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I am not looking for sources. This is deliberate on my part. This is so
much <i>seichel ha'yashar</i> that I don't want to demean it by an
appeal to sources. That being said, and in that vein:<br>
<br>
Daniel Eidensohn wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4781FCB3.5050108@012.net.il" type="cite"><!---->You
are making an assertion based upon your sevora. You haven't brought <br>
<pre wrap="">any sources that state what you seem to be such an obvious position.
</pre>
</blockquote>
See above.<br>
Your pshat in Rashi is strained. In now way does Rash indicate that he
is talking about all geirim, or geirin in general.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:4781FCB3.5050108@012.net.il" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">It is important to note that there is a conflation of two issues here.
Accepting the convert and the historical, sociological and psychological
reality that most of the time the convert is not successful and is
detrimental to the Jewish people.
</pre>
</blockquote>
To me that seems paradoxical.<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:4781FCB3.5050108@012.net.il" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">On the one hand there is clearly an advantage to increase the ranks of
those who truly serve G-d through Torah. However the statements I have
cited deal with the reality that our Sages throughout the ages have
experienced that there is a significant downside to converting someone
who is not the ideal - and that the typical convert is far from ideal.
Thus we have gedolim such as the Achiezer and Rav Moshe Feinstein who
say they have nothing to do with converting people because of the high
failure rate.
</pre>
</blockquote>
I don't say <i>"there is clearly an advantage to increase the ranks of
those who truly serve G-d through Torah."</i> I am not sure that is
necessarily true. What I am saying is that as <i>gomlei chasadim</i>
we have an obligation to accept a person who sincerely and truly wants
to be <i>davek</i> in Hashem and in Torah to the ultimate extent.
<blockquote cite="mid:4781FCB3.5050108@012.net.il" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Consequently on the ideal level I would agree with you. However on the
day to day level of reality - most of the time the acceptance of geirim
is in fact detrimental to the Jewish people. That is why various
communities (e.g., Syrian) have banned the acceptance of geirim.
</pre>
</blockquote>
To my opinion, the Syrian practice is vile. The only possible
justification for it is that they say it is not their obligation,as a
minority in a sea of Ashkenazim, to be the ones that are mekkabel the
Gerim.<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:4781FCB3.5050108@012.net.il" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">There is a parallel discussion in Chazal as to whether it is better to
be born or not (Eiruvin 13b; Berachos 17a). For most people (and souls)
the answer is no.
</pre>
</blockquote>
But once they are here, if <i>pishpush u'mishmush b'ma'aseihem</i>
leads them to the inevitable conclusion, then... <br>
See above.<br>
<br>
KT,<br>
YGB<br>
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