SELECTED REFORM RESPONSA
in 1892, abolished the requirement of any ritual including circumcision. Most liberal rabbis, however, require circumcision or accept the existing circumcision in accordance with the opinion of Hillel (Shab. 135b). Converts were to be accepted after due instruction before"any officiating rabbi assisted by no less than two associates."
Except in a cursory way, no discussion of tevilah has been undertaken by liberal Jewish authorities. The custom has fallen into disuse, but was never actually rejected by liberal Judaism . Ritual immersion has completely ceased to be practiced for nidah and is followed only by a small percentage within the Orthodox community. The practice has further been hindered by endless Orthodox debates about the technical requirements of the migveh. A ritual immersion has, therefore, not been considered necessary for conversion among most Reform Jewish communities. There are, however, a number of cities in the United States and Canada in which tevilah has been encouraged or required for Reform conversions.
We might conclude that if the custom possesses meaning for
the community and for the prospective convert, it should be encouraged. This would make it more difficult for traditionalists to challenge liberal conversions, although Orthodox authorities will never willingly accept anything we do as our basic premises differ
sharply.
1987,#44.