Ft. Bragg Thank you Francine for sharing your memories. I'm sorry that you had such hardships when you were younger. I'm happy for you that you were able to see beyond them and convert. Mazal Tov on your Aliyah. With your story in-mind, the issue of folks believing they're Jewish because of a Jewish father is ever growing. I always try to be as sensitive as possible when explaining that as an Orthodox Rabbi, they're welcome to join my services but unfortunately, I cannot count them for a minyan, zimun, etc. As you know better than I, if someone is truly committed and dedicated to being Jewish, he/she will push through all the challenges to re-join our Holy Nation as they had intended so many years ago. Shalom and much Bracha.
2. Ephraim Travis
1/01/2013
Thank you Francine for sharing your memories. I'm sorry that you had such hardships when you were younger. I'm happy for you that you were able to see beyond them and convert. Mazal Tov on your Aliyah. With your story in-mind, the issue of folks believing they're Jewish because of a Jewish father is ever growing. I always try to be as sensitive as possible when explaining that as an Orthodox Rabbi, they're welcome to join my services but unfortunately, I cannot count them for a minyan, zimun, etc. As you know better than I, if someone is truly committed and dedicated to being Jewish, he/she will push through all the challenges to re-join our Holy Nation as they had intended so many years ago. Shalom and much Bracha.
3. Ephraim Travis
1/01/2013
Discouraging Converts YY, I appreciate your constructive criticism. However, I’m following the guidance that I’ve been taught. I’m simply reiterating that conversion can be and often is fraught with great challenges. As for being extreme, I’m not clear how you qualify/quantify that if I’ve not been specific in how I encourage her to remain a Bas Noach. Additionally, please understand that most Batei Din will dissuade/ignore “J” as well as require her to live as a fairly observant Jewess for a year. Some Batei Din require a commitment of 2-3 years before they consider a candidate for conversion. If “J” is truly sincere in her desire to convert, no amount of dissuasion will suffice. She’ll come through and re-join us as her soul desired so many years ago. Also, the US military life is far from conducive to an observant life. Thus, I’ve made my English seferim available to “J” so she can begin a course of study.
Again, thank you YY for your comments. We’ll have to agree to disagree. All the best to you. Shalom and much Bracha.
4. Ephraim Travis
1/01/2013
YY, I appreciate your constructive criticism. However, I’m following the guidance that I’ve been taught. I’m simply reiterating that conversion can be and often is fraught with great challenges. As for being extreme, I’m not clear how you qualify/quantify that if I’ve not been specific in how I encourage her to remain a Bas Noach. Additionally, please understand that most Batei Din will dissuade/ignore “J” as well as require her to live as a fairly observant Jewess for a year. Some Batei Din require a commitment of 2-3 years before they consider a candidate for conversion. If “J” is truly sincere in her desire to convert, no amount of dissuasion will suffice. She’ll come through and re-join us as her soul desired so many years ago. Also, the US military life is far from conducive to an observant life. Thus, I’ve made my English seferim available to “J” so she can begin a course of study.
Again, thank you YY for your comments. We’ll have to agree to disagree. All the best to you. Shalom and much Bracha.
5. Francine
1/01/2013
I remember Fort bragg I really enjoyed this article. Fort Bragg was the beginning of my own spiritual journey. My father is Jewish (frum bubbe and zayde) and married a non-Jewish woman (my mom, who was wonderful and always took us to religious school) and I was raised reform. I found out I wasn't Jewish, my life fell apart and I realized I could only be Jewish. The rabbi at Fort Bragg (36 years ago)was one of my teachers and part of my bet din. the av of my bet din was an army reserve chaplain-Rabbi Marvin Schneider. In preparation for making aliyah, rabbi Schneider had to write a letter confirming my conversion(we made aliyah May 21, 2012)! since my conversion Rabbi Schneider has been a major part of my family's life-even when were not aware of it: my oldest daughter's marriage (confirming my conversion),my son's return to Judaism and my aliyah. Thanks for a great article that brought back wonderful memories.
6. Francine
1/01/2013
I really enjoyed this article. Fort Bragg was the beginning of my own spiritual journey. My father is Jewish (frum bubbe and zayde) and married a non-Jewish woman (my mom, who was wonderful and always took us to religious school) and I was raised reform. I found out I wasn't Jewish, my life fell apart and I realized I could only be Jewish. The rabbi at Fort Bragg (36 years ago)was one of my teachers and part of my bet din. the av of my bet din was an army reserve chaplain-Rabbi Marvin Schneider. In preparation for making aliyah, rabbi Schneider had to write a letter confirming my conversion(we made aliyah May 21, 2012)! since my conversion Rabbi Schneider has been a major part of my family's life-even when were not aware of it: my oldest daughter's marriage (confirming my conversion),my son's return to Judaism and my aliyah. Thanks for a great article that brought back wonderful memories.
7. YY
12/30/2012
discouraging converts Nice story, but I think the rabbi is going a bit too far in discouraging the prospective convert. Some initial discouragement is one thing, but his approach seems a little too extreme.
8. YY
12/30/2012
Nice story, but I think the rabbi is going a bit too far in discouraging the prospective convert. Some initial discouragement is one thing, but his approach seems a little too extreme.
1/01/2013
Ft. Bragg Thank you Francine for sharing your memories. I'm sorry that you had such hardships when you were younger. I'm happy for you that you were able to see beyond them and convert. Mazal Tov on your Aliyah. With your story in-mind, the issue of folks believing they're Jewish because of a Jewish father is ever growing. I always try to be as sensitive as possible when explaining that as an Orthodox Rabbi, they're welcome to join my services but unfortunately, I cannot count them for a minyan, zimun, etc. As you know better than I, if someone is truly committed and dedicated to being Jewish, he/she will push through all the challenges to re-join our Holy Nation as they had intended so many years ago. Shalom and much Bracha.
1/01/2013
Thank you Francine for sharing your memories. I'm sorry that you had such hardships when you were younger. I'm happy for you that you were able to see beyond them and convert. Mazal Tov on your Aliyah. With your story in-mind, the issue of folks believing they're Jewish because of a Jewish father is ever growing. I always try to be as sensitive as possible when explaining that as an Orthodox Rabbi, they're welcome to join my services but unfortunately, I cannot count them for a minyan, zimun, etc. As you know better than I, if someone is truly committed and dedicated to being Jewish, he/she will push through all the challenges to re-join our Holy Nation as they had intended so many years ago. Shalom and much Bracha.
1/01/2013
Discouraging Converts YY, I appreciate your constructive criticism. However, I’m following the guidance that I’ve been taught. I’m simply reiterating that conversion can be and often is fraught with great challenges. As for being extreme, I’m not clear how you qualify/quantify that if I’ve not been specific in how I encourage her to remain a Bas Noach. Additionally, please understand that most Batei Din will dissuade/ignore “J” as well as require her to live as a fairly observant Jewess for a year. Some Batei Din require a commitment of 2-3 years before they consider a candidate for conversion. If “J” is truly sincere in her desire to convert, no amount of dissuasion will suffice. She’ll come through and re-join us as her soul desired so many years ago. Also, the US military life is far from conducive to an observant life. Thus, I’ve made my English seferim available to “J” so she can begin a course of study.
Again, thank you YY for your comments. We’ll have to agree to disagree. All the best to you. Shalom and much Bracha.
1/01/2013
YY, I appreciate your constructive criticism. However, I’m following the guidance that I’ve been taught. I’m simply reiterating that conversion can be and often is fraught with great challenges. As for being extreme, I’m not clear how you qualify/quantify that if I’ve not been specific in how I encourage her to remain a Bas Noach. Additionally, please understand that most Batei Din will dissuade/ignore “J” as well as require her to live as a fairly observant Jewess for a year. Some Batei Din require a commitment of 2-3 years before they consider a candidate for conversion. If “J” is truly sincere in her desire to convert, no amount of dissuasion will suffice. She’ll come through and re-join us as her soul desired so many years ago. Also, the US military life is far from conducive to an observant life. Thus, I’ve made my English seferim available to “J” so she can begin a course of study.
Again, thank you YY for your comments. We’ll have to agree to disagree. All the best to you. Shalom and much Bracha.
1/01/2013
I remember Fort bragg I really enjoyed this article. Fort Bragg was the beginning of my own spiritual journey. My father is Jewish (frum bubbe and zayde) and married a non-Jewish woman (my mom, who was wonderful and always took us to religious school) and I was raised reform. I found out I wasn't Jewish, my life fell apart and I realized I could only be Jewish. The rabbi at Fort Bragg (36 years ago)was one of my teachers and part of my bet din. the av of my bet din was an army reserve chaplain-Rabbi Marvin Schneider. In preparation for making aliyah, rabbi Schneider had to write a letter confirming my conversion(we made aliyah May 21, 2012)! since my conversion Rabbi Schneider has been a major part of my family's life-even when were not aware of it: my oldest daughter's marriage (confirming my conversion),my son's return to Judaism and my aliyah. Thanks for a great article that brought back wonderful memories.
1/01/2013
I really enjoyed this article. Fort Bragg was the beginning of my own spiritual journey. My father is Jewish (frum bubbe and zayde) and married a non-Jewish woman (my mom, who was wonderful and always took us to religious school) and I was raised reform. I found out I wasn't Jewish, my life fell apart and I realized I could only be Jewish. The rabbi at Fort Bragg (36 years ago)was one of my teachers and part of my bet din. the av of my bet din was an army reserve chaplain-Rabbi Marvin Schneider. In preparation for making aliyah, rabbi Schneider had to write a letter confirming my conversion(we made aliyah May 21, 2012)! since my conversion Rabbi Schneider has been a major part of my family's life-even when were not aware of it: my oldest daughter's marriage (confirming my conversion),my son's return to Judaism and my aliyah. Thanks for a great article that brought back wonderful memories.
12/30/2012
discouraging converts Nice story, but I think the rabbi is going a bit too far in discouraging the prospective convert. Some initial discouragement is one thing, but his approach seems a little too extreme.
12/30/2012
Nice story, but I think the rabbi is going a bit too far in discouraging the prospective convert. Some initial discouragement is one thing, but his approach seems a little too extreme.