Mitzvah of Loving Converts

• Loving converts is a mitzvah, reminding us of challenges as foreigners in Egypt.
• The Torah warns us 36 times to be kind to converts, since it's painful to feel unwelcome and we should not tease people about their insecurities.
• The mitzvah of "love your fellow as yourself" applies to converts with overcompensation even encouraged
• Accept converts to make us into more compassionate people, and avoid reminding converts of their past.
• This acceptance extends to temporary visitors from foreign lands.
• Accepting converts differentiates Judaism from other religions focused on birth families.
• Converts are compared to leprosy due to potential bad influence and lack of mitzvot observance but some converts are exceptional in their mitzvot observance.
• Accepting converts can have bad consequences, according to some, specifically if the conversion is not genuine.
• Being a light to the world requires accepting those who want to join Judaism.
• There is a mitzvah for the beis din to actively convert people without delay.
• The purpose of that mitzvah is to love Hashem by bringing others to Judaism.
• There's a mitzvah on the beis din to facilitate Gentiles' observance of mitzvot by accepting the convert.

Conversion Process (Gerot)

• Becoming Jewish involves milah (circumcision), mikvah (ritual bath/teffilah) and korban (sacrifice), mirroring the conversion process.
• Proofs for these three steps are found in the Torah.
• Converts can't offer korban nowadays, but Rambam suggests tefillah instead.
• Gers should set aside money for a korban after Moshiach.
• All conversion processes are important.
• If someone lives when a Karbon can be offered then the conversion is not finished without it.
• Rabbi Elezar says that if a convert does milah but not tefillah, the conversion is still valid. Seen from leaving Egypt.
• Tosphos says the order of conversion is milah followed by mikvah except for pregnant women
• Rambam disagrees, arguing that delaying conversion to wait for recovery is unnecessary.
• Gemara recommends milah then mikvah. This is the ideal way but mikvah followed by milah is accepted.
• Milah first deters unserious gentiles and creates purity.
• Rashba considers tefillah to be the primary factor since women only need to do this.
• The Shulchan Aruch requires doing the mikvah first followed by the milah.

Shabbat Observance During Conversion

• If a convert has undergone milah and is waiting for mikvah, a question arises regarding Shabbat observance.
• Rav Lemmel suggests they should not keep Shabbat as both milah and tefillah are essential.
• If someone does the mikvah first then you should do tefillah after the milah.
• Mefarcheset is an animal that is shechted and still convulsing, a jew can still eat the animal, but a gentile can't. A person after milah cannot.
• Converts should also observe Shabbat, following the Torah precedent and Rav Etlenburg.
• Rashi says that converts should keep Shabbat.

Teaching Torah to Non-Jews and Converts

• There are limitations on teaching Torah to non-Jews.
• Teaching a gentile Torah is compared to stealing an inheritance or adultery.

Differing Views

• Some Gemaras suggest that if a gentile learns Torah, they are like a Kohen Gadol.
• Gentiles are obligated to the 7 Noahide laws which they should learn
• Tosphos allows teaching Torah if it's publicly accessible or if a gentile can teach themself.
• It is theft (gezel) to teach it.

Torah Ownership and Permission

• Everyone owns the Torah, preventing a Jew from teaching a gentile as it's considered stealing, except if the value depreciates or if someone gives permission.
• Kitor Even states if everyone owns the Torah, a Jew can teach a gentile.

Restrictions on Torah Depth

• Gemara restricts teaching gentiles beyond the 7 mitzvot.
• Torah Shebal Peh is off limits, Written Torah is allowed to be taught.
• Yehoshuah wrote the Torah in 70 languages.

Nature of the Prohibition

• Rambam: conversion demands full commitment, no half-Jews.
• Meiri: potential for pretense and bad example.
• Netiv: prevent them from stealing ideas and starting their own religion.

Convert Candidates and Torah Study

• Converts can say bracot in the correct language during the conversion process, and after converting.
• Teaching Torah to convert candidates has leniencies.
• Hillel converted a gentile wanting to be a Cohen Gadol with the reason that learning is with a puropse.
• Some disagree with Hillel's approach.
• Normal converts should be taught.
• Converting couples can't live together technically.

Preparing for Conversion

• Converts can daven and make brachot but should wait for tefillin and mezuzah.
• Women can say brachot even if optional.
• Converts can say brachot to be ready.
• Converts can say bracot in the correct language, and after converting.
• Yitro was the first convert who is our spiritual forefather.

Yom Tov Meals

• Gentiles can't be specifically cooked for on Yom Tov.
• A gentile can join if not the purpose.

Kabbalat Hamitzvot (Acceptance of Mitzvot)

• Kabbalah Hamitzvot is essential and requires a Beis Din.
• Contradictory Gemara: there is a scenario when there is a convert that doesn't know about Shabbat.
• How can this be that a convert didn't know about Shabbat because of Kaballah Hamitzvot?

Requirements and Considerations

• Fulfilling all mitzvot is vital, knowledge can come later according to Rambam.
• The Beis Din must ask the right questions.

Differences

• Kabbalah hamitzvot- they are willing to accept the mitzvot
• Hodat hamitzot- being informed about the mitzvot, is on the beis din.