- Source: Gerim
Gerim (Hebrew: גרים), specifically gerey tzedek (righteous proselytes), are converts to Judaism whom are considered full members of the Jewish nation.
As Judaism does not seek converts, prospective converts must complete the arduous process without the support present in universalist religions like Christianity or Islam. It is traditional for an individual requesting to begin the process to be denied three times by a rabbi to test their sincerity or even be denied entirely. Even once the conversion process has begun, an individual is not guaranteed to be converted if they do not meet the expectations and requirements of their sponsoring rabbi and Jewish court. Once a valid conversion is completed, it can never be undone and the ger is forever considered to be Jewish, even if their observance waivers or they attempt to convert to another religion.
Individuals from a vast array of ethnic and religious backgrounds have become Jewish throughout history, leading to a degree of genetic and racial diversity among the Jewish population as a whole. Regardless, Jewish law places no value in genetics or physical attributes in determining whether or not an individual is or is not a Jew.
The process in which a gentile (non-Jew) becomes a Jew resembles both naturalization, as well as religious conversion. The convert accepts upon themselves the laws, culture, history, and identity of the Jewish people. As such, there is no way to become a Jew without going through a recognized Jewish court. Following the completion of the process, the convert is given several documents which validate the completion of their giyyur (conversion).
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, a prominent Dutch-Israeli rabbi and ger tzedek states, regarding conversion, that: "A Gentile who converts to Judaism miraculously becomes part of the people of Israel. Unlike with Christianity, this does not just mean that the Gentile now shares the beliefs of Judaism, but rather that he or she literally becomes the seed of the Avot and Imahot. For this to happen, a quasi-biological miracle is required. The Gentile needs to be reborn as a direct descendant of Avraham and Sara."
History
Non-Jews have been joining the Jewish people for thousands of years, with one of the earliest instances being Ruth, an ancestor of King David.
During the Roman era, it is estimated up to 10% (2-7 million) of the Roman population was Jewish, partially due to an increase in Jewish conversion. Several gerim and descendants of gerim, such as Simon bar Giora, Avtalyon, Shmaya, Onkelos, Queen Helena of Adiabene, Ben Bag Bag, and Rabbi Yochanan ben Torta were prominent in the ancient Jewish community.
It is estimated that a significant portion of the genome of diaspora Jewish groups is of non-Israelite genetic descent, indicating that these communities accepted in many converts following the expulsion of Jews from Israel by the Romans. These converts were fully assimilated into the Jewish people, adopting all aspects of Jewish culture and identity.
Though extremely uncommon, entire people groups have converted to Judaism throughout history, notably the Subbotnik Jews, Bene Menashe, Jews of San Nicandro, and the Himrayite Kingdom. Many of these groups have gone on to intermarry with the predominately Israelite-descended Jewish community.
Giyyur (conversion)
= Process
=Prospective Jewish converts must undergo a rigorous process which bears similarity to both naturalization and a religious conversion. Traditionally, this involves moving into a Jewish community, a year or more of Jewish education under a rabbi, meeting with a recognized beit din (Jewish court), and going through with the final rituals (which differ between males and females slightly).
= Adoption of minhag (customs)
=Converts generally are advised to adopt the minhagim (such as Ashkenazi or Sephardi) of their sponsoring rabbi or community, however many also choose their own minhag independently.
= Distinction between born-Jews and gerim
=There is no distinction between born-Jews and gerim in the eyes of traditional Jewish law, in most cases. The few distinctions that do exist are that a ger cannot sit on a Jewish court in many cases, a ger cannot marry a Kohen (Jewish priest), and a ger can never be in a position of absolute authority over born-Jews (such as becoming a monarch).
Convert status does not extend to the children of converts, as they would be considered born-Jews.
Rabbis
Though rare, there are many instances of gerim obtaining semikhah (rabbinical ordination). As a rabbi does not have absolute authority over born-Jews, it is considered permissible for gerim to be ordained.
A few prominent gentile-born rabbis include:
Rabbi Yitzhak Graanboom - Swedish convert and former interim Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam.
Rabbi Natan Gamedze - Swazi royal and lecturer.
Rabbi Asher Wade - American-Israeli psychotherapist and lecturer.
Rabbi Aharon Shear Yashuv - German-Israeli, son of an Waffen SS officer, and rav of Technion University.
Around the world
= Israel
=Since 2016, about 3,000 people convert to Judaism every year in Israel through programs approved by the Chief Rabbinate. Between 1996 to 2021, 101,609 individuals have successfully completed approved conversion programs, with most being Soviet immigrants who were not halakhically Jewish (often times only having one Jewish grandparent).
Converts are eligible under the Law of Return to become Israeli citizens, however only converts through Jewish courts recognized by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel are recognized halakhically as Jewish within the country.
Some prominent Israeli gerim include:
Nissim Black - American-Israeli rapper.
Amar'e Stoudemire - American-Israeli basketball player.
Mike Flanagan - Irish-Israeli soldier who defected from the British Army.
Anastassia Michaeli - Russian-Israeli politician.
Reuel Abraham - German-Israeli former Luftwaffe pilot during World War II who, after witnessing a massacre of Jews during the Holocaust, feigned illness to get out of combat, donated money to Jewish victims, and made aliyah from Germany.
Similar concepts
Jewish conversion, unlike other religious conversions, involves not only a religious conversion, but also an ethnocultural switch. The process has been compared to peoples in Oceania and the Americas adopting outsiders into their communities.
Native American tribes, such as the Cherokee, have a long history of adoption of foreigners into Cherokee society.
See also
Subbotniks
Melungeon Jews
Bene Menashe
Jews of San Nicandro
Beta Israel
Khazars
Jewish tribes of Arabia