Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Looking for a Home

B"H

The issue I would like to point out here is only based on my personal experiences in Jerusalem. I cannot say if the same is happening outside Israel.

I have already mentioned the difficulties of converts to orthodox Judaism several times before. People from all over the world come to Bnei Brak or Jerusalem and convert.
The issue which caught my attention is that many of those converts afterwards decide to lead a haredi lifestyle. After their Beit Din they either join a chassidic group or the litvishe movement. According to my experience, most of the participants are male.

As you already expect me to mention, of course, Chabad has many newcomers. Converts as well as born Jews who became religious later on in their lives (Baalei Teshuva). There is a difference between both groups; converts have other reasons joining the Haredim than Baalei Teshuva have. Anyway, so far I would only like to write about the convert issue.

Last night I had a discussion with someone who has met many of such cases as well as I have, and we both came to the same conclusion. Of course, I am not a psychologist but in my opinion many converts feel some kind of homeless after completing their conversion.
First they have a goal which is converting to Judaism and especially passing the Beit Din (Rabbinical Court) and getting the certificate done. But suddenly they realize that they are alone in a foreign land (Israel). They don't have a Jewish family or relatives. They want to lead an orthodox lifestyle but feel completely lonely. Now what ?

For many of them, Chabad and further chassidic groups are becoming a kind of home and even a family replacement. The "new Jews" go to a chassidic group and suddenly there is this feeling of "togetherness" which they haven't felt for a long time. Here they find traditions they didn't have before and they decide to take over those traditions, as they have nothing else. The Rebbe is becoming a kind of a "father figure". And with this statement I do not only mean the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

But not only Chabad is offering a lot; other even extreme groups accept newcomers. Besides, whoever wants to join Chabad should know that from the outside Chabad is considered to be very open to everyone. After having a closer look you will realize that there is a limit for every newcomer. Here I only want to give the example of "Shidduchim". But this is the same in every other chassidic group. None of the new participants is getting a Shidduch with someone who was born into the group. Usually converts marry converts or Baalei Teshuva although people in Mea Shearim always like to show off with the "Amram Blau - Story" and wish to proof you wrong. Rabbi Amram Blau died in the 70ies and used to be the head of the local Neturei Karta. Later in his life, he married a French convert. This happened against the decree of leading Mea Shearim rabbis and, as a punishment, Rabbi Blau was forced to live in the Bnei Brak exile for one year.

It would be very interesting making a study about converts to Judaism joining chassidic groups. What kind of difficulties do they face in their daily lives and how do they deal with them ?

An important step being accepted is getting married quickly. Then you can build your own family and don't have to worry anymore about getting invitations for Shabbat somewhere else. Getting invited for Shabbat as a single is always a pain but many people just don't like to stay at home alone and making their own Kiddush. I heard from many families that they also see it as a pain inviting singles almost every Shabbat.

Once you are married and have children, it might be much easier to adjust and get integrated into society. Realistically speaking, the born Chassidim will always watch you and your kids. In that society (also litvish) everybody is watching the other and newcomers are a permanent object of suspicion. Not necessarily with Chabad but definitely with Vishnitz, Satmar, Belz or Toldot Aharon.

A short while ago a friend of mine told me about a Polish - German couple who converted, joined Satmar and now lives in the Batei Hungari backyard in Mea Shearim. Both of them got adjusted quickly and didn't have any problems learning Yiddish fast. It would be interesting talking to them.

In Judaism it is a Mitzwah to help a convert after his conversion. Make it easy and comfortable for him to feel at home in his new religion. Today, however, things are different and not every convert is really welcomed. There are different reasons for this. One probably is that many converts are simply fakes. Furthermore, haredi society today makes too many differences among each other. They sometimes judge each other to harsh like "He is not good enough or he is not good enough at all". He is in this Yeshiva and I am there, meaning I am better than him. Simply speaking, everybody sees himself above his neighbour and whoever is not like me, cannot be with me.

I cannot understand a convert to Judaism who decides to have such a radical change in his life and joining a more extreme chassidic group. Not only that he has to change his clothes or neighbourhood but many times you also have to change your friends. Not only change but leave the other ones who are not like you anymore behind. I met people who even dumped their Gentile family. More or less.

It seems that sometimes the convert wants to eradicate his entire former history and create a new one. Not always for his environment but at least for himself.

4 comments:

  1. M. This is wonderful and you are doing a great service. WELL DONE!!!!!! I will keep your blog at the top of my list. We caN HAVE SOME INTRESTING TALKS ABOUT Jewish history and thought.

    Dan Florea

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  2. B"H

    Hi Daniel,

    I am glad you like it, and I am always looking forward to some Jewish history comments.:-)

    Miriam

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  3. Hi Miriam,
    I´ve just read your blog entry on converts that joining chassidic or other charedi groups. As you know, I haven´t converted yet but this will G-d willing happen sooner or later :-).
    I am member of a moderated "Orthodox Conversion" Yahoo group which is VERY useful. There, there is one American family who converted and now live in Antwerpen (Belgium) in the charedi society and for all they talk, they and their children are well integrated and accepted into the chassidic groups. Specifically, the hsuband prays and studies with Satmar chassidim.
    On the point of "changing your lifestyle" and friends, well, if you go a religious "lifestyle", which does not have to be charedi, I think it´s natural that your connection to some friends will become less and less important as the interests are different, don´t you agree ? As for the family, it´s a delicate issue, but converts must honor their natural parents even after the Giyur. Take care, José

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  4. B"H

    Hi Jose,

    Maybe I am wrong or the family you mentioned is wrong. Maybe we are all wrong.

    Fact is that especially in the haredi society there are different Torah - Talmud schools for those who were born into a chassidic group and those who became religious later in their lives or converted to Judaism. Hence, these two groups joined the specific chassidic group later.

    Even in the litvishe world there are these two school types.

    It could be different in the case where the parents joined the group early and later on only got the children. Hence, the children grew up with the religious knowledge.

    I spoke to many Haredim why there are these two types of schools. All of them told me that a child from a former secular background who now starts learning Mishnayot is unable to compete with those kids who were born into the group.

    I do understand the point but I do also think that many haredi parents do not want their children together with those from the so - called "Baalei Teshuva movement" (becoming relig. later) in the classroom.

    I also know that Satmar and Belz have different schools for newcomers as well as for sephardic Jews.

    You are right, when someone becomes religious, his friends do change as well. However, there are incidents when you can keep a friendship even with a secular person. Of course, limited, but it is possible.
    At least, I do although we sometimes do go on each others nerves.:-)

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