FROM THE FOUR CORNERS, A Book Review

 

Emunah Vered Murray's collection of stories, some short memoirs, about converts FROM THE FOUR CORNERS: INSPIRING STORIES OF CONVERTS TO JUDAISM is truly an inspiring book. Each of the people included in her book has a very special and unique story. And there are so many other equally compelling converts to Torah Judaism that Murray can compile more volumes in a never ending series. 

As someone born Jewish to a non-observant family who took on a life of Torah and Mitzvot, I've always considered converts to Judaism on an amazingly high level of righteousness. When I think of the opposition and incredulous reactions I had faced from family and friends, imagine what someone born as a non-Jew accepting Judaism must face just blows my mind away. To me everyone who converts to Torah Judaism is a brave hero to have persevered. 

I've never met most of the people included in this anthology, but two stand out as people I know well, my neighbor and first Tanach (Bible) teacher Rabbi Nissan Ben Avraham and my good friend, though we cheer for different IFL football teams, Ruti Eastman.

Every single one of the people included in this book has a unique and compelling story adding richness to the entire Jewish People. Unlike most any other religion, Judaism discourages converts. A potential convert must convince a rabbinic authority that his/her conversion is totally sincere, without any hidden agenda and that the potential convert has a sincere spiritual need to join the Jewish People. Many converts included in FROM THE FOUR CORNERS and others I know have gone through various stages and "versions" of Judaism before they became Torah Observant (called Orthodox in the USA) Jews. In many cases there are seemingly insurmountable obstacles, which they manage to conquer on their path to Judaism. 

Read FROM THE FOUR CORNERS and get to know the extraordinary people who  work in a vast variety of fields from music to Torah to Mathematics and all in-between. They include men, women, young and old. All but one live here in Israel. There's no way to stereotype or generalize about the various converts included in this book except for their love of Judaism and sincerity. 

Buy FROM THE FOUR CORNERS for yourself and others. It makes the perfect gift and is available from Pomeranz Books online and in Jerusalem, plus Amazon.

Product details

• Publisher : Independently published (December 10, 2020)
• Language: : English
• Paperback : 298 pages
• ISBN-10 : 1674122527
• ISBN-13 : 978-1674122526

Conversion to Judaism Complicated Business

A version of this book review was posted on Israel Blogger as Post-Conversion Situations and Complications.

A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts By Rabbi Michael J. Broyde is an amazing book about the complexities that face people after their conversion to Judaism. I know many converts, but until I read the book I hadn’t a clue as how complicated things can get for them in their new status as Jews.

A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts by Rabbi Michael J. Broyde goes into all sorts of situations and “what ifs,” whether it’s the day of the conversion or in general. Some of the situations seem rather improbable, like conversion on Yom Kippur, but I guess if Broyde wrote about it, such as situation must have occurred. Other situations, like kosher food cooked before the actual conversion. Is it considered permissible, even though food cooked completely by a non-Jew is generally problematic?

Rabbi Broyde goes into some very important and common questions about the halachic and problematic family relationships that many or most converts find themselves in. Even though a convert is a “new person,” he/she came from a family, and in most cases continues very loving and respectful relationships with them. Quite often the non-Jewish family members are their own biological children and grandchildren. I think we all know of converts in those situations.

Following are a few pages to give you an idea of what it covers:

I must admit that I’m not an expert in halacha, Jewish Law, nor do I make it a practice to read books about halacha. And I had no idea what I would be getting myself into when I asked to review A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts. So I really must say that this book about conversion and the halachic ramifications is fascinating and appropriate for laymen like myself. To summarize, every synagogue library should have a copy or two.

Product details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Urim Publications; Bilingual edition (June 29, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9655242498
• ISBN-13: 978-9655242492