#geirus

Translation: Nemen was a righteous gentile, Nevuzradan (who personally took part in murdering tens of thousands of jews) became a righteous jewish convert. Some of the grandchildren of Haman (who tried to murder the entire jewish people) converted and learned Torah to in Bnei Brak. Among the descendents of Sisra (who wanted to destroy the jewish people in the time of the Judges) taught Torah to children in Jerusalem. From the descendents of Sancheriv (the Assyrian king who murdered hundreds of thousands of jews and sent us into exile) were some who taught Torah to the masses, and who were they? Shamaya and Avtalyon. (those were 2 of the greatest leaders of the jewish people during the time of the second temple, and the teachers of Hillel the Elder. Converts descended from one of the biggest enemies of the jews.)

To prevent intermarriage. At first the takkana covered only those who had conversions for the sake of marriage to a Jew (something seen as insincere), which they — and many others, quite honestly — hold as invalid. Throughout the decades it has become more stringent.

There’s a Master’s dissertation available online about the community in NY specifically (although that’s by far the only SY community to hold by the takkana — they also do in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil…) that unfortunately I’m not being able to access, but it’s called “An analysis of Brooklyn’s rabbinical Takana prohibiting Syrian and Near Eastern Jews from marrying converts” (Sarina Roffe, 2006).

“This master’s thesis explores the roots of the 1935 Takana - which forbids marriage to those who convert for the purpose of marriage - and subsequent reaffirmations issued by Rabbi Jacob S. Kassin, the Brooklyn, NY Syrian Jewish community’s Chief Rabbi, and the Rabbinical Council of the Syrian community. 

Such marriages were not to be recognized by the community. Children of such marriages could not attend community yeshivot. Further, rites of passage such as bar mitzvahs, weddings and the right to be buried in the community’s cemetery were denied, as well as synagogue honors.

The author provides historical context, examines 18th century practices on marriage to converts in the United States, interviews community rabbis, discusses enforcement, provides individual cases, examines demographics, and analyzes the changes in the Takana with each Reaffirmation. The author also provides a social context for how the Takana is interpreted 70 years after it was issued. 

As a community member, the author provides valuable insight into how the Takana is interpreted by the community’s members.”

to be jewish you had to have At least a grandfather who was jewish, or you couldn’t convert… Is this true? 

if you convert through modern orthodox will stricter branches of orthodoxy not recognize your conversion?

Some, but not necessarily. It varies according to the community, and a RCA ger/giyoret may be asked to re-converted if they want to join certain communities. But most of the time it doesn’t seem to be an issue. Where I live the Litvish community does accept MO conversions (but they have their own beit din and definitely prefer someone going through it), as long as it’s kosher. 

The chassidish communities here (e.g. Vizhnitz, Belz, et al) most absolutely do not recognize MO conversions, even if the Rabbanut accepts them. My chassidish friend said that they don’t trust batei din that don’t have a chassid on it (the beit din here has Rabbis from different chassidish communities, as well as the main Litvish community, so it gets accepted all around). 

also, are there certain (specifically modern orthodox/orthodox) councils where converts who convert through those affiliated synagogues are not recognized if trying to make an aliyah?

The only one that I know of with such issues is “open Orthodox” — the IRF. Their conversions are not recognized by the Rabbanut (or by the RCA, or by MO Rabbis), and are not acceptable for the purpose of aliyah (read this for an example of a rejection of an IRF ger; the part about the RCA being “primarily ultra-Orthodox” is not true, though).

If you’re looking for a MO beit din, look at the RCA’s list of participating batei din to see which one is closest to you (that’s your regional beit din).

Someone who had a Conservative conversion and then an Orthodox conversion wrote this post, that may be useful to you: “If You Think Only an Orthodox Conversion Is "Good Enough,” Then Don’t Get a Liberal One!“ Not all of it may apply to your case, but it could be an interesting read still.