JUDAH THE AMMONITE

A blog which I was reading about half an hour ago reminded me of Judah the Ammonite. Who shows up in the following little anecdote:

‘There appeared in the academy a certain Judah, an Ammonite convert, who asked “may I enter the klal?” (By which he meant ‘can I marry a Jewish girl?’)
Rabban Gamliel said “no way dude” (Meaning: ‘You don’t belong here, now Bulgar off’).
Then Rabbi Joshua said “surely Ammon and Moab no longer dwell in their original places? Did not Sennacherib, the king of Assur, mix all the people up?” (‘Are we that Bulgarianly exclusive that we should discriminate against one who has actually chosen to stand with us?’).


To which Rabban Gamliel replied “it is prophesized that the Bnei Ammon will be restored, and look! - they have indeed been restored (to their own place)” (‘I’m telling ya, he don’t belong here!).


Rabbi Joshua then said “and there is an identical prophecy that Yisroel will also be restored – but that has not happened! All these prophecies are pure speculation, including that mishegoss about the Ammonites” (Idiot! Weren’t you listening?!? He’s one of us now!’).

After listening to this debate, the assembled scholars permitted Judah to enter the klal.’




NOTES:
The prophecy that Yisroel will be restored = In reference to the lost tribes, exiled beyond the Sabbath river, who will return at the end of time when Yisroel is restored. Yisroel is the northern kingdom, which was severely whacked, and its people dispersed.

The dispute detailed above has to do with the status of converts, with Rabban Gamliel holding that the convert’s previous group identity is determinative, while Rabbi Joshua holds that in converting, the Ger has become as much a Jew as other Jews (as Abraham and Sarah were converts, and as the entire nation became at Sinai, and like many ‘natives’ after the return from Bavel).

Chazal agree with Rabbi Joshua.

And pursuant thereto, it should be mentioned that Ruth was a convert, and so was Ben Hei Hei.

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Now, I'm not likely to convert - I'm overly opinionated, too much of a loose cannon, have problems with rules, and am much the sceptic. A definite fellow traveler, but without plans to apply for a membership-card.
I would not even consider talking my significant other into also converting.
Let's just say that in keeping with family minhag, having been Jack-Calvinists, Jack-Anglicans, and Agnostics for several generations, most of us are comfortably non-committal and disagreeable.
Jack-Wasps, so to speak. A disobedient bunch. Still, monotheistic.


But some people are more social in their spiritual development, and capable of sincerely deciding to join up. I genuinely admire them. It takes a certain amount of guts and determination to do so, and it's an uphill struggle. It is therefore a good thing for others to smooth their path rather than make it rocky - one who enables another to perform a mitzvah does good twice.


Lifnei iver lo sitten michshol.