I have had a fair amount of accomplishments in my rabbinical career, but none makes me prouder than the fact that I have already performed at almost 400 conversions. Most of these conversions have taken place abroad, but many have taken place in Kansas City. Some of these individuals have become close friends and participatory and engaged members of my and other congregations. Nothing gives me more joy than to participate in a Bet Din ( a jury of three rabbis) that sits to help and support a candidate for conversion. Converts enrich our community, they strengthen us, and they are a constant reminder of how proud we should be of our heritage. I understand that Albert Einstein once said that he wished he had been born a Gentile, so he could convert to Judaism to show how much he truly enjoyed and valued being Jewish.
The first person in our tradition to welcome converts was our forefather Abraham. In Genesis 12:5 we read that “Abraham took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they made in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.” Our rabbis found the choice of words worthy of commentary: “And the people that they made in Haran.” Rabbi Elazar ben Zimra said the text should read “ ‘these are the converts that they converted.’ And if it is that they converted them, why does it say ‘make?’ Only to teach you that all those who bring a worshipper of stars (i.e. a pagan) close (to God) and converts him, it is as if (the one who converts the other) created (the one who converts).” (Genesis Rabbah 39:14)
I am not so arrogant to believe I am in fact responsible for creating anyone, but I know that for every conversion I have done, there will be a whole Jewish world that will follow from that person. In fact, there are many Jewish children today, who are Jewish because I converted their mother, father or sometimes both.
There is nothing I can do as a rabbi that is more far lasting and more impactful to perpetuate Jewish life than doing conversions. I am not advocating lower standards or quick conversions, but I am proud of being able to remove barriers. I was one of the pioneers for online teaching for conversion to Judaism. Unfortunately, I am still among the very few rabbis that do it. I came upon the idea because I would get many requests for help with initiating a process for conversion from people in parts of the world where there were no Jews or the local communities refused to help them. I recalled that I once read that Moshe Ben Maimon, the greatest sage of his time living in Spain, instructed Jewish communities around the world using the most modern means of communication of his day — the mail. Sometimes it took years for a correspondence exchange to take place.
However, his concepts were so innovative and had such a significant impact that the Yemenite Jewish community mode of prayer is based on his suggestions and ideas. In my case, I use the most modern and fast means of communication of our day: the Internet. From my home in Overland Park, I teach a weekly class on Judaism in Spanish on Thursday evenings that is attended by dozens of people in about eight countries. I am aware that Judaism is not only learning but community and practice as well. Some of the people I converted have joined and created their own synagogues in four countries so far. Congregation Brit Braja of Mexico City broadcasts their Shabbat morning service live. Their service is watched and enjoyed by many others around the world. Obviously these are not solutions that would work for Orthodox Jews, but they do help many people who tend to be more liberal in their Jewish practices to stay connected, to feel supported and to continue learning about Judaism.
I am not sure what the future of Judaism will look like, but I know it will not look like today. I am also convinced that bringing worthy and sincere proselytes to our fold only enriches us all.
