Rabbi Allen Maller, who served as a Rabbi at Temple Akiba in Culver City, CA for 39 years, has always encouraged non-Jews who are interested in becoming Jews. Rabbi Maller is a prominent advocate for an open, welcoming approach to conversion to Judaism. He strongly believes in bringing people under the wings of the Divine Presence and often writes about the spiritual significance of converts.

His philosophical and religious views on the topic encompass several specific points:

Reincarnated Souls: Rabbi Maller believes that many non-Jews who are drawn to Judaism possess “Jewish souls” that have reincarnated, or have ancestors who were cut off from the Jewish people by assimilation or persecution.

Welcoming Converts: He heavily criticizes the “Ultra-Orthodox resistance” to welcoming non-Jews into the faith, citing classical Talmudic rabbis who actively encouraged converts.

Publications & Teachings: He has written extensively on this, notably in his book God, Sex and Kabbalah. You can find his ongoing articles on the subject via The Times of Israel.

Conversion Perspectives: He has published essays exploring how becoming Jewish compares to reincarnation or falling in love, as well as discussions on whether rabbis should accept candidates with mixed motives.

Gilgul: Conversion........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)