More of My Comments to Why Do Rabbis Discourage Conversions? By Aaron Moss

If we are keeping a low profile, then we are not doing our job. As Rabbi Tzvi Freeman elucidated in another article it is the mission of Hassidic Judaism to bring Torah to any place that needs it. This was the idea of the Baal Shem Tov. And, that is to bring Torah to the world, and that when this is done the age of Messiah will be here.

If why are bringing the Torah to the world, why then would it be prudent to discourage conversions? So far as I understand, conversions are discouraged in order to give potential converts a push and pull with the culture and religion of Judaism. It is expected that converts accept the entire Torah, and if they can’t do that, then gentiles are still welcome as friends.

I, personally, find the idea of turning away converts to be difficult. Several times it has made me very angry. However, I do not accept the Torah in its entirety, and thus as I understand the Bible, which is paramount in my life, it is not right for me to become Jewish. Specifically, I do not believe that the command to be fruitful and multiply has any relevance in today’s world, as there are billions upon billions of people. If you ask me, then I would say that we are headed toward population dystopia, which I believe is already happening in places like China, where all their major rivers are polluted. However, the vast portion of Torah; I believe, and usually far more than most anyone I ever meet, including Jews.

Really, if we are keeping a low profile [at chabad.org], then what is the deal with this website? Millions come here!!! And, anyone, Jewish or gentile, can ask a question to a Rabbi. I like the rules, as long as I am not excluded. When I was informed that as a friend of the Jews, I would not be treated as a gentile; that was all I wanted to hear!

True I have heard that there once was a time when Jews evangelized, but if anything, we no longer do so because most of us know how obnoxious it is to be evangelized to, us usually being in the minority. All Chabad.org does is to make the Torah available, which is not like evangelizing, except in the most abstract sense. It is putting out loving information that if someone is stumbling upon the Hebrew nation: they are likely to enjoy it.

A reason I don't like evangelism is because it has the potential to rip apart families. I know that my pursuit of Judaism has been somewhat of a stumbling block for my own family, which I might describe as Judeo-Christian. For example, my wife observes Passover with me, but we don’t go all out for it doing things such as clean every last inch of the house to get rid of bread crumbs though usually I do some cleaning. However, I do admit, as far as Judaism goes: I am an addict.

I still believe in encouraging folks to do as they feel is correct. Sometimes folks practice parts of Jewish Law though they aren't Jewish (like myself), and that is great when someone goes the extra mile when they don't have to. I encourage those folks that do so without fear. Fear Gd; not the bully!

Judaism doesn't actively seek converts, and especially it is taught that one does not have to be Jewish in order to be a good person. As we speak, I am happy being a good person. A part of that is that Judaism is at the center of my world, as Torah teaches. I don’t feel like I have to be Jewish though. Conversion would probably only alienate me from my family even more, and I don’t think any Rabbi would support that. Even my wife recognizes that the time I spend at chabad.org has at least taught me a few good things.

Judaism does seek to make Jews observant, such that there is almost evangelism within the religion. Really, this is not evangelism in the sense that Christians or Catholics practice, as Jews believe that the residue of Gd’s speech in Genesis 1 is in all, and that one cannot accurately ask Gd into his or her heart because Gd is already there! That is, all that is what created in the 10 Divine Utterances of Gd, and everything we know of is somehow a derivative of these words.

One reason I choose Judaism over Christianity is that it is accurate. Granted, I probably have a few typos, but for the most part I try to say what I mean. When the words born again come up, to me that means starting from nothing. Being born again sounds as if someone is going to be relearning everything that they have learned up to that point. However, Christians say that it doesn’t really mean that. In fact, whenever I use the literal definition of anything with Christians, they almost always back down and say, “That thing [in the New Testament] doesn’t mean what is says it means. It means something else," such that a whole jargon of Christian speak is created based upon New Testament inaccuracy. Jews often try to make Jews to be better Jews, through Jews trying to get other Jews to be more observant. Rather than a Christian born again experience a complete starting over from nothing. Differently, Jews believe that the goodness in all souls is already present and that it only needs to be revealed if it has in some way become hidden.