Bernice K. Weiss - Converting to Judaism: Choosing to Be Chosen: Personal Stories

Table of Contents

Bernice Weiss has offered us an inspiring book, the story of those new Jews who have chosen to make their spiritual home in Judaism and to join their very beings with the fate of the Jewish people. Embodied in these stories is the richness of Jewish tradition and the warmth of the Jewish home. It is essential reading for all those who are exploring the process of conversion; essential, too, for those who are intermarried and wrestling with how to raise their children; and inspiring reading for those who were born Jews and choose to make more of their Judaism. It offers Jews a snapshot of who we are and perhaps a model of what we could become.

Dr. Michael Berenbaum
Adjunct Professor of Theology,
The University of Judaism, Los Angeles, California

We are envious of students who learn in the presence of master teachers. Rabbi Bernice Weisss study of people who have chosen Judaism as their lifes faith opens up new understandings of the relationship between the student and the teacher.

It is not a simple task to interpret four thousand years of theology, history and patterns of belief. Rabbi Weisss students tell their own stories, and we are envious of the time they had in her presence.

Rabbi Matthew H. Simon,
Rabbi Emeritus, Bnai Israel Congregation (Conservative),
Rockville, Maryland

There is nothing like this book, which speaks so directly and helpfully to Christians and Jews in an interfaith relationship. Many of the first-person stories read like a suspense thriller. One marvels at the wise and sensitive counseling of Bernice Weiss, who transforms problems into solutions. Christians will find great relief, even inspiration, from some of the cases, which may mirror their own situation. For Jewish readers this book will be an eye-opener about the way Christians view Jews and Judaism. This is a fascinating, illuminating, upbeat book for Jews and Christians.

Rabbi Joshua O. Haberman
Rabbi Emeritus, Washington Hebrew Congregation (Reform),
Washington, D.C.

Rabbi Weiss, who was my student at the Academy for Jewish Religion, is to be commended for the sensitive and caring way that she treats those who have come to her seeking to learn more about Judaism (and in many cases join the Jewish people). She provides her students with a very positive view of religious observance, and exposes them to the richness of Orthodox tradition. I was quite pleased to learn that some of her students undergo an Orthodox conversion. Rabbi Weisss infectious love of Judaism has no doubt been a great influence on the lives of the many who have sought her out. May G-d give her the strength and wisdom to continue her efforts to explain our beloved religion to those who are spiritually stranded and, like the king of the Khazars, seek to find truth and validity in the religious spheres of their lives.

Rabbi Isaac H. Mann
faculty, Academy for Jewish Religion (Orthodox), New York

Rabbi Bernice Weisss book is an important and vital resource to inspire potential Jews by Choice and to help them resolve issues relating to personal identity, family conflicts and community. The book contains a series of powerful personal experiences of the contributors as they reflect the inner struggles and the unique adventures of becoming the children of Abraham and Sarah.

This book is also an important resource for Jews by birth since it helps all of us to develop heightened sensitivities as we create formal ways and processes to ease their transition from being a non-Jew to the new status of being a Jew by Choice.

I strongly believe that Rabbi Weisss book will stimulate the readers interest since it is invaluable to any member of the Jewish community who supports the compelling challenge of Kayruvto welcome the much-needed and much-appreciated Jews by Choice into our People.

Rabbi Seymour L. Essrog, zl
past president, Rabbinical Assembly of America (Conservative)

The first impetus to record my students stories took shape with the aid of a Melton Senior Educators Fellowship for Jewish Education in the Diaspora, at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, during the years 1995 and 1996. The work of the Washington Institute for Conversion and the Study of Judaism, located in Rockville, Maryland, and the unfolding stories of my students as they discover Jewish life, have been made possible because of the support of mentors, scholars and friends.

I am thankful for the assistance and support of leaders in the Jewish community whose varied viewpoints reflect the pluralistic approach that guides my work: Dr. Michael Berenbaum, Professor of Theology (Adjunct), University of Judaism, Los Angeles, California; Rabbi Leonard Cahan, Congregation Har Shalom, Potomac, Maryland; Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, Chief Rabbi, Haifa, Israel; The Honorable Stuart E. Eizenstat, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury, Washington, D.C.; Rabbi Seymour Essrog, zl, past president, Rabbinical Assembly of America; Rabbi Barry Freundel, Kesher Israel Synagogue, Washington, D.C.; Rabbi Joshua O. Haberman, Rabbi Emeritus, Washington Hebrew Congregation, Washington, D.C.; Rabbi Robert A. Jacobs, Temple Adas Shalom, Havre de Grace, Maryland; Professor Shlomo Maital, Academic Director of TIM-Technion Institute of Management, Haifa, Israel; Rabbi Isaac Mann, faculty, Academy for Jewish Religion, New York; Rabbi Michael J. Safra, Assistant Rabbi, Bnai Israel Congregation; Rabbi Jonathan A. Schnitzer, Bnai Israel Congregation, Rockville, Maryland; Rabbi Jeshaia Schnitzer, zl, Rabbi Emeritus, Shomrei Emunah, Montclair, New Jersey; Rabbi Matthew H. Simon, Rabbi Emeritus, Bnai Israel Congregation, Rockville, Maryland; and Rabbi Ira Youdovin, Executive Vice President, Chicago Board of Rabbis.

I am especially grateful to my students whose intelligent and sensitive questions have taught me so much about this faith that we treasure. Their devotion and insight continue to inspire and amaze me.

My gratitude to the editors at Simcha Press, Matthew Diener and Susan Tobias, who have been so supportive of this project and have been devoted to the critical reading of the manuscript.

My sincere appreciation is extended to Lisa Drucker, Senior Editor, Randee Feldman, Author Events Manager, Judy Perry, Account Manager for Simcha Press Sales, and Lisa Camp, cover artist, whose help was invaluable.

A special thank you and praise is due to Kim Weiss, Manager of Simcha Press, whose extraordinary guidance, warmth, enthusiasm and patience brought this project to fruition.

Finally, to my soulmate and coauthor, Sheryl Silverman, whose intellectual companionship and wisdom gave me the courage to persevereI could not have written this book without you.

I have had the privilege of knowing Rabbi Bernice K. Weiss for over twenty years. I have watched her evolve from a successful businesswoman with a strong Jewish identity into someone with a budding interest in the rabbinate, followed her sacrificial steps to obtain her rabbinical degree, and then admired the critically important niche she has created in helping non-Jews who are preparing to marry or are already married to Jews develop an appreciation of Judaism and, hopefully, sufficient Jewish identity to convert.