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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
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> 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.