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Hi:
We just adopted a 23 month old baby from Russia and I would like to have him converted by the orthodox community so that he is covered for him lifetime should he decide to become orthodox, make aliyah, marry orthodox,etc. I cannot find anyone in Cincinnati to do this as we (his parents) are conservative and are not considered observant enough.
We are not Shomer Shabbas, and although we only have Kosher meat, we do not have separate cookware, etc. . They are Kashered in the dishwasher. Our Rabbi will do a conservative conversion. Any suggestions for getting this accomplished would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bari
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Have you asked your conservative rabbi, maybe he has some orthodox colleagues that would do it without being too particular? I don't know if the Chabad Lubavitch group would do it, might be worth asking.
I'm going to have to worry about this too eventually (I hope). My situation is the awkward 'unobservant' orthodox, so although there won't be any ideological constraint, it will be such an effort.
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I am commenting as an orthodox Jew. From everything I know of Chabad, they would be the last organization to do such a conversion. In my experience, if you are not Shabbas observant/Shomer Mitzvos, etc., it is not too likely that you will find an orthodox rabbi who will do the conversion. I'm not trying to discourage you from trying, by the way, but I just cannot imagine any orthodox rabbi converting a child when he knows that he will immediately be put in a situation which means he will be committing aveiras (sins).
If the baby has not yet been circumcized, there is a special prayer a mohel can say "for the sake of future conversion". That way, he will not have to even have a pinprick in the future. For this, you should try to find an orthodox mohel.
Best of luck and mazel tov on your son!
Yael
My mother was converted by an Orthodox rabbi from Brooklyn who specialized in "special circumstances" They found him in an ad in a Jewish newspaper. You might have to travel to find such a rabbi.
We opted to have the conversion done by our reform rabbi figuring that DD could have an Orthodox conversion later if she choses to. We did do the michvah (in our pond) and have a bet din (all women!). It's good enough for conservative, which is what I consider myself.