Converting Outside the USA
We receive a lot of requests from those outside America who want to become Jewish. Our program is located in the United States. We are not able to help people living in other countries. Here are some online resources you can explore.
Here are some resources for those outside the United States:
Africa, South America or India: Kulanu. Go to their Contact Form page here. Under “Department to Contact” select the second option, “Board Members and Officers.” Then from the dropdown list of names, select Rabbi Bonita Sussman. Send your inquiry about conversion to her.
If English is not your first language, Chabad has a website that is available in Hebrew, Russian, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Click on the link here.
Brasil: Rabbi Leonardo Alanati in Belo Horizonte deals with some of the affairs of the Brasilia Jewish Community at Congregacao Israelita Mineira, 31-3224-2129. Also, Jewish Confederation of Brazil, http://www.conib.org.br/
For a website in Spanish look here: www.koltuvsefarad.org
To learn about Israel in Spanish you can watch these videos on YouTube.
Turkey: www.sevivon.com
We receive a lot of requests from those outside America who want to become Jewish. Our program is located in the United States. We are not able to help people living in other countries. Here are some online resources you can explore.
Here are some resources for those outside the United States:
Africa, South America or India: Kulanu. Go to their Contact Form page here. Under “Department to Contact” select the second option, “Board Members and Officers.” Then from the dropdown list of names, select Rabbi Bonita Sussman. Send your inquiry about conversion to her.
If English is not your first language, Chabad has a website that is available in Hebrew, Russian, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Click on the link here.
Brasil: Rabbi Leonardo Alanati in Belo Horizonte deals with some of the affairs of the Brasilia Jewish Community at Congregacao Israelita Mineira, 31-3224-2129. Also, Jewish Confederation of Brazil, http://www.conib.org.br/
For a website in Spanish look here: www.koltuvsefarad.org
To learn about Israel in Spanish you can watch these videos on YouTube.
Turkey: www.sevivon.com
Can a person who lives in an Islamic country convert to Judaism?
I'm sorry to tell you that we get this question at least once a week. The answer is no. There are two reasons that a person living in a Muslim country cannot convert. First, if it is a Muslim country that forbids conversion away from Islam, then it is illegal and dangerous to convert to Judaism there. Judaism forbids Jews from putting others in danger.
Second, in most Islamic countries the Jews have all been throw out in the last 50 years. In order to convert a person must participate in the life of the Jewish community and study with a rabbi. With no community and no rabbis there is no mechanism to become Jewish.
People living in countries like Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, may not convert to Judaism for these reasons. Individuals who email us from those countries acknowledge that they want to convert secretly; we cannot help with this. Should you move to a country that accepts Jews you will be able to convert there.
It is illegal to be Jewish in the following countries:
Algeria
Bangladesh
Brunei
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Malaysia
Oman
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
Please remember that Judaism believes in the goodness of all people. Our tradition holds that a good person of any faith can have a close relationship with God and lead a life of virtue.
You can learn about Judaism by reading a book titled Children of Abraham an introduction to Judaism for Muslims by Reuven Firestone.
I'm sorry to tell you that we get this question at least once a week. The answer is no. There are two reasons that a person living in a Muslim country cannot convert. First, if it is a Muslim country that forbids conversion away from Islam, then it is illegal and dangerous to convert to Judaism there. Judaism forbids Jews from putting others in danger.
Second, in most Islamic countries the Jews have all been throw out in the last 50 years. In order to convert a person must participate in the life of the Jewish community and study with a rabbi. With no community and no rabbis there is no mechanism to become Jewish.
People living in countries like Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, may not convert to Judaism for these reasons. Individuals who email us from those countries acknowledge that they want to convert secretly; we cannot help with this. Should you move to a country that accepts Jews you will be able to convert there.
It is illegal to be Jewish in the following countries:
Algeria
Bangladesh
Brunei
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Malaysia
Oman
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
Please remember that Judaism believes in the goodness of all people. Our tradition holds that a good person of any faith can have a close relationship with God and lead a life of virtue.
You can learn about Judaism by reading a book titled Children of Abraham an introduction to Judaism for Muslims by Reuven Firestone.