converts?

yosi said:

The consensus I've seen among Orthodox rabbis: Three generations removed from the faith requires conversion again. Reform: You're Jewish, don't worry. Other: Your mileage may vary.

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Cool, thanks. Why three, though? What's the significance of that number?

Ilisrum said:

Cool, thanks. Why three, though? What's the significance of that number?

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Maybe if you can't remember your grandparents practicing, you'll never know enough by osmosis to re-integrate into the community, necessitating a process of conversion and re-integration into said community.

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My apologies if answering the Anglican question was toeing the line.

SKKF said:

So it really does take a long time generally.

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Sometimes it only takes a year. Others have taken 3+ years. I don't think two years is really a long time.

SKKF said:

What was the hardest change you had to

make, was it dietary changes or scial customs...etc?

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Identity is difficult. Realizing it's who you are but yet you weren't born that way, you have to develop it over time and it's not easy. Also knowing that many people will never see you as a "real" Jew. If family members are not happy, that can be difficult too.

Dena said:

Sometimes it only takes a year. Others have taken 3+ years. I don't think two years is really a long time.



Identity is difficult. Realizing it's who you are but yet you weren't born that way, you have to develop it over time and it's not easy. Also knowing that many people will never see you as a "real" Jew. If family members are not happy, that can be difficult too.

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Interesting, personally something I'd never do but if someone has that
much dedication to completely go through the process, then cool.

SKKF said:

Interesting, personally something I'd never do but if someone has that
much dedication to completely go through the process, then cool.

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To become Jewish you need to study with a Rabbi for a period of time usually a year, sometimes more. You also learn Hebrew and make a Jewish home. You also become part of a Jewish community. You go before a Beit din, which is a court of 3 and they question you. Then you are immersed 3 times in the mikvah which is a body of water. If you are a man then you undergo circumcision, if that is already done then a hatafat dam brit which is a ceremonial prick for a drop of blood while the proper blessings are said.

Depending on the movement one converts under will also determine the process.

Becoming Jewish is much more then just joining a religion, it is becoming part of a people. The process is very meaningful for those undertake it.

As has been mentioned already the length of time can vary. As someone who fully intends to convert, I can say that my own experience is taking more time because I wish to convert (and convert via Orthodox conversion) without all the specific cultural extras that come with many Orthodox synagogues .

It can be frustrating. So frustrating that I've considered giving up on Orthodox conversion and going the Conservative route. Although that could create problems in the future as I consider marriage and what not.

Ilisrum said:

I'm not sure if this belongs in this thread, but I have a question that's related to the topic. I recently discovered that I have Jewish ancestry on my mother's side. I've never researched my family history before, so it surprised me when I found out that my great-great grandmother was a German born Ashkenazi Jew. I had no idea, since my family is Anglican (at least nominally).

At the moment, I have no interest in converting to Judaism. But if I were to go into a synagogue and mention this, would I still be viewed as an outsider? Say sometime down the road I wanted to be Jewish, would my heritage make a difference?

Thanks for any replies.

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If there is a continuous chain of Jewish females leading from your great-great to your mother then you are Jewish.