To love the stranger (proselyte) (Deuteronomy 10:19)
Not to wrong the stranger (proselyte) in speech (Exodus 22:20)
Not to wrong the stranger (proselyte) in buying or selling (Exodus 22:20)

Conversion to Judaism
Converting to Judaism means that you must be willing to follow halachah, accepting the Jewish faith (Torah), and joining a people. There is a belief in the Talmud (Shavuot 39a), based upon Deuteronomy 29:13-14, that every sincere convert's soul was present at Mount Sinai and agreed to follow the mitzvot handed down during the national revelation.

The first step to conversion is figuring out why you want to convert.
Among the reasons people give for wanting to convert are:
Judaism has sensible religious beliefs
A wish to join a respectable, hardy people
Wanting to leave an idolatrous/non-Torah-based religion
Wanting to share the faith of a partner
Religiously uniting an intermarried family
Making it easier for the children to have one family religion

Conversion must be done out of a true conviction and not due to any type of coercion or simply to get married. It is also very important for you to talk with your partner, children, friends, and family about your interest in Judaism as early as you can.

Learn as much as you can about Judaism. Use this site and the provided links and books to explore Judaism. It is also recommended that you visit as many kinds of synagogues as you are able to while you are exploring the idea of conversion. It is important to understand Judaism's basic beliefs which include:

1. Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith
2. Judaism introduced the idea of One G-d to the world. Judaism rejects the idea of a trinity and other multiple gods. You can pray directly to G-d without any intermediaries.
3. Judaism does not believe in "original sin". People are free to choose good or bad.
4. Judaism does not believe that Satan is a fallen angel. Satan is an angel in heaven who is only permitted to do what G-d allows him.
5. Judaism encourages probing spiritual questions.
6. Judaism encourages close-knit families and communities.
7. Judaism does not believe that the Messiah has yet come. When the Messiah does come he will be a normal human-being and not a demi-god. Certain occurrences will happen when the Messiah comes.
8. Judaism believes that all righteous gentiles will have a place in the World To Come.

Once you are sure that you want to convert, you need to contact a rabbi. It is traditional for a rabbi to turn a potential convert away three times before an agreeing to convert the individual. Do not be discouraged if this happens to you since it is only done to help determine a potential convert's sincerity. When you do meet with the rabbi he (or she) will ask you various questions generally beginning with why you want to convert. Remember that there is no real right or wrong answers and the rabbi will realize that you are going to be nervous.

Wear something modest when you are going to meet the rabbi. For men it is a good idea to wear dress pants and a formal shirt (a tie or jacket can be optional). For women it is a good idea to wear a long skirt with a shirt that has sleeves covering the elbows (or longer) or dress with a top that has sleeves covering the elbows (or longer). Also remember that Orthodox (and some Conservative) rabbis will not shake hands with females or even pass something (like a business card) directly to a female. This is not done out of a dislike or a lowered status of women but out of the idea of modesty.

Orthodox and Conservative rabbis will not convert only one non-Jewish spouse. This is important to consider when researching conversion. If both spouses are accepted for conversion (or one spouse is already Jewish), a time-period of separation will be needed and after the conversion(s) is completed, a Jewish marriage will be performed. Any children born before the conversion will also need to convert. This issue is best addressed by a rabbi since the issues and requirements are different depending upon the age of the children.

After the rabbi agrees to convert you, you will go through a period of study and practice of the rituals (i.e. lighting Sabbath candles) which will generally last one year but could be longer. When the rabbi feels that you are ready to complete your conversion there are some remaining steps that you will have to go through. The Orthodox and Conservative (and some Reconstructionist and Reform) rabbis will require males to go through a circumcision. If the male is already circumcised then he will go through a hatafat dam brit. Males and females will be required to go before the bet din where the potential convert will be asked various questions - mostly pertaining to why one wants to convert, what one has learned, if one is willing to give up any previous religious affiliations, and (Orthodox and Conservative rabbis) if you are willing to follow halachah. Once this is completed a Hebrew name will be chosen (this is usually already established in advance of the bet din by the convert). After this you will go to the mikveh and immerse yourself. The Sabbath after the conversion is completed men (and women in some non-Orthodox shuls) will generally be called for an aliyah during the Torah reading. Remember that even though you are now considered a Jew, you still have a lifetime of learning ahead of you!

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Subjects to Know
The rabbi of the potential convert will give him/her instructions and determine what the correct course of study will be for him/her. Following are suggestions as to the minimum of what a convert should learn.

What it means to be a Jew
Basic Hebrew
Books of the Tanach
Understanding the topics in each Parsha
Maimonides' 13 Principles
613 Mitzvot
Mishnah
Shulchan Aruch
Concept of G-d
Prayer
Synagogue Services
Lighting the Shabbat candles
Havdallah
Kashrut
Niddah
Tefillin
Tzitzit
Mezzuzah
Jewish Parenting
Jewish Calendar
Jewish Holidays
Jewish History
History of Israel

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Jewish Movements (sects)
Note: The differences discussed here are based upon shared generalities of that movement. There are of course differing opinions within each movement.

Orthodox Judaism (also known as Traditional Judaism) is the oldest sect of Judaism - and in fact, was the only sect until Reform Judaism came into being in 19th century Germany. Orthodoxy believes that G-d gave Moses the entire Torah at Mount Sinai which includes both the Written Torah and the Mishnah. Orthodoxy believes that the Torah is true, that it has come down to us intact and unchanged. Orthodoxy believes that the Torah contains 613 mitzvot binding upon Jews but not upon non-Jews. The 2000 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS) performed by the Council of Jewish Federations found that 21% of the Jews in America identify themselves as Orthodox as compared to 7% in the 1990 NJPS.

Find an Orthodox Synagogue near you
Find a Chabad Center near you

Conservative Judaism grew out of the tension between Orthodoxy and Reform. It was formally organized as the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism by Dr. Solomon Schechter in 1913, although its roots in the Jewish Theological Seminary of America stretch back into the 1880s. Conservatives maintain that the truths found in Tanach and other Jewish writings come from G-d, but were transmitted by humans and contain a human component. Conservatives generally accepts the binding nature of halachah, but believe that the Law should change and adapt, absorbing aspects of the predominant culture while remaining true to Judaism's values. The 2000 NJPS found that 33% of the Jews in America identify themselves as Conservative as compared to 38% in the 1990 NJPS.

Find a Conservative Synagogue near you (North America)
Find a Masorti Synagogue near you (Outside North America)

Reform Judaism does not believe that the Torah was written by G-d. Reform Judaism accepts that the Bible was written by separate sources and redacted together. Reform Judaism do not believe in observance of mitzvot as such, but they retain much of the values and ethics of Judaism, along with some of the practices and the culture. Many non-observant, nominal, and/or agnostic Jews identify themselves as Reform simply because Reform is the most liberal movement. The 2000 NJPS found that 39% of the Jews in America identify themselves as Reform as compared to 42% in the 1990 NJPS.

Find a Reform Synagogue near you

Reconstructionist Judaism is theoretically an outgrowth of Conservative Judaism.  Reconstructionists believe that Judaism is an "evolving religious civilization." They do not believe in a personified deity that is active in history, and they do not believe the Jews are G-d's chosen people. Reconstructionists observe the halachah if they choose to, not because it is a binding Law from G-d, but because it is a valuable cultural remnant. According to the 2000 NJPS, only 3% of the Jews in America identify themselves as Reconstructionist as compared to 1% in the 1990 NJPS.

Find a Reconstructionist Synagogue near you

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Conversion Issues
When choosing a rabbi please remember the following
Orthodox Judaism only accepts Orthodox conversions as valid
Conservative Judaism accepts Orthodox and Conservative conversions as valid
Reform Judaism accepts Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reform conversions as valid
Reconstructionist Judaism accepts Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reform conversions as valid

There are some general guidelines for you to follow in discussing becoming Jewish
The most important part of discussing conversion is not to be afraid or reluctant to discuss the subject.
Remember that conversion is a long process, and not a single action.
Because a welcoming attitude is the most important contribution you can make, remember not to use any emotional pressure.

Here are some suggestions for telling people about your conversion to Judaism
Think through your feelings and practice talking them out.
Most experts think telling parents in person and to both parents at the same time is best.
Telling your parents as soon as possible is best.
There is no special time to tell but such an announcement shouldn't be made during days of obvious religious significance or personal significance
It is better to speak to parents alone.
In telling your parents about your conversion, discuss what you find attractive about Judaism, how it met a particular need, how it helped a relationship, how you feel closer to -  not further from - your parents, in part because of Judaism's emphasis on family.
Be prepared for a range of reactions from support to shock to total disapproval.
Follow up a visit with a letter or phone call.

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Conversion Stories
A lot of people just can't believe that there is something in the Jewish religion worth having. Something that someone from the accepted, middle-class WASP world would want. So when a Jewish person makes this comment, I have to realize my patience and explain why I converted and how much value there is in being Jewish.

I doubt that my parents will ever understand why I converted. All they see now is a yarmulka on the head of a son who's not the same person they watched grow up. [more]

As Michaela studied, she discovered that much of what Jesus taught was also taught by other rabbis of the time. This shocked her. She had been taught that Jesus and his teachings were original and revolutionary. This increased her desire to study Jewish roots and, ultimately, Judaism. Once she knew the source was Judaism, her journey home was inevitable. [more]

Many people have scratched their heads upon finding out about my intention to convert to Judaism, wondering why I would do such a thing.  The puzzled looks come from former Christian friends and family, new non-Christian friends, as well as Jews themselves.  I usually give the short answers—because I connect with G-d that way, or because I believe in the G-d of Abraham, or even because it is my destiny—but these brief responses satisfy few.  The real answer takes much longer to give, so here I hope to delineate precisely my reasoning and the meanderings of my heart and soul that led me to declare my intention to identify with a people and a religion that is not usually chosen by one who comes from my background. [more]

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Start Your Jewish Library
Conversion
Choosing Judaism
Conversion to Judaism: A Guidebook

Counter-Missionary
The Jew and the Christian Missionary: A Jewish Response to Missionary Christianity
The Real Messiah: A Jewish Response to Missionaries

Hebrew
The First Hebrew Primer 3rd Edition

Hebrew Bible
Bible Basics
Biblical Literacy
Stone Edition Tanach

Jewish History
Jews, God, and History

Jewish Holidays
Holiday General Readings

Jewish Prayer
To Pray As A Jew

Judaism/Jewish Life
Aryeh Kaplan Anthology I
Aryeh Kaplan Anthology II
Bris Milah/Circumcision
Celebrating Your New Jewish Daughter: Creating Jewish Ways to Welcome Baby Girls into the Covenant-New and Traditional Ceremonies
Death and Bereavement
Exploring Jewish Tradition: A Transliterated Guide to Everyday Practice and Observance
For Kids-Putting God On Your Guest List: How to Claim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Kosher
Everyday Cooking for the Jewish Home
Kashruth: A Reference Guide

Shabbat
Around the Shabbat Table
ArtScroll Transliterated Siddur (Orthodox)
Gates of Prayer (Reform)
Shabbat Vehagim (Reconstructionist)
Siddur Sim Shalom (Conservative)

Women
The Jewish Woman's Book of Wisdom
The Laws of Niddah

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