Do you feel drawn to Judaism, and just want to learn more? Are you in a relationship with a Jewish person, but don’t live near a Jewish community that can help you convert? Do you have a disability that makes it difficult to participate in synagogue life? Are you part of the LGBTQ community and feel anxious in formal religious spaces? Are you worried about financial barriers to conversion?

As a rabbi, my (Rabbi William’s) goal is to make conversion to Judaism as easy and accessible as possible, as Hillel taught, “[Love] your fellow creatures and bring them into the study of Torah.” I am intimately familiar with the anxiety induced by religion as a gay man. I also know the struggle of wanting to convert and participate in Jewish life without a nearby community in which to do it. So, I am bringing the community to others through the wonders of technology, free of charge.

Conversion candidates studying with me will cover the basic beliefs, prayers, history, practices, holidays, and rituals of liberal Judaism along with the principles of Jewish Science. They will participate in Jewish life through the B’nei Ruth Community, which operates through Zoom and other online platforms. There is no obligation to complete a conversion after beginning the studying process. People who simply wish to learn about Judaism and not convert are welcome.

Halakha establishes a barebones outline of the necessary components of conversion, which includes some (partial) instruction in the mitzvot, examination by a bet din, immersion in a mikveh, and circumcision for males (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah 268). The modern practice of requiring a minimum of one year of study is custom, not law. The most important elements in any conversion are sincerity and commitment to living a Jewish life, and the expectation is that the convert will continue to learn as they participate in the Jewish community. Conversion is not the end of the journey, merely the beginning. Some conversions may take a year, others may be considerably shorter, depending on the needs and desires of each individual.

Circumcision is a mitzvah that is often the greatest barrier to conversion for men. As one of the signs of the covenant with God (the other being Shabbat), its importance in Judaism cannot be overstated. If at all possible, men seeking conversion should be prepared to be circumcised, if they are not already. However, even the Rabbis of the Talmud taught that a valid conversion could occur without it in certain limited circumstances. As a liberal Jew, I uphold the principle that each of the mitzvot is something that must be chosen by the individual, and therefore, I ultimately leave it up to each candidate to decide for themselves whether to be circumcised. Just be advised that failure to circumcise could create questions around the validity of your conversion in other communities.

The politics of conversion within the Jewish community can be messy and hurtful to converts. I will discuss issues surrounding recognition of conversions by other Jewish communities and the state of Israel with each candidate.

Want to begin studying for conversion? Contact me to schedule a meeting.