Category Archives: Conversion

For A Jewish Conversion To Be Valid, Do You Have To Believe In Creationism?

David Kelsey comments: If the haredim believe that the only reason to convert is out of sincere belief, and if we also agree that the haredim believe that it is too easy to convert today, as witnessed by numerous attempts … Continue reading

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The Laws Of Converting To Orthodoxy Judaism

Rabbi Elchonon Tauber, a leading expert on Jewish law in Los Angeles, says in this class posted online: “We don’t encourage proselytizing. We have no intention of making goyim into Jews. There’s no mitzvah. Chazal (Talmudic rabbis) say that converts … Continue reading

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Are R. Barry Freundel’s Orthodox Conversions Still Valid?

I ask historian Marc B. Shapiro: “What do you think of the RCA coming out with a quick statement that all of R. Freundel’s conversions are valid? I suspect haredim now have even more reason to dismiss all MO conversions.” … Continue reading

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Los Angeles Has Its Own Barry Freundel

The Modern Orthodox rabbi arrested in Washington DC yesterday on charges of voyeurism has a long history of accusations reported to rabbinic organizations about his improper behavior with women, similar to Rabbi Abner Weiss in Westwood. Rabbi Weiss is still … Continue reading

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The Terrible Beauty Of The Evil Man

The first time I was given a link to this memoir by Finis Leavell Beauchamp about his conversion to Orthodox Judaism from evangelical Christianity, and I saw the cover and the title, I wanted to keep the book at arm’s … Continue reading

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