The Conversion Episode, 2021: Ep. 274

Tablet Studios

Tablet Magazine

Judaism, Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 13 May 2021

⏱️ 95 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week on Unorthodox, we’re proud to present our fourth-annual conversion episode. On Shavuot we read the Book of Ruth, which tells the story of the first convert to Judaism. To celebrate Ruth and all the Jews by choice since then, we’re sharing stories of conversion from all over the world. First, an interview with New York Times reporter Nellie Bowles, who has been chronicling her conversion process in her online newsletter, “Chosen by Choice.” Tablet Fellow Nina Lichtenstein describes converting for her Jewish husband (and her Jewish mother-in-law) more than two decades ago, and staying Jewish for herself after their divorce. Rapper Nissim Black shares his spiritual journey, which took him from devout Christianity to gangster rap and finally to Orthodox Judaism. Novelist Jessamyn Hope tells the story of her Italian Catholic mother’s conversion to Reform Judaism, and the many conflicted feelings Jessamyn had about it throughout her own life. Tablet Fellow Elie Bleier brings us a report from Israel about Nativ, a program that expedites conversions for soldiers serving in the IDF who aren't considered Jewish by the rabbinate. Plus, hear stories from our listeners about their own conversion experiences. Want more Unorthodox? Listen to our previous conversion episodes: 2020 Conversion Episode 2019 Conversion Episode 2018 Conversion Episode Like the show? Rate us on iTunes! Find out about all our upcoming events at www.tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram. Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel! Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, mugs, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt. Want to book us for a live show? Email producer Josh Kross at jkross@tabletmag.com. Check out all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts. Sponsors: AJWS supports activists on the ground in India helping communities during the COVID-19 surge. You can help get personal protective equipment, psychosocial support, and other critically needed aid to communities like those in India by making a twice-matched, tax-deductible donation at AJWS.org/unorthodox.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Unorthodox, the world's leading Jewish podcast I Am Your Host, Mark Oppenheim.
0:08.8	And my friends, it is that time of year, the holiday of Shavuot, or Shavuas, as your
0:14.8	Yiddish-speaking grandparents might have called it, is upon us.
0:18.0	And it's a holiday that means something special to those who are converting to Judaism,
0:22.0	those Jews by choice, who enrich our community, who travel with us on this strange journey
0:27.6	as a strange people often in a strange land.
0:31.7	This year, when we were talking about what we wanted to do for the conversion episode,
0:35.2	we had a couple conversations that really stuck with me.
0:39.2	And they amounted to this.
0:40.4	There's something a little strange, maybe even a little troubling, about a Jewish podcast
0:44.6	doing an episode that focuses on conversion.
0:46.9	And there are two reasons for this.
0:48.6	First of all, there is historically an idea that Jews don't proselytize.
0:53.2	We are uncomfortable with the idea of seeking new Jews.
0:57.6	Now to be sure, it's a myth that Jews are forbidden from proselytizing.
1:01.2	There's nothing in scripture that says we can't reach out to other people and suggest
1:04.6	that they become Jewish.
1:06.0	And indeed, at various times in history, some Jews have sought converts.
1:10.0	The problem, of course, has been that in most times and places throughout world history,
1:14.1	it was very dangerous for Jews to try to make other Jews.
1:16.6	In fact, not only was it illegal for Jews to seek converts, but in many Christian lands,
1:21.2	it was illegal for Christians to convert to Judaism.
	...

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