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Encyclopedia > Giur

Ger tzedek (Hebrew: "righteous convert" or "convert [of] righteousness") or Ger ("stranger" or "convert") or is a gentile (i.e. a non-Jew by birth) who has undergone giur (religious conversion) to Judaism by fulfilling the ritual requirements for such conversion accepting the obligations of Jewish religious observance. Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by 6 million people mainly in Israel, parts of the Palestinian territories, the United States and by Jewish communities around the world. ... The word Gentile has several meanings. ... Religious conversion is the adoption of new religious beliefs that differ from the converts previous beliefs; in some cultures (e. ... Judaism is the religious culture of the Jewish people. ...

Contents


History

In Biblical Hebrew, the word ger can denote either a convert (and is usually interpreted as such by the Talmud) or a non-Jewish inhabitant of the Land of Israel who observes the seven Noahide Laws and has repudiated all links with idolatry. The word ger tzedek was used to denote a full convert. In post-Talmudic times, the word ger has become synonymous with ger tzedek; Ger is commonly translated by the word "proselyte", and has come to mean a convert to Judaism. 11th century Targum Tanakh [תנ״ך] (also spelt Tanach or Tenach) is an acronym for the three parts of the Hebrew Bible, based upon the initial Hebrew letters of each part: Torah [תורה] (The Law; also: Teaching or Instruction), Chumash [חומש] (The five, also Pentateuch or The five books of... Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by 6 million people mainly in Israel, parts of the Palestinian territories, the United States and by Jewish communities around the world. ... The first page of the Talmud, in the standard Vilna edition. ... The Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ ישראל Eretz Yisrael) is the land that made up the ancient Jewish Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. ... The Noahide laws, also called the Brit Noah (Covenant of Noah) are the mitzvot (commandments) that the Talmud teaches that all non-Jews are morally bound to follow (Jews are subject to a different set of laws, as expressed in the lengthy Talmud itself). ...


Motivations for conversion

A mystical interpretation of conversions to Judaism is that there a convert is someone with a Jewish neshama (soul) who is simply trying to find his/her way home. Judaism is the religious culture of the Jewish people. ... The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ...


In general terms, anyone who commits to living a religiously observant life is an acceptable candidate for conversion. For a variety of reasons, rabbis have traditionally discouraged people from converting to Judaism, and most will insist that the candidate for conversion demonstrate his/her commitment in word and deed before the conversion is undertaken. brendan is gay ...


A number of reasons for converting exist: some have theological convictions consistent with Judaism; others are attracted to elements of Jewish religious life; some wish to belong to a particular Jewish community. A significant portion wish to convert because they want to marry someone who is Jewish. This latter reason (see secondary conversion) is considered to be insufficient by most Orthodox rabbis. In the sociology of religion, secondary conversion is conversion to a religion not due to any inherent attractiveness of the religion, but rather due to a pre-existing relationship with another convert to the religion. ... Orthodox Judaism is the oldest form of Judaism practiced by Jews. ...


Traditional requirements

The requirements under halakha for conversion to Judaism are that a beth din witnesses and approves: Halakha (הלכה or Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish rabbinic law, custom and tradition. ... Religious conversion is the adoption of new religious beliefs that differ from the converts previous beliefs; in some cultures (e. ... Judaism is the religious culture of the Jewish people. ... A beth din (בית דין, Hebrew: house of judgment, plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. ...

  • Circumcision (Brit milah) for men
  • Immersion (t'vilah) in a mikveh (ritual bath)
  • Understanding and acceptance of the obligations of being a religiously observant Jew.

After confirming that all these criteria have been met, the beth din issues a Shtar Giur ("Certificate of Conversion"), certifying that the former gentile is now a Jew. Circumcision is the removal of some or all of the prepuce (foreskin). ... Brit milah (Hebrew: ברית מילה; literally covenant of circumcision), also bris milah (Ashkenazi pronunciation) is a Jewish ceremony which welcomes infant boys into the covenant through ritual circumcision performed by a mohel in the presence of family and friends, followed by a celebratory meal. ... A Mikvah (or Mikveh, מקוה) is a Jewish ritual bath used for immersion in a purification ceremony. ... The word Gentile has several meanings. ...


Variations and controversy

The requirements for conversion to Judaism are intended to avoid any uncertainty about a convert's true status. The certification by a beth din was based on events the completeness of which were carefully defined. A beth din (בית דין, Hebrew: house of judgment, plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. ...


The Reform movement has relaxed some of the requirements for conversion, notably by making brit milah optional, only encouraging t'vilah (immersion), and requiring that converts commit to religious standards set by the Reform movement. Reform Judaism (also known as: Progressive Judaism, while in the U.K. Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism, together, make up Progressive Judaism) is an international branch of Judaism and the largest in North America. ... Brit milah (Hebrew: ברית מילה; literally covenant of circumcision), also bris milah (Ashkenazi pronunciation) is a Jewish ceremony which welcomes infant boys into the covenant through ritual circumcision performed by a mohel in the presence of family and friends, followed by a celebratory meal. ...


Both the Conservative and Orthodox movements require that all halakhic requirements be met, but they differ on what constitutes a competent beth din. Orthodox rabbis generally do not accept the authority of non-Orthodox rabbis. Moreover, in Orthodoxy, a person who converts under the guidance of a non-Orthodox rabbi is presumed to have an incomplete or erroneous understanding of the law he or she is taking upon him or herself; therefore, Orthodox rabbis generally do not accept conversions under Conservative (or Reform, or Reconstructionist) auspices. Conservative Judaism (or Masorti Judaism) is a denomination of Judaism characterized by: A positive attitude toward modern culture The belief that traditional rabbinic modes of study, and modern scholarship and critical text study, are both valid ways to learn about and from Jewish religious texts. ... Orthodox Judaism is the oldest form of Judaism practiced by Jews. ... Halakha (הלכה or Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish rabbinic law, custom and tradition. ... Reconstructionist Judaism is a denomination of Judaism characterized by: the belief that an individuals personal autonomy generally overrides traditional Jewish law and custom, yet also holding that ones practices must take into account communal consensus. ...


Since the Orthodox movement is not organized in a unified way, Orthodox rabbis will not automatically accept each other's authority. This has led to a general reluctance in the Orthodox communities to prepare and perform conversions.


Consequences of conversion

Once undergone, a religious conversion to Judaism is irreversible, unless there are grounds to believe that the convert was insincere during the conversion process. In such cases - which are rare - a beth din may annul the conversion. A beth din (בית דין, Hebrew: house of judgment, plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. ...


Place in religious life

Halakha forbids reminding a convert that he/she was once not a Jew and hence little distinction is made in Judaism between "Jews by birth" and "Jews by choice." According to halakha, converts face a limited number of restrictions, e.g. they cannot marry Kohanim. These restrictions apply only to the converts themselves; children of a female convert born after conversion are not affected by them in any way. Converts can become rabbis (and some have).


See also

Count Valentin (Valentine) Potocki (Pototzki or Pototski) was a polish nobleman and convert to Judaism; burned at the stake at Wilna (Vilna/Vilnius) May 24, 1749. ... As Judaism is not an actively proselytizing religion, conversion is a relatively uncommon occurrence. ... Religious conversion is the adoption of new religious beliefs that differ from the converts previous beliefs; in some cultures (e. ... Gerim or Geirim are literally Strangers sometimes refered to in The Hebrew Bible. ...

External links

  • Conversion to Judaism homepage - information on conversion within all branches of Judaism in North America
  • Conversion to Judaism on the Itim site (practical information on Orthodox conversion through the Israeli Chief Rabbinate and conversion in the diaspora).
  • Intermarriage and Conversion Reading List Introduction
  • Practical Tips on how to convert Orthodox reasonably quickly
  • Frequently asked questions:
    • How does one convert?
    • Why is the conversion process so complicated?
    • What about adults who are not circumcised?
    • What is the status of a child when the mother converts to Judaism during pregnancy?


 
 

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