An In-the-News Potpourri
I came across an abundance of interesting articles this morning, and I thought I’d share a couple with the mass. Feel free to comment, especially about item number 1, which I think is absolutely, well, fascinating and a minor bit frustrating (i.e. I think it’s inappropriate for people to convert Orthodox, then walk out of the mikvah and grab pork on a stick, but it would appear that they’re condoning this now. It just seems insincere!).
A Close-to-Home Story: Convert Orthodox in Israel, and You Don’t Need to Stay that Way!
The process of conversion is strictly in accordance with Halacha,” said [cabinet secretary Ovad] Yehezkel. “But as soon as you enter the world of Judaism, the decision regarding your personal Jewish lifestyle is up to you. Nobody is going to force you to continue to be Orthodox. There is no directive like that.”
A quick clarification: I think Jews should have a choice as to how they observe, and by no means am I saying there is one right way. If someone converts genuinely Orthodox by their own accord, and lives that lifestyle, and at some point decides it isn’t for them, that’s one thing. But converting Orthodox just to have the bells and whistles out of the way, to say to the Beth Din that you will live according to Halakah and to then revert, well, it seems dishonest.
A Chicago Story: Black Rabbi Reaches Out to Mainstream of his Faith
This is an interesting story, taking place right here in Chicago where I live. I had no idea we had a black congregation, and the shul has been around since 1918. I went to their website, though, and found their principles a little conflicted (they identify modern orthodox, but seem to barely recognize with Conservative). There is a video here profiling the synagogue, as well. Equally interesting, is that they call themselves Hebrew Israelites.
An off-beat story: Britney Spears has Hebrew Tattoo Removed
She did meet with Mel Gibson recently … coincidence?
Also in the news:
New York Times on March 14: RitualsAt 36,000 Feet, Closer to God
That article that SFMichele mentions is here: http://tinyurl.com/2kax96
I did see that one, too; I forgot to post! I have a little hamsa with the traveller’s prayer on it that is a keychain I keep with me at all times
I read the first article and to be honest I can’t imagine how this rabbis ruling is ever going to be anything more than a minority opinion, within the broader Orthodox community.
As far as I’m concerned the only reason to do and Orthodox conversion is if one believes in Orthodox theology and is prepared to meet its requirements for observance. It seems (at least to me anyhow) that it’s both morally wrong and spiritually bankrupt, to mislead an Orthodox community into believing that you are a sincere convert, if and when one is not. Having said that, if one is a nonbeliever and the purpose for the conversion is purely about legal status in Israel, then my arguments probably won’t hold much weight over them.
Just a few weeks ago I myself was told by an Orthodox couple that I should just do an Orthodox conversion and keep going to a conservative shul after-the-fact. I have to admit that I was really surprised to hear them say that and it certainly lowered their status as pious Orthodox Jews in my eyes. I’m sure that they meant well with the suggestion but it just came off bad (again at least to me) that I was more concerned with respecting the integrity of the Orthodox conversion process, than they themselves were. As I’ve said already many times on this blog, I myself don’t do an Orthodox conversion because I don’t believe it is necessary. More importantly I don’t want to be an Orthodox Jew. Having said that, of course it would be great if Orthodox Jews would accept me as legitimate but I’m not prepared to sell out my sense of spiritual integrity, in order to get the kind of acceptance I would ideally like.
As far as I’m concerned when it comes to the law of return and who is a Jew, it is a decision that needs to be taken out of the hands of religious denominations and placed under the jurisdiction of the government. After all Israel is a Western-style democracy and I can’t think of any other that allows, a religious minority so much control over deciding who is and isn’t a Jew and therefore an Israeli. But hey that’s just me and what do I know?
And for one last entry on a Monday, check
Andy Borowitz from 3/15 on Huffington Post.
Yes, that’s right, now Barack Obama has converted
to Judaism!!
Thanks for sharing all these tasty thought-bits, Chavi!
At one time, I considered an Orthodox conversion to solve my status problem in Israel, with the intention of not staying that way. Halachically, there is nothing anyone should be able to do about that (though a rabbi recently tried to nullify another rabbi’s conversion of a woman 20 years after the fact when he discovered that she wasn’t keeping all the commandments, but he has no halachic basis for that). But I was never entirely at ease with that thought, and ultimately abandoned the idea. I can see the lure for some people. If Avi’s friends thought that was an option for him, it’s probably because they see his dedication and observance level and don’t think it conflicts with the basic practices of Orthodoxy–a generous viewpoint and a compliment rather than a sell-out on their part, in my opinion.
And the piece about the Hebrew Israelites was really interesting, too. Chicago and Detroit both have communities like this, and there are a number who came to Israel a few decades ago and burned their American passports to avoid having to leave. They’re called Black Hebrews here. Their services and dedication to Torah are inspiring. (I had never seen them live–except on the streets here–until the video from their website.) And if they see Judaism as a way to connect to their distant ancestry, I suppose that’s their business. But while I know it annoys them, I too question their purported authenticity, and not because they’re Black. (There are real Black Jews in the U.S. and Ethiopian Jews here in Israel). Having African ancestry does NOT automatically make you Jewish, especially when your ancestors were most likely pagans from West Africa who were brought to the New World as slaves and later became Christians before finding Judaism. And their belief that white Jews think Judaism is a white religion is just silly. In Israel, European Jews live among Jews from India, North Africa, Yemen, China, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Ethiopia (and everywhere else). And finally, for Black Hebrews to say that they are the only true Jews, and that the rest of us are phonies, smacks of racial politics and shows their paltry knowledge of Jewish history.
As for poor Britney, she should have a refuah shleimah (complete recovery) from her tattoo removal. Amen.
I followed up SFMichele’s lead to Andy Borowitz’s report about Obama converting to Judaism. Since there is no other evidence of this on the Web, I think it’s in jest. Just in time for Purim. Giggle snort!
Great selection of articles! I liked the one about Orthodox conversions. Some may think it a bit dishonest to convert under these auspices and then revert to a less observant lifestyle. Perhaps, but I see it as a mix of pragmatism and desperation. One wants to be accepted wherever they travel, regardless of observance, and the conversion may be a simple matter of settling the future status of your children. In Israel, it may be a necessity. Further, one can view the process as providing the convert with the "upper limit" of Judaism. If the sojourner wants to be that observant, s/he can. If not, well, at least no one can question his/her status. I don’t know, a part of me just bristles at all of this. Perhaps my viewpoint is colored by the desire to rebel a little against what I see as an unattractive union of extreme legalism and religion.
LOL Zach by someone you "must" mean me!
The pragmatist in me agrees with you when you write.
"One wants to be accepted wherever they travel, regardless of observance, and the conversion may be a simple matter of settling the future status of your children. In Israel, it may be a necessity. "
But speaking as someone who has spent a lot of time (maybe even more than most non-ortho JBC’s) with orthodox Rabbis and their communities. Unfortunately more times than not, there is an expectation that the "Ger" is willing to only accept "Torah True" Judaism with the implication of rejecting anything seen as being apikorus. That of course usually means anything that isn’t Orthodox.
I agree with you that in a "go with the flow kind of way" it’s logical (at least at the surface level) to just do whatever needs to be done. However, the activist in me sees it as being counterproductive in the long term. It only goes to reinforce the status quo and keep the power in the hands of the ultra-orthodox and I for one think that’s a bad idea. I would rather have hurdles and problems now and continue to push for a better more inclusive solution down the road.
Like I said in my original comment. I don’t think my arguments will hold much weight over anyone who just wants to get past the bureaucracy around status and that’s fine, but I’m still going to push this angle when the discussion comes up.
I suppose that another reason I’m not so down with the go with the flow/just get it done approach is that I don’t see my Jewishness as being rooted around bureaucratic issues. It is first and for most a spiritual thing (between me and G-d, not just between me and the Orthodox or me and the state of Israel) and I not all that prepared to allow, or rather help the orthodox world, water down my identity or rights, nor those of my denominations status, either spiritually or legally anymore than it already has. In fact I’m more interested in reclaiming some ground on this issue. I guess for me this is (as I believe the say in Texas) just one of those situations where I think it’s better to "take names and kick some ass". But hey that’s just me, others are of course free to proceed in the way which they see as being best for them.
Oy, that was a rant and half! Sorry about that!
Avi, I never considered that angle… That by buying into the standard I would somehow erode the legitimacy of someone else’s choice to convert through one of the other movements.
Personally, I think it ridiculous that these divisions exist.
An orthodox conversion isn’t even possible for me (they won’t consider me a candidate because I’m already married to a non-Jew) so I’ve made my peace with the fact that I won’t be accepted everywhere if I do decide to convert under Conservative auspices with my current rabbi. At the end of the day, I’m going to go with the movement I feel best represents my beliefs (i.e., definitions of covenant, divinity of the Torah, obligations, etc.). That’s somewhere between Reform and Conservative, but it’s most certainly in the camp of liberal Judaism.
So, I’ll have to be comfortable being like the American Express card back in the day. Look how far it’s come. It’s virtually accepted everyone now! That’s my hope for all Jews.