SELECTED REFORM RESPONSA
some of the authorities believe that a proselyte is a full proselyte even without circumcision or mikvah.
But the debate in the Talmud is not the real reason for our practice. Our general philosophy is that the ethical and philosophical meaning of Judaism is more the essential than the ceremonial. We may correctly say, therefore, that less emphasis is placed on circumcision and mikvah and more on instruction. That is to say, it is not the mood of Reform to abolish the first two rituals. Some rabbis require it, some do not. In some countries the Reform movement requires it and in some countries it does not. In ceremonial matters we avoid strictness: but on the third element, namely, instruction, we put our great emphasis. In this regard, if I may say so, our method of accepting proselytes is superior to that of Orthodoxy. In Orthodoxy instruction is comparatively minor, although it is indeed required. With us it is major. Most large congregations have a class of proselytes whose instruction will last a half or even a whole year; and as you may well imagine, whereas we teach the various home ceremonies that the candidate will observe(such as Friday night lighting of the candles, etc), our main emphasis in this long instruction is on Jewish history, Jewish writings, Jewish ethics. Forgive this long answer. A short answer would have been no answer at all.
Now with regard to other questions, some I will answer simply“yes” or“no,” but with others I will give you a specific
case that shows you how it was answered.
2. Proselytism for material purposes, etc: We examine the candidates carefully to make sure that they have serious and worthy
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