The Abayudaya should follow accepted conversion norms

Requested to remain anonymous, Johannesburg

Regarding letters that were printed in last week’s SA Jewish Report, please consider the following:

Firstly, I was impressed by Zev Krengel’s openness and transparency about what transpired at the ANC’s December elective conference. Things don’t always go as we would like and it was good to hear him admit this instead of trying to sweep things under the carpet, as so many leaders do.

Secondly, I refer to Jack Miller’s criticism of Israel for not accepting the Abayudaya (How Jewish do the Abayudaya have to be?, published in the February 2 edition). If someone who does not represent the French government grants someone else French citizenship, doing so won’t make him a citizen of that country. Even if he is devoted to France, celebrates all her holidays and customs, and speaks only French, it won’t qualify the person as a French native.

Going back thousands of years, the traditionally accepted way of getting a Jewish soul is either by having a Jewish mother or undergoing a traditional conversion. The Orthodox firmly believe that this is Hashem’s will.

While the Abayudaya are obviously sincere in their commitment to Judaism, they do not meet either of these requirements. Unfortunately, anyone who may have led them to believe that they were becoming traditionally Jewish was setting them up for disappointment.

Blaming the ultra-Orthodox for Israel not accepting their citizenship is incorrect.

Conversion is considered a big responsibility as the convert then becomes liable to follow the 613 mitzvot and is punished for those that he transgresses.

Given the Abayudaya’s clear devotion to Judaism, it would be worth exploring whether they would be willing to follow these mitzvot.

If that is the case, they should be encouraged to convert in a way that’s universally recognised. Israel needs more citizens and has welcomed in the Indian and Ethiopian Jews. Of course, it should do the same with Uganda’s Abayudaya – that would be the humanitarian thing to do, as Jack Miller suggests.

Judaism holds converts in high regard and there is a specific mitzva to treat them well.