Hamas War

Monday, September 11, 2017

Conversion to Judaism Complicated Business

A version of this book review was posted on Israel Blogger as Post-Conversion Situations and Complications.

A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts By Rabbi Michael J. Broyde is an amazing book about the complexities that face people after their conversion to Judaism. I know many converts, but until I read the book I hadn’t a clue as how complicated things can get for them in their new status as Jews.

A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts by Rabbi Michael J. Broyde goes into all sorts of situations and “what ifs,” whether it’s the day of the conversion or in general. Some of the situations seem rather improbable, like conversion on Yom Kippur, but I guess if Broyde wrote about it, such as situation must have occurred. Other situations, like kosher food cooked before the actual conversion. Is it considered permissible, even though food cooked completely by a non-Jew is generally problematic?

Rabbi Broyde goes into some very important and common questions about the halachic and problematic family relationships that many or most converts find themselves in. Even though a convert is a “new person,” he/she came from a family, and in most cases continues very loving and respectful relationships with them. Quite often the non-Jewish family members are their own biological children and grandchildren. I think we all know of converts in those situations.

Following are a few pages to give you an idea of what it covers:





I must admit that I’m not an expert in halacha, Jewish Law, nor do I make it a practice to read books about halacha. And I had no idea what I would be getting myself into when I asked to review A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts. So I really must say that this book about conversion and the halachic ramifications is fascinating and appropriate for laymen like myself. To summarize, every synagogue library should have a copy or two.

Product details

  • Hardcover: 180 pages
  • Publisher: Urim Publications; Bilingual edition (June 29, 2017)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9655242498
  • ISBN-13: 978-9655242492

2 comments:

Mr. Cohen said...

Since today is Septembet 11,
the day that the World Trade Center
was destroyed by Arab Muslim terrorists:
___________________________________

QUOTE 1:

“Public opinion in the Arab world is split about 50 50, between those who appalled by the bombing [of the World Trade Center] and those who applaud it.”

SOURCE: Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World after September 11 (page 52) by Thomas L. Friedman, year 2002 CE, Farrar Straus Giroux Publishers, New York, ISBN-10: 0374190666 ISBN-13: 978-0374190668
___________________________________

QUOTE 2:

“Yasir Arafat is only with us after 10 PM on weekdays, when Palestinians who have been dancing in the streets over the World Trade Center attack have gone to bed.”

SOURCE: Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World after September 11 (page 85) by Thomas L. Friedman, year 2002 CE, Farrar Straus Giroux Publishers, New York, ISBN-10: 0374190666 ISBN-13: 978-0374190668
___________________________________

QUOTE 3:

“Why did a U.S. hospital worker here [Saudi Arabia] tell me he was appalled to see Saudi doctors and nurses around him celebrating 9/11 [the destruction of the World Trade Center]?”

SOURCE: Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World after September 11 (page 188) by Thomas L. Friedman, year 2002 CE, Farrar Straus Giroux Publishers, New York, ISBN-10: 0374190666 ISBN-13: 978-0374190668
___________________________________

QUOTE 4:

“This is not to say that U.S. policy is blameless. We do bad things sometimes. But why is it that only Muslims react to our bad policies with suicidal terrorism, not Mexicans or Chinese?”

SOURCE: Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World after September 11 (page 197) by Thomas L. Friedman, year 2002 CE, Farrar Straus Giroux Publishers, New York, ISBN-10: 0374190666 ISBN-13: 978-0374190668
___________________________________

Classic pro-Israel short article by non-Jewish philosopher:

http://factsandlogic.org/archive/outstanding_hoffer.html
___________________________________

Can Jews learn something from Captain Kirk?

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/08/can-jews-learn-from-captain-kirk.html
___________________________________

Why Israel’s 1967 Borders are Undefendable:

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/03/guest-post-why-1967-borders-are-suicide.html
___________________________________

Mr. Cohen said...

Quick Quotes about Converting
to Judaism for the Wrong Reasons
:


https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/DerechEmet/info