Gerim
גרים | |
|---|---|
 Satmar gerim in Guatemala (2021) | |
| Total population | |
| Unknown | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Worldwide | |
| Languages | |
| Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, other Jewish languages, and various other native languages. | |
| Religion | |
| Judaism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Jews |
Gerim (Hebrew: גרים), specifically gerey tzedek (righteous proselytes),[1] are converts to Judaism whom are considered full members of the Jewish nation.[2][3]
As Judaism does not seek converts,[4] prospective converts must complete the arduous process without the support present in universalist religions like Christianity or Islam. It is traditional for an individual requesting to begin the process to be denied three times by a rabbi to test their sincerity or even be denied entirely.[5][6][7][8] Even once the conversion process has begun, an individual is not guaranteed to be converted if they do not meet the expectations and requirements of their sponsoring rabbi and Jewish court.[9][10]
Individuals from a vast array of ethnic and religious backgrounds have become Jewish throughout history, leading to a degree of genetic and racial diversity among the Jewish population as a whole. Regardless, Jewish law places no value in genetics or physical attributes in determining whether or not an individual is or is not a Jew.[11][12][13][14][15]
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, a prominent Dutch-Israeli rabbi and ger tzedek states, regarding conversion, that:
"A Gentile who converts to Judaism miraculously becomes part of the people of Israel. Unlike with Christianity, this does not just mean that the Gentile now shares the beliefs of Judaism, but rather that he or she literally becomes the seed of the Avot and Imahot. For this to happen, a quasi-biological miracle is required. The Gentile needs to be reborn as a direct descendant of Avraham and Sara."[16]
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History
[edit]
Non-Jews have been joining the Jewish people for thousands of years, with one of the earliest instances being Ruth, an
ancestor of King David.[17]
During the Roman era, it is estimated up to 10% (2-7 million) of the Roman population was Jewish, partially due to an increase in Jewish conversion.[18] Several gerim and descendants of gerim, such as Simon bar Giora, Avtalyon, Shmaya, Onkelos, Queen Helena of Adiabene, Ben Bag Bag, and Rabbi Yochanan ben Torta were prominent in the ancient Jewish community.[19]
It is estimated that a significant portion of the genome of diaspora Jewish groups is of non-Israelite genetic descent, indicating that these communities accepted in many converts following the expulsion of Jews from Israel by the Romans.[20][21] These converts were fully assimilated into the Jewish people, adopting all aspects of Jewish culture and identity.[22]
Though extremely uncommon, entire people groups have converted to Judaism throughout history, notably the Subbotnik Jews,[24] Bene Menashe,[25] Jews of San Nicandro,[26] and the Himrayite Kingdom.[27] Many of these groups have gone on to intermarry with the predominately Israelite-descended Jewish community.
Distinction between born-Jews and gerim
[edit]There is no distinction between born-Jews and gerim in the eyes of traditional Jewish law, in most cases.[28] The few distinctions that do exist are that a ger cannot sit on a Jewish court in many cases,[29] a ger cannot marry a Kohen (Jewish priest),[30] and a ger can never be in a position of absolute authority over born-Jews (such as becoming a monarch).[31]
Convert status does not extend to the children of converts, as they would be considered born-Jews.[32]
Process
[edit]Prospective Jewish converts must undergo a rigorous process which bears similarity to both naturalization and a religious conversion. Traditionally, this involves moving into a Jewish community, a year or more of Jewish education under a rabbi, meeting with a recognized beit din (Jewish court), and going through with the final rituals (which differ between males and females slightly).[33][34]
Adoption of minhag
[edit]Converts generally are advised to adopt the minhagim (such as Ashkenazi or Sephardi) of their sponsoring rabbi or community, however many also choose their own minhag independently.[35][36]
Convert rabbis
[edit]Though rare, there are many instances of gerim obtaining semikhah (rabbinical ordination). As a rabbi does not have absolute authority over born-Jews, it is considered permissible for gerim to be ordained.
A few prominent gentile-born rabbis include:
- Rabbi Yitzhak Graanboom - Swedish convert and former interim Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam.[37]
- Rabbi Natan Gamedze - Swazi royal and lecturer.[38]
- Rabbi Asher Wade - American-Israeli psychotherapist and lecturer.[39]
- Rabbi Aharon Shear Yashuv - German-Israeli, son of an Waffen SS officer, and rav of Technion University.[40]
In Israel
[edit]Since 2016, about 3,000 people convert to Judaism every year in Israel through programs approved by the Chief Rabbinate. Between 1996 to 2021, 101,609 individuals have successfully completed approved conversion programs, with most being Soviet immigrants who were not halakhically Jewish (often times only having one Jewish grandparent).[41]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "PROSELYTE - JewishEncyclopedia.com". www.jewishencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Broyde, Michael (2012-11-18). "Who Is A Ger?". Torah Musings. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "You Don't Have to Be Jewish to Be Jewish: On Conversion to Judaism | Congregation Beth El–Keser Israel". www.beki.org. 2014-07-09. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "Rubenstein: Why don't Jews proselytize?". The Canadian Jewish News. 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Rus and the Three Time Rejection Rule". cRc Consumer Kosher. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Moss, Aron. "Why Do Rabbis Discourage Conversions?". Chabad.org.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Conversion". Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Lieberman, S. Zevulun (1988). "A Sephardic Ban on Converts". Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought. 23 (2): 22–25. ISSN 0041-0608.
- ^ Levin, Einat (2009-04-26). "Interior Ministry: Beit Din confirmation of US convert not enough". Itim. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Sandra Caplan Community Bet Din | FAQs". scbetdin.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "All the Colors of a Jew". The YU Observer. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "American Jews, Race, Identity, and the Civil Rights Movement". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Jews come in all shapes, colors and sizes". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "The Racial Identity of U.S. Jews". rpl.hds.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Are Jews a Race?". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Conversion is not about Halachah but about Jewishness". David Cardozo Academy. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "Ruth, The First Convert: A Model of Welcome - Reconstructing Judaism". 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ hersh (2022-05-29). "The Surge of Converts to Judaism in Ancient Rome | Aish". Aish.com. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "20 Amazing Converts to Judaism You Should Know". www.chabad.org. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "Ancient DNA Provides New Insights into Ashkenazi Jewish History". hms.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ Stephanie Pappas (2012-08-06). "Genes Tell Intricate Tale of Jewish Diaspora". livescience.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "Conversion History: Ancient Period". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Mizrahi, Baruch". Honor Israel's Fallen. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "Subbotnik Jews". Shavei Israel. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Scarr, Cindy (2024-03-26). "One Tribe Lost and Found - Mishpacha Magazine". Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Eichner, Itamar (2018-04-24). "The Jews-by-choice of San Nicandro, Italy". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "The Rise and Fall of a Jewish Kingdom in Arabia - Ideas | Institute for Advanced Study". www.ias.edu. 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Tilles, Yerachmiel. "FAQ: Converts & Conversion". Chabad.org.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "May a Convert Serve on a Bet Din for Conversion?". May a Convert Serve on a Bet Din for Conversion? ~ Hirhurim - Musings. 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "From the Rav's Desk: Kohen marrying the daughter of converts or the daughter of a gentile father – Shulchanaruchharav.com". shulchanaruchharav.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Tabasky, Rabbi Chaim. "Converts becoming rabbis". Yeshiva Site. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Conversion - Halachipedia". halachipedia.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "How to Convert to Judaism". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ adubin. "GPS Policies and Procedures". Judaism Conversion. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Judaism, Lessons, Times | Yeshiva.co". Yeshiva Site. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ Waldman, Pinchas. "Ba'al Teshuva, Convert – Which Customs to Follow?".
- ^ "Rabbi Izak Ger "The Convert" of Amsterdam | Kosher River Cruise". kosherrivercruise.com. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "Rabbi Natan Gamedze by Mrs. Rosalie Moriah". Ohr Somayach. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "YUTorah - My Life of Physics and Torah". www.yutorah.org. 2024-11-24. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ Litvak, Yehudis (28 January 2024). "The Nazi's Jewish Son".
- ^ "Statistical Report on Religion and State in Israel – New Chapters". en.idi.org.il (in Hebrew). 2023. Retrieved 2024-11-28.