What’s Considered a Valid Reason to Convert To Judaism?

beautifully said.

HI Allison,

Thanks for your interesting column. I am a recent convert to the Conservative Movement. When I began my journey I felt a bit overwhelmed by all that was expected of me. The rabbi gave me this piece of advice: just add more and more Jewish way of living to your lifestyle a little at a time. Once you have incorporated one custom, then add another one. No one can do it all at once. We all try as best as we can. I think you mirrored this advice when you said we strive to fulfill the mitzvot.
Thanks.

You said “No one keeps all 613 mitzvos nowadays and some mitzvos are done only once in a lifetime (like marriage, hopefully) or infrequently (like holidays). Also, no one – even those of us who are born Jewish and live as Orthodox Jews – keeps every mitzvah that’s required of us.”
However, what you might have added is that nobody *can* keep all 613. Some are only for women, some are only for the Cohen Hagadol, some can only be kept if you live in Israel, some can only be kept if you are a farmer, etc.

Have a wonderful last few days of Sukkot.

The important part of this article is that your “whole heart” has to be into. I love and admire this idea because this is exactly what we are asked to do. Thanks, Allison. 🙂

Lisa what you said is what I have been doing in my own conversion. I want to follow as many mitzvot as I can, however I want to understand the whys and hows before I do so. As I grow in Jewish exploration I value them more and become more observant because I cherish the obligations. I find beauty in the history and traditions and it is meaningful to ease into my Jewish education rather than to just start following rules because I have to.

Like Allison said, it is the intention to follow the obligations. If our hearts are not in it, then the value of the mitzvah is diminished. Additionally if we choose not to do the mitzvah at all then we reinforce the secular priorities in our lives.

Converting to Judaism is very serious. Once you say, “I am a Jew.” It changes everything. It is not something to be taken lightly. While I have no Jewish blood in me (that I know of) I take my faith seriously. I have been physically attacked for being openly Jewish. I have been shunned by neighbors and co workers. It is a tough lonely road as a single woman. Prepare yourself and be honest with yourself.

Ask yourself:
Am I disciplined enough to take on the responsibilities of being Jewish?
Am I willing to have a TRUE Jewish home? Am I prepared to be examined by a Beit Din?

Converting is expense! Do you have money put away for books, Dvd’s,etc?

I wish you the very best in your journey.

Sincerely,
Tzippora

My Mother was Jewish, but it was kept from me for many years (?) Her sister was married to a Jew, I knew he was, of course, but not my aunt !
Anyway, could I “become” a Jew?
What are Jewish thoughts on Messianic Jews?

Both of my parents are more spiritual than religious but they both have Ashkenazic Jewish parents, grandparents, great-grandparents etc. I never grew up with a religion but during my teenage years I wanted to learn everything about Judaism. My question is that since my parents don’t practice Ashkenazic Judaism and I never grew up with the religion am I Jewish? Do I need to convert or am I already considered Jewish?

My name is Angela Wasserman, my husband Merrill Wasserman is jewish. I was born catholic , but never practiced, but since I been with my husband I wanted to convert to Reform like him. It was never really an issue till his Dad made a stink over me being his wife. In fact he used the term “GOY” that made me sad and I broke down crying over his comment, but my husband said it’s up to you to convert. I have converted in 2003 and be faithfully Jewish for 9 years and love it. I wish that I can do to the next step in my life with my new faith.

My husband is Conservative and when we met I studied for two years prior to my conversion (I was raised Lutheran). Judaism spoke to me with its “doing and not just believing”, its lively/scholarly debate, and for so many other reasons. I knew after my Conservative conversion that neither my children nor I would be considered Jewish by Orthodox standards. What are Conservative converts to do to be accepted when they meet/love/marry a Conservative Jew? An Orthodox conversion would not be appropriate in this scenario. I am certain I am not the only Conservative convert who feels this sense of exclusion. Is our only option for acceptance to have my husband begin living an Orthodox life and for me to re-convert Orthodox? Obviously, we would never make this decision for acceptance alone, but it seems the only option for myself and my children to be seen as Jewish. This saddens me.

Allison, thank you for continuing this important and timely conversation.

I am certainly not an expert in the area of conversion. However, I’ve lived in several cities and have formed very close relationships with people from a myriad of ethnic backgrounds, cultures and religions. I’ve also known 3 couples who converted 3 times. I’ve had non-Jewish Soldiers in Iraq attend Jewish services on many occasions. I am sure many who read this would state the same (not the part about Iraq). I’ve also come across several converts who joined Orthodox Jewish synagogues only to rarely be seen. They do not keep Kosher, do not observe Shabbos and they do not send their children to Jewish schools. So it begs the question: Why did they convert?

I presently have 4 women who have expressed an interest in Judaism. They are bright, intelligent and passionate about finding a meaningful relationship with the Almighty. They attend services as well as my Basic Judaism classes. But this is not enough to convert. Joining the Jewish People because of a feeling is a fleeting moment. Becoming an Orthodox Jew is a great commitment full of challenges. Thus, converting and living as an Orthodox Jew must come from a long and well-thought out mental process. Emotional connectivity is great and often exhorts one into discovery but it will not carry the day when life-challenges as a Jew arise. For a non-Jew who wants to have a deeply committed and meaningful relationship with G-d, one does not have to convert.

One of the most often asked questions I get as a Rabbi/Chaplain is, “What does Orthodox Judaism say about Gentiles?” If you are concerned about having a place in the World to Come, you still need not convert. Learn, study and adapt to the 7 Noahide Mitzos and you’ll have your well-earned portion in Heaven. Unlike many Christian denominations, in Judaism you needn’t convert to earn salvation from the Almighty. As my Rebbi likes to say, “In Judaism, for a Gentile, it’s keep the Seven and go the Heaven.

Hi Allison,
Someone sent me this q&a as a response to a post I recently made on my website, where I discussed my decision to do a “ger l’chumra” conversion as a result of some missing information on my mom’s history. I’m very glad that I decided to post it (was quite difficult to write about) because the response has been overwhelming. I had no idea how many Jews have had to go through some sort of process like this!
Shavua tov and kol tuv,
Andrea

How beautifully you responded! I grew up Catholic and I’m converting. Your idea of a “a pintele yid – a spark of Jewishness within your soul” is a wonderful way to describe how I’ve felt since childhood.

What a beautiful answer to a beautiful question! I just discover your site and I really appreciate the kindness you show in every answer you give. Sorry for this whole novel I just wrote and am still hesitating to post… but I happen to be in the same situation as Janel (a non-jewish mother and a jewish dad) apart from being a man (!), and my mother having had no other religious background at all when she met my dad, at the age of 19. She started an orthodox conversion process before I was born, 2 years later. She took sincerely judaism as her faith during 10 years while she attempted whole-heartedly to convert, but her “giyur” was finally refused by the central orthodox office in Paris, argueing that my father was not religious enough (this might be worth to be noticed by people willing to convert who are already in a couple with a jew!). It has been very hard on her, and later on, she has turned herself to buddhism, but is still very proud of her son to be (a) “jew-ish”!

I have always been raised by both my parents as a jew; my mother having lost her parents at 16 years old, most of my family cell as a child was jewish, in Paris, and a little in Israel. I used to go to hebrew and basic torah classes. I have grown up in a very moderate (not to say poor) halaHic environment, one would consider worse than reformi: tv on shabat as well as playing music, all of my father’s side of the family being musicians, me as well – eating non-kosher food, and “religion” consisting mainly in family shabat friday meal, doing the blessings of motsi and kidush at my grandmother’s (amazing tunisian sefardi couscous!), as well as fasting on yom kippur, keeping pesaH, and lighting candles in hanukah. No schul attending, until I went to talmud torah and started to learn a parasha for my bar mitsva but in the end, I had to change parasha and go to a reformi synagogue. By the way, I had a brit mila at 8 days, I’m not sure if the rabbi was reformi or if my dad managed at the time to find a jewish mohel – but the brit mila seems kosher to me, but I however do know that there will have to be some drops of blood to be poured during my giyur, which I am looking forward to achieve ASAP b”h.

Understanding that I was not properly jewish started therefore at 13yo. I have always believed in hashem without any doubt, and when my parents separated (they were not married) at 9yo, I had once seen a jewish character in a movie who went to the sea to cry to G0d, and went under water – performing some kind of mikveh, so when I learnt this very bad news, I was in Israel in holidays and I was very sad and I spontaneously went to cry all my tears in the sea in Netanya and going several times underwater, begging G0d for help. I sincerely think now as an adult that ha kadosh baruH hu, in his mercy, heard the cries of a sincere child to Him, whatever my “status”. He did not bring my parents back together although they kept very good relations afterwards, but I think He kept me somehow protected “under his wing”.

Spiritually, this issue has always been present in my mind, being – as Janel – a non-jew for jews and a jew for non-jews, with a jewish face and name, some might even wish to say sarcastically “a jew to the jews”! This situation has brought me through several points in my life where I was searching the truth and the meaning in all that. My first reaction, around 16 yo, was to start wondering who was that guy in Galil who had said 2000 years ago that G0d was for everyone, you know.. the “hangman”, but b”h I never got into it – much too spooky and morbid, and with the time, I got to understand better how false the whole christian doctrin is. I also read the quran – briefly, as it didnt speak much to me neither, reading that jews were sons of pigs… However, I don’t hate arabs at all, and I know that somehow, islam is much closer to judaism.

At 19 yo I traveled to India and saw the pagan world and one year later discovered the animist world of black Africa. I was still looking for the truth, and after having seen the christian, muslim, pagan and animist worlds, during a holidays in Israel and in the Sinai desert at 21 yo, I remembered for the first time that there were actually laws in judaism, as I had forgotten the small amount of ones I had ever known so far.

At 23 yo, I started a 5 years love story with a jewish girl who helped me to bind again to judaism. I had already made my first step on my own since Sinai – avoiding mixing dairy and meat – but meeting her made me start eating only kosher meat, and living together, we decided together to keep separate dishes, even though none of us had seen our parents do so, but it seemed natural and more convenient. We also followed the laws of nidah, although she did not go to the mikveh, and anyways, it was a bad move to live together unmarried. I started conversion lessons at the time during two years, but finally dropped them, having to deal first with my time-consuming medical studies. We always did a kidush on sabath and used to keep shabat from time to time, especially when in Israel, but I was aware that I had to make at least one mistake, which in the end pushed me towards not keeping it at all. I also started NOT to put tefilin anymore, as in this period, I was slowly considering and accepting that I was not a jew, although my girl friend always considered me 100% jew and never made a single negative or painful comment. In 2001, our love story ended and since then, I have been living alone, and kept on following by my own the laws I learnt.

Since more than 10 years now, I have strenghtened my kosher keeping in all areas, wine, no-gelatin, no-animal fats, kosher lepesaH etc.. I have continued to learn more and more about judaism, mostly by my own, and always had and have in mind to improve all that I do, in every aspect of my life, in order to become properly, sincerely, and humbly (that’s the hardest part) jewish. I have progressively “implemented” more and more rituals, more praying, more celebrations (sukot, purim, simhat torah, fasting on tisha beav), more knowledge, more practice, but mainly, I have realized by learning more – how little I know: the more I learn, the less I know, and bigger the wisdom of the wise of Israel to my eyes and of Moshe rabbenu’s oral and written torah.

The point I want to make here is that I had to wait until I was 35 (a couple of years ago) to actually thank G0d for having me done not jewish, by reference to the morning prayer “she lo asani goy”! I have never been “angry” at G0d for not making me a jew, as I always considered myself a jew regardless the actual laws, but still, I used to feel some little sadness because of my situation, but always looked forward to go back to a conversion process. Since two years, I’ve understood that nothing comes by chance, and I am glad to have gone what I have gone through. I have many jewish friends and acquaintances, and I often note that most of them don’t know much the jewish religion, and its source of perpetual marvel. I therefore thank G0d not to have made me a jew, because, if he had done so, maybe I would have been like a lot of the ones I know, who don’t consider religion at all as an important matter, and who would settle willingly with non-jews. Through this whole process, I have understood and accepted all my situation, and reinforced my knowledge of the torah and my practice of the mitsvot. I accept now that I was not ready for conversion at the time I started 15 years ago, and feel much more confident today to go through a conversion – orthodox of course. Furthermore, I understand now that whoever is not jewish but who firmly believes he/she is jewish “inside”, must go to a process through which he sincerely accepts to be non-jewish, as a pledge of humility, in order to go towards a spiritual rebirth as a jew after the mikveh in the end of the giyur process.

I don’t recommend anyone converting to reformis or to any other liberal movement. I talked to a girl recently, a non-jew from both parents saying she had always felt jew and who was supposedly willing to convert, but “not to wear clothes like religious women” or wigs etc… she was in a reformi movement with a woman rabbi! Her own personal history seemed to be marked by a feeling of rejection by jews… Even if I told her that converting to reformis, she would still keep this feeling of rejection, she thought it was the road she had to go through. I explained her that it was not like if she was on a road, and that the first stop was “reformi”, then further on the road, the second stop “orthodox”, but two completely different and opposite roads. Reformis in France really show their nature, and … who is actually going to believe a guy pretending he’s a rabbi, who’s smoking his pipe on shabat, takes his car and the elevator, and gives you kicks with his knees while you’re reading your parasha on your bar mitsva to make you go faster… It’s not to Hashem’s laws to adapt to our world but the opposite, and all pretendedly reformi or liberal movements are non-jewish-sense in my opinion.

I hope this personal testimony will inspire some people positively. I wish to thank you again for this great space of jewish discussions – kol ha kavod! Shabat shalom! Bye!

PS: I am single and looking for a pretty G0d-fearing jewish wife in her late 20’s to marry, and to create a jewish family who would be moving between France, England, the USA and ultimately Israel be ezrat hashem! I will be happy to exchange emails. I shall be a good father and husband b”h. Shalom lekulam!

From birth until age 11, I was raised in Torah, Mishna, Talmud, and I know Hebrew. I spent two years during the 1980’s in the Holy Land. My mother was Jewish, however she died when I was ten years old, for the next two years I was allowed to continue to observe without restraint, but my father was not jewish, he is from France, and his mother and other family began to steer me towards the Christian church. I was allowed to observe sabbath and my torah. Although I have a jewish mother I am not fully accepted. I have been alone most of my life, but that hasn’t stopped me, I just want everyone to stop looking as if i committed some crime. I did not choose my parents, and I would never torture a child with two faiths. I love my father but I want my own Identity, my birth name was Esther, but my father’s family thought I should have an american name. I am totally confused and alone. Please tell me the truth, if I am not jewish? what am I?

After reading this article I am quite curious as to what 7 commandments you believe the gentile is obligated to? I’m also interested in knowing what some of the 613 commandments a jew is obligated to, especially ones outside of
of the 10 God gave to Moses. Thank you.

Before there was a Jewish people and before there were 613 commandments, there was Noah, and there were the 7 commandments G-d gave him. After the Flood, the world was being rebuilt and the people in it, beginning with Noah, were given 7 ways of interacting with the world to maintain it. Those 7 were: Believing in G-d who Created and Runs the world, not to curse G-d, not to murder, not to steal, not to engage in incestuous, adulterous, bestial or homosexual relationships, not to eat a limb torn off a living animal, to establish a justice system enforcing the above six. These all are ways of preserving order in the world, and of preserving humanity, and of preserving the connection with G-d and the world. The people then were charged with these ways, and in keeping them, they were assisting G-d in maintaining the world, and were elevating their own souls, achieving total righteousness. When the Jewish people converged as a nation by Mount Sinai, they were effectively taking on more responsibility in keeping the world order. They were partnering with G-d to assume some of the more spiritual ways of preserving the world, thus serving as a bridge between the rest of the people and G-d. The rest of the people of the world (who numbered far greater than this small nation) still had the responsibility and privilege of taking care of their 7 arenas of life. And in fulfilling those arenas, they accomplish greatness and righteousness. However, if a member of the Jewish people, a member of the people who chose to take on more arenas of responsibility, were to only keep 7, he would be falling short of his goal. He has 613 areas of responsibility and privilege. However, he is not alone in assuring that they get taken care of; rather, every member of the Jewish nation is linked with the other and can fulfill areas that the other lacks. Certain commandments can only be fulfilled by a Kohen, a member of the Levite Tribe, some can only be fulfilled by a man, some by a woman, some can only be fulfilled in certain places, or certain times, and thus through the composite of all of the individuals’ efforts, the 613 are maintained as much as possible. At Mount Sinai, G-d gave the Jewish people an outline of all those 613, fitting them all into 10 general categories. These 613 as well can be broken down into many parts, such as Halachot and such as the laws dictated within the 5 Books of Moses, or hinted to in the Books of the Prophets or Writings, all of which develop into the lifestyle of the Jew. Here- http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/613_mitzvot.html- is a list of the 613, as compiled by Maimonides but there are varying versions of the list; however, all of which take into account the same laws, and are just divided, applied, or stated differently.

I have spent my whole life in the Catskills in NY. My friends refer to me as knowing more about Judaism than they know and speak as much Yiddish as they…..they say “Jewish through osmosis”. Over the years, I have searched for “religion…..questioning /interrogating our priest at the age of 10….and leaving very dissatisfied with his replies, as I vividly recall. At 18 I searched by joining other kinds of “christian” churches.
I too have a Jewish female great grand-mother. And acknowledge that 613 laws is much more observant than I would “choose” if I were to ponder conversion. It has been 35+ years of learning so far, yet, I still …I guess, would just choose to be as religious as my friends are……After all…that’s about as religious as I ever was with any religion…ever.
Please tell me why you consider it throwing in the towel…when non-converts get to be as religious as their parents, friends, relatives? Why would I want to have to go find all new friends and go to a shul where none of my friends attend? Also…holidays are spent together….with family and friends…..so, why would I want to ostracize myself before I begin?
I have orthodox friends… a few…..yes….and when the majority of my “Regular Jewish” friends know “they” are visiting me, the negative comments fly. The regular Jewish people don’t even like the orthodox Jews, …members of the same religion.
I too have a pull and a searching feeling. But to complicate things, I had a terrible car accident 21 years ago and all my memory for new learning has gone to the wayside…as well as my ability to read and retain or pay attention to new material.
Is there any hope for me to become a convert with all this as stated? Or, should I just forget about looking, seeking or joining any religions in my old age?
Thanks for pondering this conundrum for me.

Ann:

You ask great questions and that is a lot of balls in the air. The reality is that there is no “one size fits all” answer. The two questions are (1) do you want to? and (2) is it feasible?

Only you can answer #1. I will tell you that if you were to adopt a new lifestyle, you should still be able to be friends with your friends. (The fact that what you call “regular” Jews don’t like the Orthodox – well, that’s troubling. How would it be if they didn’t like black people or gay people or Muslims as a class of people, as opposed to having issues with individual members of any group? I’m guessing that would be unacceptable. So why is it okay to hate on the Orthodox en masse? Perhaps you could enlighten your peer group as to whatever misconceptions may be driving that mindset. We’re actually pretty nice!)

Anyway, if you decided it was something that interested you, then it would be time to address question #2. For that, you should contact a local Orthodox rabbi and arrange to meet and discuss. (Not every rabbi works with potential converts so you might have to call a few or ask for a referral.)

But your ability to do so is immaterial until you decide that it’s something you want to do. That part is up to you; nobody is going to try to convince you because Judaism does not actively solicit converts. If someone is motivated to convert, we might work with them, but we’re never going to try to talk someone into it.

I hope this helps! Good luck!

Ann,

You bring up a good point. Why do potential converts need adhere to all the laws more so than Jews. The truth is that all Jews are equally required to keep the laws. But when they don’t keep them they still remain Jewish. A potential convert on the other hand will not be converted (othodox) unless they sincerely want to live that way.

You do need to speak with a number of Rabbis though. You may be surprised to find out that you can be accepted. Or you may learn that you still need to grow in certain ways and then be converted. But even if you can’t convert Orthodox, a good Rabbi will help you find comfort and meaning in the way you are now.

Personally, I feel you have the correct motivations, but you need to study more and take it more seriously if you actually want to convert.

Great answer!

Not to be pedantic but why do you use the word mitzvos instead of mitzvot which is the Hebrew plural of mitzvah ? Is it a dialect thing ?Otherwise very interesting article.

TS, your post made me cry. I'm crying for the loss of your traditions in your family. I'm crying because I know EXACTLY how you feel even though I was raised as christian. I never EVER felt that I belonged to the Christian faith. Something is MISSING, and after quite a lot of study and reading the Torah, I find what's missing is TRUTH. My people have been misled for over 2000 years, You have a heritage that is G-d given, and it belongs to you. Grab it with all you are and hold fast to your Jewishness!

I said I would never convert to Judaism, but that's exactly where I am. I didn't realize that my DEEP LOVE of the Jewish people had a reason. I feel CONNECTED to Judaism and its people on a level I've only felt as a mother to my children.

I look at the 613 laws we are to follow, and I look at the world around me. It's no wonder there is such depravity in the world. Man doesn't even try to follow the 10 commandments much less 613 laws. I believe that we can't pick and choose what laws we follow that G-d gave us. We should strive to follow them all. This will be hard for me considering I live in a city with less than 3 Jewish families. But, this is where I am, and G-d knows the struggles I will have to face. My struggles will pale in comparison to the struggles the Jewish people have dealt with for thousands of years. Am I willing to try to follow all of His commandments? Yes, is the answer. Will I be perfect in this? No, I'm sure I won't be, but He knows my heart. My heart is Jewish. He said He would be our G-d and we will be His people. My life will be lead as a Jewish woman's life striving to keep His laws and praying that He gives me what I need to do so.

I have SUCH remorse that I didn't come to this realization before my three girls were grown. I've ROBBED them of their TRUE G-d. Now I can only pray that he will show them that their hope is NOT in Jesus but in the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the ONE true G-d, and I thank Him for showing me who I am and where I need to be!

I wish you peace in your decisions. May the G-d of our nation bless you and give you strength.

Hello,
I started reading theses pages as I am going to visit my daughter in Israel. She converted to Judaism when she was at University and later married an Israeli Jew (I hope that this is the right way to describe him as I don’t want to give offence). She in fact has led him into being Orthodox, they have been married, very happily for 20plus years now and have given me 10 beautiful grandchildren. I did find it very hard to understand the path that my daughter has taken and it is very hard that in some ways I am excluded from their lives, although I am always made welcome when I visit. But I am happy that she is happy, that she is doing what is right for her. Every time I visit, her friends tell me how special and wonderful she is. She is still my darling daughter although her path is not for me. Is it wrong, because I am not a jew to pray for her and her family. I love her so much.

I would like to add one thing. As brought up in previous posts, many potential converts ask why more is demanded of them than of born Jews. I think this question is best answered by looking at the acceptance of mitzvot in a different way. Since especially in our days most people are not living perfectly according to the Torah, we must understand that accepting the mitzvot means something a little different. Lets say someone wants to be an American. They will have to accept the laws of the country. Does that mean that they won’t speed, etc. No, it means that they accept responsibility for the laws. They accept the fact that if they speed they will get pulled over and fined. It is the same with the mitzvot. A convert must similarly accept responsibility for all the laws. This means that God will judge them as he sees fit in case they ever transgress any law. This is with the understanding that God is merciful, but He still has the right to judge us in his wisdom as he sees fit, whether in this world or the next. With this understanding, there really is no difference between born Jews and converts. The born Jew is automatically responsible to keep all the laws and God can judge him as He sees fit. The convert must accept this extra responsibility.

Babylonian Talmud, tractate Bechorot, page 30B:
If a Gentile is prepared to accept the entire Torah,
except for ONE religious law, we do NOT accept him.
Rabbi Yosi ben Rabbi Judah taught:
Even if he rejects ONE law of the Sages.

I want convert to Judaism just I’m Jewish by blood . I need no certificate from any other to accept or reject me as a jewish. All pakhtoon r from this holy blood.