Rabbi Reveals Personal Stories of Conversion and Community

Rabbi Chaim Airam, the spiritual leader of the Elazar settlement and a former conversion judge (dayan), has shared insights into the conversion process, emphasizing the crucial role of community integration alongside halachic requirements. He recounted a story of a young boy fearful of the mikvah (ritual bath) whose conversion was facilitated by Rabbi Chaim Druckman, who personally entered the mikvah with the child to help him overcome his fear. Rabbi Airam explained that this approach highlights Rabbi Druckman's view of converts not as individuals undergoing an examination, but as people needing personal guidance, patience, and a sense of belonging.

Rabbi Airam, who also served as a conversion dayan alongside Rabbi Druckman and authored a book on the role of community rabbis in integrating converts, believes that conversion is not complete with a rabbinical court's decision but requires the convert's integration into Jewish community life. He stressed that belonging to the Jewish people means being part of the community, and while observing commandments is essential, it is not the sole purpose of conversion. The connection to the Jewish people, he argued, is forged through interactions with the community, not just the rabbinical court.

He illustrated this with the example of a convert attending synagogue for the first time, feeling lost and potentially alienated by unsupportive congregants. A welcoming gesture, he noted, can significantly influence a convert's decision and future life. Rabbi Airam described his own court's model, which involved engaging with potential converts early in the process, attending their classes, and collaborating with teachers and community rabbis, so that by the time of the formal hearing, the convert felt familiar with the judges.

Rabbi Airam clarified that this personal approach does not negate halachic stringency, recalling Rabbi Druckman's insistence on adhering strictly to Jewish law. He also mentioned Rabbi Druckman's practice of thoroughly reviewing each convert's background before hearings to understand what questions to ask and, importantly, what not to ask, ensuring a respectful and attentive demeanor during discussions.

Furthermore, Rabbi Airam touched upon the challenges faced by the Elazar settlement, which lost 11 residents during the recent war. He described the community's collective grief and efforts to support bereaved families, noting that each loss is felt deeply by the entire settlement. He also recalled the morning of October 7th, when news of the attack began to emerge, and residents, including young people he had known since childhood, were called to military service. The settlement is planning a memorial promenade to honor all those lost.