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Converting to Judaism Converting to Judaism is not easy. Conversion and Jewish law Conversion to Judaism is a process governed by Jewish religious law. Conversions are overseen by a religious court, which must be convinced that the convert: is sincere is converting for the right reasons is converting of their own free will has a thorough knowledge of Jewish faith and practices will live an observant Jewish life There are also two ritual requirements: a male convert must undergo circumcision - if they are already circumcised, a single drop of blood is drawn as a symbolic circumcision the convert must undergo immersion in a Jewish ritual bath, a mikveh, with appropriate prayers Judaism and conversion Judaism is not a missionary faith and so doesn't actively try to convert people in many countries anti-Jewish laws prohibited this for centuries.
Theo Heser, a Jewish convert, on his wedding day. Despite this, the modern Jewish community increasingly welcomes would-be converts. Find out more Judaism and circumcision Circumcision male Top. See also. Religion and Ethics home Interfaith calendar Ethics guides.
First, the Beit Din, a panel of three rabbis, will conduct an interview. They will ask about your story and what has brought you to this moment, about what elements of Judaism are most important to you, and about how you practice Judaism in your daily life. They will also likely ask you some basic Jewish knowledge questions, to ensure that you have really internalized the things you learned in class.
The conversation is not a test -- it is simply designed to confirm your commitment to living a Jewish life. The final step is immersion in the mikveh. A mikveh is a ritual pool, used to mark all sorts of life transition moments -- ranging from marriage to childbirth to other times of celebration and change.
For this ritual moment you will enter the mikveh and take three complete immersions under the water. After each immersion, you will recite a brief Hebrew blessing.
The Beth Din is invested by Jewish law with the authority and responsibility to judge objectively, the sincerity and suitability of our applicants. In doing so, its concern is not just to maintain standards of Jewish law and to be the guardian of Jewish status but to ensure that it is acting in a way that is best for the applicant.
It should not be pursued because of some idealised notion of what it means to be a Jew, as a gesture of personal sacrifice for the sake of love, or in the expectation that it will resolve a mental or emotional anguish. Indeed, there should be no ulterior motive other than the genuine desire to join the Jewish people and its destiny. Quite apart from the fact that conversion for ulterior motives is Halachically flawed, conversion for the wrong reasons can also lead to deep personal unhappiness and inner conflict.
The London Beth Din will sympathetically consider an application for conversion from any person who sincerely wishes to be a Jew or Jewess. While it does not condone inter-faith marriages for Jews, it will also consider applications from non-Jews who are in a relationship with or are civilly married to a Jewish person. However, the condition for accepting any such person for conversion, is that the Beth Din must be satisfied, that the applicant wishes to convert to Judaism for the sake of Judaism and would follow its path even if the relationship were to break down.
Required Standards of Observance Conversion by definition involves a commitment to observe all Mitzvot. It also includes matters of Jewish belief and practice. The Beth Din expects a convert to maintain the standard of observance required by Jewish law, of every Jewish person.
There is an expectation that the convert will be able to read Hebrew, follow a Synagogue service, know how our festivals are celebrated and observed and be familiar with the Halachic Jewish legal and moral principles required to run an observant Jewish home. Similarly, it is expected that the convert will belong to a synagogue and participate in community life.
Most applicants do not meet these criteria when they initially approach the Beth Din. The process of conversion is intended to give applicants an opportunity to explore Judaism in depth to the point where they and their Jewish partners where applicable will feel willing and comfortable, over a period of time, to adapt to an observant Jewish life style. The Beth Din is aware, that the standards it requires for conversion create an anomaly insofar as converts are expected to be more religiously observant than the majority of the mainstream Jewish community, who tend to be more traditional than observant.
While the lapse in religious standards within the wider Jewish community is a problem in its own right, affected to a large extent by the overwhelming secular society in which most Western Jews live, it cannot be a reason for lowering the universal standard expected of every Jew by the Torah Bible for one who wishes to enter the Jewish faith.
While there is some flexibility in the conversion process depending on specific circumstances it would generally take the following form:. A potential convert should initiate the formal process of conversion by writing a letter to the Beth Din describing their background and family and explaining why they have an interest in converting to Judaism.
They should set out in the letter, any experience that they have had hitherto, of Jewish practice and custom. If it is apparent that the applicant and partner where applicable have not yet discussed their situation with a Rabbi, the Beth Din may refer them to a Rabbi who is familiar with the conversion process and with whom the applicant can have an informal discussion.
Where it is apparent from the letter of application and any supporting documentation, that the criteria for conversion applications can be met, the Beth Din will ordinarily send the applicant a formal application form for completion and on receipt of the completed form, the Beth Din will normally invite the applicant and partner where applicable to an interview.
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