Books to Read When Converting to Judaism

SHOULD I Convert TO JUDAISM?

This information is for those who are thinking nearly converting to Judaism. Conversion to Judaism means accepting the Jewish faith and becoming part of the Jewish people.

Judaism welcomes sincere converts. In fact, Abraham and Sarah, the founders of the Jewish people, were not born Jewish. Throughout the ages, untold numbers of people have converted to Judaism. In the United states of america today, for example, in that location are almost 200,000 people who chose to accept the Jewish faith.

If you are considering becoming Jewish too, here are some suggestions for you as you explore Judaism a stride at a fourth dimension.

Join the Newsletter for people interested in conversion to Judaism Maym Chaim Living Waters

*Consider why y'all are thinking about conversion to Judaism. People cull to become Jewish for many different reasons. Some came to Judaism after a long spiritual search. Many people who somewhen convert had their interest sparked because of a romantic relationship with someone Jewish. Among the reasons most given by people who do convert are that

(1) Judaism has sensible religious beliefs.

(2) Condign Jewish allows the catechumen to share the religion of the partner.

(3) Condign Jewish makes the family religiously united.

(four) Condign Jewish volition arrive easier for children by giving them a clear religious identity.

Think about your own reasons. Remember conversion must be your own free choice, not done because of pressure, only out of a genuine desire to comprehend Judaism.

*Acquire every bit much as you can about Judaism. Some reading suggestions are included on this Web Site. Go to lectures, have introductory courses on Judaism which are offered by many colleges and Jewish congregations, and talk to some Jewish friends. Remember that Judaism has an important ethnic component. You are joining a people, not just a religion, and and so need to acquire about different aspects of Jewish civilization and virtually Israel.

*Come across if Judaism's bones beliefs and practices make sense to you. Remember, though, that Judaism is a faith of good deeds, not forced creeds. At that place is more business organisation in Judaism that you lot act morally than that you have specific beliefs. All Jews share a passion to make the world a better place. Information technology is difficult to provide a brief summary of basic Judaism. To get yous started, though, here are some general Jewish beliefs that are widely held among Jews:

(1) Judaism introduced the world to the thought that God is one, not many, and is kind, loving, and personal. In Judaism y'all pray directly to God and can receive assist, guidance, and understanding. You can pray on your own and with a prayer community in a Jewish congregation. Judaism accepts the idea of a covenant, or understanding, between God and the Jewish people.

(2) Judaism doesn't accept the idea that people are built-in evil. Rather, people have free will to choose between right and wrong.

(three) Judaism encourages religious freedom of thought. Judaism welcomes probing spiritual questions.

(4) Judaism has, for 4000 years, emphasized a strong sense of family unit and the value of a close customs.

* Experience Judaism as it is lived. Visit a Jewish congregation to sample a service or nourish a Jewish ceremony, such as a Passover seder or a Sabbath meal. While ritual practices vary greatly amongst American Jews, all Jews have some rituals that, for example, celebrate the Jewish holidays and the Jewish family. If different sorts of Jewish institutions are near you such every bit a Jewish bookstore, museum, YM-YWHA, community eye, and so on, endeavor to visit them.

*Talk most your thoughts and feelings with your partner, your friends, and your family. Information technology is important, for case, to discuss your feelings openly. It is common to experience some moments of dubiousness or fear of the unknown. It is as well vital that you stay in touch with your nascency family. Converting to Judaism does not mean you are abandoning your family, your friends, or your fond memories of past family unit life. When discussing conversion with your family, explicate your reasons to them directly and tell them of your continuing love. Most families are supportive, oftentimes to the surprise of the person converting. Some families, however, do need reassurance and to accept their questions answered patiently. In that location are also, sadly, some families, who run across the conversion as an abandonment.

* At some point in learning about Judaism, preferably as early on as possible only specially as you lot get more serious about actually becoming Jewish, you should talk to a rabbi about conversion to Judaism. As you study and learn about Judaism, y'all will read virtually different religious movements inside Judaism. There are rabbis for each of these movements, and then it is of import to written report and sympathise the differences amongst the various branches.

Additionally, dissimilar movements may have different conversion requirements. Hither are some typical steps to have in order to convert to Judaism:

--Detect a rabbi. Some traditional rabbis may actively discourage potential converts by turning them abroad iii times. This is a test of how sincere the would-exist convert is in wishing to go Jewish. Other rabbis are more welcoming right from the initial contact.

--After finding a rabbi, in that location is a period of written report to learn such matters every bit Jewish behavior, rituals, and prayers. This study might involve working directly with a rabbi or study in a conversion or introduction to Judaism course.

--Orthodox and Conservative rabbis require a male person candidate for conversion to take a circumcision (or a symbolic ane, if a circumcision has already been performed). Reform Judaism might non require a circumcision.

--Orthodox, Bourgeois, and some Reform rabbis require all candidates for conversion to go to a ritual bath called a mikveh. The candidate is immersed in water and says some prayers.

--The candidate for conversion appears before a Bet Din, or religious court, consisting of three learned people to see that all the steps of the conversion process have been washed properly.

--A Hebrew name is chosen. Sometimes there is a public anniversary celebrating the conversion.

Conversion to Judaism is a challenge, only almost all those who accept gone through it describe it as heady, as a time of real personal and spiritual growth and as a time of intensified feelings of love and closeness to family.

Now it is your time to consider. The Jewish community stands fix to welcome you lot. We demand you lot, and we want yous, if you freely wish to join the states. Nosotros wish you well as you search for your path in life.

The interactive procedure for conversion to Judaism is available here
http://www.convertingtojudaism.com/jewishconversionflash.htm
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For further information, you might wish to read the following books:

Conversion to Judaism: A Guidebook, by Dr. Lawrence J. Epstein, (Jason Aronson Inc., 1994). This guidebook, by the author of this article, provides advice and data about becoming Jewish.

Choosing Judaism, past Lydia Kukoff (Hippocrene Books, 1981). This book, written by someone who converted to Judaism herself, discusses conversion from a Reform Jewish perspective.

Becoming a Jew, by Maurice Lamm (Jonathan David, 1991). Rabbi Lamm presents conversion from an Orthodox Jewish point of view.

Your People, My People: Finding Acceptance and Fulfillment as a Jews by Choice, by Lena Romanoff with Lisa Hostein (Jewish Publication Order, 1990). This is an piece of cake-to-read guidebook written by a convert for other converts.

It All Begins With a Date: Jewish Concerns Almost Intermarriage, by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, Ph.D. (Jason Aronson Inc., 1995).

Preserving Jewishness in Your Family: After Intermarriage Has Occurred, by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, Ph.D. (Jason Aronson Inc., 1995). Rabbi Silverstein's ii books about intermarriage are presented from the Bourgeois movement's point of view. The second book especially has information about conversion.

In that location are many valuable Introductions to Judaism. For example:

The Book of Jewish Conventionalities, by Louis Jacobs (Behrman Business firm, 1984). Rabbi Jacobs clearly discusses the basic ideas of Jewish thought.

The Volume of Jewish Practice, by Louis Jacobs (Behrman Firm, 1987). In this companion volume, Rabbi Jacobs describes many primal Jewish religious practices

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