Conversion
Newly-converted Jews and well-wishers from Beth Hamitzvot enjoy a fellowship meal. Rabbi John Cooper at the head of the table.
In our day, religion is commonly seen as a free choice; whatever religion one was raised in, there is a likelihood that the restless soul will at some point wander the spiritual marketplace, looking for alternative paths. Many of those individuals are attracted to Judaism for a variety of reasons.
But the Jewish community has traditionally been somewhat ambivalent about accepting and integrating converts, or ‘Jews-by-Choice’ as we like to call them. Today we often do a better job, but still those who come to us by conversion sometimes experience a mixed reception. It is Jewish Journeys’ position that everybody interested in exploring conversion to Judaism deserves a warm and embracing welcome. Because this is one of the few areas of Jewish life where it is absolutely essential to have the assistance and mentorship of a rabbi, the process of conversion is an important part of Jewish Journeys’ work.
The process seems complex, but really it is quite simple. One begins with an interest in Judaism as a spiritual path and begins connecting with a Jewish community for worship and fellowship. This is the spiritual aspect: connecting with others and through the rituals and fellowship that form the ‘music’ of Jewish life. When one has decided for certain to pursue the path of conversion, one enrols in a course that will serve as the intellectual component. We will soon offer such a course in two different formats; full information can be found here. When one is ready, usually after at least a year’s time has elapsed, one is presented to a beit din, an interview panel headed by a rabbi. Once accepted by the beit din, one immerses in a ritual pool, called a mikvah. For a male candidate who was not circumcised at birth, that is an additional part of the process.
The above is the ‘normal’ course of events, but in that each one of us is different we do not take a ‘cookie cutter’ approach. Each candidate for conversion expresses his or her own individuality through the process. Too, each one of us has different life’s circumstances that will necessitate adjustments to the process. For example, the most common adjustment necessary is regular attendance at communal worship; many of those interested in conversion simply do not live close enough to a community, that they can attend regularly. There are certain ‘bottom lines’ that are necessary in the conversion process, if one’s conversion is going to be accepted in the Jewish world. But our philosophy is that nobody with the desire and drive gets left behind; each person with the will and initiative to convert gets a chance to complete the process in a reasonable amount of time, in a way that possible given their life’s circumstances.
Jewish Journeys offers a course, (Re-) Discovering Judaism (full details available here), that can serve as the intellectual- educational component of the process. We can also, with some involvement in a community, assist you with the entire process including the beit din. Understand that, Jewish Journeys being an independent organisation, your conversion that we facilitate will not be universally accepted in the Jewish world. But in truth, in this day and age all conversions are closely scrutinsed and examined in some sectors of Judaism. Our policy is to disclose to you these issues fully from the start; know if you are interested and ready to begin the process, we will take pains to make these issues and their ramifications clear from the outset.
If your interest is conversion to Judaism, we welcome your enquiry to discuss and begin your process.