Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 8/21/2011

Question
Shalom,

Orthodox Judaism recently questioned my Jewishness and stated I need to complete conversion.  I want to understand if this is true within Conservative Judaism.

My Mother Converted to Reform Judaism when she was 17 years old.  She married my father when she was 18.  I was born when she was 20 years old.  I have my parents' signed Ketubah and my brit, both performed by a Reform Rabbi.  

My Father is a Cohen.

I have been told by an Orthodox Rabbi, who reviewed my documents, I am not halachicly Jewish and must undergo conversion.

In Conservative Judaism would I be counted for the min'yan,lay tiffilin, and be called to read the Torah?  And would I be counted among Levi, let alone, a Cohen? Or would I be required to undergo conversion and the ritual brit milah?

Thank you for your counsel...

MbY

Answer
Dear Mikhael,

Thank you for writing, and you raise a most important issue in the Jewish community. Several answers follow.

1. I can't speak for the Orthodox movements or the Orthodox Rabbis. Modern American Orthodoxy has been retreating for a number of years from both performing conversions and even moreso recognizing conversions - even those performed by American Orthodox Rabbis. The pressure has been coming from several sources in my opinion: (1) some ultra-Orthodox and/or Hassidic groups who have been pushing "Who Is a Jew" here and in Israel, and (2) the Orthodox Israel Chief Rabbis and the Rabbinate. Within the past few years, the Orthodox American Rabbis have capitulated to Israel's Chief Rabbis that only a very few and select American Orthodox Rabbis may be permitted to perform or recognize conversions. Hence they are involved in their own political dynamics, and there are already modern orthodox Rabbis opposing the loss of their own status among the Orthodox.

2. In terms of Reform conversions, many Reform Rabbis have followed the tradition of Jewish education, a meeting with a Bet Din who investigated their sincerity and sufficiency of learning, immersion in a mikveh and for a male also brit milah or hatafat dam brit (drawing a drop of blood). Many did not although my impression is that over the recent decades many more Reform Rabbis have chosen to be more traditional in terms of rituals and customs.

3. Conservative Rabbis in general moreso recently for the above reason and because of an old Rabbinic principle that one does not remind a convert of their former faith nor question their assertion that they are Jewish by conversion.

If anyone responds in such a fashion that they volunteer that their conversion was defective in that one or more elements as mentioned above, Conservative Rabbis will work with any convert who wishes to affirm their Jewish identity, affiliation and aid them in fulfilling those absent rituals.

4. If you wish to have a Conservative Rabbi accept you as a Jew, please speak with him/her directly and determine how they would resolve your question to allay any fears of not being accepted.

5. There are some "Rabbis" who are in Conservative pulpits who are neither graduates of a Conservative Seminary and/or not members of the Rabbinical Assembly which is the official association of Conservative Rabbis. In fact there are congregations which define themselves as Conservative but are not affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.  Just be careful about who is and who is not "Conservative."

Furthermore, please also keep in mind that there are people calling themselves "Rabbis" who are "diploma mill graduates," who are privately "ordained" and call themselves Conservative, but that does not mean that they are "real Rabbis" nor that they are familiar with the principles, beliefs, history and/or range of opinions in law and custom.

6. There are some traditional rules about whom a Kohen may marry and the consequences of violating those rules, rules which reflect the world in which Jews lived hundred and thousands of years ago. That may be brought to your attention, but ultimately it is a function of your Rabbi to decide about your status as the son of a Kohen.

Best wishes and assuming that you want to continue your life as an affiliated Jew, stay with it and beel welcome - at least speaking for myself.

Rabbi Dov