Can a Jew become a גר? | by Rav Asher Weiss Shlita | 5787

What’s said in this shiur

The opening of this shiur, in Rabbi Asher Weiss’s own words — taken from the captions, so names and Hebrew terms may be approximate.

So, today is the yard site of the Piaseczna Rebbe. Probably many of you heard about this great tzaddik. He was one of the rabbaim in Poland, murdered by the Nazis. And we have the Torahs that he said in the Warsaw Ghetto, and they're extremely uplifting. >> [clears throat] >> What is very uncommon amongst gedolei Yisrael, the Piaseczna [clears throat] Rebbe wrote somewhat of a personal diary. And some of his writings he didn't write to be published, but just spilled out his heart. And there's one paragraph, and I remember many years ago when I read it the first time, zal go einai damot. And I'm not saying this bederech melitzah, but I really cried because I was so moved. And since then I quoted it a hundred times, and every time I quote it, I am deeply moved. In a kuntres called Tzav Vezirus, the Piaseczna Rebbe writes, "Ribbono shel Olam, I love you. I love you so much. What could I do for you? I should learn Torah? I've been learning Torah all my years. I learned probably as much as he could learn. I should daven? I always was makpid be kavanas hatefillah. I would so much love to be mitgayer, he writes. But I'm Jewish. Ivri anochi. And it sounds as if he is complaining. Why was I born Jewish? I would so much love to be a misgaya. The only act that would really express his unbelievable love and devotion to God is Bohu would be gairus. But he says, "I can't. I'm Jewish. So I was born." And I was extremely moved reading this. And then I thought to myself, "Maybe a Jew could be misgaya as well."

Jump to a moment

1. 0:00So, today is the yard site of the Piaseczna Rebbe. Probably many of you heard about…
2. 0:31the Piaseczna [clears throat] Rebbe wrote somewhat of a personal diary. And some of his writings…
3. 1:33learn. I should daven? I always was makpid be kavanas hatefillah. I would so much love…
4. 2:33So let us think what is gairus. Gairus has three different stages. Milah. Could he try…
5. 3:35Again, comes to be misgaya. And there are three respectable rabbonim sitting across the room. And…
6. 4:36talking, but I heard. And I think what you said is lashon hara. If it's okay,…
7. 5:06to be Jewish. You could be an Av Beis Din by us, but I can't accept…
8. 6:07Nice people, honest people, they will never lie, they'll never cheat, but they have a total…
9. 7:07Heilige Rebbe of the Piasetzna Rebbe. And I said this year, in the beginning of the…
10. 8:07Every day. >> [clears throat] >> That's why a Jew needs to try to feel This…

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