The Torah’s Lesson about Jews by Choice
This week our Torah portion includes, “When a proselyte dwells among you in your land, do not wrong him. The proselyte* who dwells with you shall be like a native among you, and you shall love him like yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am Adonai your God.” (Leviticus 19:33)
A proselyte is also known as a “convert” to Judaism or a “Jew by choice.”
With this verse, the Torah teaches that those who convert to Judaism are to be seen as authentic a Jew as those who were born a Jew. In fact, of the convert to Judaism, Rashi (writer of comprehensive commentaries on the Bible and Talmud) wrote, do not say to him “Yesterday you were an idolator and now you come to study Torah which was given from the mouth of the Almighty.”
In other words, once someone converts to Judaism, we are not to refer to their religious past or to them as converts (unless they choose to do so), as that would make a distinction between them and a person born Jewish.
Perhaps most importantly, this demonstrates that Judaism is based on faith, values, and practices, not ethnicity, race, or color.
I’ve met many Jews who were born of a different religion or, in some cases, no religion at all. Many of them are among the most deeply committed Jews I know. For those who chose Judaism as an outgrowth of a marital relationship, it is not uncommon that the convert is the more passionate and observant of the couple.
Judaism is a gift. When someone who is not Jewish embraces it, we should embrace them in return.
— Rabbi David Woznica