By By Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss
On a recent early Thursday morning at Kailua beach (near our home on the island of O‘ahu), the ocean water was warm and the waves calm. Three of us stood up to our chests under the early morning sun: Nina taking the final step to converting to Judaism, with Sandy and me as her witnesses. We each held onto one of Nina’s arms, releasing just long enough for her to completely immerse herself in the water. Once… Twice… Three times. After the first two immersions, Nina recited the required blessings; she followed the third with: Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad (Hear O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One). We joyfully ended the ceremony with a celebratory singing of “Siman Tov U’mazal Tov” as we returned to the dry, soft sand and our towels.
Several weeks prior, Nina had sat before the virtual Beit Din, a “court” of three rabbis who ask questions of conversion candidates in order to determine whether they should be welcomed into the Jewish people. Sounds ominous, but it is truly the opposite. With every conversion Beit Din I have participated in (as either the sponsoring rabbi or a member), the rabbis have been sincere and compassionate, always making sure to put the candidates at ease. After the candidate has been embraced and accepted by the Beit Din, the final step of the conversion process is immersion in a mikvah (ritual bath). With no mikvah available to us on O‘ahu, the ocean – a natural body of water – has been our delightful alternative.
Since October 7, 2023, the number of people asking me to assist them in their conversion process has increased dramatically. While that may seem counter-intuitive, it is not. All of these people have been engaging in Jewish study and practice for an extended period of time, some for many years. Some have been raising Jewish children with their Jewish spouses; all have expressed feeling Jewish in their souls.
The catalyst for many to take that final step and officially convert to Judaism was the horror of October 7th, the kidnapping of the hostages, and even the rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric that has plagued our people in the aftermath. Without exception, everyone who has become a Jew by choice with my help has long been committed to living a Jewish life: attending worship services, honoring our holidays, making Shabbat holy in their own way. Many of them keep kosher to some degree, and all continue to expand their knowledge of what it means to be a Jew.
On the upcoming holiday of Shavuot, we will celebrate the receiving of our Torah and read the Ten Commandments as narrated in Deuteronomy. On Shavuot, we also read from The Book of Ruth, which honors the woman considered by many to be the first convert to Judaism. After the death of their husbands, Naomi (Ruth’s mother-in-law) encourages Ruth to remain with her own people in Moab rather than accompany Naomi back to Judah. Ruth refuses. “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from you, for wherever you go, I will go; wherever you stay, I will stay, your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus and more may the Lord do to me if anything but death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1:16-17)
After the completion of her immersion, Nina told me: “It was such a pivotal and beautiful experience. My heart and spiritual cup are full.” Other recent converts I have assisted have shared similar sentiments. Whether we are Jews by choice or Jews since birth, may we all celebrate our Jewish heritage, teachings, and culture with full “spiritual cups” and open hearts.
Chag Sameach!
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