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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I've noticed that Judaism is the only Abrahamic faith that doesn't proselytize. I think that's cool. Why is it that Judaism doesn't proselytize though?[/quote]

Traditionally, there is no reason to try to convert others. Jews believe there are certain rules and laws they need to follow to be good Jews. They believe there are certain moral imperatives you need to follow to be a good person. But, there's no spiritual or practical advantage to following Jewish practice if you aren't Jewish.[/quote]
Unless you marry someone jewish, then you have to convert
The grandparents want jewish grandchildren, and unless you convert they will not be[/quote]

[b]In my experience conversions  are generally regarded skeptically  by all but the most liberal reform Jews.[/b] It is often women converting because they are marrying a Jewish male. Judaism is matrilineal, which means if your mother is Jewish you are considered Jewish by birth, regardless of the father's religion. Those with a Jewish grandparent might be accepted but most Christian conversions  will be considered questionable for at least the first generation, even if no one is saying so out loud. Converts seldom continue after a divorce.

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This was the exact opposite of my experience of an Orthodox conversion.  Orthodox Jews know and follow halacha, and for them people who comply with the rules are Jews in good standing because Judaism is very much about halacha.  It's rather like someone's view of a complex legal contract --- lawyers will understand it know when the other party is in compliance.  Non-lawyers will form opinions based on half understood things they read or heard second hand, or based on emotion or other non-contractual factors.  Note that I'm not trying to denigrate the official teachings of Reform or Conservative Judaism, but more talking about the how people with different levels of understanding of halacha form opinions about it.

Also, when you see people in shul not only on Shabbat but on holidays and every Monday and Thursday and whenever someone needs a minyan, they have a pretty clear sense that you are sincere.  Also, when you wear a kippah every day in a majority Christian country.

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While its true that Orthodox knowledge of and practice of halacha leads to greater acceptance of converts, the sheer numbers of converts (and unconverted intermarriage partners) in Conservative and esp Reform shuls tends to offset the tendency to "ethnicize" Jewish identity there, in my experience.  I suspect the worst problems of exclusion are from nominal C and R Jews who are not involved in their congregations enough to know how many converts there are, or who live in places dominated by the elderly.[/quote]

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