Questions tagged [conversion-to-judaism]
Conversion to Judaism. This entails acceptance of the mitzvos, tevila (immersion), and for men, bris milah (circumcision).
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Tribe of Converts
This question was inspired by a recent question asking about knowledge of one's tribal lineage.
I am aware that male converts are often given 'Avraham' as a Hebrew name. (Not sure what the standard ...
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If I want to be a Jew, can I take any name from the Tanakh?
If I want to be a Jew, can I ask the rabbi to give me any name of my choice from the Tanakh?
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What happened to the mitzvah to love the stranger?
This commandment is repeated at least three times in the Torah--in Leviticus 19, Deuteronomy 10, Exodus 22, and Leviticus 25. Leviticus 19:33-34 say:
"When a stranger resides with you in your land, ...
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Ahavat haGer – Geirei Tzedek or Toshvim?
I've heard at various times that the Mitzvah of Ahavat haGer (loving the stranger, cf. Devarim 10:19) refers to either (non-Jewish) resident aliens or converts. Is there any discussion about which of ...
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Convert in Ketubah
In a ketubah, there are 3 different categories for the woman's status. Virgin, Convert, and woman. Usually one of those statuses is represented on the ketubah, with the appropriate amount in zuzim. ...
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What happens if a non-Jew uses a mikvah?
If a gentile does a kosher immersion (does tevilah with the preparation, three kosher immersions, and the immersion prayer), which is required for conversion, but did so without the help of a rabbi, ...
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Is it possible to have non-Jews who are converting (or non-Jewish relatives) over for Yom Tov?
There is a very clear halacha that one is not allowed to invite non-Jews on Yom Tov specifically. See SA OH 514, Yalkut Yosef 512. The only solution presented in the halacha is if they turn up ...
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Convert attached to another gilgul?
Someone just told me that a ger earns their Jewish status (on a kabbalistic level) by attaching themselves to a Jewish soul that has gone badly astray and needs to do a tikkun. By offering to do the ...
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Why didn't Onkelus change his name upon becoming a Ger?
When a non-Jew converts to Judaism he/she usually changes their name to a Jewish name, so Why didn't Onkelus change his name upon becoming a Ger?
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As a proselyte can I wear tzitzit? [closed]
I am in the process of conversion and I've been told by my Rabbi that I can't wear a Tallit nor a Tallit Katan until I am officially Jewish.
His reasoning is that it's a Mitzvah and not relevant ...
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Conversion on Shabbos
Can a person who is converting can he do the conversion on Shabbos? Is there problems of tevillah ( is this considered a tevillah shel Mitzvah) and Circumsion( are geirim like 8 day old baby)?
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Why does Chabad not "do" conversions?
Lubavitch institutions do not conduct conversions. I read somewhere that it is because of some agreement between the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rabbi Moshe Feinstein.
Why does Chabad not "do" conversions?...
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Hebrew name of a convert with a Jewish father? [closed]
I technically was not born Jewish as my mother didn't convert until I was about ten. At that time I also underwent a ritual conversion. However, I've always assumed my Hebrew name should end in Ben ...
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Tribe of the son of a Kohen and a convert
Kohanim are not allowed to marry a convert. However, if such a case happens (where there is a fully valid conversion), what is the status of the child? On one hand, they would be chalal, but would ...
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Is a convert allowed to say Yizkor for their non-Jewish parents? [duplicate]
Is a convert allowed to say Yizkor for their deceased parents if they are non-Jewish?
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If a woman converts, marries, and divorces -- how is she identified in her next ketubah?
If a woman converts, marries, and divorces -- how is she identified in her next ketubah? Matrachta (divorcee) or Giyorta (convert-ess)? Does it matter? Is there a convention which term is used for her?...
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Do the Gentiles have "Three partners in man" and why they exempt from honoring parents?
The Gemmorah in Kiddushin 30b states (:
"שלשה שותפין הן באדם הקב"ה ואביו ואמו"
There are three partners in the forming of a person: The Holy One, Blessed be He, who provides the soul, ...
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Conversion -- any negative implications if grandfather was a kohen?
Someone coming from a Jewish family but not halakhically Jewish (e.g., with a Jewish maternal grandfather but not grandmother) is converting through an an Orthodox conversion. That person then ...
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How does one interested in converting to Orthodox Judaism connect with an Orthodox community and find a conversion Rabbi?
I know that one needs to be in an Orthodox community in order to be immersed in the culture, practice and devotion of Jewish life. How does one connect with such a community? Does one find a ...
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The status of Eliezer as a slave
I am going to piece together a variety of bits of information, so please bear with me.
Eliezer was in charge of Avraham's house already before Avraham had his name changed (Bereishit 15:2)
Eliezer ...
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How long does a minor convert have to reject their conversion before it becomes permanent?
An underage (< 12 for girls, < 13 for boys) gentile child can be converted to Judaism under certain circumstances, but they have the right to renounce this conversion upon reaching adulthood.
My ...
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Identifying a person as a convert
I remember reading long ago that, according to Jewish law, you may not identify as a convert a person whom you know is a convert. Is this correct and what is the reference?
For whether it is ...
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What is the status of those who need to undergo geyur lechumra?
What is the status of one who needs to undergo a giyur lechumra, but have yet to undergo the actual process? Can they be counted in a minyan? Are they considered Jewish? Can they serve as eydim? FoR: ...
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Different Chanukah Blessing for Converts?
In 139:12, Kitzur writes that when a convert lights Chanukah candles, he should say "She-asah nissim l'Yisrael" instead of "She-asah nissim lavoteinu". What is his basis for this ruling? Isn't a ...
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Can a Zerah Yisrael that converts use his father's Hebrew name for aliyot?
If boy was born to a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother and later converted in his life, would he obliged to call himself "ben Avraham" when called up for an aliyah, or would he be allowed to take ...
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Converts, kibbud av v'eim, and non-Jewish holidays
A convert is required to honor his parents. This does not apply when fulfilling their requests violates halacha. I suspect that many parents of converts, who are not knowledgable in halacha and ...
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What commandments can a gentile take on?
I'm currently a gentile who believes that Judaism is true. I understand that I don't need to be Jewish to share in the world to come, and I understand that being a Noahide is much easier, however, it ...
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According to the theory of Gilgul Nashamot, are the souls of converts reincarnations of souls that previously inhabited Jewish bodies? [closed]
As an explanation for why some gentiles feel connected to Judaism and therefore decide to convert, I have read that some rabbis see them as Jewish souls. That is to say that their souls in a previous ...
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Was Herod Jewish?
Slightly related.
This topic has been on my mind lately. According to Josephus, Herod's father Antipater was the son of Antipas, one of the Edomites converted by Yochanan Hyrcanus. I asked one of the ...
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Can I become Jewish just by saying “I am a Jew”? [duplicate]
I am interested in the faith of Judaism. I am curious about being “informally Jewish”. This is because I am interested in this religion because of its history and willingness to be open. I am not ...
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Status of children born from a yefat toar who was converted to judaism after the 30 day period
In parshat Ki Teietze it talks about the yefat torah.
If after the 30 days if he still wants to marry her, she is converted to judaism, then he can marry her.
Question: Is this conversion a regular ...
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If a woman converting to Judaism goes to Mikvah during her period but doesn't see any more blood, is she Tehorah?
As a corollary to this question, if a woman goes to Mikvah for her conversion "during her period" (let's say on the 2nd or 3rd day), but for some reason (for which she should probably consult her OB/...
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Does the status "mal v'lo taval" apply to women?
In a number of circumstances, the halachic status of מל ולא טבל ("circumcized but not immersed in a mikveh") takes on significance.
For instance, regarding a nochri touching wine, the Shulchan Aruch ...
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What if a convert later finds out he was already Jewish?
If someone converts to Judaism, but later credible evidence is found that he was already Jewish (say, due to a distant matrilineal ancestress), is he still treated as a convert for halachic purposes?
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Is there a possibility of 'natural conversion'?
Let's suppose someone wants from all his heart to convert, has no ways to travel for an official conversion and decides to convert himself and to follow all halachot and mitsvot of the Torah.
I have ...
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Are all conversions to Orthodox Judaism (Haredi, Hasidic and Modern) recognized in Israel?
I am ready to convert to Judaism, but I am curious about how conversions performed under Orthodox auspices are perceived in Israel. For example, I understand that the current Israeli government is run ...
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Parent/child relationship : how does adoption compare to geirus?
Take a father and daughter who both underwent geirus. Now take a Jewish man who adopted a baby girl of unknown (Jewish) parents. In both situations, the father raises the child since birth. Are the ...
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Convert without accepting mitzvos?
Conversion is always a hot topic, especially here in Israel. Many times conversions take place where the Ger (convert) didn't have the intention to be m'kabel (accept) the mitzvos. People scream and ...
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Can a woman convert to Judaism to marry Kohen due to the concept of sfeik sfeika?
A Rabbi involved in conversions recently told me a story about a conversion he took part in. He came to the Mikvah to take part in the Beis Din (Modern Orthodox Beis Din) and lo and behold he finds ...
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Devarim Rabbah 2:24 - conversion without beit din?
In Devarim Rabbah 2:24, there is a story where the Rabbis pay condolences to a Roman senator who committed suicide to save the Jews. The Rabbis hint that it was a shame that the senator died ...
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If a convert converted without knowing that their conversion would be permanent
Hypothetically, if a convert converted without knowing that their conversion would be permanent (i.e., cannot convert out), does that make the conversion invalid?
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Were there any other religions before Judaism that their followers should convert to Judaism?
You could imagine that with the advent of a new religion, any followers of the last religion would be required to convert to the new religion.
Which followers of which religion converted to Judaism, ...
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Is there a negative connotation around converting to Judaism?
Is there any text in the Torah or Mishnah that sees a convert as some kind of "imitation" Jew or someone who isn't as good as a real-deal matrilineal Jew?
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If a gentile commited murder and then converted, can he be executed?
Assuming these are witnesses who warned him of the penalty immediately before he acted, as specified in Sanhedrin, if a gentile committed murder (or any other violation of the Noachide Law) and then ...
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How can a Jew Exit / Leave their Religion? [duplicate]
I ask specifically in the context mentioned below:
... It’s not just that you can’t get away with apostatizing from Islam:
that if you’re a Jew you can’t convert to Christianity. If you want to
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Does a convert retain his debts to Gentiles and to Jews?
Following my previous question,
After the conversion, does a convert Halachicly, as a newly formed Jew, keep all his existing debts to other Gentiles and Jews?
Also, is he obligated to return A ...
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May Conversative man "up-convert" to marry Orthodox girl?
I'm writing a story where a young man raised in a devout Conservative family risks suicidal odds to rescue an Orthodox girl who fell onto the subway tracks hurting her ankle, who is about to be ...
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How many times does a Ger immerse?
How many times does a ger tovel (immerse) when converting? I know that a ger immerses first then makes the bracha (can't make the bracha yet until the person becomes a Jew). Does the ger then immerse ...
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Would those of the lost tribes lose their status of Israelites after converting?
Jewishness is determined by matrilineal descent, so those of the lost tribes would have to convert.
But is not tribe determined by patrilineal descent? Being an Israelite means being a “son of Israel”,...
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Is it permitted and possible to convert a Christian to Judaism without approaching rabbinical authorities?
Are private conversion without involving a Rabbi possible? Like converting a Christian without making it public, not even to rabbis thus doing the conversion rituals on our own?
user5316