Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein
Like Ruth: Choosing to Be Chosen by Hava Fleming (ISBN: 9781532989728) and The Honey & the Sting by Rabbi Dr Walter Rothschild (ISBN: 9781910752180)
I am privileged to share, with Rabbi Mark Solomon, the chairing of the Beit Din of Liberal Judaism. The Beit Din is held monthly at Liberal Judaism’s London head office and its main purpose is to interview intending converts and agree their acceptance.
After every Beit Din I think: “If only we could broadcast the stories we have just heard.” We witness some incredible and moving accounts of what brought the individual to decide to convert, and the experiences they have had during the process. Some are converting in order to establish a unified family, some after years of living with a Jew, and many after an individual search for a religion that makes sense.
These stories need telling to declare that Progressive Judaism welcomes true proselytes and that the process of conversion is not taken lightly, as our detractors often claim. But I have always shied away from revealing them, lest I be considered as breaking confidentiality.
Fortunately Hava Fleming, a member of the newly established York Liberal Community, has just published such a book – Like Ruth: Choosing to be Chosen. It contains the personal experiences of more 30 proselytes on their journey to becoming Jewish: their motivations, approach to rabbis, process of learning and final appearance at the Beit Din.
The bulk of the accounts are from Britain’s Liberal and Reform movements, but Hava – who is from New Zealand – also includes stories from elsewhere in Europe, Australasia and Africa, as well as a couple of accounts of converting through an Orthodox Beit Din.
Many of the reasons for converting to Judaism have similar features, and occasionally a new twist – for instance, the collection begins with a man brought up in a Swiss Protestant household who ended up becoming the president of a Liberal community – but each is a true reflection of the individual’s experiences.
The book opens with helpful short guides to a history of conversion and the approach of the various Jewish movements, and ends with their contact details as well as a useful glossary. It also contains helpful references to websites and books used in the process. This is a resource that every intending proselyte must have as they continue on their journey to Judaism.
And just like busses, having waited a long time for one wonderful book for proselytes, two have come along at once.
The Honey and the Sting is by Rabbi Dr Walter Rothschild, a Progressive rabbi who has served in Leeds, Aruba, Berlin and, currently, Vienna. His book is quite different to Hava’s, for it is a comprehensive textbook detailing every imaginable fact about the Jewish religion that any person might want to know.
My only criticism is that it might be far too detailed for the average proselyte and therefore a bit off-putting if they think: “I will never learn all of that.”
But it is a great source for looking up the facts about Jewish life and belief. It is easy to read, and written by a Progressive rabbi with decades of experience of teaching adults. References to prayers and other rituals are given for both the British Liberal and Reform prayer books.
Anybody who has ever met Walter will not be surprised to find that it is written with humour and frankness, and this is highlighted in the title. The Honey and the Sting is taken from a song by Naomi Shemer, and the book does point out the difficulties encountered by those attempting to join the Jewish community and also those already a member.
As a textbook introduction to Judaism it is a weighty tome (564 pages) and some of the more obscure chapters might be of interest to only the advanced student or rabbi, but it’s a useful book to have on your shelves, and such is Walter’s style that you will often wish he could be your teacher so you could argue with him over some of the points he makes.
Share this Post