Why do Jews turn away converts when the bible says not to that?

Question

Devarim 10:19, "You shall love the convert, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."

Shemos 22:20, "Do not hurt the feelings of a convert or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."

VaYikra 19:33-34, "When a convert comes to live in your land, do not hurt his feelings. The convert should be to you exactly like a born Jew and you shall love him like yourself, for you were strangers in Egypt - I am HaShem, your God."

Answer 1

The source for turning away a potential convert stems from the Talmud. It does not in any manner contradict the Torah commands to love and treat the (actual) convert with kindness.



If a rabbi or conversion tribunal turn someone away, this is

". . . an expression of halachic directives that date back to the time of the Talmud, regarding the correct manner in which to address potential converts: 'When a person comes to convert in our days, we say to him, what impelled you to come to convert? Don't you know that the Jewish people in our days are wretched, oppressed, downtrodden, and exiled, and subject to afflictions? [In other words, it is difficult to be Jewish]' (Tractate Yevamot 47). The . . . [tribunal] will also outline Jewish doctrine regarding reward and punishment, according to which a non-Jew is obligated in very few commandments, yet receives reward for each and every additional commandment that he chooses to fulfill.

By converting, a non-Jew obligates himself in many commandments, like every Jew, and thus is culpable for their transgression."



In this manner, the rabbis often provide (3)challenges that a sincere convert will overcome.

Similar offers to opt out of the process were offered by Naomi in the Bible to her 2 daughters-in-law. The first, Orpa, finally turned away. The second, Ruth, declared her intention to stand by Naomi, her G-d, and her people.

Ruth was eventually rewarded and became the great-grandmother of King David.

Answer 2

You don't understand what the Torah is saying. Once a person IS a convert, they are to be treated as any other Jew...



But UNTIL they become converts, they are to be discouraged. There are very good reasons for this--



1) A gentile is NOT required to keep the Law. If the gentile is righteous, s/he will still have a part in the world to come. Once a person becomes a Jew, though, they are obligated to keep the Law--and we believe that they are held accountable to G-d if they do not. IOW, a gentile has much to lose by converting, and should stay as they are if at all possible.



2) Jews have, throughout history, been persecuted in the most horrible of ways. We want to make sure, without question, that a person who converts knows what they're in for if they join up with us. Remember, again, that we don't believe gentiles HAVE to convert in order to enter the world to come. Again, a potential convert has much to lose.



3) At certain points in history, Jews were killed for allowing converts. This tended to discourage the practice. :/



There are other reasons, but these are three of the main ones.



But the problem with your question is that you don't understand what Torah is saying. AFTER a person converts, they are fully accepted. Beforehand, they are discouraged. The common practice is to turn a gentile away three times. If they come back, the rabbi begins to realize that this is a person whose soul is Jewish.



A person who goes through a full conversion process--which can take years--and totally commits to the Jewish people, is to be accepted unequivocally as a Jew.

Answer 3

A convert is not turned away, however... It used to be that conversion would be discouraged 3 times to see if the person was sincere about joining the religion. Nowadays no one lives by the book. My friend just converted and wasn't turned down at all. I guess not all places turn you down 3 times.

Answer 4

throughout the history of judaism there has always been converts. more converts before than even now. and you are correct with your quotes. now-a-days i see what you mean, i hear many jews talking about converts as if they are weird strangers, they are not exactly fully accepting always. however some are very accepting and want to help people with conversion. i think that the more the merrier, as long as they are sincere. we are too small a people to be turning people away, and we are too persecuted a people to place judgment on those who accept us. those that accept the jewish life should be welcomed. we have been strangers too any times in too many different, we must be more open minded and welcoming.

Answer 5

You're supposed to discourage them from converting three times not turn them away. If they still want to convert then any Beth Din (Rabbincal Court) will carry out a conversion. After they have converted you're not supposed to treat them any differently from other Jews.

Answer 6

As a recent convert to Judaism, I can tell you that it IS a Jewish tradition and it IS still practiced by SOME rabbis who are approached by a POTENTIAL convert.



As Tehilla wrote, you may be confusing a POTENTIAL convert with someone who has converted. When the Torah refers to "the convert," it is a person (such as Ruth) who has already committed to the Jewish G-d and Jewish People. It is he/she we are commanded to love.



Again, Tehilla was right on in writing that rabbis turn you away to test sincerity and passion for the incredible and potentially difficult journey you are about to undertake. You are warned often that becoming a Jew MAY make you a target for bigotry, oppression and hatred.

Answer 7

1) the "ger" in the torah is not the same as "ger tzedek", a convert. this ger refers to a foreigner living in jewish/israelite areas.



2) the tradition to reject people trying to convert (several times) comes from a period when jews were not allowed by the church to convert anyone into judaism. the rabbi had to send the person away many times until he was sure that this is not an a "agent provocateur" or a spy from the church authorities trying to catch him red handed.

if you look at jewish custom before the destruction of the temple and before the appearance of christianity as a state religion, conversion was real easy. a whole mountain of edomites was converted just by a priestly/presidential decree (this lead to herod, but that's another story).

Answer 8

that is to test the truth and commitment of their desire to convert, both for their own benefit and the benefit of Judaism. Think about it- if you are not so sincere, and your intentions questionable, might the second 'no' make you go away? whereas if you are committed to Judaism and becoming a Jew, you will persevere though three little rejections in light of the lifelong benefits.

Once converted, they are welcome with open arms, and are as Jewish as me. (IE; as Jewish as anyone born of a Jewish mother).



This IS a way of showing love and respect for the stranger- it keeps those who would ultimately be unable to uphold their obligations as Jews from becoming jews.

You need to 'mature' your perspective. That's not an insult, but look at it this way- there are things I don't let my kids do; is that because i am not loving them? No it is because I do love them, and therefore it is my obligation to help them be safe and good. I also do not want to harm my community by raising wreckless, poorly intentioned children. When I say no, I protect my children now and in the future, and in many ways I protect the future of the Jewish community. (Especially with the oldest one! eek!)

It is quite the same idea.

Answer 9

In Hebrew there is a distinction between "ger" - one who has converted to Judaism, or a foreigner and "mitgayer" - a person who is in the process of becoming Jewish.

Israel is not proselytizing religion, it does not believe that Judaism is best for all human beigns. A gentile can worship God through the 7 commandmants of Noah.

It is tradition to first turn down anyone who shows an interest in becoming Jewish to test them in order to see how sincere they are. Once, they do embrace Judaism we are commanded to love them and treat them just like any other Jew.

Answer 10

We do not.

I know quite a few people who converted sincerely, authentically, and in accordance with Jewish law.

They are of different races and walks of life, and have all been warmly embraced by the orthodox community.

Even the ones who are in the process of converting are received warmly.

Answer 11

you have to turn them away BEFORE they convert - this is to ensure that they are doing it for the right reasons and are serious in wanting to convert to Judaism - once they convert they are like any other Jew and you have to treat them like you would any other Jew.

Answer 12

The Bible says to love the converts. All that is after he is accepted you should make him feel as your own 100%, But it does not say to accept all people, he is considerd a convert only after accepted, and the reason to this is obvious, go to places in the U.S. and see how many converts there are not for religious reasons, but just to marry the boyfriend, in the bible its written a lot on what happens to one who does not comply with the laws, and that is written to the jews, so how do you want to accept converts who do nat plan on keeping the laws, by Jewish law he s not a convert, for that reason they check afew times that the persons want to convert is really for his beleifs if not its Just a mumble of words.

Answer 13

Sweetheart we don't turn away converts at all. I don't know where you heard that we turn them away. The shul that I am a member of is mostly converts and we are a small shul about 175 members or so. We never turn converts away, we are struggling to get more converts since that is where we get our members. Most Jews in our area are not religious and they don't want to join our temple so we have to settle for converts. Our Rabbi does his best to persuade non Jews into converting at our Synagogue. After all his salary depends on our Temple membership.

Answer 14

You misunderstand the Hebrew word "ger" and as a result ask a question that is not valid.



Exodus 22:20 is not at all whjat you have written. It is actually, "He that sacrificeth unto the gods, save unto the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed."



Lev. 19:33-34 is actually, "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be to you as one 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."



Sorry.





.

Answer 15

Where is your proof that Jews do this?



I am Jewish and some of my good friends are converts. I don't turn them away. Other Jews that I know don't turn them away either.



You must be thinking of a small close minded sector. Most Jews will welcome converts.

Answer 16

jews don't turn away anyone who sincerely wants to convert. stop trying to spread lies.

Answer 17

Um, I don't think they do that.