The Challenge of Accepting the ‘Other’: Jewish Attitudes Toward Converts

Date: Jan 04, 2021 - Jan 04, 2021

Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Sponsor: Online Learning

Location: Online

Category: Online Learning

The Challenge of Accepting the “Other” with Dr. David Kraemer

Part of our series “The ‘Other’ in Jewish Text and Tradition”

January 4, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET

One of the best ways to understand the identity of a community or people is to consider what happens when someone who is originally an “other”—a “foreigner”—approaches to become a member of the community. How does the community respond? Does the community permit the “foreigner” to become one of its own? What residual attitudes are expressed toward one who began as “other” and  part of the community? In the case of Jews and Judaism, all of these questions pertain to the case of the convert. In this session, we will examine how the convert has been viewed and treated in Judaism, from antiquity and through the ages. By doing so, we will gain a more nuanced understanding of who “we” are. 

Register Now

This session is part of the series “The ‘Other’ in Jewish Text and Tradition.” If you have previously registered for another session in this series, your registration admits you to all sessions in the series, and you may attend as many as you’d like.

Dr. David Kraemer is Joseph J. and Dora Abbell Librarian and Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics.

Note: The Zoom link for this session will be in the confirmation email that you will receive after you register.