Vayigash 2017

Orthodox Judaism, in its desire to create distance from liberal denominations, at times does itself a disservice.    This phenomenon is well known.  For instance our sometimes hyper focus on the letter of the law in a way that dismisses its deeper meaning I think is often in response to liberal denominations which stress the laws spirit over its letter.    Our extremely vigilance on the testing of conversion candidates with no attention to the Torah’s many warnings regulating their feelings and vulnerability and indeed the Talmud s instance that if a potential convert knows some of the laws and persecutors history of the jewish people ans says I wish to convert anyway that “mitablin otam miyad” we convert them immediately.    Why immersiately ?   Because there is a twntion.   We do not in fact wish to scare them aaay.  (Quote ramabam).    Why then pin the mainstream orthodox conversion process do we pay only 5  percent attention to this side of the tension ans 95 percent to the side of ensuring they know everything  about being a jew and have no alrerior motive?     I think it is this phenomenon of living in response to liberal denominations.    The reform and conservative monementa concert easily with little commitment.   We will go to the opposite extrem.   

Often when one feels they are being strict about jewish law in someway we actually are being more lenient.    To move the goal posts in the process of conversion and thereby frustrate a candidate is to be marchmir about conversion but meikel about not annoying the convert.    Defer hachinush.  

Wine and grape juice.   

Davening.   all or nothing.