Ger tzedek
In Judaism, a ger (Hebrew: "stranger" or "convert") or ger tzedek ("righteous convert" or "convert of righteousness") is a gentile who has undergone religious conversion (giur) to Judaism to become completely Torah-observant.
History
In Biblical Hebrew, the word ger can denote either a convert (and is usually interpreted as such by the Talmud) or a non-Jewish inhabitant of the Land of Israel who observes the seven Noahide Laws and has repudiated all links with idolatry. The word ger tzedek was used to denote a full convert. In post-Talmudic times, the word ger has become synonymous with ger tzedek; Ger is commonly translated by the Greek word "proselyte", and has come to mean a full convert to Judaism.
Traditional Judaism
A ger (literally: stanger) or a ger tzedek (righteous stranger) is someone who has become fully and Jewish according to Halakha by undergoing a process termed giur ("conversion").
The procedure
The requirements under halakha for conversion to Judaism are:
- Circumcision (Brit milah) for the men
- Immersion in a mikveh (ritual bath)
- Declaration of acceptance of the Torah (the 613 mitzvot and the practical instructions of halakha)
One cannot be referred to as a ger prior to the actual "day of conversion", when a Beth Din accepts the prospective ger and oversees the above halachic requirements. Only after fulfilling all criteria, the Beth Din issues a Shtar Giur ("Certficate of Conversion"), certifying that the former gentile is now a halachic Jew.
Consequences of conversion
Once undergone, a religious conversion to Judaism is irreversible, unless there are grounds to believe that the convert was insincere during the conversion process. In this case a Beth Din can reverse a conversion.
Place in religious life
Halakha forbids even reminding a convert that they were once not a Jew and hence little distinction is made in Judaism between born Jews and converts. Converts face a very small number of restrictions (e.g. they cannot become rabbinic judges), although there have been some very influential ger rabbis).
Frequently asked questions
- How does one convert? (http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/10-07.html)
- Why is the conversion process so complicated? (http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/10-13.html)
- What about adults who are not circumcised? (http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/10-08.html)
- What is the status of a child when the mother converts to Judaism during pregnancy? (http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/10-14.html)
See also
External links:
- Conversion to Judaism (http://www.itim.org.il/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=CeremonySuperTopic%5El6&enPage=BlankPage_E&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enZone=CeremonySuperTopic&enInfolet=viewObject_E.jsp) on the Itim site (practical information on Orthodox conversion through the Israeli Chief Rabbinate and conversion in the diaspora).
- Intermarriage and Conversion Reading List Introduction (http://shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/rl/int-intro.html)
he:גיור