I just read a story at www.tabletmag.com about a group of Kenyans who adopted Judaism as their religion and lifestyle. The most amazing part of the story was not that these men and women should want to become jews, a very sensible religion, but that the author was surprised that the local synagogue might not be thrilled by this and might doubt their motives.
Why is this a surprise? It happened to me, a white woman and former Catholic, here in the US. It happened to people I know, some who were eventually accepted as converts and some who gave up feeling irritable and rejected. Seems there is a general reluctance among jews to accept converts, not just African converts, and it's been around for a while as I converted in 1980.
Come on my jewish "brothers and sisters"! Let's start welcoming people into the fold and spread our traditions, our liturgy, and our beliefs. We need it. If not for the numbers alone, then for the need to be understood and not feared or lied about.
Throw open the doors!
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