What Do I Have to Do to Become Jewish?
So many people contact us with the question, "How do I start? What comes first?"
Everyone's journey is unique, however, we are providing you with a general outline of the conversion process, a step-by-step guide. If you have any questions, contact your rabbi. You can also contact Dawn Kepler if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area; she can help. She's at [email protected].
If you are reading this page then you are probably relatively certain that you want to convert to Judaism, and you’re wondering about the details. How do I start?
You should read a book or two that generally explains Judaism. Look for those that are marked with an asterisk (*) on our “What Are We Reading?” page.
Read about Judaism on the internet. Probably the best beginning site is JewFAQ.org. Start with those pages labeled “Basic.”
Explore your community to see where there are Jews and particularly where there are synagogues.
Talk to your Jewish friends and acquaintances just to get some diverse views of Judaism. It’s a common joke that if you speak to two Jews, you get three opinions. So expect to hear many different views on how to be Jewish from these people.
You will have to decide through which branch of Judaism you want to convert – Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Renewal. Read about each of them and attend a service at a synagogue near you.
In order to convert you will have to choose a rabbi to be your sponsoring rabbi for conversion. That rabbi should be a congregational rabbi, because you will need to integrate into the Jewish community. He or she should be someone with whom you feel comfortable talking about the many questions and personal aspects of conversion. You will be expected to participate in the life of the congregation -- attending services and holiday celebrations, taking classes, volunteering to help out at events. This will enable you to get to know other congregants and form friendships with them.
Determine which synagogues are near you, check out their websites, and see when they hold services and/or classes. Look in particular for a “Basic Judaism” or “Introduction to Judaism” class.
Call the synagogue and make an appointment to talk to the rabbi about your interest. While talking to the rabbi, think about whether he or she is a person with whom you’d be comfortable studying for one year or longer.
You may have to interview several rabbis before you find the right rabbi and community for you. At this point, make an appointment with the rabbi you've chosen, and tell him or her you’d like to study with them for conversion.
Please note: In the past, it was custom for a rabbi to turn away a potential convert three times. This is no longer a common practice. Rather, a rabbi will agree to study with you, but their understanding, which they may not express, is that you can choose to end your studies at any time, simply by not coming to an appointment.
Typically, you will study for one or more years with a rabbi. During this time, you will experience the full year of a Jewish calendar, and learn about Jewish beliefs, practices, and history. You may do this in a class, or study one-on-one with a rabbi, or both.
You will be attending synagogue at your sponsoring rabbi’s shul throughout your study year(s).
When both you and your rabbi agree that you are ready to become a Jew and practice as a Jew, you will set a date for your formal conversion.
The conversion itself requires these three things.
Everyone's journey is unique, however, we are providing you with a general outline of the conversion process, a step-by-step guide. If you have any questions, contact your rabbi. You can also contact Dawn Kepler if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area; she can help. She's at [email protected].
If you are reading this page then you are probably relatively certain that you want to convert to Judaism, and you’re wondering about the details. How do I start?
You should read a book or two that generally explains Judaism. Look for those that are marked with an asterisk (*) on our “What Are We Reading?” page.
Read about Judaism on the internet. Probably the best beginning site is JewFAQ.org. Start with those pages labeled “Basic.”
Explore your community to see where there are Jews and particularly where there are synagogues.
Talk to your Jewish friends and acquaintances just to get some diverse views of Judaism. It’s a common joke that if you speak to two Jews, you get three opinions. So expect to hear many different views on how to be Jewish from these people.
You will have to decide through which branch of Judaism you want to convert – Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Renewal. Read about each of them and attend a service at a synagogue near you.
In order to convert you will have to choose a rabbi to be your sponsoring rabbi for conversion. That rabbi should be a congregational rabbi, because you will need to integrate into the Jewish community. He or she should be someone with whom you feel comfortable talking about the many questions and personal aspects of conversion. You will be expected to participate in the life of the congregation -- attending services and holiday celebrations, taking classes, volunteering to help out at events. This will enable you to get to know other congregants and form friendships with them.
Determine which synagogues are near you, check out their websites, and see when they hold services and/or classes. Look in particular for a “Basic Judaism” or “Introduction to Judaism” class.
Call the synagogue and make an appointment to talk to the rabbi about your interest. While talking to the rabbi, think about whether he or she is a person with whom you’d be comfortable studying for one year or longer.
You may have to interview several rabbis before you find the right rabbi and community for you. At this point, make an appointment with the rabbi you've chosen, and tell him or her you’d like to study with them for conversion.
Please note: In the past, it was custom for a rabbi to turn away a potential convert three times. This is no longer a common practice. Rather, a rabbi will agree to study with you, but their understanding, which they may not express, is that you can choose to end your studies at any time, simply by not coming to an appointment.
Typically, you will study for one or more years with a rabbi. During this time, you will experience the full year of a Jewish calendar, and learn about Jewish beliefs, practices, and history. You may do this in a class, or study one-on-one with a rabbi, or both.
You will be attending synagogue at your sponsoring rabbi’s shul throughout your study year(s).
When both you and your rabbi agree that you are ready to become a Jew and practice as a Jew, you will set a date for your formal conversion.
The conversion itself requires these three things.
- For men, a ritual circumcision, or for those already circumcised, the ritual drawing of a drop of blood (hatafat dam). Either your rabbi or a mohel will do this procedure, and will set this up for you. Read about others’ individual experiences. Not all Reform rabbis require this. However, Conservative and Orthodox do.
- The potential convert must appear before a rabbinic court (beit din) made up of three knowledgeable Jews, typically other clergy along with your sponsoring rabbi. The members of the beit din will ask you questions about your intent to become Jewish. The questions will vary depending on whether you are having an orthodox conversion, in which case they must assert whether you have sufficient knowledge to practice as a Jew, or a Conservative or Reform conversion, which will focus more on whether you are converting of your own free will and have an understanding of how to increase your Jewish practice over time.
- Once you have been approved by the rabbinic court, you will be taken to the mikvah. The mikvah is a ritual bath in which you will immerse naked. Depending on the movement with which you are converting, the experience differs. However, in no case are you ever seen naked by a person of the opposite gender. Please read individual descriptions of people’s mikvah experiences.
Picking out a kippah (skull cap) and tallit (prayer shawl) is one of the fun activities a new Jew gets to do.
We'd like to give you another Jewish organization's Book list for basic Jewish knowledge. You can check out My Jewish Learning's list here.
We'd like to give you another Jewish organization's Book list for basic Jewish knowledge. You can check out My Jewish Learning's list here.