Conversion

Question

Dear Rabbi,

It is my understanding that the conversion rituals in use by most Jewish denominations today are products of Rabbinic Judaism and that such rituals, with the exception of circumcision, were not in practice during biblical times. In arguably the most famous biblical conversion, Ruth accepts Judaism through just a statement of affirmation to her mother-in-law, Naomi.
My question is, why were these conversion rituals established by the rabbis? Are they based on any scriptures in the Bible? Why does an affirmation of belief and devotion to the Jewish religion and people no longer suffice to become a Jew?

Answer

It seems to me that we cannot learn from Ruth's example about conversion in Biblical times since we do not know if such a concept really existed. In the book of Ezra (chap 10) we are told that the non Jewish women were separated from their Jewish husbands. Yet, we do not hear about an alternative proposition for them to convert to Judaism.
Since Biblical times, -- the timeframe of the story of Ruth--, the Jewish Law (halakha) has been codified, and more precise rules set. There is very little ritual involved in conversion. As you said circumcision already existed in the Bible and the only other ritual is for men and women to go to mikveh, the ritual bath. This could be explained symbolically as a new birth, i.e., the converted person is born anew in the Jewish people.
The primary difference between Ruth's kind of conversion and conversion in accordance with Halakha, is that the Rabbis require that the candidate for conversion learns the basis of the Jewish Law. It is no longer enough to claim "Your people will be my people, your God will be my God". In our time Judaism is "Rabbinic Judaism", and it cannot be presume that a person can enter Judaism without having a basic knowledge about it. Today therefore, conversion requires at least a few months of learning with a teacher if possible, and when the candidate for conversion is ready, a rabbinical court asks him/her if s/he accepts in principle the bulk of the mitzvoth [commandments]. This does not mean that he/she is able to practice all 613 commandments (not every commandment can be observed, especially those that relate specifically Temple ritual, and even among the other commandments, there are different levels of observance), but the Rabbinical court requests that the convert obligates him/herself to these mitzvot as all Jews. Only after he/she accepts them can the convert perform the ritual acts of circumcised and mikveh.

I hope I answered your question.

Rabbi Monique Susskind Goldberg
February 2005