Forgive how this sounds, but why do you want to know? If it is to try to find good reasons to reach out to gentiles to convert, that runs contrary to Jewish custom, which is to dissuade gentiles from converting. The Talmud and Midrash learn this from Naomi’s attempt to dissuade her daughter-in-law Ruth from converting to Judaism. Only when she saw that, despite her attempts, Ruth remained adamant in her desire to convert, did she accept her to go through the conversion process.
The reason for this is two-fold:
- One is to ensure the dedication of the conversion candidate. If, despite repeated discouragement the potential candidate is not dissuaded, this speaks a lot for their commitment to follow through and continue to observe the many requirements incumbent upon a Jew throughout their lives.
- Secondly, this stems from the worldview of Judaism vis-à-vis the gentile world. Unlike most religions which maintain the only “ticket to heaven” is through conversion to their religion, Judaism affords a portion in the next world to gentiles as well. As long as a gentile observes the 7 “Noahide Laws” he or she will attain bliss in heaven. A sincere gentile would not be wrong to say, ‘better to remain an righteous gentile, having to observe only 7 laws than risk becoming an un-righteous Jew’, missing out on some of the 613 mitzvos! Furthermore, the observance of Judaism was presented only to the Jews at Sinai to become the Chosen People, charged with the mission of being a Light Unto the Nations. We are to lead and inspire by example for the rest of the world to become cognizant of God’s Presence and all that entails. God’s plan was not to have the entire world Jewish. (Or, as one rabbi put it, if the whole world was Jewish, who would buy retail?!).
When, however, we ascertain that a gentile is truly sincere in his or her desire to join the Jewish people, we inform them of the unique and intimate loving relationship that the Almighty has forged with “My son, My first-born son, Israel”.
We explain to the potential convert that when the Jewish people received the Torah at Sinai they were endowed with unique souls, fit to become receptacles for the intense spiritual energy of the Torah they were about to receive. When one converts, the moment of conversion becomes the convert’s own, private Sinai experience. At that moment, the Almighty endows the convert with one of those unique souls that was present at Sinai and awaiting the opportunity to join the stage of history as a Jew. This affords the recipient the possibility of transcending the shackles of this world and connecting to a higher essence, living a life of complete holiness and purity.
There have been converts throughout Jewish history who have attained the highest level of scholarship and greatness. Take, for example, the renowned convert from Roman nobility, Unkelos, whose commentary to the Torah has become the standard translation of the Torah for Jews worldwide and is studied along with the weekly Torah portion. How could we not mention Ruth, the paradigm convert, from whom we derive many laws of conversion and was none other than the progenitor of King David and the Messiah. If one is sincere, the sky is the limit!
Sincerely,
Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried
