Convert to Judaism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? I know my synagogue temple rodef shalom in falls church has an "intro to Judaism" class open to the community. It is a big commitment to decide to convert that takes a minimum of a year of study.
I was raised interfaith but not really much Jewisj education and I converted before marrying a Jew. You have to do a lengthy period of study, both the cultural and religious aspects as well as learn basic Hebrew reading skills. Then when you are ready to make a lifetime commitment you go before a bet din or rabbinical court to prove your learning and commitment. Then you do the mikvah and say certain blessings signifying your rebirth as a Jew.
It's not like becoming a christian where all you need is your word and that's it.

If it's something you are interested in pursuing I would consult a rabbi. Strangely, the more observant Jews (orthodox and chabad) seem to have the most relaxed conversion process from what I have been told, while reform and conservative have more stringent requirements. Not sure why.

There's a great book by Anita Diamant called "to become a Jew" or something that was very helpful. Also your husband will be required to be circumcised if he's not, and if he is there will need to be a prick of blood witnessed by a rabbi at the Drs office to signify that it is now being done for religious purposes.

Judaism is not an evangelical faith and so the onus will be on you to pursue the conversion. No one will put pressure on you to go through with it or be ready to commit in a specific time frame. In my conversion class there were about 12 of us but only 3 went through with the conversion together. The rest weren't ready.

Where have you heard Orthodox/Chabad conversion are relaxed??

Really? Does this apply to male children also? I respect religious practices, but that seems to get into sexual abuse territory if it is required of older children.

I'm not Jewish, but I am survivor of childhood sexual abuse and your equating circumcision with SA offends me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC's JCC has "intro to judaism" classes that might be helpful. I think you should start by signing up for those and going to services regularly--reading some books is also a good idea.

If after some time you still feel like conversion is right FOR YOU then you should convert, and your husband should similarly make his own choice. My opinion on kids would depend how old they are. Note that if you have male children they would have to be circumcised and even if they already are, some denominations will require a drop of blood anyway.

Two other things to consider:
* If you have any desire to have your conversion recognized for immigration to Israel or so your child can marry an observant Jew, be converted by an Orthodox (non-Chabad) rabbi. You would likely have to go before a beit din and it's more difficult.

* It is tradition that rabbis try to discourage prospective converts at first. So if you are dissuaded from conversion, don't be surprised. Just go home, read and learn more, and try again in a month or two.

Wait, what? I have never heard of Chabad conversions not being recognized in Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/modern-orthodox-canadian-convert-denied-right-to-make-aliyah-by-israel-s-sephardi-chief-rabbi-1.343449
"For immigrants from North America, the Chief Rabbinate is only recognizing conversions carried out by the Rabbinical Council of America, a primarily ultra-Orthodox group. This stand effectively leaves out all other Orthodox rabbinical organizations, including Chabad and the International Rabbinic Fellowship "

[Anonymous]

Chabad generally doesn't do conversions anyway because the Rebbe advocated staying out of it and letting it be the purview of others. They may give guidance to would-be converts and might, in rare cases, be a sponsoring rabbi, but they would generally not be part of the beis din. Their mission is outreach to Jews, not non-Jews. And a beis din generally requires that a convert live in an Orthodox community that at least has a minyan, and many Chabad Houses set up shop, deliberately, in locations where the rabbi and his family may be the only frum people for miles. So it wouldn't count.

Some also look askance at Chabad because of the meshichist thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? I know my synagogue temple rodef shalom in falls church has an "intro to Judaism" class open to the community. It is a big commitment to decide to convert that takes a minimum of a year of study.
I was raised interfaith but not really much Jewisj education and I converted before marrying a Jew. You have to do a lengthy period of study, both the cultural and religious aspects as well as learn basic Hebrew reading skills. Then when you are ready to make a lifetime commitment you go before a bet din or rabbinical court to prove your learning and commitment. Then you do the mikvah and say certain blessings signifying your rebirth as a Jew.
It's not like becoming a christian where all you need is your word and that's it.

If it's something you are interested in pursuing I would consult a rabbi. Strangely, the more observant Jews (orthodox and chabad) seem to have the most relaxed conversion process from what I have been told, while reform and conservative have more stringent requirements. Not sure why.

There's a great book by Anita Diamant called "to become a Jew" or something that was very helpful. Also your husband will be required to be circumcised if he's not, and if he is there will need to be a prick of blood witnessed by a rabbi at the Drs office to signify that it is now being done for religious purposes.

Judaism is not an evangelical faith and so the onus will be on you to pursue the conversion. No one will put pressure on you to go through with it or be ready to commit in a specific time frame. In my conversion class there were about 12 of us but only 3 went through with the conversion together. The rest weren't ready.

Where have you heard Orthodox/Chabad conversion are relaxed??

Really? Does this apply to male children also? I respect religious practices, but that seems to get into sexual abuse territory if it is required of older children.

Circumcision is a religious requirement. If the male child or adult is not circumcised, he will need to be. If he's already circumcised, they still perform the ceremony with the ritual prick standing in for the circumcision. There is nothing sexual about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? I know my synagogue temple rodef shalom in falls church has an "intro to Judaism" class open to the community. It is a big commitment to decide to convert that takes a minimum of a year of study.
I was raised interfaith but not really much Jewisj education and I converted before marrying a Jew. You have to do a lengthy period of study, both the cultural and religious aspects as well as learn basic Hebrew reading skills. Then when you are ready to make a lifetime commitment you go before a bet din or rabbinical court to prove your learning and commitment. Then you do the mikvah and say certain blessings signifying your rebirth as a Jew.
It's not like becoming a christian where all you need is your word and that's it.

If it's something you are interested in pursuing I would consult a rabbi. Strangely, the more observant Jews (orthodox and chabad) seem to have the most relaxed conversion process from what I have been told, while reform and conservative have more stringent requirements. Not sure why.

There's a great book by Anita Diamant called "to become a Jew" or something that was very helpful. Also your husband will be required to be circumcised if he's not, and if he is there will need to be a prick of blood witnessed by a rabbi at the Drs office to signify that it is now being done for religious purposes.

Judaism is not an evangelical faith and so the onus will be on you to pursue the conversion. No one will put pressure on you to go through with it or be ready to commit in a specific time frame. In my conversion class there were about 12 of us but only 3 went through with the conversion together. The rest weren't ready.

Where have you heard Orthodox/Chabad conversion are relaxed??

Really? Does this apply to male children also? I respect religious practices, but that seems to get into sexual abuse territory if it is required of older children.

Circumcision is a religious requirement. If the male child or adult is not circumcised, he will need to be. If he's already circumcised, they still perform the ceremony with the ritual prick standing in for the circumcision. There is nothing sexual about it.

It's fucking weird.

Removing a piece of penis under the umbrella of religion is sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? I know my synagogue temple rodef shalom in falls church has an "intro to Judaism" class open to the community. It is a big commitment to decide to convert that takes a minimum of a year of study.
I was raised interfaith but not really much Jewisj education and I converted before marrying a Jew. You have to do a lengthy period of study, both the cultural and religious aspects as well as learn basic Hebrew reading skills. Then when you are ready to make a lifetime commitment you go before a bet din or rabbinical court to prove your learning and commitment. Then you do the mikvah and say certain blessings signifying your rebirth as a Jew.
It's not like becoming a christian where all you need is your word and that's it.

If it's something you are interested in pursuing I would consult a rabbi. Strangely, the more observant Jews (orthodox and chabad) seem to have the most relaxed conversion process from what I have been told, while reform and conservative have more stringent requirements. Not sure why.

There's a great book by Anita Diamant called "to become a Jew" or something that was very helpful. Also your husband will be required to be circumcised if he's not, and if he is there will need to be a prick of blood witnessed by a rabbi at the Drs office to signify that it is now being done for religious purposes.

Judaism is not an evangelical faith and so the onus will be on you to pursue the conversion. No one will put pressure on you to go through with it or be ready to commit in a specific time frame. In my conversion class there were about 12 of us but only 3 went through with the conversion together. The rest weren't ready.

Where have you heard Orthodox/Chabad conversion are relaxed??

Really? Does this apply to male children also? I respect religious practices, but that seems to get into sexual abuse territory if it is required of older children.

Circumcision is a religious requirement. If the male child or adult is not circumcised, he will need to be. If he's already circumcised, they still perform the ceremony with the ritual prick standing in for the circumcision. There is nothing sexual about it.

It's fucking weird.

Removing a piece of penis under the umbrella of religion is sick.

You're entitled to think whatever you want, but your response has nothing to do with the topic, which is conversion. The requirement is the same for men born into the religion and men converted to it. If you disagree with the practice regardless, that is your prerogative, but you're on the wrong thread for that debate.