THE PROSELYTE AND HER GENTILE PARENTS

Solomon B. Freehof

QUESTION: A young woman has come to be converted. She intends to marry a Jewish young man. Her parents favor her conversion. However, the couple, when married, intend to move to Israel . Her parents are firmly opposed to that plan. Is the attitude of the parents likely to create enough difficulties to the marriage that the rabbi would be justified in refusing to convert the young woman?(Rabbi Mark Staitman, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania .)*

ANSWER: The situation as described does indeed involve potential bitterness and family division. Whether or not these probabilities should concern the rabbi depends first of all on the question as to whether the acceptance of the proselyte in Judaism is a mandatory duty(as, for example, it is in Christianity ). The consensus of opinion seems to be that we are not mandated(as Christians are) to go and seek proselytes, but that is a worthy person comes to be converted, it is our duty to convert him(the discussion In New

Reform Responsa, p. 73.). Therefore, in this case, since there may be difficulties involved, some of which may possibly lead the young wife to leave her husband, or to return to her former religious

affiliation under the influence of her parents, the rabbi is justified

in his hesitation and this is the basis for the question.

the situation is to assume for

g woman has already been n. Now,

Perhaps the best way to clarify the sake of discussion that the youn converted and has been married to the Jewish young ma he wants her to move to Israel with him. We pass over the question for the moment of the acceptability of a Reform conversion in Israel and assume that the form of this AT will not be an impediment to their settlement there is that is their

wish.