Skip to product information
1 of 1

Gerut and the Conservative Movement Hala

Regular price $3.00
Regular price Sale price $3.00
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Judaism's pioneering development of religious conversion - allowing outsiders to fully join through ritual procedures - faces mounting challenges in modern Conservative practice. As conversion rates within Conservative Judaism surged from 800 annually in 1953 to 3,000 by 1970, questions intensified about maintaining halakhic standards while meeting contemporary needs. Through analysis of classical Jewish texts including the Zohar, Maimonides' responsa, and talmudic sources, alongside contemporary rabbinical decisions and demographic studies, this research examines how Conservative Judaism navigates conversion requirements within halakhic frameworks. The investigation reveals that families with converted members demonstrate Jewish observance levels comparable to the broader American Jewish population, while interfaith marriages without conversion show markedly lower religious engagement. Critical tensions emerge around conversion motivations (particularly marriage-driven cases), access to proper mikvaot (ritual baths), and recognition across denominational lines. The findings support maintaining core halakhic standards while applying measured flexibility in interpretation, especially in encouraging conversion among non-Jewish spouses to enhance overall community observance and continuity.

View full details
  • Physical Description

  • Publication Information

    Published 1979

    ISBN

  • Publication Credits

    Seymour Siegel