With the notable exception of some Syrian Jewish communities (primarily the Brooklyn, New York and Deal, New Jersey communities), all mainstream forms of Judaism today are open to sincere converts, with all denominations accepting converts converted by their denominations. Yet he says ( Isurei Biah 13:15), that in the times of Jewish political power, such as the days of Kings David and Solomon, Batei Dinim (Jewish courts) did not accept converts who may have not had the right intention, and they had to wait and prove their intentions to be legally accepted. Overview Īccording to Maimonides ( Isurei Biah 13:14), converts were accepted since the beginning of Jewish history, and the foreign wives of Jewish leaders - such as Samson and Solomon - were converts. In Modern Hebrew, the unqualified term ger means ger tzedek. In the Talmud, ger is used in two senses: ger tzedek refers to a "righteous convert", a proselyte to Judaism, and ger toshav, a non-Jewish inhabitant of the Land of Israel who observes the Seven Laws of Noah and has repudiated all links with idolatry. In Karaite Judaism the term ger only refers to a non-Jew who has yet to fully convert to Judaism, and once converted to Karaitism, is no longer called ger. In all branches of Judaism, a ger or giyoret is considered a full Jew the literal meaning of "stranger", "resident", or "foreigner" refers to the convert's origin, not present status. Ī male convert to Judaism is referred to by the Hebrew word ger ( Hebrew: גר, plural Hebrew: גרים gerim) and a female convert is a giyoret. The word is rendered by the Greek " proselyte" as used in the Septuagint to denote a "stranger". Another verse which has been interpreted as referring to non-Jews converting to Judaism is Esther 8:17, although no process is described. The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.Īnother passage which may be relevant to a process of conversion involves non-Jewish women captured in war who could be adopted forcibly as wives ( Deuteronomy 21:10–14). Rabbinic tradition interpreted the word ger as referring to proselytes." Īngel's explanation of the literal meaning of " ger" as alien is borne out in biblical verses such as Lev 19:34: When the Torah commands compassion and equal justice for the ger, it is referring to these "residents". The Hebrew ger (in post-Biblical times translated as "proselyte") literally means "resident" and refers to a non-Israelite who lived among the Israelite community. In the Hebrew Bible ger is defined as a "foreigner", or "sojourner". The word ger comes from the Hebrew verb lagur ( לגור) meaning "to reside" or "to sojourn ". Īccording to Israel Bartal, then dean of the humanities faculty of the Hebrew University, "conversions to Judaism had a major impact on Jewish history in the ancient period and in the early Middle Ages". However, if Subbotniks, or anyone without a formal conversion, wish to marry into a traditional Jewish community or immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return, they must have a formal conversion. For example, in Russia the Subbotniks have adopted most aspects of Judaism without formal conversion to Judaism. There are some groups that have adopted Jewish customs and practices. A formal conversion is also sometimes undertaken by individuals whose Jewish ancestry is questioned or uncertain, even if they were raised Jewish, but may not actually be considered Jews according to traditional Jewish law. Normally, though not always, the conversions performed by more stringent denominations are recognized by less stringent ones, but not the other way around. Furthermore, a conversion done in accordance with one Jewish denomination is not a guarantee of recognition by another denomination. The procedure and requirements for conversion depend on the sponsoring denomination. It thus resembles both conversion to other religions and naturalization. Lines of the Pentateuch alternate with the Targum ascribed to Onkelos (a convert to Judaism)Ĭonversion to Judaism ( Hebrew: גיור, giyur) is the process by which non-Jews adopt the Jewish religion and become members of the Jewish ethnoreligious community. 1,497 containing Numbers 6:3-10, dated 12th century. Naomi entreating Ruth and Orpah to return to the land of Moab by William Blake, 1795 A portion of the Pentateuch in Hebrew, British Library Oriental MS.
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