Elizabeth Taylor and the Power of Converts

Elizabeth Taylor has been talked about a lot in recent days -- her movies, her marriages, those eyes -- but the most interesting thing that has been mentioned is Jewish.

Yes, Elizabeth Taylor is Jewish. She converted in 1959 to the faith, after studying for a year. Two of her eight marriages were to Jews (director Mike Todd and Eddie Fisher, respectively). It was even announced today that she would be buried in Jewish tradition.

However, there are many people who would probably dismiss her conversion. She did not convert in the Orthodox way. She did it only because she was married to Jews. She may not have passed it on to her children. She didn't follow the traditional Jewish system, and wasn't as open about it.

I think of many things when I think about comments like these. I ponder people I grew up with whose parents didn't allow them to date converts because they didn't think the converts were Jewish enough. I think of the rabbis who would admonish that as a sin, as converts are considered to be even more Jewish than people who were born into the faith, as they had to adopt it and go through a conversion process. That's followed by thoughts of the rabbinate in Israel who has been so strict in recent years of who is Jewish versus who is not, dismissing completely legit conversions.

I then think of all my beautiful Jewish friends who converted to be a part of our faith, one of which who will be receiving her Hebrew name in her temple in several weeks. They had to give up so much to be a part of our world, which has sometimes meant having difficulties with family members who can't understand why they would let go of their previous faith. Some of them have been so dedicated to their Jewish life that they have become leaders in the community, with many new people never knowing that they were once a different faith. They have shown dedication above and beyond people that I have known who were actually born into being Jewish.

Sometimes I feel that we make being Jewish an exclusive club, that people outside of our circle aren't allowed in. I never wanted that to be the case when it came to my faith. When people ask me questions about being Jewish, I am happy to answer to the best of my knowledge. I don't try to convert; rather, education is the name of my game. At the same time, there are rabbis who deem people not good enough to be part of our tribe.

To which I pose to the Rabbinate: When is someone good enough to be Jewish? After all, when my mother was growing up, Orthodox rabbis said that Sephardic Jews couldn't possibly be Jewish. You are so quick to dismiss anyone who is different from our faith, pretending like they don't matter. For years, there have been complaints about intermarriage in the faith, and instead of barring those who want to be a part of it, shouldn't we try to bring them in? After all, as I have said before in this blog, isn't G-d the ultimate judge? You are interpreters of the law, and G-d is the only one with authority.

After all, Elizabeth Taylor performed acts to tzedakah that were beyond the imagination. She devoted herself to the state of Israel, purchasing bonds and raising money for different organizations. She condemned the UN when it equated Zionism with racism, visited Israel frequently and offered herself in place of the 104 Jews being held hostage by terrorists in Entebbe. She was willing to sacrifice her life for the Jewish people to survive. What more proof do you need that she is one of us?

So Elizabeth, wherever you are in our world, please know that your quiet devotion to our faith has been something that is a great anchor. We thank you so much that you chose to be with us, and we are a better people because of you.

In honor of Elizabeth, I actually am going to salute her English roots with a Shepard's pie. This one is vegan, though.

VEGAN SHEPARD'S PIE
1 pound wild and/or cremini mushrooms, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 carrots, chopped
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup mock beef broth
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1/2 cup frozen peas
Leftover mashed potatoes (see quick tip)
Salt and pepper


Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large saute pan. Add mushrooms and thyme leaves, allowing them to turn golden brown in the pan. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add onions and carrots, allowing them to become translucent. Add back mushrooms and allow to mix. Add flour to absorb all the liquid from the vegetables, stir for several minutes. Add the cup of mock beef broth and tomato paste and allow to simmer for several minutes. Add the peas. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to broil.

Pour the mixture into an 8-by8 glass baking dish. Top with leftover mashed potatoes. Place in the oven and allow to brown for several minutes. Serve warm.