tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post279261043573391392..comments2024-03-28T02:08:17.990+02:00Comments on Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity: Prayer, & Bug Juice, at a Summer Camp for Jews of ColorDaas Torahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252904288544083215noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-58937983536145673702011-09-09T03:30:59.949+03:002011-09-09T03:30:59.949+03:00I did want to note; not all jews of color are conv...I did want to note; not all jews of color are converts! Sure, some are, sure some are the children of converts, but there are many of us who are Jewish by birth and by halacha. I find it interesting that every single time jocs are brought up on of the first assumptions is 'ger'! <br /><br />I am thrilled this camp exists, and am now planning to send my own children when they are old enough.navahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14605633695673404777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-56694968437307321502011-08-15T18:20:35.294+03:002011-08-15T18:20:35.294+03:00Friar Yid: You beat me to the punch. Not only wo...Friar Yid: You beat me to the punch. Not only would we not have David HaMelech without Rus, we also would not have had Megillas Rus!<br /><br />Onkelos would be another good example of a ger from whom Klal Yisrael has benefited. <br /><br />Shmaya and Avtalyon were, at the very least, decendants of gerim, and some rishonim (the Rambam for one, I believe) hold that they themselves were gerim.<br /><br />Dovid: One can have a legitimate argument based on ma'marei chazal whether the practice of accepting converts yields a net positive or net negative for Jews and Judaism. But the sources are not at all monochromatic on this issue as you seem to believe (here's just one example: HaShem exiled the Jews only so that converts would join them, Pesachim 87b). And it's certainly irresponsible to state that Judaism doesn't benefit from converts as a *categorical* statement (which is what you appear to do), because it's demonstrably not true (see above).Chizkinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-16374495122555435362011-08-15T04:55:05.932+03:002011-08-15T04:55:05.932+03:00Dovid- Judaism doesn't benefit from conversion...Dovid- Judaism doesn't benefit from conversions? News to me. Wasn't King David descended from a convert? No Ruth, no David.<br /><br />Same principle here. How many potential rabbis, teachers, role models, etc, might there be in the ranks of these children? You don't think any of them have anything to offer?<br /><br />How sad.<br /><br />There's a difference between following the principle of discouraging conversions and not recognizing the benefit to having sincere converts join the Jewish people.Friar Yid (not Shlita)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10311439778319103094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-18150879382906457462011-08-14T06:18:13.158+03:002011-08-14T06:18:13.158+03:00At best, you may actually wind up getting some peo...<i> At best, you may actually wind up getting some people who wind up pursuing Orthodox conversions, living a frum lifestyle, and becoming valued members of frum communities.</i><br /><br />That isn't "best". Judaism doesn't benefit from conversions (as the seforim mention) and attempts to turn away prospective converts.Dovidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-3887862877065939722011-08-13T02:57:24.609+03:002011-08-13T02:57:24.609+03:00While I understand that frum Jews would view non-O...While I understand that frum Jews would view non-Orthodox groups with suspicion, the fact is that any organization that makes Jews of color (including those not recognized as Jewish per Orthodox halacha) feel more comfortable in their own skin and feel that they belong to the Jewish people is a net plus. At worst, you have a group of non-halachic Jews who identify as Jewish, support Jews and Jewish causes, and perform good deeds that make the world a better place. At best, you may actually wind up getting some people who wind up pursuing Orthodox conversions, living a frum lifestyle, and becoming valued members of frum communities.<br /><br />By contrast, if Jews of color (with the exception of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/nyregion/28blackjews.html" rel="nofollow">some</a> who are born into Orthodox communities) are not made to feel welcome, the chances of them becoming Orthodox are pretty much nil.Friar Yidhttp://friaryid.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-41887773713132912442011-08-12T21:22:12.609+03:002011-08-12T21:22:12.609+03:00It's non-Orthodox, so their so-called "co...It's non-Orthodox, so their so-called "conversions" are as good as Bugs Bunny becoming Jewish. They're no more valid then the Reform and Conservative.Ben Torahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-20334284967320979952011-08-12T21:13:46.101+03:002011-08-12T21:13:46.101+03:00the story actually is more dangerous than that. Th...the story actually is more dangerous than that. The organization has an agenda of encouraging converts - especially of diverse racial types. This desire of increasing the Jewish population comes with a strong disregard of halacha. The organization in fact takes it as a given that Judaism is racist and that they are dealing with the problem by increasing the number of people of color.Daas Torahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07252904288544083215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-1858025938354661882011-08-12T20:37:27.898+03:002011-08-12T20:37:27.898+03:00Although there's a part of me that finds this ...Although there's a part of me that finds this story heart-warming, I think that this article is ultimately quite dangerous and misleading. Take a look at its comment thread. Here's an example of the negative message about Jews and Judaism that a reader can walk away with from this article:<br /><br />"What a heavenly story! it's too bad that Jews don't have a place for converts of any color."Chizkinoreply@blogger.com