http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2008/01/31/returns-welcome/ A Journal of Jewish Thought and Opinion Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:49:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2008/01/31/returns-welcome/#comment-361828 Adi Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:32:14 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2008/01/31/returns-welcome/#comment-361828 I don't think Rabbi Shafran was dismissing that option; the family would still have to check out his background so that if he was not a halachik Jew, he would be able to become one (or choose not to). Anyway,I really enjoyed the article. Unfortunately, all too many frum families unfairly write off baalei teshuva. My husband's family never got over their son marrying a baalas teshuvah. They know that as a returnee, I have a past, and though they keep to the letter of the law by not bringing it up verbally, they still "bring it up" with their disapproving glances. They favor their frum-from-birth daughters-in-law over me, and they treat my parents with suspicion. They worry that my parents will be a "bad" influence on our children. My husband is so wonderful and supportive, I thank Hashem for him every day, and pray that his relationship with his parents should one day be healed. I hope that my situation is more the exception than the rule, but even if it is, such treatment of another Jew is unacceptable. Thank you, Rabbi Shafran for bringing it up; thank you for blazing a trail and pointing out that we baalei teshuvah deserve to be treated like family rather than foreigners. You have no idea how much this article has touched both my self and my husband, and any other couples like us. I don’t think Rabbi Shafran was dismissing that option; the family would still have to check out his background so that if he was not a halachik Jew, he would be able to become one (or choose not to). Anyway,I really enjoyed the article. Unfortunately, all too many frum families unfairly write off baalei teshuva. My husband’s family never got over their son marrying a baalas teshuvah. They know that as a returnee, I have a past, and though they keep to the letter of the law by not bringing it up verbally, they still “bring it up” with their disapproving glances. They favor their frum-from-birth daughters-in-law over me, and they treat my parents with suspicion. They worry that my parents will be a “bad” influence on our children. My husband is so wonderful and supportive, I thank Hashem for him every day, and pray that his relationship with his parents should one day be healed. I hope that my situation is more the exception than the rule, but even if it is, such treatment of another Jew is unacceptable. Thank you, Rabbi Shafran for bringing it up; thank you for blazing a trail and pointing out that we baalei teshuvah deserve to be treated like family rather than foreigners. You have no idea how much this article has touched both my self and my husband, and any other couples like us.

]]> http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2008/01/31/returns-welcome/#comment-361815 Ori Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:32:21 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2008/01/31/returns-welcome/#comment-361815 Since Chana is not a Cohen, what's the big deal about a Jewish lineage? If David is not a Jew according to Halacha, he shouldn't mind undergoing Giyur. He already accepted the yoke of Mitzvot in his heart, and "hatafat dam habrit" (the drop of blood taken from converts to Judaism who are already circumcised) is not <b>that</b> painful. Since Chana is not a Cohen, what’s the big deal about a Jewish lineage? If David is not a Jew according to Halacha, he shouldn’t mind undergoing Giyur. He already accepted the yoke of Mitzvot in his heart, and “hatafat dam habrit” (the drop of blood taken from converts to Judaism who are already circumcised) is not that painful.

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