Conversion
Progressive Judaism welcomes people who choose to make Judaism their home, supporting them at every stage of their journey. The conversion process typically takes around 12-18 months and involves learning, community participation and spiritual preparation.
There are many different reasons why people choose to convert to Judaism and we are proud to welcome and support all those who sincerely wish to join us.
The first step on a conversion journey should be to find a Progressive community, speak to its rabbi, cantor or lay leader, and start attending some services and events.
To undertake the formal process of conversion, one then needs a sponsoring rabbi or cantor. They are often the one connected to the local community, though sometimes other arrangements may be necessary.
Converting to Judaism through Progressive Judaism then usually takes 12-18 months, though sometimes longer. During this period, a candidate demonstrates their commitment to the process by:
1) Becoming involved in their Progressive Jewish community, especially by attending services on Friday evenings, Shabbat mornings and festivals.
2) Committing themselves to classes in Judaism and Hebrew, often known as access, introduction or gateway to Judaism classes.
3) Reading and learning about Judaism and the Jewish people.
4) Starting to introduce Progressive Jewish practices into their life.
When the sponsoring rabbi or cantor thinks a candidate is ready to complete the conversion process, they will set a date for them to appear before one of our Batei Din (the bodies which deal with Jewish status and conversion).
A Beit Din is made up of three rabbis or cantors, who are members of either the Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors (CoLRaC) or the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors (AoRRC).
The candidate will be accompanied by their sponsoring rabbi or cantor. A partner, friend or family member is also welcome to attend and offer support.
The three rabbis or cantors will have read and discussed the application and will engage the candidate in a conversation – doing their best to put them at ease. They may ask about their reasons for conversion, spiritual journey so far, or how they’ve marked Shabbat and the festivals.
The candidate will then be asked to leave the room while, if successful, an acceptance is agreed and the certificates are signed.
A special moment then takes place as the convert is welcomed into Judaism, congratulated by the Chair of the Beit Din and able to celebrate with their sponsoring rabbi or cantor and partner, friend or family member. All present will recite a blessing acknowledging the significance of the occasion – the Shehecheyanu.
The welcoming of a new Jew is a cause for celebration for the entire community and upon completing conversion, a person’s new Jewish status is usually formally marked through an admission ceremony or blessing performed in their new community.
Mikveh and circumcision
There are two rituals associated with conversion.
The mikveh is a pool of water which is collected naturally and is used by converts to mark the transformational moment of becoming Jewish in the eyes of the community.
Following their appearance before a Beit Din a convert usually undergoes tevilah – a ritual dip in this living water. This moving and meaningful rite of passage gives physical expression to the changes that the candidate has experienced and represents the beginning of their new life as a Jew. You can find out more on the Wellspring UK website.
For male converts, the ritual of circumcision (Brit Milah) usually forms part of the conversion process. This is a religious act that marks one’s entry into the covenant and Jewish people that goes all the way back to Abraham.
Contemplating circumcision as an adult is not easy. Although it is normally done under a local anesthetic and does not require an overnight stay in a hospital, we would encourage you to discuss the procedure, if appropriate, with your sponsoring rabbi or cantor. In some circumstances an exemption may be appropriate.
Children
Babies and children can convert to Judaism. For young children this is often done alongside a converting parent, though for some older children it may be appropriate for them to do this in their own right. Speak to your rabbi or cantor to find out more.
Confirmation of Status
In some cases, for whatever reason, a person may discover that they are Jewish without previous knowledge of this fact. Or they may know they are Jewish, but do not feel that way because they did not have a Jewish upbringing or any Jewish education.
In these cases, people often come to us in order to affirm their Jewish identity.
Working with their local rabbi or cantor, they would usually engage in a process of Jewish education and experience similar to that described above for conversion.
The applicant can then apply to the Beit Din for a Certificate of Status to confirm their Jewish identity, or may choose to undergo a full conversion.
A Certificate of Status may also be appropriate for a baby adopted by a Jewish parent or parents.
To find out more about conversion, your local community’s rabbi, cantor or lay leader should be your first point of contact. They will be able to offer you guidance and advice as you consider this important step.
