Conversions
Over time, it has become the Jewish people's practice not to seek converts,
but rather to welcome those who, of their own volition and the authenticity of their own journey, come to us and wish to become part of our people.
Our perspective is based, among other sources, on this famous passage in the Talmud, In the first century B.C.E., a non-Jew came to Hillel the Elder and gave to him the following challenge: "Convert me to Judaism on condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot.” He [Hillel] accepted him as a convert and he He said to him, “What is hateful to you, do not to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah, the rest is the commentary; go and learn it.” (Shabbat 31a) Another famous source is from the Book of Ruth. As you may know, Ruth was a Moabite who married a Jewish man. Only ten years into her marriage both her husband and her father-in-law died. Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, told Ruth that she should return to her people. Ruth refused and said to Naomi: "Do not ask me to leave you, or to go back from following you, for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried." (Ruth 1:16-17)
It is an overwhelming honor for me to accompany a person on her/his journey toward Judaism. The usual process involves the Reform Movement's Introduction to Judaism class and then about a year of study with me so that you can live through a Jewish year of holidays and holy days. It would be a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to help you on this spiritual quest. There is no fee.
