daf bit: Yevamot 47

[cellio]

The g'mara on today's daf talks about how we respond to somebody who wants to convert. First we ask "do you not know that Jews are persecuted and despised?", and if he wants to join anyway we teach him some of the minor and major commandments (including specifically gleanings, leaving the corners of the field, the dropped sheaf, and the poor man's tithe), penalties for violating them, and the reward of the world to come. We do not try to either persuade or dissuade. If he agrees, he is immediately circumcised and, when he has recovered, he ritually immerses while two men teach him more laws, and when he comes out he's a Jew.

The g'mara recounts a telling of the conversation between Naomi and Ruth (in the book of Ruth), when Ruth refused to return to Moav, to illustrate this teaching of commandments:

Naomi: We are forbidden to move on Shabbat beyond the Shabbat boundary!

Ruth: Whither thou goest I will go.

We are forbidden private meetings between man and woman!"

Where thou lodgest I will lodge.

We have been commanded 613 commandments!

Thy people shall be my people.

We are forbidden idolatry!

And thy god shall be my god.

Four modes of execution were entrusted to the beit din (court)!

Where thou diest I will die.

Two graveyards were placed at the disposal of the beit din!

And there I will be buried.

And Naomi saw that Ruth would not be deterred. (47b)

(The process today is a little more demanding, by the way. We expect converts to learn more than just a few of their new obligations, and demonstrate that knowledge and commitment by living it, before completing the process.)

Comments

[eub.livejournal.com]

If he agrees, he is immediately circumcised

Bam!

[cellio]

(Hmm, I thought I'd replied to this, but I guess that was only in my head.)

Circumcision is a requirement for male converts, so this isn't "bam!" so much as "ok, we'll proceed now". Yes this is more of a burden than having it done as an infant, but what can you do? Halacha calls for it.