JewsByChoice.Org

Did I miss something? Was there a world-wide summit on getting out the word on Judaism? There have been several posts here on JBC.org about the question of proselytizing, and I don’t want to beat the dead horse in the corner … but I came across an interesting article on Beliefnet, that curiously popular website that, with 20 simple questions, can solve all your “what faith am I” questions.

I first discovered and became fascinated with Beliefnet when I was in high school. My freshman (or was it sophomore?) year, while mulling around the library ignoring the assignment at hand, someone popped up the website and the entire class — teacher included — proceeded to take the Beliefnet 20-question faith quiz. Mine came up with the top results being Reform Judaism and Quaker (interestingly, my mom’s ancestors were Quakers). Everyone sort of laughed off the quiz and we went about our day. Years later, here I am, fascinated and completely enamored with this site all over again — the amount of content! the resources! the articles! the conversations!

The moment I saw Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s article “Converting the World to Jewish Spirituality,” I stopped. I clicked the link, and quickly read the article. (Boteach is a popular radio host and Orthodox rabbi in California). It would seem that spreading the good word of Jewish conversion is the new black.

Jews have forever erred in feeling that Judaism is not for non-Jews. Ironically, the greatest enemy of Judaism throughout the ages has been the Jews themselves who have remained utterly convinced that Judaism has nothing important say to the wider world. The results have been tragic.

I disagree with this. I will admit that the greatest blockade for intra-Jewish cooperation and peace is the Jew him-/herself. Books like “Jew vs. Jew” display this marvelously. And there is that whole “turn the convert away three times” shtick, made popular by Charlotte on “Sex and the City” (everyone I know asked me if the rabbi did this to me, all because of that episode). But since when have Jews been convinced that Judaism has nothing to say to the wider world? It seems we spend most of our time saying “HEY! Over here! We have something to say!” Or am I living in an alternate reality?

First, relative to the general population, there are barely any Jews in the world because we refuse to spread the light of our faith to those who might adopt it.

Now, I spent a really long time molding myself into Christianity. It was the way it was where I grew up — everyone I knew was Christian, middle class and white. That’s just the way it was. Firstly, I attended church services, retreats, etc. and these words are emphatically those used by Christian proselytizers. Secondly, no one is refusing to do anything, it’s the simple fact that Judaism has never been a “reach out and grab the people by the collar and don’t let go till they say Baruch atah Adonai …” kind of religion. It isn’t refusing to do anything, it’s entirely one of the best things about Judaism. People come into the faith, we don’t have to beg and plead and harass people to join in the festivities.

The time for Judaism has arrived. The world today faces unprecedented social problems that Judaism is uniquely qualified to address. Whereas other religions focus on salvation and see the purpose of faith as assisting humans in gaining a place in heaven, Judaism’s supreme focus is on mastering life and bettering the earth.

Okay, okay … I’ll grant the rabbi something here. It would be stellar to create an army of people to better the world, no argument there. The fact that Judaism is so very much about our time here and tikkun olam is absolutely one of my favorite things about Judaism — devote yourself to the time you know, not to the time which is uncertain. But this sounds like a political platform. I don’t think we should try to wrangle people simply to help in the fight to plug up the drain of the world. People who find something truly beautiful about Judaism and the aspects of it, including tikkun olam, are welcome with open arms. Mazel tov and all, but this doesn’t mean we need to recruit an army of do gooders!

I propose the following as the basis for a worldwide campaign that the Jewish community can launch to both illuminate the world with the light of Jewish values, heal the world of many of its social maladies, and inspire the Jews themselves to recommit to a tradition that their non-Jewish counterparts find awe-inspiring and wise. First, and foremost, there would be a declaration that you don’t have to be Jewish to practice Judaism.

Now, here’s where he loses me. I agree that the tenets of Judaism can be admired, practiced and supported by anyone — not just Jews — but this is, again, sounding like some political platform. On that note, I see so much of Judaism and its social action and tzedakah as things are that tenets of general, international human rights. In this respect, there is a lot that Judaism touts that are not really “Jewish” values, but rather are values that all humans should hold (equal rights, tikkun olam, tzedakah, etc.). It’s just an issue of priorities.

The article then goes on to list different enactments — all traditional Jewish rituals — that should be set in stone with this universal campaign that the rabbi suggests. Lots of sex in marriage, observance of Shabbat, observance of the holidays, studying Tanakh, etc. But what about “you don’t have to be Jewish to practice Judaism”? Inevitably, one who takes on the universal doctrine of Jewish living would be urged to convert, if the rabbi is right.

A lot of the comments express unease about this article, citing the slippery slope of extremism and how not proselytizing is one thing that keeps us on a different plane than Islam and Christianity. I think a lot of people (Jews) are uncomfortable with the idea of preaching the good word of Judaism because we see the way that Christianity and Islam do it and it isn’t always, well, productive or sincere. Another note in the comments is about whether the rabbi is encouraging proselytizing or promoting. Now, the line is fine, of course, but all of his wordage sounds very much to me like proselytizing. But what does promoting mean, even, when it comes to religion? And on that note, should we not then be promoting Judaism to secular or non-religious Jews before we promote it to those non-Jews?

In truth, I think Jews need to find peace within themselves and within Judaism before we decide to go knocking on doors and saying “we rock! we were the first! come join us!” And even if we do find peace among Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Orthodox and secular lifestyles … is proselytizing something we want to muddy our hands with? I love sharing my story of conversion with Jews and non-Jews alike. I love sharing my passions and my desires and my deep feelings about this amazing place I’ve found myself in. But not once have I ever had the desire to say to my Christian friends “You know … we’ve got this great thing going on over here …” If I happen to move someone to explore Judaism, great, but I’m not going to actively do this.

In sum: I like to think (and know deep within) that I was always Jewish. That it took a spark to begin my searching and that when I arrived, it was as if I had been here all along. I had sought out who I was meant to be (Lekh L’kha). This is what I want others who convert to feel, as well. G-d forbid the converts of the future come in as cogs on a conveyor belt, encouraged by someone knocking on their door with a pamphlet with the good word of Judaism …