A meaningless affectation of Judaism?

No! A meaningless post by an anonymous "Jew" who think he knows more about what a Jew is and the tradition.

Traditionally there have been a number of different modes of welcoming non Jews to Judaism. There is the story of Ruth which has become canonical and which countered the views of people like Ezra.

Historically, Jews have always intermarried. That is a fact. Since the founding of the reform movement some Orthodox Jews have been besides themselves with anger at the temerity of Jews challenging their notions of what is a Jew. They are afraid that reform rules will diminish the authority of the rabbis and their beth dins.

As a result their attacks on non Orthodox converts has been an attack on the Reform movement rather than at the converts themselves.  

What these orthodox dead enders don't want to see is that if there were no Reform movement Jews inclined to move towards it would have left Judaism altogether. This happened in Italy, in Eastern Europe and in all places where there is no reform Judaism.

The choice isn't between Orthodox Judaism and Reform, the choice is between Judaism and some other religion or no religion.

Of course, some Orthodox people would rather the Jews who eschew Orthodoxy would disappear since they are more afraid of Reformed Judaism  which challenges their authority than they are of a shrinking Jewish base.

Fortunately, Reform Judaism (Conservative as well as Reform and others) is here to stay and the angry and insistent posts by anonymous and nominous Jews will avail them nothing.