One of Judaism's most famous converts was Onkeles, the son of a Roman Emperor, who left his home to study Judaism in Israel. The Talmud relates that the Emperor dispatched a battalion of soldiers to bring Onkeles back home and prevent him from converting. But when the soldiers got there, Onkeles engaged him in conversation about Judaism, and they all ended up converting, too! The Roman Emperor sent a second battalion and again, they all converted. Finally, in frustration and fury, the Emperor sent a third group of soldiers and commanded them to seize Onkeles and bring him back - and not to speak with him at all.

As they were taking hold of Onkeles, the soldiers saw him reach up and kiss the mezuzah. What's that?" they asked. Onkeles replied... and, like the units before them, all these soldiers converted, too. (The Emperor gave up after that, and Onkeles went on to become a great scholar in Israel - Avodah Zara 11A.)

What was the secret of Onkeles' extraordinary success? What did he say that was so compelling that in such a short amount of time he was able to convince the soldiers to change their lives?

Our Rabbis tell us, "Devarim hayotz'im min halev nichnasim el halev" -- "Words that come from the heart enter the heart." This was Onkeles' secret. Onkeles was so clear, so real, so absolutely convinced of the truth and beauty of Judaism that the soldiers could not fail to absorb his conviction. Onkeles' responsed with more than mere words. He was alive with inspiration and meaning. Being in his presence was like experiencing a revelation. The power and energy Onkeles radiated, as a result of the extraordinary level of spirituality and commitment he had attained, is what struck the soldiers, each time, and moved them to embrace Judaism.

Herein lies the first key to success in outreach. In order to help others understand why Judaism is meaningful and important, we must feel that way ourselves. Like Onkeles, we must be unshakably convinced and enthusiastic about Judaism. Then, our own real life example will be more persuasive than any logical argument. Moreover, when we see someone start to vacillate during his search, or experience conflicts or pressures, our own confidence in Judaism will enable us to be an anchor for the one struggling.

At this point you may be wondering, "Why the emphasis on conviction? After all, I already appreciate the beauty and relevance of Judaism."

We live in a society whose values and goals are the complete antithesis of Jewish ones. We are subjected to a continuous barrage of information that has a powerful influence on how we perceive our Judaism. No matter how strong and secure we are, we may occasionally feel that secular society does have some advantages.

While most of us understand intellectually that Judaism is a better way of life, our ability to be effective in kiruv will be seriously hampered if these feelings of inferiority take hold on any level, consciously or subconsciously.

The following story illustrates just how pervasive society's influence is -- an influence so subtle, many of us are not consciously aware of its persistent drain on our national pride and self-image.

In a program on Jewish self-awareness conducted by Aish HaTorah, a group of non-observant Jewish college students were asked to compile a list of traits they thought Jews possessed, both positive and negative. The lists drawn up were largely negative: Jews were described as cheap, elitist, controlling the media, and other derogatory stereotypes.

Next the students were asked to prepare a list of things they associated with Orthodox Jews. These lists included even more outrageous and contemptible traits.

Finally, one long compilation of all the lists was drawn up and distributed.

The students were then showed a movie called, "The Eternal Jew," one of the Nazis' chief propaganda tools to arouse the gentile population to participate in murdering Jews. They were instructed to identify every point at which the movie portrayed a Jew in a negative light and describe how it was done.

After the film, the students compared the notes they had made of the film with their own personal lists.

The two lists were shockingly similar.

Undoubtedly, the derogatory messages emitted by our society about Jews have penetrated our collective psyche. Although these messages are not trumpeted from the rooftops, as they were in Nazi Germany, American society is transmitting many of the same signals - albeit in softer tones. And as strong as our personal convictions may be, we often cannot avoid succumbing to feelings of inferiority or self-doubt. Taking the time to understand and resolve these feelings will help maximize your effectiveness in outreach.

IN CONCLUSION

Remember: Clarity and enthusiasm are our most powerful tools. To be like "Onkeles," we must be convinced that Judaism is a commodity every Jew needs.

Indeed it is. In explaining the numerous statements in Biblical, prophetic and rabbinic literature comparing Torah to water (Tanna D'Bei Eliyahu Raba 2:18, among others), our rabbis tell us that just as one cannot survive for more than three days without water, so too, a Jew cannot survive spirituality for more than three days without Torah.

This, incidentally, is why the rabbis instituted public Torah readings every Monday and Thursday. They wanted to insure that no Jewish community would be without Torah learning for more than three days at a time (Rambam, Hilchos Tefillah 12:1).

Two caveats. First, believing that Torah Judaism is an infinitely superior ideology does not qualify one to judge individuals who are not observant. Always bear in mind that human beings can only judge specific actions or opinions, not people. A person who has no knowledge of Judaism could possibly be a better person in G-d's eyes than the most observant Jew.

Second, while Judaism is undoubtedly superior to any other ideology, it is important to acknowledge the many worthwhile contributions to humanity made by many people of other faiths. These include technological and psychological advancements, religious and political freedoms, and medical and legal breakthroughs. While your focus should be on the overall benefits of Judaism, the contribution of other societies should never be discounted or denied.

What follows now is not necessarily information you need to convey to a non-observant person. It is primarily to bolster your own appreciation of Judaism's uniqueness, so that the image you present will be as close as possible to that of Onkeles: secure, confident and keenly aware of the treasures that lie within your heritage.