Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 3/9/2010

Question
Dear Rabbi Barry,
I made a Conservative conversion in 1999. I lived as a Jew until recently. I met a Rabbi in Chabad who told me I should live as a Bas Noach. I a having a great problem. Now I do nothing after living very religiously for over 10 years. I feel like my mind has snapped. I still want to live as a Jew, but am afraid I am  breaking some law. What is the correct thing to do?

Answer
Dear Joan,

Thank you for writing, but I am frankly outraged.

The first principle is that no one is to even question a Jew by Choice, especially if they are living a Jewish life.

Secondly, this Rabbi has violated a strong principle of "hasagat g'vul," crossing over a fence of protocol.  Who needs his permission or opinion? \

If you wish to be a Habad Hassid and this Rabbi is now going to be your Rabbi, I would say that you can do as he says.

But if you wish to live as a Jew and are living as a Jew, ignore him.

Habad has its own adherents and I am unwilling to vent my opinions about their philosophy, even though I have studied Habad writings in various contexts for years.

If you wish to call, write me and I will send you my phone number. If you are living near the Rabbi who did the conversion, contact him/her for an opinion or advice. If you are in a different community and affiliated with a Conservative congregation and only if you wish to do so, speak with your Rabbi about your status.

If you were to affiliate with my congregation and you volunteered the information that you are a convert, then you would be considered a Jew.

The worst that could happen would be that you didn't perform a particular ritual or study requirement due to a Rabbinic error, and that can be remediated easily - especially as you wish to be a Jew.

Forget Habad and their narrow view of virtually everything except their own philosophy and lifestyle and rules.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov