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Conversion to Judaism in Jewish law : essays and responsa / edited by Walter Jacob and Moshe Zemer
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SELECTED REFORM RESPONSA

certain that this is the essential meaning of the two or three statements in the Gospels when Jesus speaks to those who would join his movement. He says:"Unless ye are like little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." He meant:"Give up all your past and be born anew." This was the classic Jewish concept of conversion.) The man of whom you speak cannot, therefore, either by logic or by the spirit of the law, continue his old affiliations together with the new.

Besides, the Talmudic law questions the validity of any conversion entered into merely for the purpose of marriage; it questions its sincerity. If the man involved refuses to give up Christianity , then his acceptance of Judaism cannot possibly be wholehearted or sincere and he cannot be accepted as a proselyte.

So, in spite of the general blurring of boundaries(which is part of the spirit of the age and which also has its good side), nevertheless, on the basis of both common sense and the Jewish

law, which requires in conversion a clean-cut separation and unquestionable sincerity, such an arrangement as suggested is utterly unacceptable under Jewish law and tradition.

*Solomon B. Freehof , Reform Responsa, Cincinnati , 1960,#18.