue, ruling that whoever grieves the convert transgresses three prohibitions (Baba Metzia 59b). Firstly, it is written "Do not grieve one another" (Leviticus 25:17), and this applies to all Jews, including the convert. In addition, the Torah adds two more prohibitions against grieving the convert: "You shall not wrong a stranger, nor oppress him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 22:20) and, "If a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. But the stranger who dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:33-34)

We are twice commanded to love the convert.

In a positive sense as well, we are twice commanded to love the convert (Rambam, Hilchot Deot 6:4). Firstly, we must love the convert like any other Jew, as it is written, "Love your fellow as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18) And again, regarding the convert in particular, it is written, "Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 10:19)

And what could be more fitting and correct than to show the convert added affection, for of his own volition did he leave his people and his homeland in order to join the nation of Israel. The Almighty Himself loves the convert, as it is written, "He loves the convert to give him food and clothing." (Deuteronomy 10:18) May we all merit to love and embrace the convert, to accept him warmly and by so doing to unveil the incredible uniqueness of the Jewish people.

This article was translated from a book in the popular series Pininei Halacha. It also appears on the web-site Yeshiva.org.il. Comments can be sent to: yonatonb@yahoo.com.

Judaism	Kislev 6, 5770 / November 23, '09