Judaism for Gentiles?

As provoking as before, my Facebook friend, Asher Meza posted another new video calling gentiles to convert to Judaism. Some people are getting disturbed by the title. Judaism for what ? Historically we are never a missionary religion. We don't seek converts. What the text sources does he use to support this ?

I think if I could help clarifying things, certainly what Asher means "gentiles" here is not literally gentiles. In this video, he is showing that he is very aware there are many people who are interested in Judaism but are not in the right situation to start the conversion process immediately (e.g. living too far from Jewish community). They are the gentiles he is talking about. The Sages of the Talmud call someone who is considering conversion a "Ger sheba l'his'gayer" - "a convert who comes to convert", not a "goy sheba l'his'gayer" - not a "gentile who comes to convert". So what does it mean ? It means a true convert is already Jewish from the beginning. They are Jewish souls who got lost somewhere along the way.

So if you reject being just a good Noahide, if you think you are one of those potential true converts, while you are working to improve your situation, until you become able to complete the conversion, you got stuck in the so-called "Transitional Judaism". Here are some the do's and the dont's when you are practising it.

- You can keep laws of kashrut (eating kosher).

- You can observe Shabbat but you have to violate at least one ruling (e.g. light the candle after halachic time). According to many sources, when the Talmud teaches that an Akum (heathen - but sometimes could be nachri - non-Jew, and changed by censors) who rests is liable to the death penalty, that is referring to resting from sunrise to sunrise on any day, unlike the Jewish sabbath which begins at sundown Friday and ends 72 minutes after sundown Saturday.

- You can put mezuzot in your house. Rambam states this explicitly in chapter 10 of Hilkhoth Melakhim in the Mishne Torah. Some say you should do it without the blessing. When you're fully convert, you put it on again, this time with the blessing.

- You have to keep the laws of Tzniut (dressing modestly).

- You can wear kippah, but please be careful, when you wear it, people might think you are a Jew when you're not, especially if you are still eating cheese burger. In such case, you would desecreate G-d's name (Chillul Hashem).

- You can wear tzitzit but it would be better to consult with your local Orthodox rabbi first.

- You have to perform Tzedakah as much as possible.

- You can start praying using siddurim.

- Use your time to learn and experience all that you can about Judaism. Learning Hebrew is also highly recommended.

You can find Asher Meza in his website BeJewish.org