Converts and "Who is a Jew?"

Converts to Judaism will probably always face the age-old question of "who is a Jew?" There was a kerfluffle (to put it mildly) over Orthodox conversions by a certain R' Druckman in Israel recently, which only serves as a reminder that even Orthodox conversions may be questioned by certain segments of Jewish society.

Why the issues? Is being a Jew such a wonderful thing that we must worry that the whole world will want in on the action? Is being Jewish really only about bloodlines? Do converts kid themselves about their supposed spiritual presence at Sinai? (Which raises the question, do born Jews kid themselves about that same issue?)

It must be frustrating to be questioned by a rabbi about your reasons for considering conversion, to be questioned by your friends and family, to be discouraged by many of your acquaintances, and to perservere through all the reading, the studying, the acclimating, the Beit Din...only to come through the process, begin to spread your wings and for the first time feel Jewish while doing Jewishly...and have someone effectively spit in your eye by saying "You'll never BE Jewish."

I would beg to differ with someone who argues that. In fact, it seems rather unfair that a convert must work so hard, while other Jews may make the claim solely on their bloodlines, and may not ever darken the door of their local shul. Surely living the ethics, learning and knowing the history and culture, expressing one's kavanah through one's actions, surely this should be the proof that one is Jewish.

Are there not enough antisemites running around that we must have in-fighting between JBBs and JBCs? And in my book, this would go as well for the lashon hara between Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and anyone else along the spectrum of Jewish practice. Remember the 614th commandment: Do not give Hitler any posthumous victories. Especially coming on the heels of Yom HaShoah, this should give any Jew pause...would Hitler enjoy what you're doing to another? Then don't do it!

Perhaps it's easy for me to make these statements, coming from the outside looking in as I am. But sometimes it takes the outsider to bring a glaring injustice to the family's attention. If so, so be it.