Giyur (Conversion to Judaism)

Giyur is a process through which a person born as a non-Jew becomes Jewish. A complete giyur can only be done for an adult (a man above age 13, and a woman above age 12) and of their own free will. After completing the process, the ger (convert) is defined as a "newborn child." The ger joins the Jewish people and becomes part of them in every way. This is why they can recite the blessing "for the good and spacious cherished land that You gave to our forefathers."

Background

According to the definition of Jewish halacha, a Jew is someone who was born to a Jewish mother or who themselves converted properly according to halacha. In Biblical language, the term "becoming Jewish" was also used to indicate this concept. A man who converts is called a "ger," a woman who converts is called a "giyoret." Judaism distinguishes between a ger tzedek who is Jewish in every way and a ger toshav who accepts upon themselves the seven Noahide laws. The Torah itself does not distinguish between them and uses the same term - 'ger', with the distinction made according to the context of the verse.

In 1960, the Rebbe was asked about the Chassidic view on conversion.

The Rebbe's response was that the Chassidic view is the same as Judaism in general: Torah-observant Jews were never enthusiastic about converting non-Jews, especially publicly. A Jew needs to be a good Jew, and a non-Jew - lehavdil - needs to be a good non-Jew. We have more than enough work ensuring that Jews are good Jews, meaning, improving the spiritual state of those who are already Jewish. Every body is made up of many organs. Each organ in the body has its own special role and part, and each organ does the work that it is suited to do. It is self-understood that no one would think to change this and demand that one organ do the work of another organ.

And so it is also in creation as a whole: every created thing has its own special role and purpose for which it was created. Based on this, it is understood that a Jew has their own role, and a non-Jew - lehavdil - has their own role.

The Conversion Process

The conversion process includes two stages:

• Bris milah (circumcision) for the sake of Judaism
• Immersion for conversion. Through every immersion in the mikvah a new creation is made (which is why we immerse between erev Shabbos and Shabbos Kodesh), so too with the immersion of a ger (similar to the flood that came to the world, like a mikvah before rebuilding the world anew).

In the time of the Beis Hamikdash, the ger was also required to bring a korban to complete their conversion.

The Soul of a Convert

Despite the fact that the souls of non-Jews originate from the three impure klipos, when someone converts, their nefesh and neshama are transformed and they receive a holy nefesh. This is one of the interpretations of the Gemara's statement that "a convert who converts is like a newborn child." See also the introduction to the Zohar, page 13 side A and beginning of side B regarding the source of converts' souls.

In Chassidic Teachings

Our Sages teach that "Israel was only exiled among the nations in order to add converts." On a simple level, this statement is difficult to understand, since Judaism does not seek or desire to add members from different nations. Moreover, even if this was the goal, it appears not to have been achieved. However, Chassidic teaching explains that the "converts" to which our Sages referred are the holy nitzotzos (Divine sparks) that descended from above and became embedded within the material layers of this world, like strangers in a foreign land. These nitzotzos are scattered throughout the world, which is why Hashem exiled and scattered the Jewish people throughout the world - so they could reach everything that contains such a spark and use it in the service of Hashem.

The "Who is a Jew" Law

Throughout the generations, Jews have fought against "conversion institutes" that converted people not in accordance with pure halacha, and fought against their inclusion in Judaism. In our generation, one of the Rebbe's well-known battles regarding conversion was for the amendment of the "Who is a Jew" law, which began in 1970. This was a persistent and prolonged battle. The fight was about amending the law that states that a Jew is someone born to a Jewish mother or who has converted. The Rebbe's battle was for the law to specify that a Jew is someone who converted specifically "according to halacha." The Rebbe expressed that registering non-Jews as Jews causes Jewish blood to be spilled. It should be noted that today there is also a problem with "converts" who seemingly underwent a conversion process in a rabbinical court, but present a false facade to the judges about their desire to observe mitzvos while having no intention of doing so. Since they do not observe mitzvos, it becomes retroactively clear that their entire conversion was founded on falsehood.

The Rebbe asked Rabbi Tuvia Blau to edit one of the sichos on this topic in colloquial Hebrew and in an adapted style. The sicha clarified the risk in conversion through the story of not converting Orpah. The sicha was indeed written in a particularly detailed adaptation to convey the message.

Further Reading

• Rabbi Shmuel Nisselovitch, "The Rebbe's Battle Against False Conversions", Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 1988 page 25