So you are saying someone converting to Judaism is a true Jew and would be considered as such by all other Jews? Would their children be considered Jewish forever more?
that's how it's *supposed* to work. i'm not going to pretend it is perfect or it always works - some jews can be, in my opinion, quite racist about it. ironically enough this tends, in my experience at least, to be the people who are least picky about converts. personally, i think if you have gone through a great deal to be jewish, it is hardly fair to then turn around and say, oh, but you're not good enough to marry my son/daughter. that's just not on. that is kind of why conversion ought to take a long enough time to allow you to have what is, in essence, an artificially accelerated jewish "upbringing". that will allow you to "pass", to show up on people's "jewdar" (i know, odd, isn't it) to not stand out as "hmm, something a bit weird about that chap". it is not so much a science as it is an art. have you seen that TV show where people have to pass themselves off as something they're not? it's the same principle, you have to know enough for the tacit knowledge to be managed as effectively as the explicit stuff. the problem happens if it isn't done properly.
did you see that bbc documentary "jews" the other night? it's probably on iplayer, but it was about the legacy of the holocaust to the 2nd generation (a subject with which i am quite familiar given my in-laws) but there was this couple where the husband had found out his father was a jewish holocaust survivor quite late in life and then converted, but when the documentary maker asked him what he knew about judaism, he said, well, i know how to make the blessing over bread, then he trotted out this stumbling, mispronounced blessing, it was just embarrassing - this is a basic thing that a child of 3 can do. he was not a stupid man, he was quite capable of learning whatever he needed to learn, but in a case like that, i would have to seriously question who the hell thought that was a proper conversion. i know quite a few converts and i think this sort of thing insults the hard work and heartache they have to go through.
furthermore, there are political situations - to my immense frustration, sadness and anger, some rabbinic authorities have chosen to play power politics with the validity of other authorities' conversions, with the result that some people with children have had their conversions and marriages called into question, in some cases many years after the fact. that sort of thing sends me into an incandescent fury and has caused immense offence, pain and heartbreak, but at least the victims have a great deal of support - and that particular struggle isn't over by a long chalk, not while i draw breath. there is a world of difference between that sort of thing and some person who has converted to judaism either for ulterior [christian] motives (which has apparently happened quite a few times) or a convert who then moves on to the "next thing" - their motivation was obviously not sincere and the authority who authorised it was obviously not stringent enough.
b'shalom
bananabrain
