Israel's Coalition: I See Good Things

To be very honest, nothing's perfect, and that includes politicians. Even though the Bennett-Lapid broad coalition doesn't have the exact policies I want, I still consider today's situation superior to the Bibi-chareidi mafia. 

Bibi and his cohorts were sure that they had found a way to stay in power forever. The Likud as the largest political party in the Knesset, along with the chareidim managed to prevent a coalition from wresting the rule from them. They had the country in a stranglehold for a few years. Since Bibi had led the last coalition as Prime Minister, he continued as caretaking or interim PM along with his mafia. Sorry, it may be legal but it's not the sign of a healthy democracy. I also opposed the massive street demonstrations against Bibi prior to the new coalition. That's mob rule, not law.

Then miraculously, Bennett, Lapid, Gantz, Saar and a few disparate parties pulled the rug out from under Bibi and his cronies. They decided to concentrate on what they agreed and formed a coalition. The foulmouthed sore-losers and the political pundits quickly predicted that the new government wouldn't last out the month, but half a year later they seem to be developing strong, stable sea legs...

One of the great standouts as a minister in the coalition is Matan Kahane, Minister of Religion. Way back when in the earlier decades of the State of Israel the NRP National Religious Party held that position. The religious establishment was more mamlachti, Zionist, Bnai Akiva, not chareidi. In more recent years as NRP's younger generation became more ideological and/or open to working with other groups, the party not only lost votes, but it lost its luster, attracting fewer and fewer potential leaders. Every few years the NRP hired a few "front man." Even Naftali Bennett played the role until he got tired of being a "figurehead," 

Today politically ambitious men in crocheted kippot and women in scarves and sleeves can be seen in almost all political parties.  As the NRP got weaker, it lost its leadership in the government's religious bodies, and the chareidim quickly stepped in. The NRP is no longer in the Knesset, and the rabbinate, kashrut and conversion are dominated by the chareidim. 

Matan Kahane in Shiloh, parlor meeting,
March, 2019

Back to Matan Kahane who was new to politics when I heard him at a parlor meeting here in Shiloh, March 2019. I was impressed then, and he hasn't disappointed me yet.

For decades I've been worried about the fact that the "national religious" Jews as a group have been considering themselves "second class," inferior Jews to the chareidim. I don't see chareidi lifestyle and religious "standards" as superior, more genuinely Jewish. And since the chareidim now control the Rabbanit it's only getting worse. 

Conversion to Judaism has become one of the more difficult issues, and I'm glad that Matan Kahane is working on that, plus kashrut.

For those who want to list the "bad" things the present government has done, it's just as easy to find examples of similar and worse done by Bibi. Do you really want Bibi and his mafia back in unlimited power?

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

Biblical גר Ger, Stranger is Neither Convert nor Immigrant

One of my pet peeves is interpreting the Bible Tanach according to modern concepts. Pretty soon, as we're getting closer to Purim, I'll probably write reminding everyone that King Achashverosh and Queen Esther's "marriage" wasn't a marriage in the modern sense. They certainly didn't sit over morning coffee together discussing politics, weather and the children. I doubt if they ever had a meal together, but that's for later...

There's a real problem with how people interpret/translate the word גר Ger as it appears in the Bible, for example in the most recent Parshat Shavua, Torah Portion of the Week, Mishpatim, Exodus 21-24.

וְגֵ֖ר לֹ֣א תִלְחָ֑ץ וְאַתֶּ֗ם יְדַעְתֶּם֙ אֶת־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַגֵּ֔ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Exodus 23:9 You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.

What did the writer of the Bible mean by גר Ger?

First of all, it wasn't a "convert," known today in Hebrew as a גר צדק, righteous ger. Four thousand 4,000 years ago there was no such thing as a formal conversion. The idea that someone "converts" to Judaism is much more recent. Even the iconic "conversion" of Ruth was no more than a statement of identification and oath to live and die according to however her mother-in-law Naomi does. People lived in clans and were expected to adopt the ways/religion/gods of the dominant clan.

A  גר Ger, if modeled on how Yosef and Yaakov's family/clan lived in Egypt, was one of a clan that didn't follow the dominant religion/gods of the society. When Pharaoh invited Yaakov to live in Egypt, he set them up in a "ghetto" of sorts in Goshen. Pharaoh's Egypt wasn't a 20th century American melting pot, which encouraged assimilation into the dominant culture/society.

The  גר Ger wasn't like modern immigrants; they were more nomadic. They followed the money and didn't own land. There was something intrinsically temporary about the life of a  גר Ger.

Think about it, please. I'd like your reactions.

I expect stormy reactions to this post.

Why is The Secular Left so Obsessed with Converting Us?

I don't feel threatened by the secular Left, so why do they feel so threatened by us on the Right?

Lihavdil, it reminds me of the christian proselytizing of "unbelievers." In contrast, if someone wants to convert to Judaism he/she must literally beg and do one's best to convince the rabbis to take him/her on as a potential Jew.

IMHO the secular Left suffers from an insecurity, since their religion/ideology keeps changing with the seasons. And they never know who's going to ask too many questions and end up taking on traditional Judaism and/or Right views.

What is known today as BT- Ba'ale Teshuva, "masters of return," began in the 1960's a generation or two after it had looked like most Jews had jumped ship in their enthusiasm to assimilate into secular and non-Jewish society. 

I'll never forget the shock and dismay when I began taking on Torah Jewish aka Orthodox practices/mitzvot. My parents had been certain that they had saved us from the restrictions and difficulties that strictly observing Judaism would cause us.  They were also on the political Left; I remember their disappointment when Eisenhower defeated Stevenson in the 1956 USA Presidential Elections. They'd be horrified to discover that I'm on the Right also politically.

Ironically, the "wild" 1960's in its search for truth, simplicity and the intolerance of hypocrisy facilitated my increased connection to Judaism in every way. I couldn't abide being a part time or just Jew "in name" living outside of the Holyland.

I can tell my story, but I can't imagine trying to brainwash or convince anyone to live how I do. It is something one must reach on one's own. You must be ripe for it, like the difference between a ripe fruit and one that isn't edible.

Gd willing all Jews will find themselves ready to lead full Jewish lives in the Land of Israel.

The Jewish African Prince Rabbi

Last week I attended an amazing talk by a person whose life could be a movie script, one of those most people would claim as unrealistic impossible.

Rabbi Natan Gamedze told his story to Telfed, the South African Zionist Federation of Israel and many others who crowded into the packed lecture hall.

Many of my friends are converts, and some also have rather interesting family stories, but Rabbi Nati's story is even more unusual.

In telling his personal story, Rabbi Nati also gave some reasons for the political instability in Africa, which are the same as in other parts of the world. When he was growing up, his grandfather was a preacher, having abdicated his throne in order to be more active in the church. That was pretty good timing, since Britain had redrawn borders, combining a number of incompatible tribes into the same country. In compensation, Rabbi Nati's father was given important cabinet posts.

When Rabbi Nati was a university student in South Africa he was very friendly with Jewish students and even visited them at home and went to events in the synagogues. There was still apartheid at the time, and it was rare for blacks to be so friendly with whites. At that time he wasn't interested in theology.

Rabbi Nati studied languages. He is fluent in many. And it was in a language course that he noticed someone writing a strange-looking language from right to left. That piqued his curiosity, and he ended up taking Hebrew courses which brought him to Israel. And he was curious about Judaism, finding that its theology made sense to him. Judaism is a unique Truth. Now, not only does he teach Judaism here in Israel, but he travels all over lecturing. The movie below tells his story better than I could.

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

The Story of Ruth & Naomi is Not About "Loving the Stranger"

Artscroll Stone Chumash

Maybe I should call this post:

Jerusalem Post Promotes Intermarriage

I got very aggravated on Shavuot after reading the first/main article in the Jerusalem Post's Holiday Magazine,  LOVING THE STRANGER: THE TIMELESS MESSAGE OF THE STORY OF RUTH by Lee Caspi, because Caspi got it all wrong.

On my first reading, I focused on Caspi's totally mistaken idea that The Scroll of Ruth is a story promoting the acceptance of strangers/refugees, and during classes I attended on Shavuot, I kept reminding people that Naomi had returned to her original home where she had land. Her problem was to find a way to return to her family, so she and her daughter-in-law Ruth wouldn't starve. Ruth was a Jew, a convert who had pledged her allegiance to Naomi's god and Land. When she gathered grain, it wasn't to send it back to Moav. Caspi's parallel to an Eritrean friend sending money to family in Eritrea is a total distortion of Ruth's story.

Boaz is praised for helping a family member who had fallen on hard times. As soon as he became aware of Ruth's identity-- widow of a clansman, he told his workers to be extra kind and generous to her. She and Naomi were not strangers. They were family!

And now I just reread Caspi's article and there is another very serious problem. I find it outrageously sacrilegious, since it promotes intermarriage, distorting the way marriage was done in those days.

Today, for various historical reasons, much emphasis is put on the importance of Jews marrying within the faith, keeping matters in our ethno-religious group. But this is, to a degree, a deviation from our holiest text, in which several examples can be found of successful intermarriages, some so successful that they resulted in one of the biblical figures known to have been most beloved by God – King David. This is not to say that the story of Ruth encourages us to marry outside the Jewish faith, but I believe it teaches us that good things can sometimes be gained from doing so.

I must repeat that Ruth was a convert to Judaism, and once someone has accepted the "yoke" of Torah, it is forbidden to refer to the person by by his former religious/ethnic identity. And the Boaz-Ruth marriage was not a love match. It was more a business deal. Boaz had promised to arrange a marriage between Ruth and a relative of Elimelech. When no other suitable candidate agreed, then Boaz married her, and according to Biblical scholars he didn't live long after. And according to the Biblical text, the baby was considered as Naomi's; Ruth is not mentioned after the birth.

In one of the classes I attended on Shavuot, it was stressed that the baby born to Boaz and Naomi/Ruth brought the Tribe of Judah back to life. It had been dying out. In this story, like many of the Davidic Messianic Line, we see strong determined women who took the initiative in their relationships with the men of Judah. Naomi and Ruth are following in the footsteps of Leah and Tamar.

It's disappointing that the editors of the Jerusalem Post can't find someone more knowledgeable about Judaism and the Bible to write about the Scroll of Ruth in their Shavuot Supplement.

Jewish/Israeli Pride--Michael Douglas & Orange

For the longest time, I've begged (on my blogs) the Israeli Government, official and media to act outrageously insulted and demand suitable compensation or else against those who treat Israel badly. That includes offenses like Turkey's sending the flotilla of weapons to support Gazan arab terrorists against us, or the countries led by the USA that refuse to recognize Jerusalem as our Capital City and everything inbetween.

So I was completely overjoyed when the new Netanyahu, Likud Government actually exhibited outrage at the anti-Israel comments of the head of Orange recently. And just like I've always said, "if you act strong people will respect you," the Orange company head is in Israel to apologize and smoothe things over.

Orange chief executive Stephane Richard, whose remarks about ending a licensing deal have caused anger in Israel, will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday during a visit to the country, a company spokeswoman said.
"Richard declared that he is happy to have a chance to clarify Orange Group commitment to Israel," spokeswoman Nilly Richman said in a statement, adding that the CEO also planned to meet Israel's former head of state Shimon Peres.
After arriving in Israel on Thursday, he visited Tel Aviv-based Orange Fab, an accelerator program for Israeli high-tech start-ups that was purchased by Orange.
Israel protested to France after Richard said last week that he would terminate a licensing arrangement with Israel's Partner Communications "tomorrow morning" if the contracts allowed. Orange is 25 percent owned by the French government. (Reuters)

We're always getting bullied, because we kowtow in response instead of hitting back. Today there is a lot of emphasis in child-raising in how to teach your children not to be a victim. International Relations and diplomacy work the same way. Israel's being "nice" about being insulted and trying to placate the bullies only increases the diplomatic offensive against Israel.

More about Jewish pride...

Kirk, Michael and Dylan Douglas  

In an interesting twist, two generations after Issur Danielovitch aka Kirk Douglas married the non-Jewish Diana, his grandson Dylan, son of Michael and the non-Jew Catherine Zeta Jones, is strongly identifying as a Jew. At his request he even had a Bar Mitzvah of sorts.

A few decades ago, it would be unheard of for a family with Jewish roots, but non-Jewish according to Jewish Law, to come out so publicly and proudly as Jewish.

“I have no formal religious background,” he said. “So this came as a surprise to some degree.”
His son, intrigued by his many Jewish friends who were going through the process of studying for their bar mitzva, spent many Saturdays observing what they learned in Hebrew school. After several months, “he came to me and his mom and said, ‘Mom, dad, I want to have a bar mitzva.’” 
“’When I go to their houses on Friday night, we light the candles, I feel something. When I go there and listen to them talk, my soul feels something,’” Dylan told his father.
“I said, ‘That’s fantastic,’” Douglas recalled, the pride for his son clearly evident in his voice. (Jerusalem Post)

I certainly can't predict of this strong Jewish identity will last in young Dylan, if it will fade away or he'll get more involved or even convert. At the same time, I wonder about the non-Jews in my extended family. Will any of them try to return to their Jewish roots? 

At the book launch for Rabbi Shlomo Riskin's latest book, he and Caroline Glick discussed the situation of families like that of the Douglases. Chazal gives a different status to non-Jews of paternal Jewish roots versus non-Jews without any genealogical Jewish history. According to Riskin, potential converts of paternal Jewish lines,  zera yisrael, Jewish Seed, are supposed to be welcomed to conversion proceedings (education) and not given the usual series of refusals.

Now I must return to the kitchen and prepare for Shabbat...

May Israel's leaders lead with strong confident Jewish Values, fearing only G-d Almighty, and may all Jews and also those of Jewish roots return to Our Jewish People and Jewish Land, Torah and Mitzvot.

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach!

May You Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat!

"Land for Peace" Debate Between Rabbi Riskin and Caroline Glick

Like many who showed up Tuesday night at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center for the book launch/promotion for Rabbi Shlomo Riskin's latest book, The Living Tree: Studies in Modern Orthodoxy, I had been looking forward to seeing his "Land for Peace" ideology effectively demolished by Caroline Glick.

We had been hoping for fireworks but instead discovered that Glick is a firm admirer of Riskin, barring that specific policy. Especially now that Rabbi Riskin is under attack by powerful people who want him forcefully retired as Chief Rabbi of Efrat, this  was time for him to get his general policies across. Both Riskin and Glick made statements about it in Hebrew for the Hebrew language press, obviously.

The two issues they seemed to agree most on concern conversion and women poskot aka "rabbis," though the word "rabbi" or "rabbah"wasn't mentioned. Riskin gave his Halachik/Jewish Law defense of both policies. About conversion, he said that for those with patrilinial (via the father) Jewish history/roots there is a concept of zera yisrael, Jewish Seed, which when recognized makes for an easier conversion, but a conversion nevertheless.

Riskin also gave a halachik defense of knowledgeable women decided matters of Jewish Law.

And, yes, they did mention Land for Peace, which is something that they have agreed to disagree about. We all know that Glick has been one of the most vociferous and convincing opponent of that policy. Simply put, it has been proven, over and over that when we give the Arabs our Land, we suffer more terrorism and hostility. Glick challenged Riskin to give halachik reasons to defend his policy, but he refused. Actually, he did admit that it hasn't been successful, but for those who wanted to hear his defense of it from a halachik point of view, there was great disappointment. Rabbi Riskin stated:

"Land for Peace is a security issue, not a halachik issue." Rabbi Shlomo Riskin

I will never forget how during the tense and frightening times leading up to Disengagement, Riskin stayed on the fence, saying that he couldn't make a decision, because Disengagement was a  policy, problematic as it was, had been legally voted in by the Israeli Government. The late Rabbi Aaron Lichtenstein, Z"L came out supporting it for that very reason.

photos by Rose and 
graphics by Fred 

On the eve of Disengagement I was in New York and had been asked to speak at an anti-Disengagement Rally sponsored by AFSI. While waiting my turn to speak, I was completely surprised to see Rabbi Riskin joining me. The last I had heard was that he was still on that "fence." Opposing Disengagement for me was obvious from the very first moment I had heard of it, so I had trouble relating to the fact that a rabbi I had once so admired could be so uncertain. When he spoke there he didn't mention that uncertainty. He spoke like a politician who had always opposed it. I was very confused and disappointed. I think that his talk would have been better and more effective if he had talked of his difficulties and how he came to join the opposition. I'm still waiting for that speech.

And I completely disagree with Riskin's claim that the question of Land for Peace has nothing to do with halacha. We, the State of Israel and the Jewish People/Religion are not like any other. Our military victories from 1948 onward and the fact that terrorist missiles usually land in "empty fields" are all due to the fact that we are a Holy Nation and G-d protects us. For that reason, every policy, especially security and Land must be looked at from a Jewish Halachik perspective. Ordinary "rules" don't apply here; that is why the State of Israel continues to exist.

In Israel there can be no separation between state and religion, because our existance is only because of the Jewish Religion, not history.

Here is the recording/video of the entire program:

Jewish People/Nation/Religion Like No Other. Maybe That's Why We're Hated?

Yesterday, Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, in synagogues all over the world, the weekly Torah Portion, Yitro was read. Yitro, Jethro, was a non-Jew or convert, and there's an irony in that davka in that Torah Portion, named after him we also read the Ten Commandments, the foundation of the Jewish Religion.

The children of Israel camp opposite Mount Sinai, where they are told that G‑d has chosen them to be His “kingdom of priests” and “holy nation.” The people respond by proclaiming, “All that G‑d has spoken, we shall do.”
On the sixth day of the third month (Sivan), seven weeks after the Exodus, the entire nation of Israel assembles at the foot of Mount Sinai. G‑d descends on the mountain amidst thunder, lightning, billows of smoke and the blast of theshofar, and summons Moses to ascend.
G‑d proclaims the Ten Commandments, commanding the people of Israel to believe in G‑d, not to worship idols or take G‑d’s name in vain, to keep theShabbat, honor their parents, not to murder, not to commit adultery, not tosteal, and not to bear false witness or covet another’s property. The people cry out to Moses that the revelation is too intense for them to bear, begging him to receive the Torah from G‑d and convey it to them. (Chabad)

In the title I gave this post, I called us not only a religion, because we're also a people and and nation and I even left out another two crucial aspects.

• We Jews have a very unique language, Hebrew, which unlike other languages has what can be considered "magic letters." As I mentioned in my book review of "Lashon HaKodesh: History, Holiness, & Hebrew," any combination of them has meaning.
• We Jews are a Land, too. Many of our Mitzvot, G-d given commandments are based on being in the Land He gave us, the HolyLand, the Land of Israel. 

No other society or religion or nation or language is like the Jewish one. Is it this uniqueness that is the proof that we are G-d's Chosen People, and the other nations, religions etc are jealous? That could be it, because the two most powerful and ambitious religions Christianity and Islam both attempt to supplant us. Both have stolen the narrative of our Bible, our Land and try to show that G-d has rejected the Jews and chosen them. In today's lingo it's called "identity theft."

And why is, davka, this important Torah Portion named after a man who wasn't born a Jew? That must be because instead of being jealous and hateful of the Jewish People, Yitro accepted and recognized that we Jews are G-d's Chosen People. 

Today's world is mirroring many of the events in our ancient past. And just the fact that we Jews are the same People as lived thousands of years ago, while all of our ancient enemies are no longer in existance, troubles those who are trying to supplant and destroy us.

The Torah Portion of Yitro stresses that the "righteous gentiles" who accept and support us will always be honored. 

Shavua Tov uMevorach

May the New Week be Good and Blessed

Spark Ignited, A Book Review

How can I begin this book review.....?

Although I have many friends who are converts to Judaism, Spark Ignited tells stories of conversions of the sort I had never heard before. Spark Ignited, by Michaela Lawson and Ashirah Yosefah, features many warnings and stories about proselytizing Christian groups that mimic Jewish customs in dangerously confusing ways.

A few years ago, I had been asked to lead a tour of Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh for a group of "Christian Zionists." Looking at them, with their men in kippot with tzitziyot, and the women in modest dresses, hair covered with scarves, I found myself very confused, especially when the group leaders mentioned that they lived in a yishuv (Jewish town) not far from me. They dressed as Jews, but I was told that the group was Christian Zionists. It was only at the end when I spoke to the leaders and heard their names, that I understood that I had taken around a rather notorious "messianic" group known for targeting Jews.

Michaela Lawson and Ashirah Yosefah, the writers of Spark Ignited tell their stories and of others explaining how some members of these Christian Hebrew cults/sects are sincerely looking for the True G-d but have a very difficult time weaning themselves from worshiping Jesus. In some cases it takes decades. Being born a Jew, although not in a Torah observant home, I cannot understand how someone can worship a person, especially a dead one. Considering how enormous and powerful the various Christian religions are, it's pretty obvious that my way of thinking is a very tiny minority in the world.

Everything written in Spark Ignited is important for us to know. I think that the book would have been more powerful if it had begun with the personal stories which are in the end. It could just be because I'm a "people person" and relate to these personal tales of conversion more than the series of essays that begin the book.

The people whose stories are included were apparently "red-flagged" by the Rabbinate for their Christian-Hebrew activities. I'm comforted by the fact that the Rabbinate is aware of the dangers of these cults or Christian sects and make efforts to keep them out of conversion programs here. The Ministry of the Interior also have them flagged and try to limit and cease renewing their tourist visas.

The personal stories I read in the book were amazing. The converts had to work so hard to convince the Ministry of the Interior and the Rabbis in the Conversion program that they were sincere in their wanting to be Jews and that they no longer believed in Jesus. And even more amazing is that these converts actually sympathize with the Israeli authorities, because they know very well how dangerous to Judaism these Christians can be.

Enough of my reactions to the book. I suggest that you read it yourself. It can be ordered through Barnes & Noble or Amazon besides its publisher MenorahBooks.

What's A Jew? Who's A Jew?

One thing I've been noticing over the years when at the Kotel is that more and more obviously non-Jews come to pray there.  As an ancient recognized holy spot for Jews, other people and religions also want the benefit of the "local call" to G-d.

That's fine.  I've also seen it in Shiloh among those who come to Shiloh Hakeduma at Tel Shiloh to visit the site and also pray.  Christian groups have been coming for decades.  They consider the Jewish Bible and History as also theirs.  Even abroad, there are non-Jews who frequent the graves of Jewish people/rabbis etc considering them as not just spiritual mentors for Jews.  Don't forget that Christians and the Muslims vie for the status of our replacement as G-d's Chosen People.  Their biggest theological and logistic problem is that we not only still exist, but bli eyin haraa, we're thriving in a successful country and active Diaspora.

Our biggest problem is that with Jewish success and acceptance there is terrible assimilation.  Many Jewish families or branches of Jewish families have ceased to exist as Jews.   Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman brought up that subject in his address to the Presidents Conference.

However, the recently released results from the Pew survey on American Jewry make for pretty depressing reading. They demonstrate that there is a significant rise in those who have little or no Jewish content in their lives, marry outside the faith and are not raising their children Jewish, than from a similar survey taken ten years ago. The intermarriage rate has reached a high of 58% for all Jews, and 71% for non-Orthodox Jews, a huge change from before 1970 when only 17% of Jews intermarried.
On attitudes towards Israel we are witnessing a major generational gap. While 30% of respondents professed to be very attached to Israel and 39% said they felt “somewhat” attached, 31% answered that they felt not very or not at all attached to Israel. Asked whether caring about Israel was an "essential" part of being Jewish, only 43% answered in the affirmative, only one percentage point higher than those that responded “having a good sense of humor” was an essential part of being Jewish.
According to the researchers, older Jews are more likely than younger Jews to see caring about Israel as an essential part of what being Jewish means to them, with more than half of respondents over the age of 65 believing that caring about Israel was an essential part of their Jewish identity, whereas only 32% of respondents under the age of 30 shared the same belief.

This massive loss to the Jewish People also exists in my own family among my cousins and their children and grandchildren.

At this point in time, years decades after Conservative and Reform Jews have decided on their own criteria for conversion, there are many, many people who consider themselves Jewish but aren't.  For strictly Torah observant Jews aka Orthodox to refuse to recognize them isn't "discrimination" any more than it would be considered discrimination when a new immigrant who had been a doctor in his/her former country is required to study and qualify.

Are Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism New and Different Religions?

For the longest time I've been considering them to be, since they've changed the rules from traditional (small "t") Torah Judaism.  In the United States or all North America what I call traditional Torah Judaism is called Orthodox Judaism.  Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism have both made radical changes in how they observe Judaism making their version of Jewish Life incompatible with traditional Torah observant Judaism.

The most unfortunate victims of these changes are their converts and children who are considered Reform or Conservative Jewish according to their specific criteria.

I just came across this very interesting article in the Forward by a young man, the son a a Jewish man and non-Jewish mother.  He was raised as a Reform Jew, a religion that accepts all children of Jews as Jews, even if the mother isn't Jewish.  Traditional Jewish Law only considers the child of a Jewish mother to be Jewish.

There have been other stories in the press about children of Conservative Jewish converts, and the converts themselves, berating the Orthodox and/or traditional Torah Judaism for not accepting Conservative Jewish conversion. 

This story shows that Conservative Judaism won't accept the Jewish status confirmed by Reform  Judaism on the young man whose father, not mother, is Jewish.

Those who follow Conservative Judaism then should be more understanding of those who do not agree with their rabbinic decisions and can't accept their converts as Jews without adjectives or labels.

I feel most sorry for those who thought they had bought the genuine article.

Shannon Orand receives conversion to Judaism in Israel

Posted by Jewish Israel

Jewish Israel would like to wish a heartfelt Mazal Tov to JI member Shannon Orand upon her conversion to Judaism which she received in Israel earlier this week. Welcome to the Jewish people, Rachel (Shannon’s Hebrew name)!

Members of the Beit Din were Chief Rabbi Dov Lior of Hevron, Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu of Safed, and a respected rabbi who requested that his name be withheld. In addition, another recognized Chief Rabbi facilitated in the conversion process.

Shannon withstood an extremely challenging test over these past few weeks, as news of Leib Tropper’s compromising behavior hit the press and blogosphere. Jewish Israel had the opportunity to speak with Shannon this week, and she graciously afforded us an interview…more

The גר, Gair, Convert or Foreigner/Stranger?

This week's Parshat Shavua, Torah Portion of the Week, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16-20) is chock full of G-d given Mitzvot, Commandments.

It's interesting that while many of them concern relations between human beings, the phrase "אֲנִי, יְהוָה," "I am the LORD," repeats very frequently. IMHO, this is to illustrate that we aren't to look for logical, sociological, biological, health or botanical reasons for these Mitzvot. It's forbidden to search for rationales and excuses to ignore them.

In Israel and in the Jewish world, unfortunately, there are periodic reports of Torah, Orthodox converts discovering that other Jews will not recognize or even have "cancelled" their conversions.

Sometimes Jews who converted with totally sincere intentions and under the supervision of fully Torah observant rabbis, relax their observance post-conversion, just like born Jews whose observance fluctuates throughout life. In this week's Parsha, Torah Portion, there's a sentence which could be considered defense the convert:

לג וְכִי-יָגוּר אִתְּךָ גֵּר, בְּאַרְצְכֶם--לֹא תוֹנוּ, אֹתוֹ.
33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong.

I like to think of it that way, but I'm troubled by the line which follows:

לד כְּאֶזְרָח מִכֶּם יִהְיֶה לָכֶם הַגֵּר הַגָּר אִתְּכֶם, וְאָהַבְתָּ לוֹ כָּמוֹךָ--כִּי-גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם: אֲנִי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.
34 The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-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.

Ironically, when I mentally planned writing about this, I had no doubt that I would use verse 33 to 100% defend the convert. But the qualification in verse 34 makes me wonder. We, the Jewish People, didn't live in Egypt to become Egyptians, nor did the Egyptians treat us well after the initial enthusiastic welcome.

Maybe we should delve more deeply in this, as in the "contract" between Pharaoh and Joseph, like the "contract" between a convert and the Beit Din, Rabbinic Court which approves/certifies the conversion. The Egyptians broke the contract when they made us slaves.

That aspect makes sense, when you read the next two verses:

לה לֹא-תַעֲשׂוּ עָוֶל, בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, בַּמִּדָּה, בַּמִּשְׁקָל וּבַמְּשׂוּרָה.
35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
לו מֹאזְנֵי צֶדֶק אַבְנֵי-צֶדֶק, אֵיפַת צֶדֶק וְהִין צֶדֶק--יִהְיֶה לָכֶם: אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, אֲשֶׁר-הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם.
36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Yes, that must be it. The word of the Beit Din, to consider a person Jewish is a contract, and once it's signed, it's forbidden to change the conditions.

It's Not Just About Converts

In a few hours we'll be celebrating/observing the Shavuot Holiday. The Story of Ruth, the most important of our many converts, is read on Shavuot. What's the connection?

Most people translate "Shavuot" into "weeks," but it's also the Hebrew for "oaths."

Ruth is most famous for her oath to commit/connect herself to her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi.

Ruth Chapter 1
טז וַתֹּאמֶר רוּת אַל-תִּפְגְּעִי-בִי, לְעָזְבֵךְ לָשׁוּב מֵאַחֲרָיִךְ: כִּי אֶל-אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכִי אֵלֵךְ, וּבַאֲשֶׁר תָּלִינִי אָלִין--עַמֵּךְ עַמִּי, וֵאלֹהַיִךְ אֱלֹהָי. 16 And Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God;
יז בַּאֲשֶׁר תָּמוּתִי אָמוּת, וְשָׁם אֶקָּבֵר; כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה יְהוָה לִי, וְכֹה יוֹסִיף--כִּי הַמָּוֶת, יַפְרִיד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵךְ. 17 where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.'

Even though I was born and raised a Jew, I have always felt connected to that oath and even gave a shiur about it.

Judaism isn't a proselytizing religion. Prospective converts are turned back, like Naomi did to Ruth:

יא וַתֹּאמֶר נָעֳמִי שֹׁבְנָה בְנֹתַי, לָמָּה תֵלַכְנָה עִמִּי: הַעוֹד-לִי בָנִים בְּמֵעַי, וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לַאֲנָשִׁים. 11 And Naomi said: 'Turn back, my daughters; why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
יב שֹׁבְנָה בְנֹתַי לֵכְןָ, כִּי זָקַנְתִּי מִהְיוֹת לְאִישׁ: כִּי אָמַרְתִּי, יֶשׁ-לִי תִקְוָה--גַּם הָיִיתִי הַלַּיְלָה לְאִישׁ, וְגַם יָלַדְתִּי בָנִים. 12 Turn back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say: I have hope, should I even have an husband to-night, and also bear sons;
יג הֲלָהֵן תְּשַׂבֵּרְנָה, עַד אֲשֶׁר יִגְדָּלוּ, הֲלָהֵן תֵּעָגֵנָה, לְבִלְתִּי הֱיוֹת לְאִישׁ; אַל בְּנֹתַי, כִּי-מַר-לִי מְאֹד מִכֶּם--כִּי-יָצְאָה בִי, יַד-יְהוָה. 13 would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye shut yourselves off for them and have no husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of the LORD is gone forth against me.'
יד וַתִּשֶּׂנָה קוֹלָן, וַתִּבְכֶּינָה עוֹד; וַתִּשַּׁק עָרְפָּה לַחֲמוֹתָהּ, וְרוּת דָּבְקָה בָּהּ. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth cleaved unto her.
טו וַתֹּאמֶר, הִנֵּה שָׁבָה יְבִמְתֵּךְ, אֶל-עַמָּהּ, וְאֶל-אֱלֹהֶיהָ; שׁוּבִי, אַחֲרֵי יְבִמְתֵּךְ. 15 And she said: 'Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god; return thou after thy sister-in-law.'

But once someone does convert, his/her background isn't supposed to be mentioned. That's one of the anti-Halachik (Jewish Law) "ironies," or inconsistencies, with the blanket/mass cancelling of conversions by a chareidi court. But that's no surprise to me. I find a lot of inconsistencies with Chareidi Judaism. Now, some of you may really blow up when you read this, but please read through to the end. IMHO, it has copied foreign religions in one of its basic premises, that men should learn Torah full time and not work in a full variety of professions. I also disagree with its refusal to recognize the validity of the State of Israel and the official Rabbinate.

One of the great beauties and uniqueness of Judaism is its integration of the Holy and Profane, Kodesh v'Chol. We don't send our holy people, our learned rabbis to isolated monasteries, nor ban them from the physicality of married life. I have no doubt that the plague that killed 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students was caused by the idealizing of his marriage, that he lived for years without his wife Rachel.

Our wars, the fighting soldiers are doing great Mitzvot (Holy Commandments) and should be G-d fearing, Torah-knowledgeable people. Therefore the Chareidi custom of shirking this duty/mitzvah is also against the basic tenant of Judaism.

The State of Israel has a Rabbinate which has a department which give Kosher Certification to foods. The Chareidim don't recognize it and they have their own kashrut certification. So, I wasn't surprised that they insulted the Official Rabbinate's certification of converts.

These poor Jews, yes, Jews, have been caught pressed between a rock and a hard place. Rabbi Sherman's "Beit Din," religious court, is trying to score anti-state points by destroying the lives of countless Jews.

According to Jewish Law, we're not supposed to eat insects, but when checking food, we're not supposed to use anything stronger than our simple, everyday if you need them reading glasses. If you use a high-powered microscope, nothing will be clean enough to eat, and you'll starve or die of malnutrition.

Let us all have a Chag Sameach, a Joyful Holiday.