Reply To: Sephardim and Giyur

mommamia22,

Giyur le chumra is basically procedural giyur. For people raised as Jews but lacking halakhic status, they get an expedited giyur, which is the shita of R’ Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, R’ Dovid Tzvi Hoffmann, R’ Uziel, R’ Amsalem, and others.

The Brooklyn Sephardic community seems to unilaterally hold by the Syrian “edict” barring all gerim from synagogue and Jewish life.

In terms of the MO community, I feel that as someone who is Zionist, who values all kinds of knowledge and learning, has an open and tolerant approach towards the non-Orthodox and Non-Jews, and who values women’s learning and leadership opportunities, the MO community best reflects these ideals. Yet, I am very frum and makpid on some humrot even.