The Converts’ Dilemma: Mourning a Gentile Parent

There is no doubt that, for many, the covert’s journey in Judaism is arduous. Even when done with love and compassion, the process is still a challenge that can take years and can be filled with many mental and emotional challenges. But at the special moment when the conversion happens — and all the bureaucratic hurdles are finished — a renewed soul joins the Jewish people to fulfill its mission in the world. Jewish tradition is firm on the notion that once someone converts to Judaism, reminders of his or her past life among the nations are generally forbidden. Unlike in generations past, however, the stigmas of a segregation by faith have ebbed in some places and interactions between converts and their unconverted family members are often routine. While this normalization is a step in the right direction, a primary question remains: What is the most appropriate way for a Jew to mourn a gentile parent or loved one? <a href="https://medium.com/@rabbiyanklowitz/the-converts-dilemma-mourning-a-gentile-parent-ab73744a8d17">Website</a>