Shavuot and conversion, post-October 7

This Shavuot when we recite Yizkor (the memorial service), it will be over a year and half since the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023; the taking of the hostages; and the beginning of the still-ongoing war in Gaza. It seems that for the Klal Yisrael (the Jewish people), everything has changed since that day. Obviously, this is much more intensely felt in Israel. However, American Jewry has also experienced a paradigm shift.

Before October 7th, American Jews were, of course, concerned about antisemitism. That anxiety is now on steroids, with a study finding that nearly half of American Jews have changed their behavior or routines out of fear of being targeted. This worry is not unfounded. The recent  tragic murder of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky highlights this issue. Generally, personal attacks on Jews are up. The way Jewish students were preyed upon by many pro-Palestinian protesters on campuses during the spring semester of 2024 can only be described as acts of hate. While there have been some changes at some universities, the problem is far from over.

Furthermore, there is a split in the American Jewish community over the White House Executive Order regarding antisemitism. Some feel it is long overdue. Others believe that it is part of larger agenda of curtailing civil rights, free speech, immigration, education, and might actually cause greater antisemitism. Additionally, there are some in the diaspora and Israel who are not pleased with the recent decision that the United States is no longer demanding Saudi Arabia normalize ties with Israel as a condition for progress on civil nuclear cooperation. Regardless of one’s position on this, we have also been seeing significant antisemitism on both the far right and the far left of the American political spectrum.

Interestingly, this upsurge in antisemitism has not caused greater assimilation or a slowdown in those interested in converting to Judaism. My colleagues and I are seeing that if someone was already Jewish before October 7th, in many cases, there is a greater desire for such individuals to connect more deeply to Judaism, the community, their fellow Jews and Israel. For example, when I was in Israel on a solidarity mission soon after October 7th, I met so-called “secular Israelis” who have connected to Judaism religiously since the war began. I am also aware of large numbers of Jewish families from America that decided to make aliyah over the past year and half.

However, what has been most profound to me is what I have experienced in my work as the director of the Jewish Learning Center of New York, a program of the international Ohr Torah Stone network. One of our courses is a 36-week “Basic Judaism” class that meets weekly. Our students are people who are not Jewish, who are on a path to conversion. Some are single and some are taking this class together with their Jewish partners. Once they have become well-versed in Judaic studies, fully observant and part of a synagogue in a religious community, they meet with a beit din—a three-member religious court of Orthodox rabbis who facilitate the conversion. There are check-ins along the way well before this final meeting.

As a rabbi, I have been moved and inspired to interact with people who, in the context of such prejudice towards Jews, have made the brave decision to convert to Judaism. My students Carol and Daniel (their names have been changed for confidentiality, but “Carol and Daniel” gave permission for their story to be shared), especially exemplify this phenomenon. I met them not long after Oct. 7th to talk about conversion.

Carol, who was not Jewish at the time, said, “I have been contemplating this, and we have been talking about this for a while. However, Oct. 7th crystallized my thinking. Viewing the terrorism committed on and since that day, the vile nature of campus protests against Israel, watching antisemitism statistics increase, and the fact that we, as a couple, have personally experienced bigotry due to our engagement with Judaism ironically solidified my decision. It is my great dream to be a part of the Jewish people. I feel my fate is with the Jewish nation; it is my destiny.”

Not only did Carol did not just express her solidarity with Klal Yisrael, but she also articulated her connection to Jewish wisdom, values, theology and practice. What was fascinating to me was that she did this within the context of October 7th. She told me, “When Oct. 7th occurred, I felt this sense of urgency to be more spiritual, to deepen my relationship with God, because one of the things that I have learned about Judaism is that every person can make a difference in small ways. I try to do that by attending rallies in support of the hostages, making donations to Jewish causes, praying, doing mitzvot (commandments) and chesed (acts of kindness).”

One of the narratives of Shavuot is Megilat Rut (the book of Ruth). Ruth’s story is read on this upcoming holiday, because it chronicles her journey to joining our people. While the text does not specifically mention a conversion taking place, many commentators have interpreted Rut 1:16 as Rut converting. Specifically we see this in the classic Midirashic work Rut Rabbah 2:12.

It is fitting for a convert’s epic to be told on the day we celebrate Matan Torah, the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. According to the Midrash Tanchuma, Nitzavim 3:1, every Jewish Neshama (soul) was present at Mount Sinai, experiencing God’s revelation and the acceptance of Torah. In this context Shavuot is a time for us all to reaffirm our covenant with God. One could even argue that at Sinai and on Shavuot, it is as if we all re-convert to Judaism, whether or not we were born Jewish. It is also a time for conscience-raising about the incredible level of risk that converts are taking by the life choice they are making. The Jewish community must show the greatest level of sensitivity and inclusion to converts.

One of the most challenging moments of the conversion process is when the potential convert is dissuaded three times (Rut Rabbah 2:16), a process designed to make sure that they are sincere. One of the ways in which they are discouraged is by reminding them of antisemitism; this particular reminder is important because transparency is essential. While at various times in recent history, especially in the United States, where not too long ago antisemitism was receding, this has felt almost symbolic; however, today, it feels very real and personal.

Carol and many others are demonstrating tremendous courage right now. It is incumbent upon us, more than ever, to fulfill the mitzvah of loving the convert (Devarim/Deuteronomy 10:19) and to warmly welcome those who have chosen to join.