LCD Conversions. The righteous solution

Dear Israel,

The subject of conversions is never painless, especially for the converts. Those who made it through the process usually have no fond memories of it; and, as quickly as possible, they try to forget it altogether and hope everyone else does as well. It’s a humiliating procedure, seemingly designed by the religious leaders to discourage anyone who tries to join the Chosen Family from doing so easily, regardless of motivation.

I believe I have the righteous obligation to pronounce judgment on the current system: it is unrighteous. The process totally ignores the spirituality and concentrates only on the traditions. It’s entirely possible, probable even, for a person to go through the conversion process without learning anything about the God of Israel. My question is, ‘Why would anyone need to know any traditions to become Jewish?? Should not becoming a Chosen Person start and end with the love of the One Invisible God?

Let me introduce you to the only righteous method of conversion: the LCD conversion.
LCD are letters recognizable from our math class in school when we learned to deal with fractions. The math teachers always tried to explain how important such concepts are for life, and now I know why. If you have a lot of fractions with different denominators (the number below the line), the only way to add them together is to establish a common denominator. Once done, the numerators (the number above the line) can be adjusted and easily added together. In applying this simple logic to the concept of conversion, it makes sense to me to find a common denominator for all converts that would allow for a righteous conversion and an effortless absorption into the Israeli community.

The LCD principal, when applied to converts is this: (Deuteronomy 10:12-13) And now, Israel (this would include the convert), what does the LORD your God ask of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD, and His statutes, which I command you today for your good?

This was said to Israel, the folk, ergo to the aspiring convert as well. To become part of the folk of Israel, it is necessary to experience the circumcision of the heart: (Deuteronomy 10:16) Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked. This step is actually necessary for all, Jewish or not, who wish to personally know and follow God. The cutting of the foreskin of the heart happens when one earnestly seeks for God, and finds him. (Jeremiah 29:13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. This step makes you one of God’s people. The instruction God gives for that person’s life is simple: (Deuteronomy 4:2) You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the LORD your God which I command you.

That’s it! That’s the LCD Conversion! This is how a righteous conversion to a righteous life is accomplished. Nothing about traditions. The convert is to personally seek and find God, denying all other gods; then live his/her faith by living according to the written laws, not adding to them nor taking away from them, as applicable. For example, the laws of the temple service and priestly duties and sacrifices do not apply to new converts until there is a temple; and they are not temple servants or priests.

Let everyone who wants to convert to, what I call, The One Faith, do so by openly denying any belief in any other god and declare loyalty to the One Invisible God of Israel, and commit to live according to the written laws of God, given to us in the Torah. (Deuteronomy 6:25) And if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us, it shall be our righteousness.

This is a painless and holy conversion, like Ruth experienced; and, as Ruth was accepted by the Jewish Folk as evidenced in the fact that she became the great-grandmother of King David, who is the forefather of the Messiah, so should the convert’s potential be appreciated and valued.

If Ruth would have tried to join the Folk today, she probably would not have made it; and we might never have seen or heard of David.

In a related matter, concerning the chosenness of our people, what exactly were we chosen to do? Simply put, according to the Torah, the simple, understandable Word of God, we are to circumcise our hearts (involves repenting for unbelief) and then live according to God’s written laws. God never asked anything more of us than that. Once we start doing so, our love will be established toward God, then towards our fellow Chosen Ones; and finally, we will then take our love of God and of His written laws into the world and allow others the opportunity to become Chosen of God as well. There is room for the entire world to join us. This is why we were chosen! We must share this love with the world. A Missionary of Chosenness! That this is the right thing to do is even indicated in Scripture: (Zechariah 8:23) So says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men, out of all languages of the nations, shall take hold, and will seize the skirt (tzitzit) of a man, a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

In barely a thousand words, I have offered the most righteous, simplest and most beautiful conversion process possible in the sight of God.

Once established on the solid denominator of The One Faith, the new Chosen Ones can join and enjoy whatever Jewish religious group they want, or not. They can take on the intricacies of Halacha, or not. Even if they never move from the entrance-level denominator, they will have an eternally sure foundation, the one given by God Himself! And from God’s point of view, He requires nothing more than that. (DT 10.12-13 see above)

With love from my heart to yours,

Yeriel