Conversion When Spouse Does Not Convert

Question

Dear Rabbi,

I would like to know what the policies of the Masorti Movement are concerning the conversion of someone already married to a Gentile. Can a Conservative Rabbi convert someone based only upon the assumption that perhaps his/her partner may convert at some future time?

Answer

An answer was written (in 1993) by the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative Movement (in America), on the question of conversion of a person whose' spouse does not intend to convert. The members of the committee concluded that a person in that circumstance is allowed to convert because the mixed marriage is only a consequence of the conversion and not an active act of a Jew marrying a non-Jew. However the Committee also stated that the convert "has a greater difficulty in fulfilling Jewish responsibility and achieving a Jewish lifestyle" therefore they continued: "The Rabbi and the Bet Din who supervise and carry out the conversion have responsibility to make sure that the non-converting spouse... is supportive of the convert and will cooperate with the convert in maintaining standards of kashrut, Shabbat and holiday observance etc...".
The conservative Rabbis will therefore ask the question whether the person who wishes to convert will be able to maintain a Jewish lifestyle at home. The conversion is only the first step; afterwards one has to be able to practice Judaism.

I hope I helped a little in clarifying the issues.

All the best,

Rabbi Monique Susskind Goldberg
October 26, 2004