Lara Oehrlein <laraline@iAmerica.net> then responded:
<<What is the situation for those who convert to Judaism? . . . is it
thought that the soul of the person who converts to Judaism was Jewish "to
begin with" and that is what drew the person to convert in order to realize
the soul's "true nature?" If not, then how does one who was not born into
the religion "become" a Jew - ie with respect to the Jewish soul? >>
A person who converts does into Judaism *does* receive a new soul, and
halacha considers this one to be a newborn person. (For instance, if a
brother and sister both convert to Judaism they are permitted to marry each
other, since halacha does not consider them related. However, such a
marriage is forbidden by rabbinic decree to be actually carried out as it
would appear most unseemly in the eyes of the world.)
Let me make this *VERY* clear: in no way at all is a convert to Judaism
considered different from or "less of a Jew" than one who is born Jewish,
with respect to Jewish Law and its precepts. The one difference is that
one is required to treat a convert with _special_ kindness and sensitivity,
so as to dispel any feeling of being an outcast or a stranger. To the
extent that if this extra warmth is not extended, there is major failure on
the part of the entire community.
There is also the idea that a convert fulfills, by becoming Jewish, a sort
of destiny or potential present since birth, but this does not conflict
with the former idea of receiving a new soul.
As to what what Mr. Gurkov says above, I believe that he is referring to
someone who does not undergo the entire conversion process (which is no
simple matter), but professes agreement with the beliefs of Judaism anyway.
Daniel Jacob Pearson
<dpears2@umbc.edu>