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Are converts to Judaism 100% Jewish?

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Rabbi Ari Shvat

Iyyar 8, 5774
Question
Are converts to Judaism 100 % Jewish? Or is it because they are born to a non-Jewish father and non-Jewish member they are not 100 % Jewish despite their conversion to Judaism?
Answer
Definitely! Converts are 100% Jewish, and even say the prayers where the wording may have caused you to think otherwise (e.g. they also say: “The God of our fathers, Abraham Isaac and Jacob…”, “who took us out of Egypt”, “my father (Jacob)…”, “You gave us the Land”, etc.). They count for a quorum of ten men, necessary for prayer, and there is actually a prohibition to differentiate in any way between a convert and one born Jewish, and the commandment to love the convert is mentioned more times than any other mitzvah in the Torah! The Talmud goes so far as to say that the soul of the convert stood at Mt. Sinai with the rest of Israel, already 3,300 years ago. In short, the convert is considered as if he was “born-again”, but this time as a Jew. Many rabbis actually say that the convert has an advantage because he chose Judaism out of his own free will, and wasn't just born into it. On the other hand, as opposed to Christianity and Islam, Judaism is not interested at all in convincing people to convert, and those who were born gentiles should stay gentiles, observing the 7 mitzvot of Noah, entitling them to a share in the world to come (it's also much easier than being Jewish!). All the best! Rabbi Ari Shvat
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