New York – A known Orthodox rabbi recently brought to light the trials and adversity some Jewish converts face by coming out again as a convert himself in a New York Times opinion piece.
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Shmuly Yanklowitz, A well know activists and the founder and president of Uri L’Tzedek, the Orthodox Jewish social justice organization, In his piece, he discusses how the recent arrest of a rabbi in Washington, D.C. for spying on women in the ritual bath drew attention to the control placed over potential converts.
In his piece, titled “Judaism Must Embrace the Convert,” (http://nyti.ms/1CcoXxJ) Yanklowitz states, “The scandal put a spotlight on the near-total control exercised by the rabbi over converts into the Jewish faith. The system lacks oversight. It leaves those wanting to become Jews vulnerable to exploitation.”
“Being Jewish is not a genetic condition, but a complex hierarchy of identity and choice,” Yanklowitz continued.
The rabbi says that what in theory should be an inclusive religion, the reality of Judaism is complicated; The Israeli chief rabbinate has the ability to reject conversions they deem un-Orthodox, including the Reform and Conservative movements in the United States.
The difficulties converts face is a topic that has touched Yanklowitz closely; his father is Jewish and his mother is Christian. “After learning the traditional significance placed on matrilineal lineage, I underwent a liberal conversion as an adolescent. Later I underwent a rigorous Orthodox conversion.”
“I chose not to share my journey previously because I am now an Orthodox rabbi and, unfortunately, Jews by choice are sometimes perceived as being less authentic or authoritative than those who are Jewish from birth,” writes Yanklowitz. “Many feel shame and choose not to reveal that they are converts out of fear of having their, and their descendants’, status and credentials questioned.”
Yanklowitz says that in order for Jewish conversion to progress, a break needs to be made from bureaucratic authorities toward a move to, “transparent expectations and timelines, no financial cost, greater respect for personal privacy, increased women’s leadership, broader ethical and spiritual parameters for eligibility and fair treatment of all candidates.”
Information taken from The New York Times
Isn’t he from Avis Weiss’ rabbinical school?
Wow, Rabbi!
You can hardly call him Orthodox and he is a walking, talking chillul hashem.
And any even slightly religious Jew who has read or heard this “rabbi” speak knows that as a fact.
He is yet another stain of Avi Weiss that is sullying Torah.
good for you rabbi
your passion and transparency is refreshing
So, in the “Koshim Gerim L’yisroel K’sapachas” (Yavamos 16b) vs. “Lo… Elo K’day SheYitosfu Alayhem Gerim” (Pesachim 87b) divide, we know where this one stands… This explains a lot.
Interesting how some of you are disparaging this Rabbi and claiming he’s not Orthodox. But what about his message? He says the systen lacks oversight. Is that not true? Are converting women not subject to exploitation?
Maskim on the sapachas comment at least about this individual.
according to jewish law you need to talk a none jew who wants to convert . out of it : so whats he’s point? קשה גירים לישראל כספחת
Wow. Such acerbic vitriol. Amazing. Also your interpretations of קשה גירים לישראל כספחת are also quite amazing. You take that as a negative. It’s really a positive. It doesn’t imply that gerim are sapachas. It’s K’sapachas – the language of a mashal. What’s the nimshal? Gerim make us itchingly uncomfortable as they bring out aspects of our lives that are flawed and in need of healing. Like right now – I’m a ger and I’m pointing out the toxic overflow of lashon horah happening. So let’s y’all stop now, ya hear?
Shmuly Yanklowitz needs to be listened to. I know of a case of a “orthodox” “Rabbi” of a well known shul in a well known orthodox community that was caught having relations with the lady he was helping convert. The point is that if there are two such cases, then it is a reasonable to surmise that there more cases of such abuse have occurred.
today it is the baalie tshuvah and the ger tzeddik who bring into Judaism the thirst for spiritual advancement. The FFB’s give us davening, davening, davening, meaning davening without trying to connect to HKB.
Being frum and being spiritual are two completely separate and different concepts. We need baalie tshuvah and the gerrai tzeddik to open our minds to spiritual advancement.
There is no question that the Torah subscribes how we are to treat Geirim and that there are abuse problems in the conversion process which must be fixed.
That being said, the NY Times is NOT the place to do it. This is an internal Jewish matter. The only thing accomplished by writing in the Times, is to give more fodder for the anti-semites of the world. If you really want to fix any problem, you do it in the right way and in the right forum, not in a way that causes other problems, yet gets you 10 minutes of fame.
The people who are commenting negatively here are menuvalim brishus haTorah at best and are likely severely deficient in their avodas Hashem. Good people, they are not.
“Many feel shame and choose not to reveal that they are converts out of fear of having their, and their descendants’, status and credentials questioned.”
Yes, the status should be questioned. Because there are so many converts that did for ulterior motives, that we have to be suspicious of one if we don’t see full commitment. Converts should not think that they can lay back and practice partial Judaism once they are converted. Hashem expects and demands from ALL of us to show full commitment to Torah. If a convert shows full dedication, he/she has high chance of fully integrating into Judaism, even at the highest levels.
Now to be clear and not to demean Geirim, who are very enthusiastic Yidden, the Sepachas statement in the Gemara Kidishin has many interpretation (see meforshim). Ranging from positive to negative, and all are true. Now as mentioned above on quality that Geirim share is that they are enthusiastic. Sadly sometimes too enthusiastic, like in the case of this very liberal Rebbi (No true Orthodox Jew speaks like that). Here we have ti sadly apply the sapachas statement in a negative light. A Ger joins the Nation and the first thing he wants to do is change things. Now there is no denying we could maybe use his/her special insight on matters but to come and push unwanted changes is a terrible bother. We have millenia of Mesorah and the Chochomim of each generation to tackle the issues.
Regarding increased women leadership, he obviously lacks a fundamental Jewish understanding of the specific roles of male and female, based on their skills and aptitudes. He is coming with the “enlightened” secular ideology, and trying to enlighten the old-fashioned Orthodox (which btw means “old way” in Latin and the Reformist named us) Yiddelech.
Again proving that he is far from True Torah Judaism.
I agree with the Rabbi, Kol Hkovod
This “rabbi” clearly contradicts what is said in the Talmud. See last couple weeks of Daf Yomi.
I am, what you would call, FFB (Frum From Birth). I have no beard but I wear a yamika everywhere and I am obviously Jewish.
(Shoimer Shabbos, only reliable kosher restaurants, etc.)
I come into contact with a lot of people. Many of them are, as they tell me, Jewish by heritage. That means that they are Jewish (the ones with a Jewish mother & grandmother) but they know nothing about Yiddishkeit.
Even though some feel uncomfortable discussing Jewish issues I persist and each time I see them I discuss “light’ halachic issues or Jewish history from a frum standpoint.
As an example: Many years ago I was at a meeting at a reliable glatt restaurant. (since I would not go into any other kind) There were 12 of us in the group. 3 attorneys were Jewish by “Heritage”, the rest were goyim. At the start of the meal I got up to wash. The 3 Yidden followed me to wash. I gave them yamikas, they washed and I said Hamoitzee with them. From this simple act and some continuing conversations, 2 of them went on to learn at Aish Hatorah and are 100% frum today.
Raboisai, this happens all the time. Yidden just need to follow your example. Mitzva goreras Mitzva.