# Has any convert to Judaism ever become an Orthodox Rabbi?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-convert-to-judaism-ever-become-an-orthodox-rabbi/290076>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 14, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-convert-to-judaism-ever-become-an-orthodox-rabbi/290076 "2005-02-14T21:02:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kezami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb8c5e/32.png) [@kezami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kezami)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-convert-to-judaism-ever-become-an-orthodox-rabbi/290076/1 "2005-02-14T21:02:07Z")

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I’m sure this is possible but has it ever happened, historically or recently?

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**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-convert-to-judaism-ever-become-an-orthodox-rabbi/290076/2 "2005-02-14T22:14:02Z")

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[All information regurgitated here is taken from Wikipedia, so information should be taken with grain of salt]

“Traditionally, one obtains semicha (rabbinic ordination) after the completion of an arduous learning program in the codes of Jewish law and responsa.” ([link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbi))

And taken from [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semicha) article about the semicha:

Traditionally, semicha requires an arduous learning program in the codes of Jewish law and responsa. Orthodox Judaism maintains these requirements. One does not need a bachelor’s degree to enter most Orthodox rabbinical seminaries. Modern Orthodox rabbinical students study some elements of modern theology or philosophy, as well as the classical rabbinic works on such subjects.

Orthodox rabbinical students work to gain knowledge in Talmud, Rishonim and Acharonim (early and late medieval commentators) and Jewish law. They study sections of Shulkhan Arukh and its main commentaries that pertain to daily-life questions (such as on Kashruth and family purity).

Women are ineligible from becoming rabbis in Orthodoxy.

Hope this helps.

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**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-convert-to-judaism-ever-become-an-orthodox-rabbi/290076/3 "2005-02-15T02:13:20Z")

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I don’t _personally_ know any converts who are Rabbis, but there is no reason why a convert can’t become a Rabbi.

Zev Steinhardt

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**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-convert-to-judaism-ever-become-an-orthodox-rabbi/290076/4 "2005-02-15T02:16:40Z")

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The cantor at my (conservative) shul is a converted ex-Roman Catholic Italian. He is trained in opera.

That’s the best I got. Cantors are very well versed in scripture, though. I’d say this case is close to what you’re asking for.

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**Author:** ![kezami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb8c5e/32.png) [@kezami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kezami)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-convert-to-judaism-ever-become-an-orthodox-rabbi/290076/5 "2005-02-15T05:09:55Z")

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Thanks for the replies.

What got me thinking about this question was the fact that there were Jewish children raised as Catholics during wartime and some of them even reached the upper echelon of the Catholic church. I was wondering if something similar had occurred with a convert to Judaism, though not during wartime of course.

This would probably not be well publicized anyway.