| The First Word: Welcome, immigrants to Judaism | | | | speech and assembly and a more personal |
| | | | understanding of the value of our constitutional |
| What do the divisive debates between Americans | | | | protections from governmental intrusion. |
| over immigration policy and within the Jewish world | | | | Likewise, I know from experience that those who |
| over conversion have in common? As a rabbi who | | | | choose to become Jewish typically are more |
| recently became an American, and who is actively | | | | knowledgeable about their adopted religion, more |
| involved in counseling potential converts to Judaism, I | | | | appreciative of the similarities and differences |
| have noticed that these seemingly disconnected | | | | between the various faiths, and tend to be more |
| controversies raise similar questions. | | | | genuine participants in the rituals, obligations and tenets |
| If there are jobs that go wanting, should we open the | | | | of our tradition. |
| door wider to those who want to fill those jobs? If the | | | | Whether they were attracted by the philosophy, the |
| family is already established here with children born, | | | | history, the ritual practices, or they wanted to further |
| should the journey to citizenship involve fewer toll | | | | express their love for a spouse, I would be more than |
| booths? | | | | pleased to have the pews filled with converts. For the |
| If intermarriage, low birthrates and secularization yield | | | | most part, they are adults who have made adult |
| fewer Jews, should we make it easier for others to | | | | decisions. |
| adopt our religion? If the husband is a Jew by birth | | | | IMMIGRANTS TEND to make great Americans; |
| should the wife's conversion to Judaism be simplified? | | | | converts tend to make great Jews - and for similar |
| If America is truly the melting pot and if becoming a | | | | reasons. |
| Jew literally means joining the wider family, then what's | | | | Given this, should it be permanently disqualifying if you |
| the fuss? | | | | entered the US without benefit of a visa if you now |
| While I am a Jew by birth, I'm an American by choice, | | | | are willing to pay some kind of sanction (fine or taxes) |
| having become a citizen over a year ago. Maybe | | | | and go through a rigorous process to introduce the |
| more significantly, I have worked to guide dozens of | | | | details and mandates of this democracy? Should there |
| Jews by choice on their journey leading to conversion. I | | | | be such a rigid bar to being able to call yourself a Jew |
| use the Internet as a vehicle to reach out to and | | | | or to become a member of a congregation of |
| attract those who might be consider joining the Jewish | | | | whatever denomination you choose? In modern times, |
| people. | | | | when religious affiliation is not obligatory, should it be so |
| MANY WONDER why someone not born Jewish | | | | burdensome to join a synagogue? |
| would want to become a Jew, and whether someone | | | | I was born a Jew; I was not born Orthodox, |
| who grew up in another tradition can truly embrace a | | | | Conservative or Reform. |
| new one. My own experience as an immigrant has | | | | Should we really be using Halacha as a weapon |
| helped me understand the possibilities for such | | | | against people who want to convert? Shouldn't we be |
| profound transitions. | | | | looking for ways in which Halacha can be used as a |
| I will always be a Brazilian because I love the hot | | | | bridge for the acceptance of converts? Furthermore, |
| weather, the warm people, and I have wonderful | | | | when one approaches a synagogue, why is it that the |
| memories from my childhood. But I chose to become | | | | sincerity of the convert is always questioned, yet we |
| an American for a myriad of reasons influenced by | | | | take for granted that the motives of the born Jew are |
| adult rationales and justifications. I encountered | | | | legitimate? |
| America's history, constitution, Pledge of Allegiance and | | | | Don't get me wrong. I am not in favor of an open |
| national anthem through mature, experienced eyes and | | | | border or a free pass to citizenship. And I do not wish |
| ears. I am most confident that I will be - maybe already | | | | to see a drive-in conversion window at the |
| have become - a knowledgeable and active | | | | neighborhood shul. |
| participant in my democracy. | | | | There should be realistic standards that help the |
| I made sure I knew where the polling place was a full | | | | convert establish the basis for a positive Jewish |
| two weeks ahead of the first opportunity I had to vote. | | | | identity, and there should be serious probing and |
| And I was one of the first in line on that Tuesday in | | | | assessment of the correctness, fluency and sincerity |
| November. And unlike the folks on the street | | | | of the answers. But the accident of birth does not |
| interviewed by Jay Leno, I know the name and | | | | make someone different or special and does not and |
| recognize the face of the secretary of defense, and | | | | should not provide the title of gatekeeper. |
| the senators from my state (Mississippi) and the | | | | I recoil at the self-styled patriots - those minutemen, or |
| mayor of my town (Hattiesburg). | | | | is it minyanmen - who want the day laborers corralled |
| My experience is hardly unique. I truly believe that | | | | and sent home or who want only purebreds speaking |
| those who make the choice and who work toward | | | | from the bima or participating on the High Holy days. |
| attaining the goal of citizenship often become among | | | | My adopted country needs and will thrive on the |
| the most involved and informed citizens. | | | | infusion of new immigrants as much as my birth religion |
| More importantly, those who left other societies and | | | | needs and will thrive with the addition of those who |
| have chosen to work for that goal in America have a | | | | choose to worship with me. I welcome them as should |
| more immediate appreciation of the blessings of free | | | | you. |