Conversion of Non-Jewish Spouse

Question

My wife, who is not Jewish, has said she will convert, but for my benefit. Not because it is important for her. Why am I so adamant that she want it for herself?

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    Presumably because there is a concept of a person converting without any ulterior motives. Conversion is supposed to be an altruistic expression of a person’s desire to connect to God. When there is an external reason, it reduces the purity of the conversion. In any event, although it is true that, in the past, conversions were not performed when there was a preexisting emotional relationship with a Jew, nowadays Orthodox Batei Din (Jewish courts of law) are more open to the possibility of converting spouses of Jews.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team