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To: faithhopecharity

What you’re asking me to do is to violate halacha and commit lashon hara against another Jew.

I personally consider anyone who converts on the same level — and higher — than a born Jew because they actually get an education on halacha and much more. Many Jews who were raised in non-practicing homes actually go through a similar process if they BT.

There are a lot of people who recently discovered they have a Jewish heritage and possibly halacha Jew, or want to become one. “Feelings” aren’t enough for an Orthodox rabbi because there aren’t that many of them and their time is limited. In many cases, going through such an abrupt change is too much for someone who was raised in either another religion or faithless. No rabbi wants to stake their reputation on a flake and then get all their conversions called into question — that goes for after someone converts too.

Rejection is something every single Jew has to learn how to deal with. We are literally the most hated people on the planet. Your family members may not support you at all, and quite possibly sever ties with you. You may lose your job because your boss wants you to work on Shabbat. And let’s not even get into how a significant portion of this population believes your death or conversion leads to some fulfillment of their religion’s prophecy. There are organizations funded with billions of dollars specifically to mission to you. You’re not safe in Israel either because they manage using very underhanded methods to get in so they can harass you. The “convert or kill” mentality never disappears in this world, and leads to cooperation (either knowingly or unknowingly) with terrorists.

And halacha rules your life because it’s the only way you get close to Hashem. If you have kids, you can’t have your mobile phone on during Shabbat. If one of them has a football game across town on Shabbat, forget it — they either have to walk or not play. You have to prepare all your meals the day before and use a warming plate or eat cold foods. You have to put all your lights and on-demand appliances on timers. No internet or electronic devices where you have to push a button or some other action. No sewing, no tearing, etc. No work. No cleaning.

Try it for sundown to sundown. See if you can hack it one time. I will say 99.9% of people in this world will break Shabbat within the first two hours.

Persecution doesn’t come from just Gentiles either. Jews are pretty hard on one another. Get used to being called a heretic or apostate because you daven with such and such group. I personally look for the best aspects of every movement so I always have something good to point out, but the majority of Jews don’t agree with that outlook. It’s always something: how you dress, how you talk, how many kids you have, etc.

Being a Jew is like having a megawatt spotlight on yourself. Everything you do, eat, say, etc. is observed by Hashem. Not only that, if you screw up in public, you just embarrassed all of Israel and brought shame on your people. You’re also automatically labeled a socialist or communist even though such a system goes against Torah.

The hardest thing above all is avoiding idolatry, believe it or not. It’s this constant trap set for you that can spring any time, any place. It can happen with a political figure, a rabbi, a co-worker, etc. All of a sudden, you think someone is absolutely perfect and can do no wrong — and therefore you put a human above Hashem.

Yeah, it’s not all bagels and comedy. There’s punishment and repentance. The majority of people are better off being Gentile aiming for supreme levels of righteousness like an Oscar Schindler kind of person. Most won’t choose that either because it’s so much more important to have a correct opinion or material things instead of compassion and true charity.

Now if you’re still reading and still want to do this to yourself instead of remaining a Gentile, I will tell you it’s the best thing in the world to have that unbreakable contract with Hashem. That direct relationship with Hashem and redemption is worth all of that and much more. Wouldn’t change it for anything.


23 posted on 12/30/2016 8:43:49 AM PST by Read Write Repeat
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To: KC_Lion; jjotto; Phinneous; EinNYC

Have a wonderful Shabbat & Happy Chanukah ping.


24 posted on 12/30/2016 8:51:34 AM PST by Read Write Repeat
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To: Read Write Repeat

Sorry for the apparent misunderstanding. I did not wish you to speak evil of anybody. I also applaud your faith commitment and agree with most of your analyses. as for conversions, it is understandable that a rabbi may not wish to sully his reputation with insincere conversions. But I respectfully submit each person has to find his/her best path to the Divine and rabbis usually will not refuse a sincere inquiry. The usual required study learning and the time this takes give the rabbi opportunity to assess for proper motivations and commitment -and understanding of the disadvantages of joining a much- persecuted people. just as you find Jewish faith and life and connection to G-d to be a tremendous blessing in your life, there have always been some non-Jewish “seekers” who —after studying Judaism- do likewise The rabbis are usually cautious and yes. May require up to three requests from such a person before seriously discussing it with them - but while the entry door is heavy it is not, has never been, locked. That’s all I was meaning to write. Bless you and thanks thanks for your kindness in discussing. I usually shy away from religious topics as much as I can anyway - because there can be some quite hurtful words posted at times. Bless you.


25 posted on 12/30/2016 9:15:10 AM PST by faithhopecharity ("Politicans are not born, they're excreted." -- Marcus Tillius Cicero)
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