One of the absolutely most terrifying first steps to take as a prospective convert is to contact a Rabbi. To me it was worse than cold calling, because unlike potential clients, there aren’t thousands of other rabbis in your area. In my current living situation, there is only one synagogue in my local area (< 1 hr) and they don’t even have a rabbi. In Indianapolis, there were just a handful of non-Messianic congregations in my city. So one thing you... Read more
Question: As a prospective convert, what knowledge do I need to know in order to convert to Judaism, at least as far as knowledge goes? My lay person answer: How much do you need to know at a bare minimum in order to have the knowledge side of conversion down depends on your chosen branch of Judaism and your desire to learn. That’s a vague answer, but it’s true. My reform Rabbi encouraged my desire for deep knowledge. Orthodox branches will... Read more
Note: This post is geared toward readers interested in conversion, however the points are valid no matter what your background is. Introduction I finally gave away my Christian Bible earlier this year when we moved from Indiana to my husband’s home in Illinois. It was a big study Bible, maybe three or four inches thick, with pretty gold on the edges and a mahogany leather cover. I gave it away because there was no room, but also because I was... Read more
“Why do you want to convert?” I sit at the table across from my mother-in-law, her face revealing a lively eagerness in what she thought would be my answer. She had things to say in response, and awaited my answer with visible excitement. Surely I had an answer she could refute! I responded that I was still in the process and that it was something I’d always longed to do. In turn, she joyfully expounded the virtues of the messianic principles... Read more
I want to remind any readers that I am interviewing because I feel that, despite any differences in belief, those of us who choose a different faith are alike. We long for a better fit, and we seek it out despite personal or professional costs. The first interview with someone who moved from one faith to another is…anonymous. Seriously. Here’s my interview with him, including why he feels that anonymity is required despite living in a “free” country. The Interview... Read more
I am strongly interested in why people choose the faiths that they choose. Why do some stay with their birth faith, while others leave it? Why do some choose no faith at all (not necessarily atheism or agnosticism, but nothing), while others convert? These are the questions that I want to answer. So far, I have scheduled two interviews for this blog. One converted from one branch of Christianity to another, and the other went from fundamentalist/Evangelical Christianity to Atheism.... Read more
Interfaith dialogue is a mainstay of modern interfaith relations. It is touted as a way to bring communities together and find common ground. I’m not sure I could find many theists who would say, “Yeah, interfaith dialogue is a bad thing.” No one says that, at least not openly. But is it true that interfaith dialogue is always helpful? Definition I guess we’d have to start with a definition of interfaith dialogue, right? Generally when I think of “interfaith dialogue”,... Read more
There seems to be a proliferation of “convert to Judaism” online websites lately. I’m not sure why this is, although it does seem fueled by demand. Judaism is attractive to a lot of people and the internet helps would-be converts find resources and Rabbis. It’s a cool thing, really. That should say a lot about the power of Judaism to bring people to the faith without actually proselytizing. Here are just some sites where you can convert online, at least... Read more
What questions would you ask someone who is leaving Christianity for another faith? Here are some I’ve gotten: 1) WHY? 2) What did your parents think/say/do? 3) How long does it take to convert to Judaism? 4) Are you allowed to have short hair/color your hair as a Jew? 5) From a friend, “What do you see as the point of religion? Is there justification within Judaism? What are you striving for? Is the goal to gain Heaven? Is there... Read more
I am converting to Judaism. I have wanted to since I was a child and the desire has only grown as I have aged. It’s where my soul belongs, and that’s really the bottom line. If I were to strip away the intellectual side, and my experiences with Christianity (which have, despite some of my statements, been positive at times), and my experiences with other Christians, I would still have a strong inner desire to be with the Jewish people.... Read more
Following Ruth
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