Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. This comprehensive book, infused by an attitude of welcome and understanding, will be useful to those who think of becoming jewish, and to their families on. To be a jew to be a jew is the best guide for the preparation for your conversion to judaism and is greatly valued by anyone who feels that knowing, understanding, and observing the laws and traditions of judaism in daily life is the essence of what it means to be a jew. Reconstructionist rabbinical association resolution guidelines on conversion 1979 1. He articulated the position of rabbi schmelkes as though it were absolute, uncontested halakha. The book describes the variety of reasons why people convert, contains a way to think about conversion, a stepbystep description of the conversion process, questions a rabbi might ask a. The conversion is to the people, not to the religion. And even though the jewish people have a religion called judaism, and even though acceptance of judaism is a prerequisite for kosher conversion, nevertheless, love of judaism, which includes love of torah and mitzvoth, is not a reason to convert. Conversion can be a challenge for those who do not live near a synagogue. Rabbi lamm presents conversion from an orthodox jewish point of view.
Avtalyon, sage and vicepresident of the sanhedrin, apparently from a mideastern religion. Becoming a jew, by maurice lamm jonathan david, 1991. From novels, to real life stories, to books to study for your conversion to judaism from, to jewish philosophy books. Anita diamant makes judaism a home for jewsbychoice in her book choosing a jewish life. Kaplan, aryeh, the living torah alternative annotated translation of genesis.
Drawing from over 25 years of experience counseling candidates through the process, rabbi aryeh moshen lays out a roadmap thats been proven successful time and again. In this section you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about conversion to judaism. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Conversion to orthodox judaism gerus guide by rabbi aryeh. Questions and answers on conversion to judaism paperback. My mothers grandfather was a rabbi and she was raised in an orthodox home.
The book of ruth a story close to this converts heart. This book is an introduction to the jewish lifecycle, including birth, jewish education, barbat mitzvah, the jewish home, marriage, divorce, conversion, death, and mourning. I was born into a jewish family, the middle child of three girls. This raises the question of what metaphor we employ to understand conversion. Our signature intro course explores jewish history, tradition, ideas, and culture. The procedure and requirements for conversion depend on the sponsoring denomination. I know theyre important, but for me conversion was especially lonely because there wasnt anything for me, it felt like. But she was also a person of the book, as some jews call themselves. The book also contains effusive testimonials to weisss sensitive shepherding of these converts into the jewish community. Judaism welcomes those wishing to convert, and a great deal of information about judaism is now available on the internet, making it a wonderful way to begin l read more about is it possible to convert to judaism via the internet.
Conversion to judaism motivationon shavuot, 3 days from now, we will read about ruths conversion. Its doctrines and duties revised edition of the essence of judaism. Choosing judaism is a very important decision for someone who was not born jewish. Curiously, ruths declaration places joining the jewish people before affirming the god of israel.
One rabbi told me to just read anything written by anita diamant. Easiest, simplest and fastest way to converst to judaism. Introduction we understand conversion to be a process, the goal of which is a wholehearted and informed acceptance of judaism for its own sake. Needless to say, conversion to judaism without commitment to observance has no validity whatever, and the spuriously converted person remains in the eyes of halakha a nonjew as before. Conversion to judaism is often misunderstood to mean affirming the faith of jewish religion, as if judaism and jewish religion were synonymous. Beyond orthodox conversion to judaism posts facebook. Conversion to judaism provides information, advice, and support for individuals contemplating conversion to judaism, as well as those who have converted and the families affected by this decision. Judaism is among the seminal religions of the world, and is the first known monotheistic religion in which only one god is worshipped. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. In fact, abraham and sarah, the founders of the jewish people, were not born jewish. New ebook on conversion to judaism religion news service.
My top 10 jewish books to read when you are in a conversion process. Artscroll or soncino chumash artscroll tanach or the koren jerusalem bible. Trump was baffled by ivankas conversion to judaism. For more than 30 years, we have been the nations leading center for welcoming those seeking to convert to judaism, interfaith couples, and all those who want to learn more and find a home in the jewish community. A handbook for people converting to judaism and for their family and friends. Orthodox conversion to judaism the real deal public. It depends on what branch of judaism you convert with. The essential guide to the jewish life cycle, edited by rabbi peter s. Diamant is the best author on any jewish life cycle event including conversion.
A complete guide to beliefs, customs and rituals updated in 2016 by george robinson. Conversion candidates are urged to learn as much as possible about jewish religion. Judaism, by israel abrahams gutenberg text judaism. This book manages to be profoundly moving and hugely informative, instantly enlightening and thoughtprovoking yet wholly clear and accessible to even so unschooled a borngentile as myself. Along my conversion process, countless mentors and friends have recommended diamants work. Recommended reading for people considering conversion to judaism. Conversion to judaism provides information, advice, and support for individuals contemplating conversion to judaism, as well as those who have converted and. I came to judaism on my own, and honestly i wish there were fewer books about conversion within relationships. Stepping into the ritual waters has a ripple effect on everyone close to you, for better or worse. Spirituality and the way in which we experience the presence of god in our lives are very important to us as human beings. Before a beit din rabbinic court will approve the conversion, its members must be positive that you are fully knowledgeable and committed to observing all of the laws and precepts of judaism, that you are fully integrated into the jewish way of life and are comfortable in the jewish. This book, written by someone who converted to judaism herself, discusses conversion from a reform jewish perspective.
I have to do classes with the converts as my father was jewish, but i had no jewish upbringing and. If the candidate is male, the first step in a traditional conversion is. My decision to convert was met with long blank stares masking mountains of internal dialogue. Questions and answers on conversion to judaism by lawrence. Grafstein, shlomo, judaism s bible volume i ganzfried, shlomo, code of jewish law kitzur shulchan aruch, translated by goldin, hyman who also authored the jew and his duties. The gerus guide is the only book on the market that provides a comprehensive, stepbystep guide to how to convert to orthodox judaism. The first section of the book deals with issues about becoming jewish and includes questions about who converts and why, how to tell parents about the decision to convert, asking someone else to consider conversion, where to obtain more information and advice about conversion and judaism, and the steps of the conversion process. The process of conversion to judaism is a lengthy one. Beit din rabbinic court once the circumcision has healed, a beit din is.
Its so refreshing and reassuring as a new jewbychoice. Epstein offers an informative volume that warmly welcomes the newcomer to judaism. A reform conversion is pretty easy and not much is required of you. A guidebook kindle edition by epstein, lawrence j download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Choosing a jewish life was the first book i started reading for the kickstart of my conversion earlier this summer. Grafstein, shlomo, judaisms bible volume i ganzfried, shlomo, code of jewish law kitzur shulchan aruch, translated by goldin, hyman who also authored the jew and his duties. Orthodox conversion to judaism the real deal has 1,817 members. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading conversion to judaism. Did we miss a great book, or do you have feedback about one of the books we listed. Reconstructionist rabbinical association resolution. In the end, the rabbis were impressed by her passion and knowledge of judaism, and set her conversion date for the following month a much quicker process than most converts enjoy. I researched conversion and interviewed hundreds of converts for my book conversion to judaism.
Miller intro to judaism program american jewish university. Up to onethird of orthodox converts and twothirds of conservative converts choose judaism for this reason, according to rabbis involved in conversion programs. Conversion may be unnecessary if youre open to a reform wedding. Our organization provides consultancy services to people who are considering converting to orthodox judaism, and to those who have been already converted by reform conversion and want to do an orthodox conversion. Ordinarily with reform judaism, conversion candidates attend a fourmonth introduction to judaism class andor follow a reading list required by their rabbiin addition to a year more or less of regular attendance at worship services, participation in congregational life, adoption of jewish ritual and holiday observance, and regular meetings with their rabbi. The purpose of this group is for people interested in an orthodox jewish conversion. The actress converted to judaism in 1956 when she married the playwright arthur miller, who was of polishjewish descent. My only regret is that i didnt read conversion to judaism. My conversion story from judaism to islam ahmadiyyat. Conversion to judaism means accepting the jewish faith and becoming part of the jewish people. The basics of conversion to judaism judaism is the religion of the jewish people. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. And ruth said, do not entreat me to leave you, or to keep from following you.
Choosing a jewish life created instant comfort and reassurance in all my doubts and questions. The person who converts takes on the obligation to perform gods commandments mitzvotwhatever that means to the community she wants to join. My conversion story from judaism to islam ahmadiyyat the. Avraham sinai, lebanese member of hezbollah who had an orthodox conversion and lives as a haredi jew in tsfat. A guidebook and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Recommended reading list of prospective converts under the auspices of the. Throughout the ages, untold numbers of people have converted to judaism. How to decide if you should convert to judaism my jewish. Among other things, they discussed the similarities between the historical experiences of jews and black. Michael netzer, american comic book artist, mother is lebanese jewish. I want to learn about judaism, and i know almost nothing. Trump was baffled by ivankas conversion to judaism, book claims kushner, inc.
The everything judaism book, by richard bank this is not an especially good reference, in my opinion, for converts it has nothing in it about conversion. Married to a convert herself, anita diamant provides advice. It absolutely should be a staple in a new converts library and will highly recommend it to everyone. As noted in other answers here, sdj had a longtime relationship with eddie cantor who visited him after the auto accident that took sdjs eye. Many people inconsequentially convert to religions within christianity, but for someone who was raised christian. We consider the formal adoption of judaism by a person who has been born a nonjew to be a decision which is to be. Conversion, in judaism, is about becoming a jew and joining the jewish people. A handbook for people converting to judaism and for their family and friends, by anita diamant this is an excellent book for converts. Larry epstein, author of the conversion to judaism book.