Converting to Judaism in NoVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can convert even if you don't have Jewish lineage. Not to being Orthodox, but definitely Reform, and probably Conservative.

My SIL was not Jewish at all (my brother and I grew up Conservative) and she converted with a reformed temple/rabbi.

You can convert to Orthodox Judaism with no Jewish lineage. Thats why they call it converting. Difference is, with Orthodox Judaism, you have to convert with the intention of living an Orthodox lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - do you intend to practice Judaism? Do you intend to observe the Sabbath? Keep kosher? Attend services? Raise your kids to be Jewish?

Those are the questions that generally are brought up when entering into the conversion process. The fact that you may be biologically Jewish may be helpful to you, as a rabbi may be more likely to convert you if there is a solid chance of you already being Jewish.

Orthodox conversion would be unlikely unless you plan to actually be orthodox and observe Shabbat and keep kosher, among many other obligations. The non-Jewish husband would certainly present a problem. Conservative is possible, but would depend on the rabbi. A reform rabbi would likely convert you.

OP here. Yes, I would do all of those things. I don't think that is possible in my situation, sadly. If I am able to have a Conservative conversion, I would probably do as much as possible, anyway. Do you have any suggestions re: looking for a willing Conservative rabbi? For example, would one in DC be more willing than one in Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - do you intend to practice Judaism? Do you intend to observe the Sabbath? Keep kosher? Attend services? Raise your kids to be Jewish?

Those are the questions that generally are brought up when entering into the conversion process. The fact that you may be biologically Jewish may be helpful to you, as a rabbi may be more likely to convert you if there is a solid chance of you already being Jewish.

Orthodox conversion would be unlikely unless you plan to actually be orthodox and observe Shabbat and keep kosher, among many other obligations. The non-Jewish husband would certainly present a problem. Conservative is possible, but would depend on the rabbi. A reform rabbi would likely convert you.

OP here. Yes, I would do all of those things. I don't think that is possible in my situation, sadly. If I am able to have a Conservative conversion, I would probably do as much as possible, anyway. Do you have any suggestions re: looking for a willing Conservative rabbi? For example, would one in DC be more willing than one in Alexandria?

I edited it and forgot to remove a sentence. I meant that I don't think an Orthodox conversion is possible in my situation, not that I don't think practicing Judaism is possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just curious, why are you opposed to converting with another denomination of Judaism? They are all valid.

From what I've read, Reform and Reconstructionist conversions are only accepted among those two groups. I'm also somewhat of a traditionalist. It's not that I don't think they have good synagogues with good Rabbis and good attendees; it's just not where I'd feel most comfortable in terms of worship and theological interpretation.

[Anonymous]

Here's the thing op. Nobody checks. And after you convert and are a Jew like any other, you'll be an interfaith family. What you want is a congregation that will be ok with that. Pick some convenient conservative synagogues and go visit A service and talk to the rabbi after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just curious, why are you opposed to converting with another denomination of Judaism? They are all valid.

From what I've read, Reform and Reconstructionist conversions are only accepted among those two groups. I'm also somewhat of a traditionalist. It's not that I don't think they have good synagogues with good Rabbis and good attendees; it's just not where I'd feel most comfortable in terms of worship and theological interpretation.

I think Conservative Jews do accept some Reform conversions, but it has to be done in a certain way, with a beis din and a mikvah and a hatafah dam bris (though since you're not a man, this is not a problem for you). Orthodox, of course, do not accept anything but Orthodox conversions.

I think you're right to feel that Orthodox conversion is not really possible for you in this situation at this point. If DH is not on board, an Orthodox rabbi will not even consider it, and I don't even think there are any Orthodox resources in NoVA besides maybe Chabad, and they usually don't supervise conversions.

I would look up a Conservative synagogue and speak to the rabbi. And be open about the fact that DH is not on board. I think the official position of the Conservative movement is that it is OK to convert one spouse even if the other doesn't want to, but individual rabbis may feel differently and put up obstacles.

[Anonymous]

Op. We do things differently than Christians. We learn first and then convert. Go find. Rabbi. Take a course and get some training. Get to know a rabbi. You aren't jewish right now, so if you are serious, start walking the walk.

[Anonymous]

Hi op, I agree with previous poster, you will have to start your journey with learning and it will probably be a process. You know what, there will probably be Jews by birth who did not receive a Jewish education learning side by side with you. I'm don't think your husband's faith would affect your conversion, although I'm sure the subject of the impact on your family would come up. Anyway, I know several interfaith families who attend conservative synagogues, and it does not seem to be an issue.

Have you read Stephen Dubner's book about his discovery of Jewish roots? I think you would find it very interesting.

[Anonymous]

OP I am a convert and converted via a conservative synagogue. First I would start going to some services and read about converting and see if it really fits you. Then I would contact some local conservative synagogues. Years ago before my conversion (not in DC) there was a website related to conversion that listed names of rabbis who welcomed prospective converts. Expect to go through minimum of a year of study in both Hebrew and Jewish beliefs and traditions during which time you are expected to live Jewishly, attend services frequently, etc. after at least a year but possibly more- when both you and your rabbi feel you are ready- your conversion will take place. You will go in front of a beit din to answer questions and explain your motivation for converting as well as your plans for living a Jewish life moving forward. Then after that you will go into the mikveh and say specific prayers while the rabbi listens in behind a curtain to confirm that you have said them and then you are considered Jewish.
You will have a certificate to prove the conversion. We have over quite often and yes, I am asked to supply this when we have joined a new synagogue. Possibly because I have young children and they want to be sure all is in order for their bnai mitzvahs to take place.
It is not a difficult process if you are eager but having a partner/family who is not interested in joining you makes it much harder. In my conversion class there was at least one of these situations and after the first year of study they were not ready to go through with the conversion yet.

In some instances it is traditional for a rabbi to turn you down 3 times before speaking to you about converting. Note that a conservative conversion is not accepted in Israel. Only an Orthodox conversion is. An Orthodox conversion typically has the shortest period of study before converting and the less observant you go the longer the study period is.

[Anonymous]

Pp convert again- just for some more info I grew up interfaith (my father was Jewish) and was marrying a Jew and had a strong Jewish background. It was important to me to be Jewish so my future children would be fully and legally Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I am a convert and converted via a conservative synagogue. First I would start going to some services and read about converting and see if it really fits you. Then I would contact some local conservative synagogues. Years ago before my conversion (not in DC) there was a website related to conversion that listed names of rabbis who welcomed prospective converts. Expect to go through minimum of a year of study in both Hebrew and Jewish beliefs and traditions during which time you are expected to live Jewishly, attend services frequently, etc. after at least a year but possibly more- when both you and your rabbi feel you are ready- your conversion will take place. You will go in front of a beit din to answer questions and explain your motivation for converting as well as your plans for living a Jewish life moving forward. Then after that you will go into the mikveh and say specific prayers while the rabbi listens in behind a curtain to confirm that you have said them and then you are considered Jewish.
You will have a certificate to prove the conversion. We have over quite often and yes, I am asked to supply this when we have joined a new synagogue. Possibly because I have young children and they want to be sure all is in order for their bnai mitzvahs to take place.
It is not a difficult process if you are eager but having a partner/family who is not interested in joining you makes it much harder. In my conversion class there was at least one of these situations and after the first year of study they were not ready to go through with the conversion yet.

In some instances it is traditional for a rabbi to turn you down 3 times before speaking to you about converting. Note that a conservative conversion is not accepted in Israel. Only an Orthodox conversion is. An Orthodox conversion typically has the shortest period of study before converting and the less observant you go the longer the study period is.

Right. Jews don't recruit. I have a friend who converted and she said that after she went through the study period with our Rabbis, they told her to call when she was ready to go through the process the pp described above. Then they didn't call her back. So she had to call again. They didn't call her back. She had to call several times before they called her back so that they were sure that she really wanted to go through with it because they didn't want to pressure her. I would also echo what other pp's said that you should find a rabbi you are comfortable with (and a community you enjoy) because you will be studying with this rabbi for a long time. Personally, I would think you would want a community that is accepting of interfaith families but that is just my opinion. You can shop around, lol. There are a lot of synagogues in the DMV area and you should be able to find one that you enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi op, I agree with previous poster, you will have to start your journey with learning and it will probably be a process. You know what, there will probably be Jews by birth who did not receive a Jewish education learning side by side with you. I'm don't think your husband's faith would affect your conversion, although I'm sure the subject of the impact on your family would come up. Anyway, I know several interfaith families who attend conservative synagogues, and it does not seem to be an issue.

Have you read Stephen Dubner's book about his discovery of Jewish roots? I think you would find it very interesting.

I thought of the same book! Turbulent Souls. Great book! I think OP would enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

I would seek out Chabad, they are very welcoming. I married into a conservative jewish family and Chabad events are the only place I feel welcome as a non-jewish spouse.
http://m.chabadalexandria.org

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would seek out Chabad, they are very welcoming. I married into a conservative jewish family and Chabad events are the only place I feel welcome as a non-jewish spouse.
http://m.chabadalexandria.org

Chabad is welcoming of non-Jewish spouses because they want to bring the Jewish spouse closer to observance and they know they will not get anywhere with that by treating the non-Jewish spouse badly. It's part of their belief system that every mitzvah brings Moshiach a little closer, so they don't want to drive any Jews away, even if that Jew is attached to a non-Jewish spouse (heck, maybe the non-Jewish spouse might eventually convert). But OP wants a Conservative conversion, which I am 100% sure Chabad does not recognize, and her DH is not Jewish and has no interest, so really, in Chabad's eyes, neither one of them is Jewish, nor are the children. Unless OP plans to lie about her situation, it might set up some eventual awkwardness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would seek out Chabad, they are very welcoming. I married into a conservative jewish family and Chabad events are the only place I feel welcome as a non-jewish spouse.
http://m.chabadalexandria.org

Chabad is welcoming of non-Jewish spouses because they want to bring the Jewish spouse closer to observance and they know they will not get anywhere with that by treating the non-Jewish spouse badly. It's part of their belief system that every mitzvah brings Moshiach a little closer, so they don't want to drive any Jews away, even if that Jew is attached to a non-Jewish spouse (heck, maybe the non-Jewish spouse might eventually convert). But OP wants a Conservative conversion, which I am 100% sure Chabad does not recognize, and her DH is not Jewish and has no interest, so really, in Chabad's eyes, neither one of them is Jewish, nor are the children. Unless OP plans to lie about her situation, it might set up some eventual awkwardness.

Chabad does recognize conversions and she may be able to find assistance in her conversion process, since they don't technically do conversions. http://www.chabadoftampabay.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/66014/jewish/Myths-Facts.htm