Reply To: Being a Ger and BT

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charliehall
Participant

ipchamistabra,

This is not the time nor the place to spread such sinat chinam. There are plenty of orthodox and orthodox-friendly Birthright trips. The Orthodox Union even sponsors some! In addition, some of the greatest rabbis of the modern era have been Religious Zionists.

Markiplier,

I am also a ger. (I grew up Protestant.) While there are plenty of judgemental Jews, communities I have visited do not judge me and I have never not been accepted as a Jew by any orthodox community and I travel a lot! Israel, France, Ireland, three provinces in Canada, and at least a dozen states in the US — there has never been an issue. And in my own community you can’t tell the FFBs from the BTs from the gerim.

It is easy to compare yourself to others who have had the benefit of a yeshiva background and think that your knowledge will never match up to theirs. But you aren’t judged by HaShem compared to others, but to what you can do.

And as both a Ger and a BT you have been where few of us have been and can contribute YOUR experience to others. Find the right community and the right rav, throw yourself into Torah and mitzvot, and you will be fully part of our world. Welcome back!!!