Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site mhuxi.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxb!mhuxn!mhuxm!mhuxi!dsg From: dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (David S. Green) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Questions about conversion to Judaism Message-ID: <286@mhuxi.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 08:26:07 EST Article-I.D.: mhuxi.286 Posted: Fri Feb 8 08:26:07 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 9-Feb-85 06:24:30 EST References:<16@unc.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 29 > Suppose I were a gentile who wished to become a Reform Jew. > I ask my rabbi to perform a Halachic conversion. Can he do this? If s/he wants to s/he can, s/he's a Rabbi isn't s/he? > Or is a conversion performed by a Reform rabbi un-Halachic by definition? According to Orthodox standards, yes. > If all conversions performed by Reform rabbis were suspect, then suppose > that I sought an Orthodox rabbi. Would any sane Orthodox rabbi perform > a conversion for a gentile wishing to become a Reform Jew? No Orthodox Rabbi would perform a conversion knowing that the intent is to be reform. As a side note, an Orthodox Rabbi would ask the person who wants to convert, "Why?" and then try to persuade the person *not* to convert ( at least three times! ). > My impression is that only Orthodox conversions are universally accepted, > and that to have an Orthodox conversion, I would have to demonstrate > sincere desire to live my life as an Orthodox Jew. If this is correct, > then your suggestion has little practical value. > Frank Silbermann Your impression is correct, but halachic conversions do have some practical value. I hope that this can be seen. If someone says they are Jewish, why should I have to wonder if somewhere in their family a conversion was done not according to the Law? Reform conversions are invalid as far as I am concerned.