Welcome to Gaia! ::

I am sincerely wishing to convert to Judaism, however, I am nervous and incredibly scared to talk with a rabbi.

This is not on whim, I have been thinking about this almost all my life. As a little girl in Catholic school I rejected Catholic doctrine and had always wondered why I could not celebrate Passover.

I thank you for accepting me into this guild and I do hope you all have some advice for me =]. I am extremely wary because of the horror stories I have heard about Orthodoxy never Ger as real Jews =[.

Thank you! =]

I can't even sleep anymore because of my obsession with Judaism. I hope this isn't unhealthy, it is all I think about!

I know a good many converts to Orthodox Judaism. It is not easy, and it can be intimidating to approach anyone new and visibly different from oneself. But it isn't impossible.

It's kind of like entering a new school. Everyone's dressed differently, they've got different slang; maybe you've moved to a new country or area and even the language is different. At this school, people don't usually leave, and they don't get a lot of new folks, because the school rules are extremely tough and they require extensive interviewing and testing before you're allowed in. Also, all the other schools pick on this school all the time, with hurtful jokes and sometimes violence. No one's sure whether you're going to try to fit in and respect the local ways, or if you're going to try to do things that have already proven not to work in this setting. They aren't sure how much help you'll need finding things, keeping up in class, knowing how not to tick off the wrong people or teachers. They don't know whether you'll obey the school rules (with honest mistakes here and there), or brand yourself a troublemaker by knowingly flouting the rules that the rest of the students find very important. Little by little, though, you will find your way, and eventually be very good at helping other new people to settle in.

It's the same way. We "discourage" converts, because we know how hard it is to be one of us. But once you show that committed, the social doors open up, and we couldn't be more pleased to welcome you into the family. There's a midrash (a saying; we don't know if it's true, but it's the truth according to our feelings, even if not according to historical fact, like an Aesop's Fable of sorts) that says that every convert is someone who is descended from the lost tribes of Israel. So, you are family.

Remember Dinah? Twelve brothers, one sister. After the sister sleeps with (or is raped by; the Hebrew word is sometimes ambiguous) a man from Shechem, we never hear what happens to her after that. Some say she died or was killed; others say she lived a long life and had many children; some say she went to Egypt, married a Pharaoh, and had a daughter that eventually wound up marrying Yoseif (Joseph), thus bringing her descendants back to the family of Yisrael. However, those who say that she went on to live a long, full life are the ones I think may be right. See, there's another midrash that says converts are her descendants: the thirteenth tribe of Israel, finally coming back into the family of Israel, pulled back by the Jewish souls they were born with, because they know they belong. According to this midrash, the Jewish soul is already born in them; conversion simply wakes it up from its generations-long slumber. I happen to like this idea. A lot.

Take an Introduction To Judaism class at a local synagogue. Figure out where you belong within the Jewish world -- Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Orthodox? Learn as much as you can about all the movements before making any decisions. It may take you a few years; it usually does. Even if you decide not to convert, ask your rabbi about Noachide practice -- the way that non-Jews can live according to Torah's commandments for non-Jews. That, too, is an extremely praiseworthy way to live. But if you do complete your conversion, then welcome home, cousin.

Thank you so much ya'll!


I've actually been through AskMoses. Almost through the whole website. You have no idea how many nights I haven't slept because I have been reading and reading and reading.

I want to convert to Conservative, although I do love Orthodoxy.

I would convert Orthodox but I am a lesbian. Needless to say, I WOULD live my life celibate for Hashem but I do not believe Leviticus 18:22 has anything to do with homosexuality, for many reasons.

I would very very much like to convert Orthodox, but I am extremely scared to for this reason.

No, I am not going against Levitical laws, I am a student of antiquity, homosexuality in the time the Tanach was written...was not homosexuality in the way we think it is. regardless of that, it is mostly related to pagan practises.

Conservative conversion does convert one the same way an Orthodox conversion would happen. Mikveh and all.

Orthodoxy is such a small small group in the scheme of all Judaism.

In any case, that is my only reason for not converting to Orthodoxy.

O.O how does one "act" like a lesbian?

Yes, it is written like that, but there are problems;
1) no word for homosexuality because the concept didn't exist

2) referring to sodomy(if anything regarding sex), therefore oral and a**l sex SHOULD be banned for heterosexuals as well then.

3) extremely vague even though modern translations seem specific.

In antiquity homosexuality was more pederasty than a loving homosexual relationship. Therefore, IF this in reality has anything to do with homosexuality, it cannot stand up to what homosexuality is in modern society.

It's not "accepting part of the laws", it's accepting all of the laws but knowing that some do not work in modern society, especially with my knowledge of Classical antiquity.


This is why many rabbis differ on the subject.

Uh, yes I do want to convert to REAL Judaism, and yes I want to follow ALL the laws.

Sure all the laws apply today but you're not understanding the fact that homosexuality - did not exist- in antiquity in a monogamous, loving, committed relationship.

It doesn't matter if it existed or not. The point is it says it in the torah and the rabbis say it's not allowed. how else would you interperet that passuk?