YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayechi
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
They are, of course, not Jewish unless they undergo conversion. Yet, it is our opinion that we should not look at them as if they have, in the meantime, no connection to the Jewish People. The great majority were treated as Jews in the Soviet Union, where a citizen’s nationality is determined by his father, not his mother. As a result, they suffered from anti-Semitism. How shocked were many, upon arriving in Israel, to find out that halacha does not view them as Jewish and that they cannot get married here?
Many of these people declared, by making aliya and by the way they integrated into Israeli society, that they view themselves as Jews. "Your nation is my nation," as Ruth declared, they fulfilled. Yet, before them still stands the demanding process of conversion, which includes the acceptance of "your G-d is my G-d."
Let us try to understand what the difference is between those with a matrilineal and a patrilineal link to Judaism. The gemara (Kiddushin 68b) learns from the p’sukim "Do not marry them [non-Jews]," followed by "for he will remove your son from Me" that one’s son from a Jewish woman is considered his son, whereas his son from a non-Jewish woman is not the son of his Jewish biological father. This is the unanimous ruling of all halachic authorities.
Rav Moshe Isserles, the preeminent codifier of the Ashkenazi community, taught us the following novel idea on the matter in his notes to the Tur, Darchei Moshe (Even Haezer 156). He cites the Ohr Zarua, a great, early Ashkenazi Rishon. He raises the possibility that the idea that a Jewish male’s child from a non-Jewish woman is not considered his is true only on the level of Torah law, but that Rabbinically he might be considered the Jew’s son. What does it mean to be his son Rabbinically? We certainly cannot let him or her marry a Jew! We can’t count him for a minyan! Rather, one prominent ramification is that the father has the responsibility to try to bring him into the fold by arranging for him to accept the Torah and convert.
Based on this and other sources Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Uziel came to the conclusion that there is a concept of zera Yisrael (the seed of Israel), which gives responsibilities to the Jewish father of the non-Jewish child. Arranging for the conversion is a form of atonement, so that his biological son does not stray further from Hashem and certainly does not come to hate Hashem and His mitzvot, including those in which even a non-Jew is commanded. We rely on the training he should receive under his father’s tutelage to cause him to uphold the commitments accepted with conversion.
We certainly should not create unnecessary obstacles and push away the candidate, as we often do for other candidates, regarding the child of a Jewish man. To the contrary, the State of Israel should try to bring close all the members of this group to avoid further assimilation and distress. If they are ready to undergo a serious conversion process, let us welcome them with open arms and a warm smile.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
