If you are already Jewish, I don’t see any reason for a conversion (?!)

29Jun11

Well, remember the mess I got into with the Orthodox rabbi? Well, I went to meet him yesterday. He had asked me to read a book, “This is My G-d”, by Herman Wouk, which I did, so I emailed him and said I was ready to discuss the book.

I got there and had no idea what to expect. When I walked in he was having a meeting with another conversion candidate, who was on the verge of tears and I also knew the person, so I was embarrassed to walk in on them and almost walked straight out. The rabbi told me to come in, however, so I did and sat down with my book.

Finally, my turn came. I didn’t know what he expected me to do so I started talking about the book. He didn’t seem very interested though. He asked me to remind him of why I was there. “So, why are you here again? You got a Reform conversion and now you want an Orthodox conversion? Is that right?”

“Well, actually, I don’t know yet. You see, I would love to get an Orthodox conversion – I would do it – but I’m married and my husband is not Jewish. So, I’m guessing that wouldn’t be allowed? I think maybe it’s easier if I tell you my whole story of why I converted.”

So, I told him the whole, entire story of why I converted – or as much of it as I could. I of course also mentioned my family history and the genealogy searches I had done. This was near the end.

So, the rabbi finally said, “OK, let me see your genealogy.” I had prepared for him what I knew was the only thing that interested him. The maternal line as far back as I could go. And I included the information on family members I had found, including from Inquisition records. One of the husbands of the women on my maternal line had been burned alive at the stake in Brazil in 1737, accused, of course, of being Jewish.

He looked at it for a long time. Finally, he said, “Marranos are not the area of expertise of the Bet Din here in Vancouver. What I suggest is that you put together all this information you have and send it to a Bet Din that can certify that you are Jewish. You might have to go to the Chief Rabbinate in Israel.”

I was skeptical about this. First of all, it didn’t seem like it would be that simple at all. I said that to him, “But that’s probably going to take years!”

“No,” he answered. “I don’t think it would take years. I think it might take two months and then they’ll give you a letter saying you are Jewish. You are not the only Marrano or descendant of Portuguese or Spanish Jews out there. I’m sure there are people specialized in this. You have to find one of them to help you out.”

I was still afraid he was trying to get rid of me in some way. “But I think it’ll be really difficult for them to recognize this.”

“If I didn’t think you had a case, I would say you were barking up the wrong tree. There was a man who came here and also said he was the descendant of Marranos, but all he had was the custom of one grandfather, which was a Jewish custom. I told him to not even think of going down this route. It would lead him nowhere. But I can see you have a lot of things here and you spent a lot of time on this. I am saying you should pursue it.”

I was confused still. “So, should we discuss the book.”

Rabbi: “Huh? Oh, if you are already Jewish, I don’t see any reason for a conversion.”

So, that was that. Life keeps on surprising me!

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