Q. Re: question 1107 and 1111. Could a person who wants to become a ger, and accepted keeping all mitzvos except being buried in a Jewish cemetery, be accepted for gerus?
A. The Talmud (Yebamot 47a-47b) teaches that the prospective proselyte is informed about the acceptance of mitzvos, and has to accept those mitzvos. Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 268: 3) rules that acceptance of mitzvos in front of a Beis Din is essential.
The Talmud (Bechoros 30b) teaches that a Gentile who comes to accept the entire Torah except for one thing – we do not accept him. R. Yose bar Yehuda says: Even a single detail of a rabbinic law. The consensus opinion among most Poskim is that kabala of all mitzvos is an indispensable component of geirus.
However, Achiezer 3: 26 maintains that although it is true that if a Gentile wanting to convert accepts all the mitzvos except for a single detail of a rabbinic law, we do not accept him, this only applies where he stipulates that he does not accept (that one detail) and that it should be permitted to him by right to transgress. In such a case, we do not accept him, for conditions may not be attached to conversion, and there is no half conversion. If, however, the Gentile accepts upon himself all the mitzvos, but he intends to violate (a certain law) to gratify his appetite, this is not regarded as a deficiency in his acceptance.
Igrois Moishe (Y.D. 3: 108) rules likewise in regards to a woman who is unable to avoid working on YomTov. He writes that the fact that she will violate a prohibition is because she does not have the strength to stand the test, even though she would like to observe the mitzva, as she accepted it and not commit a transgression. (See also Sridei Eish 2: 75). It
is interesting to mention that this particular mitzva is one of the
few mentioned by Ruth when she accepted mitzvos and told Naomi:”
Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried” (Ruth 1:
17).
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is similar and in great need she can be accepted. However, he advises to be careful not to reject a determined and honest giyores, but at the same time investigate thoroughly and soundly, her commitment to the rest of mitzvos.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
