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Enjoying Shabbat

Why Be Jewish?
Why Consider Conversion to Judaism?

I was asked “why do people convert to Judaism?”  So I emailed a group of local Jews by choice and asked they to answer that question for themselves.  Here are some answers they gave:   

Speaking personally, I decided to convert because I felt a powerful, unexplainable love for Judaism, a pull to be with Jews and to do Jewish things.Speaking as a rabbi who has talked with many people on the conversion path, people become Jews because of love: either a direct sort of love for Judaism, or the love of someone Jewish that bloomed into a love of Judaism. For me, conversion to Judaism is all about love. "You will love Adonai Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your muchness." (Deuteronomy 6:5) That is what Jews are called to do, and it is what calls people to Judaism.   

For some it is a soul longing-- for others a way to live --- for others it is beyond words or for love or for this reason at this moment but something altogether different at a different stage of the journey....and for some, all of the above. 

My answer is simple, and fairly concise. I converted to Judaism because I wanted a spiritual place to call home. Judaism spoke to me on a multitude of levels, and my rabbi, in word, insight, and deed, is my teacher and inspiration. 

It’s in the prayer book (Pg. 705 Gates of Prayer (the old Siddur). (It is also in the new one, but I do not know the page.)  

  • I am a Jew because the faith of Israel demands of me no abdication of the mind.
  • I am a Jew because the faith of Israel requires of me all the devotion of my heart.
  • I am a Jew because in every place where suffering weeps, the Jew weeps.
  • I am a Jew because at every time when despair cries out, the Jew hopes.
  • I am a Jew because the word of Israel is the oldest and the newest.
  • I am a Jew because the promise of Israel is the universal promise.
  • I am a Jew because, for Israel, the world is not completed' we are completing it.
  • I am a Jew because, for Israel, humanity is not created; we are creating it.
  • I am a Jew because Israel places humanity and its unity above the nations and above Israel itself.
  • I am a Jew because, above humanity, image of the divine Unity, Israel places the unity which is divine. 
My pat answer: "Because the world needs more of us." 

The pressing issues were things like history, belief, connection to God, etc., not necessarily "who else feels this way".  A book that Rabbi Menachem Creditor recommended that I finished did dedicate its first chapter to testimonials of people who converted. The name of the book is "Becoming a Jew" and it was written by Rabbi Maurice Lamm. I liked the book because it gave me a good overview of what to expect during the conversion process and shortly thereafter (holidays, rituals, etc.). As for me, Judaism has been an incredibly positive force in my life. It's not always easy, it doesn't always make sense, and I don't always agree with every rule, but I find that when I stick to it, my life and my actions transform into a positive force in the universe. In short, I'm a better man and better for the world since I've gotten involved with Judaism. 

Of course the reasons why I chose to become Jewish are many, but the main ones are:
  • I wanted to have the great belonging-ness that my Jewish Jr. High friends belonged to
  • So that my children would be Jewish -- and have the belonging and (I hoped) the chutzpah that goes (or can go) with Jewish identity
  • Because I wanted a structure in which to explore the meaning and my connection to g-d
  • Because, after many years of contemplation, I realized that I probably would never personally comprehend g-d, so there was no use waiting until I did to choose a religion to belong to, and Judaism has been around for thousand of years -- withstood the test of time -- yet is not founded on a basic tenet that seems unbelievable to me
  • So that I could claim for myself Judaism's huge tradition, and belong to something far greater than myself, and never get to the end of learning about g-d, the religion and traditions
  • Strange as it might seem, so that I could own and wear Judaica and feel right about it
  • To do what I could after the fact to defeat Hitler's wicked intention and deeds (a gross understatement, I know, but true description defies language)
  • So that I could be buried -- given a final resting place -- with dignity, in a Jewish cemetery, not just scattered to the winds and forgotten, and have to keep drifting as I have in life. 
There are so many different answers. I wanted to belong to a group that did righteous things. I wanted to channel any spiritual feelings I have into good deeds. I want to make sure my remaining years are productive. I want to join in the horror that the Holocaust and hate crimes are not right, and to make sure these things never happen again. I want to join people who think the same way, and share our love of these rituals, history, and practices.