-
Step 1
Do it in person. This is not a subject that can be broached, even initially, by email or even phone. This is something that is best dealt with face to face. It will not only bring the reality of the situation into focus that much easier, but it will also show your family the courage you had to address this very important subject to their faces. The seriousness of this subject warrants everyone's full attention, and the only way to ensure that is in person.
-
Step 2
Pick a time to talk when you have a lot of time alone with them. Family gatherings, like holidays, anniversary parties and birthdays are a great time to catch up on small talk, but are no arena for your big talk. There will be too much going on for any party to focus on the issue at hand. Schedule a time when you can meet with your family uninterrupted. A weekend afternoon is the perfect time to start a discussion about this. There will be lots of questions and you want to be sure that you have time to let everyone have their say.
-
Step 3
Start the discussion on a positive note. Most likely, if you are planning a conversion to Judaism, it is because the religion speaks to you in some way. It is always a positive thing for a family to hear that their son or daughter has become more spiritual. Start off by talking about how inspired you are and how exciting the experience has been and will continue to be. If your family sees that this is something that is making you happy, then the conversion issue may have less of an impact.
-
Step 4
Focus on the similarities instead of differences between the two religions. There are far more similarities between Christianity and Judaism than there are differences. Both share moral systems that are nearly identical. Both use lessons from the Old Testament (or Tanakh) for inspiration. Both have like views of life-cycle events like birth, marriage and death. There is a wealth of information in both your local bookstore and online that can help you bolster your points about Christianity and Judaism being more similar than dissimilar.
-
Step 5
Try not to be too defensive. Remember that this is going to be a difficult piece of information for your family to swallow. If you stay open to any and all questions and comments they have, it will be easier for them to discuss this with you. This is their time to communicate their fears and anxieties, so don't judge them for asking questions that they are honestly curious about. The talk of "but what if you don't go to heaven when you die" may very likely come up. Expect it and just let it go. It is a natural thing for a family member that truly cares about you to worry about. Just remember that their questions come from a place of love and concern. As long as you are open with them, the opportunity for them to do the same will always be there.
