To the Illustrious Rabbi Eliahu Beracha Shlit”a
Regarding what I asked Your Excellency over the phone, and the brief response I received, they said that if the details were written down, the answer would be more precise, so I am here drafting my question.
We have an organization for return (teshuva) to repentance and closeness to Judaism (kiruv), and people come to us and ask for partnerships (chavrutot) to teach them the Torah, because, as mentioned, the goal of the organization is to bring the distant closer and we teach them Judaism. For the men, we assign a man to study with them in a chavruta and accompany them, and for the women, we assign a woman to teach and guide their friend.
Often, especially recently due to the situation that occurred in the Holy Land during Simchat Torah, there is a greater demand to connect with the origin and learn.
The problem is that sometimes it’s difficult to know if the person in front of us is really Jewish. Well, if there is a ketubah from a court that can be trusted, of course, we have no problems. The problem is when there is no ketubah, and then it is not so clear if they are really Jewish. Or their mother married a gentile, but they say the mother is certainly Jewish. Or for some other reason.
The question is what should we do when there is doubt whether the person is Jewish? Many times they want to learn things that should not be taught to non-Jews, such as the laws of Shabbat.
On the other hand, we are a bit concerned that if we require them to clearly prove their Jewishness, it might drive the Jews away and they won’t come closer…
Thank you very much!
London
Response:
First of all, I would like to express my appreciation for your important work; you are truly doing sacred work. And my appreciation increases in light of the fact that, among you, “the end does not justify the means,” and therefore, you ask whether it is really possible to teach the Torah to someone who is an uncertain Jew, considering that he is currently in a process of approaching the religion and the Torah of Israel.
Well, the question of a wise person is a half-answer. And it is appropriate to clarify that this prohibition of teaching Torah to a gentile is a serious matter and not just a custom or an unfounded stringency. However, in our case, these are people who are approaching Judaism, and there is a fear that abstaining from teaching them will push them away, towards all the bad winds that blow in our world. Moreover, it is not about someone we know to be a gentile, but merely a suspicion in this regard. Therefore, there is room to discuss and open the doors of permission on this matter.
Therefore, it seems that if it is possible to teach him the principles of faith in the Creator of the world and the rules and details of the seven laws of the children of Noah [which are: 1) prohibition of idolatry, 2) prohibition of murder, 3) prohibition of sexual immorality, 4) prohibition of eating the flesh of a living animal, 5) prohibition of blaspheming the name of God, 6) prohibition of theft, 7) observance of the laws and rights of humanity] – this is excellent. But if he is not satisfied with that and wants to focus on the religion of Israel and investigate its laws and secrets – then, as much as possible, his Jewishness should be clarified, and if they cannot (that is, when he does not cooperate and there is a fear that he might take offense or something similar and give up, or when a reliable source of information is not reached and the matter is still shrouded in fog) it is possible to teach him the Torah of Israel, but clarify and agree with him in advance that if it is discovered that, according to the law, he needs conversion, he will do it and it is with this intention that he studies, and on the other hand, if it becomes clear that he is not a gentile, that he should change direction and not continue to hesitate between the two sides. In this way, even if he is a gentile, we are teaching him the Torah of Israel only as an introduction to the religion of Israel, and therefore, one should be more flexible, since it is not yet clear that he is a gentile.
And I will conclude with a prayer that there may be blessing in all your actions, and that the hearts of the children return to G-d who is in the heavens.
PLEASE NOTE*
Attention: You should not learn from one case to another, each case must be analyzed individually. Generally speaking, it's always best to have contact with a Rabbi in person, not just virtual contact. Note that where there is a local Rabbi("Mara Deatra"), one should ask him. The answers are under the responsibility of the rabbi who responded, and not under the responsibility of the website and/or the Head of the Institution.
Last Articles
The laws of the eve of Passover that falls on Shabbat (2025)
This year (2025) the fourteenth of Nissan (the eve of Passover) falls on Saturday, the chametz is checked by candlelight
A Guide for Converting to Judaism
Introduction Many people wish to join the Jewish people, but few succeed in completing the conversion process. Not all those
The prayer for the return of Hostages / Names for Prayer
The following is a formulated prayer from the famed Rabbi Cloanimus Kalimish Shapiro (Rebbe of Piacenza), who was killed on
The laws of Maaser Kesafim (the Monetary Tithe)
Summary of the Tithing laws on Financial Income (Ma’asrot, Tzedakah, etc.) How much should a person donate of their profits
The laws and customs of Passover – according to the customs of Syrian Jewry (Aram Soba)
The laws and customs of Passover – according to the customs of Syrian Jewry (Aram Soba), and in particular
A video is presented to you regarding the segulah of the stone of the righteous, for those who wish to
You may interested
The amount needed for ‘Redemption”
he required amount for the redemption of the soul is at least the equivalent of 160 prutot (perutah) of
Unlock Your Dream Home: Effective Segulot (Remedies) for Buying an Apartment
For Those Seeking to Reside in the Land of Israel: If one is unable to secure an apartment, it is
