The mystics teach us that there is a unique Jewish soul. They elaborate further, that every person born to a Jewish mother, or who undergoes a conversion to Judaism that conforms to Torah law (Halacha), possesses this special soul. However, it is not something that we can just assume for ourselves at whim or choice. This soul is assigned by Hashem; and we must conform to His rules (known as the Torah) to ensure that it has been assigned to us.
Understanding that we are talking about a spiritual (non-tangible) entity, we still have the right to question the mechanics of this dynamic. We can easily accept how an individual born to a Jewish mother receives this soul as a spiritual heritage at birth, similar to a genetic transmission, just in a spiritual parallel. But how does a convert to Judaism, known a Ger-Tzedek – righteous convert, all of sudden acquire a Jewish soul? Obviously, Hashem has His ways, and He could infuse the person with that soul at the time of conversion. Our sages, however, have a different explanation that is far more compelling.
Throughout the Talmud the process of conversion is couched in the following terms, “Ger Shenitgayer – a convert who converts.” It would seem more appropriate to state, “a gentile who converts.” Why call the person a convert, even before they begin the process? The explanation given by the sages of Israel is that a person who converts according to Halacha is someone who was born in possession of a Jewish soul and that propelled them to seek conversion. As such, the individual is already a “convert,” they simply need to complete the process to align with what they had all along.
Throughout our history, there were times when conversion to Judaism was fraught with danger and punishable by death. There were courageous individuals who sought to identify with their core essence and undergo a conversion. In our upcoming course, Colorful Profiles, the opening lesson features the stories of three such individuals and the lessons we can learn from their lives and apply to our lives in the 21st century.
During the four part course, we will also learn about three special women, three Jews who took on leadership roles in a gentile society, and three sad stories of Jews in captivity. Each of these classes is filled with practical messaging for contemporary living.
We are offering these classes at the New Orleans Chabad beginning on Wednesday, May 7. We are also offering a new daytime option at 10 am on Thursdays, beginning May 8. To register or for more info: www.chabadneworleans.com/jli.
Chabad Metairie (Rabbi Ceitlin) will be offering the classes on Tuesdays (morning and evening), starting this coming Tuesday. To register or for more info: www.jewishlouisiana.com/jli.
This week Chabad of Louisiana mourns the passing of Rabbi Shmuel Spalter, father of Mrs. Chanie Nemes. He was a Holocaust survivor who built up a beautiful Jewish family following the war. He was the epitome of a G-d fearing Chassid who lived his life as a servant of Hashem. He leaves generations of descendants who follow his inspiration. May his memory be for a blessing.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin