Converts of Jewish ancestry

Rav Amsalem, an Israeli expert on halachos of Giyur, is coming out with a new sefer, Zera Yisrael, in which he argues that those converts who have a biological Jewish connection, unlike those from a compeltely non-Jewish background, do not require a full acceptance of all the mitzvos and an acceptance of a "traditional" lifestyle is enough, because the identification with the Jewish people- serving in the IDF and keeping mitzvos such as Kiddush, Kashrus, Yom Kuppur etc is sufficient.

It will be interesting to see his arguments. In the meantime, a controversy is brewing. For myself, does anyone know how to explain a Rashi (s.v.giyra)that says clearly that one can accept a Ger who does not believe in the Divine origin of Oral Law, as long as the rabbi who accepts him is certain that the convert will eventually be persuaded to accept it? Did Rashi believe that an agreement to perform mitzvos is enough, and that Ikkarei Hadas play no role in Giyur, as the plain meaning of the Talmud in Yevomos 47a seems to suggest? Rambam Issurei Biyah Ch.  14:2 famously rewords that gemara to make it about more about theology, or at least about Oneness of G-d,  as well as mitzva observance.

ומודיעין אותו עיקרי הדת שהוא ייחוד השם ואיסור עכו"ם ומאריכין בדבר הזה ומודיעין אותו מקצת מצות קלות ומקצת מצות חמורות ואין מאריכין בדבר זה ומודיעין אותו עון לקט שכחה ופיאה ומעשר שני ומודיעין אותו עונשן של מצות כיצד אומרים לו הוי יודע שעד שלא באת לדת זו אם אכלת חלב אי אתה ענוש כרת אם חללת שבת אי אתה ענוש סקילה ועכשיו אחר שתתגייר אם אכלת חלב אתה ענוש כרת אם חללת שבת אתה ענוש סקילה ואין מרבין עליו ואין מדקדקין עליו שמא יגרום לטרדו ולהטותו מדרך טובה לדרך רעה שבתחלה אין מושכין את האדם אלא בדברי רצון ורכים וכן הוא אומר בחבלי אדם אמשכם ואחר כך בעבותות אהבה

Comments

[Lisa]

Rashi lived at a time when Jews were oppressed. If someone at a time like that wanted to convert, it suggested a much stronger commitment than any desire to convert today.

There's an issue with accepting gerim at all when Yad Yisrael Tekifa. And even if you want to argue that Yad Yisrael isn't exactly Tekifa today, we certainly aren't downtrodden ase were in Rashi's time.

[avakesh]

This was a story of the Gentile who came to Hillel ( I should have brought down the whole story) and asked to convert on the condition that he accepts Written Law but not Oral Law. It is probably a time very much like our time.

[Lisa]

I'm not sure how Hillel's time could be considered much like our own. We were already occupied by Rome, and ruled by the Herodians.