and can never throw it off again. I know of no statistics regarding 15b or c.
16. My own experience has been that often proselyte women, especially, become more earnestly Jewish than many of their Jewish -born friends.
17. Is conversion reshut or mitzvah? This is an open question in Jewish law, and as far as the Reform movement is concerned, we still debate it among ourselves. The Union of American Hebrew Congregation, for example, passed a resolution a few years ago that we should go out and seek converts. In other words, it is a mitzvah. The Central Conference of American Rabbis has not yet passed on this matter. As I say, it is an open question.