Shalom!
This video is called Kosher Evangelizing. Now for a long time, Jewish groups have been redisant to actively suggest that people who want to can join the Jewish people. In fact, we had a big banner up on Main Street in front of the synagogue that has conversion classes. Every once in a while, some orthodox Jew would stop by and tell me “We do not do that.” And then some of our congregates were a little uncomfortable about it. Well, the reason for that attitude I think goes back 2000 years to a steadily mentality that somehow the non-Jews are going to kill us if we convert people. The other objection they make is that, well we do not want them actively prosthetizing us, so we should not be actively prosthetizing them.
Now, all Jewish denominations, I believe are now on board with the understanding that it is okay to suggest to the non-Jewish spouse of a Jew that they consider conversion. For a while we do not want to suggest to them that they convert, let them decide on their own, and I think there is many of them that are just waiting to be asked, they want to know that they are welcome Then we have this ridiculous attitude among some Rabbis that they turn people away three times.
Well, in the modern age, with people shifting religions and shifting alliances, somebody comes to a Rabbi, wants to convert sincerely and they are turned away, briskly and some kind of test, they may not come back, and people have told us many stories about that, that it took years to get over that. And this all goes back at this notion that they are going to kill us if we try and convert someone. I have been suggesting this to the chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary recently and then a forum with a lot of Rabbis there, he said “Well, if we start prosthetizing non-Jews, then we have to expect, we cannot object to them prosthetizing us anymore. So, I suggested to him that there is a big difference between us saying “We have classes, if you want to join the Jewish people, go ahead.” That is all, versus going door to door and telling people “You must be Christian or you are going to hell.”
There is a huge difference; it is all a difference in the world. so Kosher Evangelizing is simply putting a little sign out on the street saying “We have a conversion classes”, putting ads in the paper like the reformed movement does that we have taste of Judaism, come and learn, and then you suddenly suggest or you say “Well, we have classes if you want to learn to be Jewish.” We put them in our website, we tell people “We re here for you. You do not have to be Jewish, but if you want to be Jewish, you can be.” That is Kosher Evangelizing, and there is absolutely no reason under the sun that we should have any objections to that, it is just a steadily mentality, burying your head in the sand, being afraid of the Gentiles, stupid to say “We are not going to allow, make the message clear that people can convert if they want. A lot of people do not now, that you can convert to Judaism.
And then we have this horrible add to some Jews that converts are not acceptable or one girl we convert, etcetera, a good Jewish friend of her has turned her away, because she said “The only reason you convert is for marriage, if you convert on your own, that does not count, which is a completely stupid idea, I do not know where that comes from. And so, we should be warm and welcoming, and simply say to the world “If you want to join the Jewish people, you are welcome, we would love to have you, we think it is a great religion.” And we believe, following the great prophets of the Bible that at the end of time, all people will recognize the truth of Judaism, the guys name will be one, Adenoi will be one, his name, one.
Until that time, you have your own path that is not a balance risk and follows the seven laws of the sons of Noah, terrific! But, if you want to be Jewish, join us, we are here for you. That is Kosher Prosthetizing, Kosher Evangelizing, and it is not telling people if you do not convert, you are going to hell.
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