Monday, August 13, 2018

History of Messianic Judaism

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Donate History of Messianic Judaism Published on June 19, 2018 While the history of Jewish Believers in Yeshua (Jesus) is nearly 2,000 years old – dating to Yeshua’s first disciples – the modern Messianic Jewish movement (also commonly called Messianic Judaism) is relatively young. The modern Messianic movement has evolved through five specific periods of recent history.   5 Eras of Jewish Faith in Yeshua   1. Formation Before Yeshua’s death, His earthly ministry focused on Jewish people. He told the Canaanite woman that He “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:21‒28). After His resurrection, He issued the Great Commission, commanding His disciples to take the Gospel into all the world (Matthew 28:16–20). That message was confirmed in many ways throughout the book of Acts. Notable examples include when Peter was sent to Cornelius after a rooftop vision (Acts 10), and Phillip preached in Samaria and also explained the Scriptures to the Ethiopian (Acts 8). The Formation years of Jewish faith in Jesus extend from 33‒135 C.E., and the term Messianic Judaism would not be used for nearly 2,000 years.   2. Gentilization As the Gospel was opened to the Gentiles and many came to believe in Yeshua, the question emerged of whether they were required to keep the Torah (Acts 15). This reveals that faith in Yeshua was considered a Jewish faith, not a new religion. By 135 C.E., a rift had grown between Jewish Believers and the rabbinical leaders of Judaism. False notions sprung up that a Jewish person cannot believe in Yeshua, and if they do, they cannot remain Jewish. The Bar Kokhba Revolt furthered this division. The Roman Emperor Constantine severed the Christian Church’s connection with Judaism when he declared the Church officially divorced from the rites and practices of the Jewish people. Successive centuries witnessed the progressive Gentilization of faith in Jesus. This period extends from 135 C.E. to about 1800 C.E., encompassing the Crusades and the Inquisition. During these violent episodes, Jewish people suffered intense persecution as politically powerful leaders of institutional Christianity” attempted to force them to renounce Judaism and “convert."   3. Jewish-Christian Renaissance A resurgence of Jewish people coming to faith in Yeshua while retaining their Jewish identity occurred between 1800 and 1870 C.E. During this time, a number of individuals played essential roles in laying the groundwork for what would later become Messianic Judaism. Among these leaders was Joseph Rabinowitz, who founded the first Messianic Jewish congregation. There, Jewish Believers in Jesus could worship Him and freely maintain the practices of their Jewish heritage. The congregation, located in Kishinev, Moldova,* was called “Israelites of the New Covenant."   4. Hebrew Christianity Alliances of Jewish Believers began to form around the world between 1870 and 1960 C.E. This was a significant change within the realm of Jewish Believers in that, as followers of Jesus, they met to continue to identify as “Hebrews.” The Hebrew Christian Alliance of Great Britain was established in 1866 and, in 1915, the Hebrew Christian Alliance of America was founded. The international Hebrew Christian Alliance began in 1925, including representation from 18 nations. The era of Hebrew Christianity opened the way for what we know today as Messianic Judaism.   5. Messianic Judaism Messianic Judaism’s genesis is intertwined with the Jesus Movement of the 1960s. During that revival, many young people with strong, ethnically Jewish backgrounds came to faith in Yeshua. Societal changes of that time offered these young Jewish people the freedom to maintain their Jewish heritage and practices while embracing faith in Jesus as their promised Messiah. The attitude shifted from “We’re Christians who happen to be Hebrew,” to “We are Jews who believe in Jesus,” representing a new mindset that shaped the modern movement of Messianic Judaism. Since 1960, many new Messianic Jewish congregations, organizations and ministries were formed, including what would become Jewish Voice Ministries International, originally founded under the name Jewish Voice Broadcasts by Louis Kaplan in 1967. During this time, hundreds of Messianic congregations were established around the world, including in Israel. Today, more than 350,000 Messianic Jews worship in their own congregations worldwide, with approximately 20,000 of those residing in Israel. Messianic Judaism remains a relatively new movement. In less than 60 years, Messianic Judaism has emerged as a vital indicator of God’s ongoing work within and commitment to Israel and the Jewish people. As Messianic Jews and congregations remain identifiably Jewish, the world sees that God is not finished with the Jewish people yet, and that the Gentile Christian Church has not replaced Israel. Messianic Judaism is drawing the world’s attention to the essential role of Israel – both the Land and her people – in God’s End-Time plans.   *More than 100 years after Joseph Rabinowitz established the first Messianic congregation, Jewish Voice Ministries’ Jonathan Bernis, at the time leading Hear O Israel Ministries, conducted a Festival of Jewish Music & Dance in the same city of Kishinev, Moldova. Approximately half of the 40,000 people in attendance – an estimated 20,000 – came to faith in Messiah Yeshua. Share this article Recent Blog Posts Spoiler Alert: Israel Knew A new resource to enrich your walk with God Israel Destroys ISIS Terror Cell After Attack SEEKING THE LORD FOR MORE IN MUDANDA! The Good News is delivered ... thanks to YOU! Blog Categories Contact Financial Governance Press Releases Privacy Get Email Updates © 2018, Jewish Voice Ministries UK Site design and build by newmedia

1500 Liter Air

HOME CERITA DONGENG CERPEN CERITA MISTERI CERGAM SAINS FLORA DAN FAUNA ANTARIKSA IPTEK SEJARAH DAN BUDAYA BUDAYA SEJARAH ANAK INDONESIA KREATIF CRAFT MENU EKSPERIMEN INFO BOBO SERBA SERBI WEBTORIAL HOME IPTEK Rumus Menghitung Air Minum untuk Anak- anak Sylvana Toemon Kamis, 16 November 2017 | 03:10 WIB Rumus menghitung air minum yang diperlukan anak-anak (Sylvana Toemon) Selama ini, kita sering mendengar kalau air yang dibutuhkan oleh tubuh orang dewasa sebanyak 2 liter. Bagaimana untuk anak-anak kecil seperti kita, ya? Apakah jumlahnya sama? Untuk menghitung kebutuhan air anak-anak seperti kita, ternyata ada rumusnya, lo. Namanya rumus Darrow. Ini dia rumusnya. Berat badan kurang dari 10 kg.  Minum air putih sebanyak 100 ml x berat badan. Misalnya berat badanmu 9 kg. Air yang harus diminum: 100 x 9 = 900 ml = 0,9 liter. Berat badan 10 – 20 kg.  Minum air putih sebanyak 1000 ml + 50 ml untuk setiap kg kenaikan berat badan di atas 10 kg. Misalnya berat badanmu 15 kg. Air yang harus diminum: 1000 + (5 x 50) = 1250 ml = 1,25 liter. Berat badan di atas 20 kg.  Minum air putih sebanyak 1500 ml + 20 ml untuk setiap kg kenaikan berat badan di atas 20 kg. Misalnya berat badanmu 25 kg. Air yang harus diminum setiap harinya: 1500 + (5 x 20) = 1600 ml = 1,6 liter. Bagi teman-teman yang gemar berolahraga, air yang diminum harus lebih banyak lagi. Itu karena air yang dikeluarkan melalui keringat lebih banyak. Sylvana toemon Info bobo Air Iptek Minum Minum air Air minum Air yang diperlukan oleh tubuh Air di tubuh Air minum ideal Rumus menghitung air minum Rumus menghitung air minum untuk anak Penulis : Sylvana Toemon Editor : Sylvana Toemon Grid.ID Network Bobo | BolaSport.com | Cewekbanget.id | Fotokita | Grid.ID | GridOto.com | Hai | Intisari | iDEA | Info Komputer | JIP | Motorplus | National Geographic Indonesia | Nextren | Otomania.com | Otomotifnet | SajianSedap | Nakita.id | Nova.id | GRID Story Factory About Us | Privacy | Term and Conditions | Editorial | Advertise | Contact Us Hak Cipta © Bobo.Grid.ID

2,6 Liter Air

Senin, 15/02/2016 11:59 WIB

Kebutuhan Air Tiap Orang Berbeda,

Ini Formula untuk Mengetahuinya Hestianingsih - wolipop Foto: Andreas Rodriguez/Thinkstock

Jakarta - Berapa banyak seharusnya Anda minum air putih dalam sehari untuk menjaga keseimbangan dan kesehatan tubuh?

Sebagian menyebut delapan gelas, ada pula yang mengatakan dua liter per hari.

Lalu mana yang benar? Sebenarnya kebutuhan asupan air pada setiap orang bisa berbeda-beda, meskipun memang umumnya disarankan minimal delapan gelas per hari.

Banyaknya cairan yang diperlukan tergantung dari berat badan, aktivitas tubuh hingga pola makan sehari-hari.

Seperti dikutip dari Times of India, begini formulanya untuk mengetahui apakah Anda sudah mencukupi cairan atau belum.

1. Timbang Berat Badan Setiap orang memiliki berat badan yang berbeda, dan kebutuhan akan cairannya pun bisa berbeda. Misalnya saja orang dengan berat badan 45 kg tidak perlu meminum air sebanyak orang yang memiliki bobot 70 kg.  

2. Bagi Per 30 Bagi berat badan Anda dengan angka 30, jawabannya adalah liter air yang perlu Anda minum per harinya. Sebagai contoh, jika berat Anda 60 kg, maka jika dibagi dengan 30, berarti air yang perlu Anda minum adalah 2 liter. Apabila berat 80 kg, maka 80 : 30 = 2,6, berarti Anda perlu minum 2 liter 600 ml air. Sementara itu untuk berat badan 45 kg, air yang perlu diminum adalah 1,5 liter. Baca Juga: 50 Tas dan Sepatu Favorit Selebriti

3. Perhatikan Aktivitas Fisik Jika Anda rutin olahraga, berarti tubuh akan kehilangan cairan melalui keluarnya keringat. Maka dari itu Anda perlu menambah asupan air sesuai durasi olahraga yang dilakukan. Disarankan menambah sekitar 350 ml air untuk setiap sesi olahraga selama 0,5 jam. Jadi apabila Anda olahraga selama satu jam maka asupan air yang perlu ditambah 0,7 liter atau setara 700 ml.

4. Makanan Juga Mengandung Air Jika Anda disarankan minum 1,5 atau 2 liter air, bukan berarti Anda harus minum air putih sebanyak itu.

Kebutuhan cairan juga bisa dipenuhi lewat makanan. Sekitar 20-25 persen asupan air berasal dari makanan yang Anda santap. Baik itu berasal dari buah-buahan, sayuran, atau makanan berkuah. Sisanya, harus tetap dipenuhi dalam bentuk minuman dan diutamakan air putih.

Apel misalnya, dalam satu butir apel ukuran sedang mengandung sekitar 116 ml air. Sementara jeruk seberat 140 gram mengandung sekitar 122 ml air.

Sementara sayuran rata-rata mengandung air sekitar 19 hingga 114 ml. (hst/hst)

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3 Trik Agar Anda Lebih Semangat Minum Air Putih Efek Tak Terduga yang Bisa Anda Alami Jika Terlalu Sering Minum Air Es 9 Gejala Dehidrasi yang Belum Tentu Semua Orang Menyadarinya Cara Baru Mencukupi Kebutuhan Air, Lebih Baik 'Dimakan' Daripada Diminum Ini Takaran Minum Air Putih yang Dianjurkan Agar Tubuh Tidak Dehidrasi Baca Juga detikHealth Berapa Banyak Air yang Harus Diminum Saat Sedang Bekerja

2 Liter Air

Menu Ternyata Saran Konsumsi 2 Liter Air Sehari Itu Salah, Begini Cara Hitung yang Benar Rabu, 21 Februari 2018 14:15 Minum air putih bermanfaat untuk kesehatan. - web TRIBUNJAMBI.COM - Sudah sangat sering kita mendengar saran untuk mengonsumsi air sebanyak 8 gelas atau 2 liter sehari, tapi itu ternyata salah! Jumlah air yang kita minum per harinya bervariasi, berbeda setiap individu. Nah, ini salah satu cara untuk menghitung kebutuhan air tubuh kita bersumber dari India Times. Langkah 1: Ukur berat badan Anda dalam kilogram Formula ini menghitung kebutuhan air berdasarkan berat badan Anda. Hanya karena berat badan seseorang 45 kilo tidak sama dengan orang yang beratnya 85 kilo. Langkah 2: Bagilah dengan angka 30 Bagilah berat badan Anda dengan 30, jawabannya adalah jumlah liter yang harus Anda minum per hari. Jadi, jika berat badan Anda 60 kilo, Anda harus minum 2 liter air putih sehari, sedangkan jika beratnya 80 kilo, Anda harus minum 2,6 liter (2 liter dan 600 ml) air per hari. Langkah 3: Tambahkan lebih banyak air untuk aktivitas fisik Jika berolahraga, Anda mungkin kehilangan banyak air melalui keringat. Halaman selanjutnya Halaman 12 Editor: duanto Tags 2 litergelaskebutuhan air Video Pilihan Selangkah Lagi Capai Gelar Sarjana Hukum, Mahasiswi Unhas Ini Tewas usai Dibegal Berita Populer Indeks Populer Coca Cola dan Rahasia yang Penuh… 6 jam lalu Keutamaan Puasa 1 Dzulhijjah Hingga Idul… 6 jam lalu Susno Duadji Bercuit Curiga Terkait Mogoknya… 4 jam lalu Sudah Tahu Biaya Sekolah untuk Anak… 6 jam lalu Ini Nama-Nama yang Bakal Masuk Tim… 6 jam lalu © 2018 TRIBUNnews.com All Right Reserved

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Mata Yahweh ke Seluruh Bumi

2 Tawarikh 16:9 (ILT3) Sebab mata YAHWEH menjelajah ke seluruh bumi untuk menunjukkan kekuatan-Nya kepada mereka yang hatinya damai terhadap Dia. Engkau telah berlaku bodoh dalam hal ini, karena itu mulai sekarang akan terjadi perang dengan engkau.”

Kosher Meditation

Login Life & Times Wisdom & Teachings Multimedia Impact Chabad.org More Sites Tools Contact Us|​Ask The Rabbi|​Donate TheRebbe.org Multimedia Video Living Torah Archives Disc 60 Program Two Hundred Thirty Seven Kosher Meditation 13 Tammuz, 5739 · July 8, 1979 Play Video Kosher Meditation   1 Autoplay Kosher Meditation: 13 Tammuz, 5739 · July 8, 1979 The Sages of the Talmud ask: “Why does G-d allow the sun and moon to exist, if they have become objects of idolatry?” They answer: The forces of nature are positive and beneficial; should God destroy His creations only because of the fools who worship them? Topics: Lubavitcher Rebbe, Meditation, Yoga, Cults, Idolatry; Paganism Kosher Meditation 13 Tammuz, 5739 · July 8, 1979 Disc 60, Program 237 Event Date: 13 Tammuz 5739 - July 08, 1979 The Sages of the Talmud ask: “Why does G-d allow the sun and moon to exist, if they have become objects of idolatry?” They answer: The forces of nature are positive and beneficial; should God destroy His creations only because of the fools who worship them? This same principle applies to a new trend of the Twentieth Century. Many troubled youth — and adults – have joined religious cults that practice forms of meditation involving idolatrous rituals. Meditation itself can indeed have the positive effect of calming the nerves and the psyche, but it must divested of anything idolatrous. Doctors who treat psychological or emotional disorders have a sacred obligation to find a way to utilize the therapeutic benefits of meditation in a Kosher way. When the success of a Kosher meditation method becomes publicized, people attracted by idolatrous methods will be saved. You may also be interested in... Daily Dose of Wisdom Tight, pithy meditations to live by The Jewish Meditation Series Guidance on Mindful Prayer Watch 1 Comment Guides to Meditation A Practical Guide to a Calmer Spirit Thirteen Strategies for Serenity in a Maddening World 16 Comments Join the Discussion SORT BY: Newest Oldest 1 Comment Add a comment... Inez Medellin Dunker November 13, 2011 The World If only the entire world of people which God created would even listen to these teachings, I know it would change the outcome of our today world in a manner of which G~d is. with great goodness and holiness. How awesome this would be, I pray one day that G~d will direct all our paths in His direction of complete holiness making our world a complete loving people, filled with goodness and peace. How I wish I could part-take in fulfilling G~d's desires for us all, to live in harmony where there is no more sin, where sickness does not exist, where we can truly be higher than the angels, each and everyone of us. Connecting to the Almighty with love, humility, full acceptance of Him alone. One G~d. I love these teachings, it enlightens my being, my heart and soul. I can reach and touch G~d with good actions and words coming from my heart to my mind and my thoughts. G~d is so awesome, for many wonderful things he has done for me and others, everyday of our lives, all day long as we live. Reply Please consider becoming a member of Living Torah today! Join Today | Login More in this Program Mayim Shelanu Maimonides: Father Figure “Quiet, Please!” Explore Living Torah Current Episode Living Torah Archives Browse by Topic Browse by Date Search Related Videos Modeh Ani Don’t Just Do Something The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Plea for Kosher Therape... The Neuroscience of Meditation Jewish Mindfulness Feivel Gets Stuck Mindfulness and Jewish Meditation Kabbalah and Meditation Varieties of Jewish Mystical Experiences Modeh Ani - Part 2 Modeh Ani - Part 3 Finding Yourself, Finding G-d Reflections on "Hayom Yom": Tammuz 20 Reflections on Jewish Meditation “Image Not Available” American Idols—Money Reflections on "Hayom Yom" Tevet 9 Daily Mitzvah: Belief in G-d, Idol Worship, G-d... Subscribe SUBSCRIBE Email Address Subscribe to TheRebbe.org More subscription options » Home | Donate | Contact Us | Ask The Rabbi Login © 1993-2018 Chabad.org View Desktop Site

Seven Laws of Noah

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The Seven Laws of Noah | Terms Used for Gentiles | Interfaith Marriages | Conversion

Gentiles

Level:  Basic

The Torah maintains that the righteous Gentiles of all nations (those observing the Seven Laws of Noah, listed below) have a place in the World to Come.  But not all religious Gentiles earn eternal life by virtue of observing their religion:

While it is recognized that Moslems worship the same God that we do (though calling him Allah, He is the same God of Israel), even those who follow the tenets of their religion cannot be considered righteous in the eyes of God, because they do not accept that the Written Torah in the hands of the Jews today is the original Torah handed down by God and they do not accept the Seven Laws of Noah as binding on them.While the Christians do generally accept the Hebrew Bible as truly from God, many of them (those who accept the so-called divinity of Jesus) are idolaters according to the Torah, punishable by death, and certainly will not enjoy the World to Come.  But it is not just being a member of a denomination in which the majority are believers in the Trinity that is idolatry, but personal idolatrous practice, whatever the individual's affiliation.

Contrary to popular belief, the Torah does not maintain that Jews are necessarily better than other people simply because they are Jews.  Although we are God's chosen people, we do not believe that God chose the Jews because of any inherent superiority.  According to a story in the Talmud, God offered the Torah to all the nations of the earth, and the Jews were the only ones who accepted it.  According to another story, the Jews were offered the Torah last, and accepted it only because God held a mountain over their heads!  Another traditional story suggests that God chose the Jews because they were the lowliest of nations, and their success would be attributed to God's might rather than their own ability.  Clearly, these are not the ideas of a people who think they are inherently better than other nations.

Because of our acceptance of Torah, Jews have a special status in the eyes of God, but we lose that special status when we abandon Torah.  Furthermore, the blessings that we received from God by accepting the Torah come with a high price:  Jews have a greater responsibility than non-Jews.  While non-Jews are only obligated to obey the seven commandments given to Noah, Jews are responsible for fulfilling the 613 mitzvot in the Torah, thus God will punish Jews for doing many things that would not be a sin for non-Jews.

The Seven Laws of Noah

According to Torah tradition, God gave Noah and his family seven commandments to observe when he saved them from the flood.  These commandments, referred to as the Noahic or Noahide commandments, are learned by tradition but also suggested in Genesis Chapter 9, and are as follows:

1). not to commit idolatry

2). not to commit blasphemy

3). not to commit murder

4). not to have forbidden sexual relations

5). not to commit theft

6). not to eat flesh cut from a living animal

7). to establish courts of justice to punish violators of the other six laws.

These commandments may seem fairly simple and straightforward, and most of them are recognized by most of the world as sound moral principles.  But according to the Torah only those Gentiles who observe these laws because God commanded them in His Torah will enjoy life in the World to Come:  If they observe them just because they seem reasonable or because they think that God commanded them in some way other than in the Torah, they might as well not obey them so far as a part in the World to Come is concerned.

The Noahic commandments are binding on all people, because all people are descended from Noah and his family.  The 613 mitzvot of the Torah, on the other hand, are only binding on the descendants of those who accepted the commandments at Sinai and upon those who take on the yoke of the commandments voluntarily (by conversion).  Some say that the Noahic commandments are applied more leniently to non-Jews than the corresponding commandments are to Jews, because non-Jews do not have the benefit of Oral Torah to guide them in interpreting the laws.  Some European rabbis (presumably because of fear of reprisal from their Christian neighbors, famous for their violence to Jews) have gone so far as to say that worshipping God in the form of a man constitutes idolatry for a Jew punishable by death, but the Trinitarian Christian worship of Jesus does not constitute idolatry.  In truth, any idolatry for which a Jew is punishable by death is also punishable by death for non-Jews, including the worship of a man as a god.

We plan to provide on this site a full exposition of Seven Laws, including many details that could not be guessed from the listing above.

Terms Used for Gentiles

It appears that some Gentiles prefer the more neutral term non-Jew, but few today are insulted by Gentile, the classical term for them appearing often in Bible translations.  When we use it here, we certainly intend no offence and hope that none is taken; we would not be writing much of this, if we were lacking in respect and affection for Gentiles.

The most commonly used Hebrew or Yiddish word for a non-Jew is goy.  The word "goy" means nation, and refers to the fact that goyim are members of other nations, that is, nations other than the Children of Israel.  There is nothing inherently insulting about the word "goy".  In fact, the Bible occasionally refers to the Jewish people using the term "goy".  Most notably, in Exodus 19,6, God says that the Children of Israel will be "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation", that is, a goy kadosh.  Because Jews have had so many bad experiences with anti-Semitic non-Jews over the centuries, the term "goy" has taken on some negative connotations, but in general the term is no more insulting than the word "Gentile".

The more insulting terms for non-Jews are shiksa (feminine) and shkutz or sheketz (masculine).  It may be gathered that these words are derived from the Hebrew root Shin-Qof-Tzade, meaning loathsome or abomination.  The word shiksa is most commonly used to refer to a non-Jewish woman who is dating or married to a Jewish man, which should give some indication of how strongly Jews are opposed to the idea of intermarriage.  The term shkutz or sheketz is most commonly used to refer to an anti-Semitic man.  Both terms can be used in a less serious, more joking way, but in general they should be used with caution, if at all; in fact, we personally only use these terms to refer to apostate Jews whose behavior is disgusting.

Interfaith Marriages

The Torah does not permit or even recognize marriages between Jews and Gentiles, if performed despite the prohibition.  The punishment for Jews for such marriages is being cut off from the Jewish people and any part in the World to Come, whether the couple formally marries according to secular law or they just live together.

The Written Torah states that the children of such marriages would be lost to the Jewish people (Deuteronomy 7,3-4), and experience has shown the truth of this passage all too well:  Children of intermarriage are rarely raised Jewish; they are normally raised in the faith of the non-Jewish partner or non-religious.  This may reflect that Jews who intermarry are not deeply committed to their religion in the first place (if they were, why would they marry someone who did not share it?), but the statistics are sufficiently alarming to be a matter of great concern to the Jewish community.

Some Orthodox Jews go so far as to state that intermarriage is accomplishing what Hitler could not:  the destruction of the Jewish people.  That may seem an extreme view, but it vividly illustrates how seriously many Jews take the issue of intermarriage.  Nonetheless, currently most Jews outside the Land of Israel are taking non-Jewish marital partners.

If the non-Jewish spouse truly shares the same values as the Jewish spouse, then the non-Jew is welcome to convert, and if the non-Jew does not share the same values, then the couple should not be marrying in the first place.  While conversion just to allow a Gentile to marry a Jew is not legitimate, many a Gentile initially considered conversion after finding a Jewish potential marital partner, and then in the end became a sincere convert before the marriage.

Conversion

In general, Jews do not try to convert non-Jews to Judaism.  In fact, according to halakhah (Jewish Law), rabbisare supposed to make three vigorous attempts to dissuade a person who wants to convert to Judaism.

As the discussion above explained, Jews have a lot of responsibilities that non-Jews do not have.  To be considered a good and righteous person in the eyes of God, a non-Jew need only follow the seven Noahic commandments, whereas a Jew has to follow all 613 commandments given in the Torah.  If the potential convert is not going to follow those extra rules, it is better for him or her to stay a Gentile, and since we as Jews are all responsible for each other, it is better for us too if that person stayed a Gentile.  The rabbinically mandated attempt to dissuade a convert is intended to make sure that the prospective convert is serious and willing to take on all this extra responsibility.

Once a person has decided to convert, the proselyte must begin to learn Jewish law and customs, and begin to observe them.  This teaching process generally takes at least one year, because the prospective convert is encouraged to experience each of the Jewish holidays; however, the actual amount of study required will vary from person to person (a convert who was raised as a Jew might not need any further education, for example, while another person might need several years).

After the teaching is complete, the proselyte is brought before a Beit Din (rabbinical court) which examines the proselyte and determines whether he or she is ready to become a Jew.  If the proselyte passes this oral examination, the rituals of conversion are performed.  If the convert is male, he is circumcised (or, if he was already circumcised, a pinprick of blood is drawn for a symbolic circumcision).  Both male and female converts are immersed in the mikveh (a ritual bath used for spiritual purification).  The convert is given a Jewish name and is then introduced into the Jewish community.

In theory, once the conversion procedure is complete, the convert is as much a Jew as anyone who is born to the religion.  In practice, the convert is often treated with caution, because we have had a lot of bad experiences with converts who later return to their former faith in whole or in part.

For more information about conversion, see The Conversion to Judaism Home Page.  The information provided by Professor Epstein at that site is written from a Conservative perspective, but is valuable to anyone considering conversion.

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