I would agree 100% with that.
I don't have statistical numbers in front of me, but my gut is telling me that organizations like Chabad bring more Jews back to Judaism than reform organizations. I also think reform organizations place to much emphasis on conforming the Torah to modern society, and blowing off what they find inconvenient. Remember, we should not focus on converting people, but focus on bringing the Torah to those that do not know it who are Jewish. It's not our job to go out and seek converts.
I think the ultra-ultra orthodox do give us a bad name in some ways. I admire their devotion and dedication and their admiration to the TaNaKh, but I think they put too many barriers up and scare off Jews who may be looking to learn about their heritage and come back to HaShem. Threads like the one you showed me about the blurring sunglasses give the majority of the Orthodox a bad view. I don't disagree that they should be allowed to do that, but I don't think it should be pushed on the rest of us.
Is that possible to have that type of commitment after a few months? No one can really know, but it seems too short of a period of time to me.
Chabad is not interested in non Jews only non observant Jews. When I speak of bringing people in I am speaking of having a place for unaffiliated Jews, and Jews married to non Jews.
The non Orthodox are welcoming to those families where one parent is not Jewish. That makes it possible to bring the children up as Jewish environment, and gives them a place to call home.
We will guarantee the loss if we don't give them a place to grow and learn about Judaism.
These children may or may not be Jewish but if you don't make a place for them, then they will never want to be a part of the Jewish people.
I don't agree with patrilineal descent but I do agree with helping all those who have a Jewish parent being welcomed.
As to seeking converts Judaism has a history of actively seeking and bringing people to Judaism, unfortunately that stopped with the rise of Christianity and it became a crime to so and doing so could mean death for the Jew and convert.
We should not make it difficult to be Jewish, we should welcome those who are interested.
We especially should not throw road blocks in front of those who have Jewish ancestry, or are interested in being Jewish or are raising children within the Jewish community.
I don't agree that the ultra Orthodox are the only ones to give Judaism a bad name, I think those who cannot see a place for the Jew by choice or even acknowledge them as Jewish do that. I think that those who don't allow for diversity within Judaism cause harm.
The ultra Orthodox are extreme but they are not the only ones who can be extreme.
Again as to the time frame of when ones becomes a Jew most of the time even before the non Jew even attempt so contact a Rabbi they have been moving in that direction for a long time. They have been reading and learning and making decisions.
When they contact a rabbi they are looking for answers and each rabbi has requirements.
I was active in a community for 2 years prior to deciding to contact a rabbi and I had been active in the local synagogue in taking classes as a non member. I had taken Hebrew and I had taken classes on Judaism and the holidays. I was a part of 2 different communities and I had taken classes under 2 different rabbis and and I had a relationship with 4 rabbis who knew me and of my desire to learn about Judaism.
So when I started my study it took year but in fact I had already done quite a bit of work.
During that same time my children were allowed to start Hebrew school and too learned.
So for most of us the time spent with a rabbi studying did did not start our journey, it was the formal part of our journey.
We as Jews by choice understand that our learning will never end and I as you have a responsibility to continue to grow. You have had a life time to grow in your Judaism.
The Jew by choice has not had a lifetime but we have taken on the responsibility in learning and have made promises to continue our journey.
We have the right to make mistakes and to decide how to be Jewish just like you had the right.
It is much harder in many ways for us because we in many ways are walking away from a heritage and have families who might not always agree with our choices.
Add to that we also have a segment of the Jewish people telling us we aren't really Jewish or we can't really know enough.
It is really a bumpy road to becoming Jewish.
