So as I was navigating Jumblrâ„¢, I came across some classic anti-convert sentiment. And I would like to say... stop.
You are going against Halakha. Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, all the Major Jewish denominations ALL accept converts. Converts to Judaism are merely Jews who have been lost and made their way home. They are not less Jewish. They have simply returned to their family. Also, they often know more about Judaism than those of us born into it. They often show more dedication to Halakha and living a Jewish life than those of us born into it. And even if you claim to accept them, G-d forbid, don’t remind them that they are converts. Don’t do or say anything to make them feel like less of a Jew.
I was born and raised Jewish, but my mother is a convert. No, she did not convert to marry my father; she was already a regular member of our synagogue before he even moved into town. She is just as Jewish as my father and my rabbi and all the members of our congregation as well as me. Some ger-phobes would say that I am not Jewish either, as my mother converted. But why would you pay attention to one part of Jewish law but ignore the other?
Conversion to Judaism is nothing like conversion to Christianity and the majority of the world’s religions. A Jew by choice is more of an adoptee or an immigrant than a convert. We are family, and we are a country. Don’t you dare ostracize converts from our community.
