Amidst the decisive events of the 20th century - the Holocaust and the rebirth of the Jewish homeland - which impacted heavily on Jewish attitudes, emerged a broadening of religious doctrines creating diversity within Judaism.
Previous insularist tendencies were replaced by revised outlooks on
proselytisation, blending with the unique characteristics of South African
Jewry. Clearly, local Jewish society and the Rabbinate have placed these
updated perceptions high on its agenda. The inevitable mixed reactions
have been reviewed in this work, which looks at the long road travelled by
the convert from the viewpoint of current motivations, acceptance by the
community and post conversion levels of observance.
My own theory is a model encompassing the respective components of local proselytism looking at categories of converts, their motives, demands to be met and obstacles. To comprehend the contemporary position, a historical survey delved into the issue from its Biblical origins via the influences of centuries, reaching the South African scene. This inquiry investigated the development of conversion policies drawn from an evolvement of energetic Halakhic debate.
These attitudes manifest themselves in archival sources from 1924, of which my analysis is the first of its kind. From these records, together with those of my own community and data available from the Cape Beth Din, the interpretative statistics thus compiled identified characteristics and motivations of applicants and procedural mechanics.
This work proceeded a step further. Focus on the Durban model provided
an ideal observation point for the post conversion stages. Personal
knowledge of the candidates gained from my service to Durban Jewry
enabled me to assess their respective adherences and absorption into the community. Furthermore, responses to a questionnaire sent to the local Jewry and interviews revealed attitudes both of Jews by birth and the
converts themselves whilst added perceptions were obtained from a
questionnaire sent to the Rabbis of South Africa.
In the final chapter I submitted proposals and recommendations, some of
which are radical. Covering the entire process of conversion this model
attempts to address the future of conversions in South Africa as this is
expected to remain a pivotal issue of immense momentum. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/17872 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Zekry, Pinchas |
| Contributors | Lubbe, G. J. A. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (299 leaves) |
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