Converting to Judaism
One may be Jewish by being born Jewish or one may become Jewish by converting through a process determined by the community one wishes to join.
Judaism does not claim any religious advantage from being Jewish. ‘Salvation’ does not come through holding a particular religious belief, but by leading a moral life. ‘The righteous of all nations have a share in the world to come’ is an ancient Jewish saying which reflects this view. We do not seek to persuade or pressure anyone to adopt Judaism.
Even so, throughout Jewish history there have been people who felt that the religious beliefs, practices and duties of Judaism represented something they wished to make a part of their lives. The Jewish people has, therefore, always made it possible for a ‘convert of righteousness’ to become Jewish.
In South Africa, Progressive Synagogues offer the opportunity for those who wish to join the family of Israel to undergo formal conversion. Conversion is a complex issue, involving serious commitments and potential candidates should seek the guidance of a Rabbi before making any decisions.
The Conversion Process
There are a number of elements to the conversion process.
One must learn about Jewish life, i.e. the practical aspects of functioning as a Jew in a community. This involves the study of key Jewish practices and observances such as Shabbat, kashrut (dietary regulations), the calendar of Jewish festivals, and the Jewish life cycle (birth, marriage etc.). A list of the contents of Beit Emanuel’s Introduction to Judaism Course may be seen by clicking here. Currently, the course runs on Monday nights from 6.30 p.m. to about 8.30 p.m.
Judaism is not observed in isolation, one must learn to be part of a community. This requires the candidate to attend regularly at synagogue services, educational and social events and to undertake the observance of rituals and ceremonies at home.
Once the Rabbi and the candidate are agreed that the candidate is sufficiently prepared, the Rabbi will arrange for the candidate to be interviewed by a beit din. This is a panel of three persons, at least one of which will be an ordained Rabbi, who are empowered by the community to grant Jewish status to candidates for conversion. A formal certificate signed by the panel will be issued to the successful candidate.
How long does the conversion process take?
In short, it takes as long as is needed. Candidates come into the process with differing degrees of knowledge and experience of Jewish life.
The minimum period for the process is one full year, during which a candidate must experience the entire yearly calendar of religious festivals.
Most candidates take from 18 to 24 months to complete the preparation.
Important! Candidates for conversion intending to marry a Jewish partner after converting should not enter into formal arrangements such as booking of a venue for a wedding. No Rabbi or community can promise or guarantee that any candidate’s conversion process will be successful or be completed by a certain time.
Are there other requirements for conversion?
Yes. In the case of a male candidate who has not been circumcised, circumcision is required prior to appearance before the beit din. The surgeon performing the circumcision should give the candidate a letter for the beit din, confirming that the procedure has been carried out. In the case of a male candidate who is already circumcised, we strongly encourage the candidate to undergo a symbolic ‘circumcision’ ritual in which a single drop of blood is drawn.
All candidates are required to undergo ritual immersion (tevilah) to complete the conversion process, whenever the facility to do so in an appropriate manner is available. Currently (2010) the Progressive Synagogues in South Africa do not have a purpose built mikveh (ritual bath) available to them, though other recognized options for tevilah exist.
What about the conversion of minor children?
There are a number of circumstances in which a beit din may be asked to convert minors. These include, for example, a young child whose mother is converting, or instances of the adoption of non-Jewish children by Jewish adults. In some cases, children may be converted in their own right. Procedures for conversion of minors vary and one should consult a Rabbi for advice in each case.
How widely recognized are conversions performed under Progressive Jewish auspices?
Progressive (or Reform or Liberal or Reconstructionist) Judaism is the largest Jewish denomination in the world. More than 1,200 synagogue congregations worldwide belong to the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ). All congregations recognize and accept the conversions performed by Progressive Rabbis and batei din.
Conservative (or Masorti) Judaism is the second largest denomination in the Jewish world, being almost as big as Progressive Judaism. Conservative Rabbis and congregations (with few exceptions) accept conversions performed under Progressive auspices (and we accept their conversions).
The smallest of the major denominations in Judaism is Orthodoxy. The Orthodox Jewish world does not accept conversions performed by Progressive or Conservative authorities. However, a very serious situation has developed among the different groups within Orthodoxy in which refusal to recognize conversions performed by other Orthodox authorities is becoming widespread. Along with this trend, cases in which Orthodox conversions are being retrospectively annulled are increasing. This is leading to a fragmentation (and may possibly result in the complete breakdown) of authority in Orthodoxy and a situation in which there is little mutual recognition of conversions.
As part of its immigration laws, the State of Israel operates legislation known as the Law of Return. Under this law, a Jew may settle in Israel and claim Israeli citizenship. Progressive Jewish conversions qualify a person as Jewish under the Law of Return.
Learning About Judaism
About 2000 years ago, a famous sage named Hillel was asked if he could teach the entire Torah, everything there is to know about Judaism, to a non-Jew in the time that the enquirer could balance on one leg. Hillel replied… ‘What is hateful to you, do not do to another. That is whole of the Torah; the rest is commentary, now go and learn’. As Hillel explained, at the core of Judaism is a strong emphasis on personal morality. This emphasis on morality is especially emphasised in Progressive Judaism and is reflected in the Movement’s strong commitment to social justice. The Progressive (or Reform) Movement in Judaism took root in Germany around 1800 and has since spread worldwide to become the largest denomination in the Jewish world.
If you would like to learn more about Judaism, including Judaism from a Progressive Jewish perspective, here *** is a link to a suggested reading list of books you might find helpful.