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Spirituality
TORAH PORTION
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Listen To Converts
Parshat Ekev: Deuteronomy 7:12-
11:25; Isaiah 49:14-51:3.
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38
July 29 2010
here is a juxtaposition of two
Judaism? Also, are there things that we
verses in this week's Torah
can learn from these converts?
portion that relate to a mod-
While no formal studies have been
ern phenomenon.
made, informal writings by converts
Moses, just prior to his death,
point to an area that needs our atten-
exhorts the people of Israel
tion. In all of our organiza-
to stop blocking themselves
tions today, we have many
from belief in and loyalty
new "Jews by choice" who
to God. Three verses later,
have freely chosen to be
Moses emphasizes that we
part of our people like the
are to emulate the greatness
beautiful biblical example
of God through our actions,
of Ruth. They have been led
specifically (Deuteronomy
to believe that the Jewish
10:19): "You, too, must
people will embrace them
befriend the stranger, for
fully once they have con-
you were strangers in the
verted.
Rabbi Dorit
land of Egypt."
And yet, especially for
Ed ut
The Hebrew word for
those Jews of color, they are
Specia I to the
"stranger" is ger, which has
often treated politely yet
Jewish News
also been used to mean
never accepted socially on
"convert." In other words,
an equal footing. Some have
we are asked to reach out especially to
expressed worry about the chances of
those we consider "strangers" in our
marrying another Jew or having their
midst — which could today, of course, children fully accepted in the com-
include immigrants, physically and
munity.
mentally challenged, homosexuals and
Some Jews of color have decided to
other minority groups.
form their own congregations, as in
But if we focus on the meaning of
Chicago or New York, where they do
stranger as convert to Judaism, I think
not have to deal with any such preju-
we will see an issue that we need to
dices. Other converts who become
address.
active members of our congregations,
It is not without intention that
often ask where are all the many other
Moses, and later the prophet Jeremiah
Jews whom they assumed would also
(4:1-4), uses the term "circumcise" in
be attending services, observing our
urging the Jewish people to carefully
holidays and contributing to the life of
remove that which obstructs their
their religious institutions.
hearts, minds and souls to doing what
Indeed, it is from the enthusiasm,
God expects of us.
the curiosity and the deep faith of our
We know that circumcision, or brit
modern gerim that we can all learn
milah, is the ritual by which Jewish
and be inspired. The blockages around
males accept the covenant; every male
our own hearts and minds that have
convert to Judaism must undergo this
led many of us away from an active
ritual, too. It certainly demands a high
and committed Jewish life can be
level of commitment to be willing to
opened up when we hear just how and
undergo circumcision, especially as an why the newest Jews have joined us.
adult. This comes only at the end of
We need to hear the story from each
the long process of study, introspec-
of our gerim — what is it they love
tion and practice that any potential
about Judaism and being Jewish?
convert to Judaism goes through today.
If we listen carefully to what our
But what is this circumcision of the
new Jewish converts are saying, then
heart that those born into Judaism are we will see just where we must cir-
asked to consider here? In the Talmud
cumcise our own hearts — to find
(Tractate Sukkah 52a), Rabbi Yehoshua ways to fully embrace these members
ben Levi identifies the "thickening
of our people and to generate greater
around the heart" as the yetzer Ka-
enthusiasm, activity and commitment
ra, the inclination for wrongdoing
to our own Jewish identity.
or moral insensitivity. The question
then is today, how are we treating
Rabbi Dorit Edut is the rabbi of Temple
those who have converted willingly to
Israel of Bay City.