What is the Hasidic attitude towards “Baalei Teshuva” and converts?
Hasidim, like the rest of the Orthodox community strongly discourage people from converting to Judaism. This is according to the Talmudic law. They do, however, encourage Jews who have wandered astray to “return”. Chabad is famous for being intimately involved in reaching out to worldwide Jewry, making them aware of their heritage and trying to bring them closer to Orthodox observance, although they will do anything to get a Jew to put on Tefillin even just once. Other Hasidic communities will definitely readily accept any returnee; yet, it would be very hard if at all possible for any non-Hasid-born, let alone non-observant born person to effectively absorb in a Hasidic community. This is because of the many idosyncracies and close-knitness inherent in the Hasidic community.
