Prayers of Converts
May a Convert Say the Blessing, “You Did Not Make me a Gentile?”
Adapted from Rabbi Ari Citron
In the Torah portion of Beha’alot’cha, we read the section about the Pesach Sheini, the second Pesach for those who could not bring the Pesach sacrifice on the regular Pesach (Numbers 9:1-14). Regarding this sacrifice, the Torah says (verse 14), “If a ger (convert) dwells with you, and he makes a Passover sacrifice to the L-rd, according to the statutes of the Passover sacrifice and its ordinances shall he make it. One statute shall apply to you, to the ger, and to the native-born citizen.”
Since converts are generally obligated to fulfill all of the mitzvot, the commentaries offer several interpretations as to the necessity of this verse. Here are some of them:
- Wait until Pesach
Rashi says that if not for this verse, one would think that a convert should offer a Pesach sacrifice as soon as he converts (since he missed the previous Pesach). The verse therefore tells us, “One statute shall apply to you, to the ger, and to the native-born citizen,” to teach us that he should bring this sacrifice at the same time as the rest of the Jewish people. - Not Part of the Miracle
The Ramban points out that the Torah already says in Exodus 12:48 that a convert should bring a Pesach sacrifice. But that verse was referring to the converts who left Egypt with the Jewish people and experienced the Exodus. As such, people who converted later and were not part of that experience were not explicitly included in the obligation to bring a Pesach sacrifice. The Torah is now including them in this mitzvah since they are part of the Jewish people and must celebrate this seminal event in the Jewish people’s formation. - The Ohr HaChaim adds that the soul of a convert is a “branch” of the same spiritual “tree” from which the souls of the Jewish people emanate. At the time of the exodus, all of the holy “sparks” (energy) were redeemed from the impure forces. As such, the converts, too, were redeemed during the Exodus since had the exodus not occurred, the souls of the converts would have remained “trapped” in the unholiness of Egypt.
- Don’t Skip to Pesach Sheini
Another interpretation offered by the Ohr HaChaim is that by comparing the convert to a born Jew, the Torah teaches us that just as a born Jew brings a Pesach Sheini only if he missed the first Pesach, so, too, a convert only brings a Pesach Sheini if he was Jewish at the time of the first Pesach and he missed it. But if he converted between the first and second Pesach, he does not bring a Pesach Sheini. - Skip to Pesach Sheini
The Bartenura on the Torah says the exact opposite. By writing that the convert must also bring a Pesach Sheini, the Torah is alluding that one who converts in between the first and second Pesach must bring a Pesach Sheini. These opposing opinions are sourced in two opinions of the Talmud (Pesachim 93a). The Rambam rules in accordance with the latter view (Hilchos Korban Pesach 5:7).
The rest of this article will discuss how converts should recite various prayers and blessings and whether or not they may serve as a Chazzan.
The Amidah
The Mishnah in Bikkurim (1:4) rules that when reciting the Amidah, a convert should say “לאֱלֹקֵי ,אֲבוֹת יִּשְרָאֵ G-d of the fathers of the Jewish people” instead of “G-d of our fathers” since he or she is not a descendant of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. When praying as a Chazzan (leading the services), the Mishnah says he should say “אֱלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶׁם, the G-d of your fathers.”
The Jerusalem Talmud (on the above Mishnah) quotes Rabbi Yehudah who says that converts are considered to be descendants of Avraham Avinu who is called the father of a multitude of nations (Gen. 17:5), and as such they should recite the standard words of the Amidah. The Talmud says that Rabbi Avahu ruled according to Rabbi Yehudah. In addition, the Mishnah in Nedarim (31a) seems to follow the opinion of Rabbi Yehudah.
The Halacha (Jewish law) follows the opinion of Rabbi Yehudah (Orach Chaim 53:19), that a convert should say the standard text of the Amidah.
Grace after Meals
The above ruling also applies to the second blessing in the Grace after Meals where a convert says “על שהנחלת לאבותינו, that you have given to my forefathers” (O.C. 199:4). As such, a convert is allowed to lead the Zimun (communal recital of the Grace after Meals (Shulchan Aruch HaRav 199:4). In addition, even though converts had no portion in ancient Israel, they are obligated to recite the Grace after Meals, which is in part a thanksgiving for the land, since they are part of the nation that inherited the land (Shulchan Aruch HaRav 186:1). (See Rashi on Numbers 10:32 that the descendants of Yitro had a temporary portion in the land of Israel.)
