Opening the Gates: How Proactive Conversion Can Revitalize the Jewish Community [Hardcover]

Gary A. Tobin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 9, 1999

A blunt, provocative, no-holds-bared argument for a radically different understanding of Jews' relationship to their faith and to their non-Jewish neighbors. Challenges the Jewish community to get beyond its focus on preventing intermarriage and to embrace instead an active, joyous, pro-conversion stance toward its non-Jewish friends and neighbors.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jewish social scientist Tobin zealously argues that the Jewish community should actively seek converts rather than seeking fruitlessly to prevent intermarriage. Potential Jews, he says, may be sought among those people who are unhappy with their religious traditions and among those who have no religious background. Unprecedented increases in intermarriage, he notes, have also produced a large number of non-Jewish spouses who are prime targets for conversion. Other likely candidates for conversion include the millions of Americans with Jewish ancestors. Tobin calls for the establishment of a National Center for Jewish Inclusion that would provide leadership for his conversion campaign. He decries the traditional Jewish opposition to conversion and identifies the benefits that would accrue to the Jewish community and to the converts if a large number could be recruited. His thesis is sure to be controversial and will probably find little support, but he deserves kudos for advocating this audacious point of view in such an engaging manner.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"This bold and impassioned book offers a clear-headed and unfailingly perceptive analysis of the relationship between welcoming converts and a healthy Jewish future. The book should be required reading for all concerned about that future." (Lawrence J. Epstein, president, Conversion to Judaism Resource Center)

"As Tobin promises at the outset of this provocative and stimulating book, his is a controversial thesis. But it comes from one of the most articulate thinkers on this subject, and as such, anyone seriously interested in the future of American Jewish life simply must factor this well-written work into their own thinking." (Dr. Daniel Gordis, dean, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies)

"A revolutionary challenge to the American Jewish community . . . Solid thinking about achieving and maintaining religious identity in the midst of a pluralistic culture and what 'conversion' means in such a culture. Any leader of an American congregation of any faith will find provocative ideas here." (The Rev. Loren B. Mead, founding president, the Alban Institute, Inc.)

"Gary Tobin has written the most important and challenging book in American Jewish public policy in years. People may agree or disagree, but no one interested in contemporary Jewish life will be able to ignore this work." (Steven L. Spiegel, professor of political science, UCLA)

"Gary Tobin, a leading light in Jewish communal research, embraces a provocative solution for American Jewry's continuity problem-a proactive conversion policy." (Barry A. Kosmin, director of research, Institute for Jewish Policy Research)

"An important book, both passionate and pragmatic, that does not cry Cassandra but recognizes the positive potentiality for Jewish renewal through programs and designs of proactive conversion. The author is involved in his subject, as both analyst and advocate. This lucidly written book is significant for serious rabbinic and lay Jews and their institutions who recognize the urgent need to redefine and revitalize Judaism and the character of Jewish peoplehood." (Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, California)

"Only someone like Dr. Gary Tobin who is so well informed on the demography of American Jewry, could call as desperately and as unequivocally as he does for a program of 'reaching out.' There is a feeling that something can be done besides witnessing the disappearance of American Jewry, and in that sense it is one of the most optimistic books written on the subject." (Yossi Beilin, Member of the Knesset)

"Opening the Gates is a truthful and insightful analysis of the current issues facing the American Jewish community. Dr. Gary Tobin presents innovative ideas and new approaches to revitalizing American Judaism in the twenty-first century." (Rabbi Neal Weinberg, University of Judaism)

"Gary Tobin gives us a fresh, top-to-bottom investigation of attitudes and practices regarding conversion of non-Jews. All Jewish leaders will benefit from this analysis of options and consequences." (Dean Hoge, The Catholic University of America) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass (April 9, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 0787008818
• ISBN-13: 978-0787008819
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,091,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars His heart is in the right place, but, April 13, 2005

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Opening the Gates: How Proactive Conversion Can Revitalize the Jewish Community (Paperback)

Gary Tobin is a person who deeply cares about American Jewish communal life. His answer to its major problem , the problem of assimilation is to turn the world upside down, and see it less as problem than as opportunity. He sees that each non- Jewish partner is a potential convert to Judaism. And he advocates that the Jewish community become far more active in promoting conversion, and in welcoming new members.
Unfortunately as I understand it this is more an ideal answer than a real one. This book was published in 1999 and as I write this in April 2005 the record shows that in intermarriages a decreasing number of couples are raising their children as Jewish i.e. intermarriage is not proving to be an opportunity no matter how liberal Reform and other conversion procedures , be.
Tobin can of course claim that the reason for this is the entrenched opposition of the American Jewish community to converts. But as I said there are many Jewish Reform leaders who advocate Tobin's approach. This is not bringing masses of converts to Judaism.
I in fact believe that despite the good intention Tobin is mistaken here. I believe that the emphasis of the American Jewish community should be on intensifying Jewish education. I also believe that it should be in educating to Torah and Mitzvot. I believe if the community became more religious it would be a much stronger community.
I in essence believe then that despite what Tobin says here assimilation is the great disaster of the American Jewish community.
Tobin's heart is in the right place, but I believe his judgment and reading of the situation are not.
However the creative and revolutionary solution offered to the painful assimilation problem, the pain remains and so does the assimilation.