Nach:

Rut 

Halacha:

Geirut 

Description

In our introductory class to the topic of geirut we examine the various models that the Tanakh presents us with to understand conversion. As no explicit halachic passage in the Torah explaining how gentile becomes Jew various models the question becomes what narratives the Torah provides us with from which we can learn about geirut. Mt Sinai, where all of Israel accepted the Torah, provides one such model. The attributes of the Avot and Imahot provide another. Rut's journey, from Moav to Israel provides a potential third. Probing these paradigms allows us to begin to ask the question of what the Torah's core values and obligations are that the potential convert needs to take on if they wish to become Jewish.