The next installment in Laura Cooper’s Jewish conversion comic, Taste & See…
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Taste & See: Next Installment in the Conversion Comic
6 Shevat 5772 - January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Never read Taste & See? Catch up on Laura Cooper’s Jewish conversion
comic start and follow up, “one year later“.
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Taste & See: A Jewish Conversion Comic Series
21 Cheshvan 5772 - November 18, 2011 By 4 Comments
We’re so excited that Laura Cooper, the talent behind Taste & See: One Woman’s Journey To and Through Judaism is now on PunkTorah. Check out her first comic below!
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Converts Are Second Class Citizens (Someone Had To Say It)
19 Cheshvan 5772 - November 16, 2011 By 7 Comments
I was recently interviewed for a magazine about The G-d Project. And while I am grateful for the interview, I was miffed about a series of questions from the reporter about my “religious background”.
I answered honestly, “I grew up without religion.” It’s that simple. My parents aren’t atheists. But we never went to church (or anything else, for that matter), we didn’t celebrate holidays religiously, and I never went to any kinds of events that promoted religion, with the exception of seeing the Dalai Lama speak on world peace.
But this was not enough for the reporter.
“Oh, so you converted?” She asked.
This is a sticky situation. I’m open about the fact that I converted to Judaism more than I should be. People who know me, or know PunkTorah, or stumble upon one of our videos, know that Patrick Aleph is a big ol’ ger. Loud and proud.
But does that give anyone a right to ask me about it?
Technically, no. Judaism discourages “outing” converts. Abraham was a convert. All the matriarchs of the Torah were converts. And Ruth, the most famous convert in Torah history, has a holiday surrounding her (Shavuot). No one can trace their heritage back to Mt. Sinai, so in a way, we’re all Jews By Choice.
In reality though, converts are second class citizens. I’m done pretending that the Jewish community treats us any differently.
I have been asked by rabbis of every mainstream movement of Judaism, across the spectrum, if I am a convert. This is a violation of Jewish law, and no one can play the “they don’t know any better” card. Maybe a lay person walking down the street doesn’t know, but a rabbi does.
I hope people disagree with me, because I’d like to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
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How To Justify Hating Converts (Or Loving Them)
4 Tishrei 5772 - October 2, 2011 By 9 Comments
I want to share a series of texts which I like to call my Conversion Bible Bullets. Bible, because they reference holy scripture (in this case, the Tanakh and Talmud) and bullets because people shoot these verses at each other in Jewish pissing matches about converts to Judaism.
I believe that Judaism is what you make of it. Whoever you are, whatever you are truly about, is how you are going to understand the Divine. So the question is this: when you look at these texts, which would you rather do…love, or despise thy neighbor?
No converts to Judaism will be accepted in the era of the Messiah. Babylonian Talmud, tractate Yebamot, page 24B, (20th line on page)
The Holy Blessed One does not favor any one person over another, but receives all; the gates are always open, and anyone who wishes to enter may do so. Shʼmot Rabbah 19:4
No converts to Judaism were accepted in the era of King David and King Solomon. Babylonian Talmud, tractate Yebamot, page 24B, (21st line on page)
Moreover concerning the stranger that is not of Thy people Israel…when he shall come and pray toward this house; hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to Thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may know Thy name (1 Kings 8:41-43)
Evil after evil will come upon those who accept converts. Babylonian Talmud, tractate Yebamot, page 109B (10th line on page)
God says to us, “As I welcomed Jethro the Midianite in the wilderness of Sinai, so must you welcome anyone who comes to you to join your people.” Yalkot Shimʼoni, Yitro, No. 268
Our Rabbis taught: Converts…delay the arrival of the messiah. Babylonian Talmud, tractate Niddah, page 13B (14th line on page)
Ruth the Moabite was an ancestress of King David (Ruth 4:13) whose direct descendent will be the Messiah.
The Golden Calf was built by converts. Midrash Tanchuma, Parshat Emor, chapter 11
The Israelites were struck dead with a plague for the Golden Calf that Aaron the Priest was responsible for. Exodus 32:35
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Can You Convert To Judaism Entirely Online?
26 Iyar 5771 - May 30, 2011 By 5 Comments
While there are plenty of rabbis who use the internet to teach conversion students, I have been wondering for a long time if the internet could be used for all aspects of conversion. I think I have the texts that lay the groundwork for it. Watch and see…
Source text can be downloaded here.
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Opening The Gates: An Essay
17 Adar I 5771 - February 21, 2011 By 3 Comments
Opening The Gates: An Essay
(Loosening up about faith, welcoming converts, and letting go of the past)
When one thinks of spreading their faith one probably imagines a ‘Jehovah’s witness’ type, going door to door, harassing poor folks about G-d, salvation and the like. Judaism, once upon a time, had its own tradition of proselytizing. In the Roman Empire, Judaism was well known as a missionary faith and accepted converts from all regions of the Empire until the Roman Emperor Hadrian outlawed the practice around 131 C.E. As Jews, we shouldn’t necessarily feel obligated to spread our faith, but at the same time we shouldn’t shy away from talking about it either. The Torah itself specifically commands us to be open to Converts, with the passage of history and in large part due to the Diaspora, Conversion to Judaism has been, up until modern times, largely not talked about openly amongst the Global Jewish community. Biblically, the first Convert to Judaism – Ruth had herself a relatively easy time coming into the community versus the experiences of prospective converts in contemporary times. With that said, it has to be asked, why is it so hard? Why are Converts often subjected to long periods of study and Reflection often lasting a year or more?
Some Rabbinical opinions cite ‘Sincerity of the Convert’ and ‘integration/acceptance into the community’ as being key reasons for such lengthy periods. Jewish communities everywhere are shrinking, areas of the United States where Jewish communities once thrived are now largely faint specters of what once was a mere five years ago. The remedy to our decline lies in future generations, how we continue our traditions and talk about our faith is key to our survival as a people. Halakah, Jewish Law, contrary to some, was intended as malleable work, open to revision and change as the world evolved. While this is not the case for a number of us, and that’s fine, we must confront and adapt to the changes we see around us, more importantly, As Jews, we should not shy away from talking about faith. The Torah teaches to live so as to be an example to the Nations. Sharing our spiritual and religious life with others is a major part of not only our bonds to our brothers and sisters, but also allows those who may be curious or spiritually a glimpse of the Joy and connections Judaism, and religion in general, can provide.
The world Jewish community still forces the global community to be reminded of the Holocaust, and for good reason, that we ‘never forget’. Yet, if we dwell in the past how can we ever look to the future? While Yom HaShoah by its very existence, causes us all, Jew and non-Jew alike, to be mindful of past evils, it should not force us to live in a bubble, Judaism is not some exclusive country club, it is a vibrant and all-inclusive living spiritual tradition that, together with Christianity and Islam, commands the attention of some several million people. If Judaism is to survive into the 21st century, we as a people must go forward with open hearts, open minds, and, more importantly no fear. The story of the Jews lies in the soil of the fields, from dust we came to dust we return, so lets keep our ears to the ground and our eyes towards Zion.
Bud W. Andrews 2/3/11
Ari Ben-Avraham
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Before Converting To Judaism, Read This…
14 Shevat 5771 - January 19, 2011 By 7 Comments
I love lists. And since PunkTorah is a great resource for people interested in converting to Judaism, it only seemed fitting that we do a list of Things You Should Know Before Converting To Judaism.
There is no such thing as “converting to Judaism”. You come to Judaism through your own desire to be a part of the peoplehood. Yitro did that when Moses taught him how G-d brought the Hebrews out of Egypt (Exodus 18). Ruth did that when she chose to follow her mother-in-law Naomi instead of returning to her own land (Ruth 1). And don’t forget about Abraham, who had an Obiwan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker on Hoth experience and became the first patriarch. This isn’t some far out hippie idea. Chabad believes it, and so do the Humanistic Jews.
So what does this mean in practical terms? Well, it means that the rules of conversion are…well…kinda contrived. OK, before you start throwing Gemara at me, I do recognize that there are some things that remain common: mikvah, circumcision, a sincere heart, etc. But taking one year, five years, ten years to study Torah, going to JCC classes, joining the “right” synagogue are all rules made up by man in hopes of serving HaShem correctly. For some, that means Satmar Orthodoxy in NYC. For others, that means suburban Reform temples outside Reno, Nevada. Pick your team, and just go for it.
After converting, you’ll be “more Jewish” than a lot of people born into the Jewish people. My wife jokes that I am the Jewiest person she knows. I take that as a compliment. I had to work for it — I didn’t grow up in a Jewish family like some of my friends. And often, I get asked questions about Judaism by my Jewish friends, because I had to study. They didn’t. They came into this world as Jews. Study, for them, was not part of the equation. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself the Torah advisor to people who you think should know better.
You’re still not Jewish to some people. The sad fact is that some people (a small minority, Baruch HaShem) have their own idea about what a real Jewish person is. Whether that’s converting through their system of halachka (Jewish law), or going to their shul or being born into the right kind of Jewish family, this prejudice does exist. Just remember: this is a minority opinion. And just like in the Talmud, the majority wins, even if we do have to listen to the minority opinion.
There’s lots of different kinds of Jewish. Alternative Jewish Spirituality is a lot larger than the oligarchy of Jewish movements wants you to think. Earth based Judaism, Renewal, Independent Minyanim, Reconstructionism, Conservadoxy and Karaism are just a few. And whether anyone wants to admit it or not, these small movements are actually what’s driving Judaism as we know it. So don’t get stuck on The Big Three.
You’re not done yet. Being Jewish is not an end game. Once you take the mikvah dunk, you’re not finished. It’s a lifetime thing. When you first convert, you’ll be “all about Judaism.” But when the honeymoon is over, synagogue won’t always be as fun as it used to. Your beliefs about G-d and life will evolve. Suddenly latkes and yarmulkes just aren’t that interesting. And you know what? That’s OK. Because just like any other relationship, it changes over time. Why shouldn’t your relationship with a five thousand year old religion also change as you grow older?
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What It Takes To Be a Jew
23 Teves 5771 - December 30, 2010 By 10 Comments
So if you’ve ever read any of my other blogs, you probably know where I started off. But if you haven’t, I’ll just give you a little bit of a rundown so that you can understand this blog.
My mother’s family is Jewish, but my mother converted to Christianity before my brothers and I were born. I was raised in a predominantly Christian household, but now that my mom is in contact with her family a little bit more (they lost contact for a while, but that’s a long story), she’s starting to go back to her Jewish roots, with me leading the way.
For the past 7-8 months, I’ve done nothing but lived, breathed, and ate Judaism. Everything has been about my religion, my religious identity, and where I am in Judaism. So it came as a shock to me when I went to visit a Rabbi a couple weeks ago and was told I am not, in fact, a Jew, and that I would need to go through the conversion process.
Now let me just stop right here to say a few things. Before this rabbi, any Rabbi or any one else I had talked to confirmed that I was, in fact, Jewish. They said, “well, once a Jew, always a Jew, and your mothers family is Jewish, as are you”. So I’ve believed I was Jewish, all up until this one man tells me that I’m not.
I didn’t know how that made me feel. I felt almost like a fraud, that I’ve been living a lie by saying I was Jewish, when I, according to this one man, am not.
So what exactly makes someone a Jew? Well, I’ll ignore the Talmud and the Torah for a second to answer just based on what I think. The mentality that “I’m not a true Jew because so and so reasons” got me thinking, who exactly gets to tell me whether or not I’m a real Jew, except for G-d and myself? Sure, the conversion process is a good thing to validate your feelings about the religion, but I know I’m Jewish, with or without it. I don’t need a Rabbi’s confirmation to solidify my faith. I know many people will tell me, “well that’s wrong”, but think about it: your faith is yours alone, and what does a Rabbi do for you that you couldn’t do for yourself by reading books, the Torah, and going to shul, besides taking you to a mikvah and declaring you Kosher? I can understand how one would see the conversion process as helping to weed out the “true believers” from the “nonbelivers”, of course. I’m not saying that we should throw away a tradition (on the contrary, I think that there should be a conversion process), I’m just saying that you shouldn’t let someone else’s beliefs dictate your own.
On another note, a couple months ago I visited another Rabbi, who confirmed that by what I said, since my mothers family is Jewish, that I am as well; but because I have a “goyish” first and last name, that I would need “proof” that I was Jewish. He explained to me that I would need a family member’s Rabbi to sign off that my family member was, indeed, Jewish, and that I would need birth certificates of my family members to prove that I was related to said family member. Let me stop right here for a second, and just ask something: I need papers to prove that I’m Jewish? If any history buffs are reading this, or even anyone that is a little bit knowledgeable about the Holocaust, they might think that this sounds a little bit familiar.
In Nazi Germany, Jews were required to have papers saying that they were Jewish, and were required to wear a Star of David to further prove that fact. In telling me that I need papers to prove my Jewish Identity, this man single-handidly pushed all efforts any Jews have made in these past years since World War II, back 65+ years.
I’ve lived my life in a more Jewish fashion than many of my Jewish friends who’ve grown up in Jewish homes, have. I’ve talked the talk, walked the walk, and done hours of research and studying. I’ve made my religion into every single part of my life. I know I’m a Jew, and I’m proud of that fact.
This journey has been a long one, and the path continues to grow every day. The experience that I’ve had with others opinions have shown me that my journey will be filled with slight road blocks that might knock me down. But I know that I can get right back up, brush off my knees, and walk around the road blocks, which will in turn make me a stronger person in my faith. If I go through the conversion process, or get papers from family members proving my Jewish Identity, it’ll be of my own accord, not because someone else made me feel like less of a Jew because of it.
I guess the moral of this story is, is that the old saying really does ring true “Two Jews, Three Opinions”, but just because someone else’s opinion might differ from ours, it doesn’t always mean that they’re always right, or that even we’re right. Judaism gives it’s people a lot of leeway in regards to opinion, which sometimes proves to be a hassle, but overall can make us stronger in our faith, and, if we can accept that others will sometimes have differing opinions, it can help us grow more as a united Jewish people.
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Is B’Nai Noach Proof That Something Is Wrong With Judaism?
13 Tishrei 5771 - September 21, 2010 By 16 Comments
My inbox is filled with emails about the Noachide Movement (aka B’nai Noach), most recently an article by Gordon Haber in Killing the Buddha.
Noahides are, according to Haber, gentiles who believe that Judaism is the true path but that they don’t have to be Jews to follow it. Thus they refer to God as “Hashem,” study Torah and Talmud, and follow a kind of halakhah-lite—the Seven Laws of Noah, as opposed to the 613 mitzvot for Jews.
If you want to Build-A-Noachide, you need a few basic ingredients:
- A Christian who has lost faith in the divinity of Jesus
- A passion for Judaism (especially Orthodoxy)
- An utter disinterest in becoming Jewish
An honest question: if you enjoy celebrating Shabbat, studying Torah, learning Hebrew, meeting to discuss Talmudic ethics and making sweet promo love with Chabad-Lubavitch, then why not skip the B’nai Noach middle man and become Jewish?
To become a Christian, one simply decides to have faith in Jesus. To become a Buddhist, you simply “take refuge” to the Buddha, his teachings and community. Islam: one phrase, and that’s it.
Judaism takes a year at least. There’s hurdles to jump through, classes to take, an entire culture to absorb, and even then, you’re a ger tzedek and even though technically no one is supposed to point out you’re a convert…well kid…you are.
So I’m wondering whether the B’nai Noach movement is really about Judaism’s conversion-prevention-stigma. We’re so obsessed with being the religion that “doesn’t proselytize” that we have driven people to create a New Religious Movement that’s basically Judaism-lite.
I guess it comes down to this: if a group of people want to believe Jewish, study Jewish, pray Jewish and do Jewish, yet have to make a new religion that is not Jewish…then what does that say about Judaism today?
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