Becoming a Jew
There is a tradition that 3,000 years ago when God gave us the Torah on Mount Sinai - that every Jewish soul that ever was and ever would be was present. We can learn from this that there are people in our world who have Jewish souls although they may consider themselves Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Agnostic, Atheist, or otherwise.
Through the process of conversion, those Jewish souls and the beautiful people who house them are allowed to find full expression and joy in living a Jewish life.
The first “Jew by choice” was Abraham. In following God’s command to leave his land, his place of birth, and his father’s home - Abraham was choosing to follow the One God who, remains today, every Jew’s Guide and Teacher.
Later in the Tanakh (Bible) we read the story of Ruth and Naomi from the Book of Ruth.
During the time of the Judges when there was a famine, an Israelite family from Bethlehem—Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their sons Mahlon and Chilion—emigrate to the nearby country of Moab. Elimelech dies, and the sons marry two Moabite women: Mahlon marries Ruth and Chilion marries Orpah.
The two sons of Naomi then die themselves. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. She tells her daughters-in-law to return to their own mothers, and remarry. Orpah reluctantly leaves; however, Ruth says, "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May ADONAI do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." (Ruth 1:16-17)
This beautiful story of commitment to family, the Jewish faith and One God serves as an inspiration for many people who discover that they too feel called to the Jewish religion. In participating in a formal process of Gerut (conversion) we affirm that this Jewish soul will continue to nurture their faith and, as Abraham did, walk with God.
Through the process of conversion, those Jewish souls and the beautiful people who house them are allowed to find full expression and joy in living a Jewish life.
The first “Jew by choice” was Abraham. In following God’s command to leave his land, his place of birth, and his father’s home - Abraham was choosing to follow the One God who, remains today, every Jew’s Guide and Teacher.
Later in the Tanakh (Bible) we read the story of Ruth and Naomi from the Book of Ruth.
During the time of the Judges when there was a famine, an Israelite family from Bethlehem—Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their sons Mahlon and Chilion—emigrate to the nearby country of Moab. Elimelech dies, and the sons marry two Moabite women: Mahlon marries Ruth and Chilion marries Orpah.
The two sons of Naomi then die themselves. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. She tells her daughters-in-law to return to their own mothers, and remarry. Orpah reluctantly leaves; however, Ruth says, "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May ADONAI do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." (Ruth 1:16-17)
This beautiful story of commitment to family, the Jewish faith and One God serves as an inspiration for many people who discover that they too feel called to the Jewish religion. In participating in a formal process of Gerut (conversion) we affirm that this Jewish soul will continue to nurture their faith and, as Abraham did, walk with God.
