How to Convert to Judaism for Marriage

Convert to Judaism before marriage.

There are four major movements within Judaism and each has its own conversion requirements for new believers to fulfill. The four major movements are Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist and Reform. Most rabbis, regardless of the movement, do not recognize interfaith marriages and will not perform ceremonies for interfaith couples nor allow the services to be conducted in the Jewish synagogue. It is necessary to complete the conversion process before marriage in order for the marriage to be accepted by the Jewish faith or to be married in a Jewish synagogue.

Instructions

1. Locate a rabbi who is supportive of the movement into which you are converting. It is possible that your fiance's rabbi is not participating in the movement that will accept you. Prepare to be turned away as some rabbis practice an ancient tradition of turning away candidates three times before accepting them as converts.

2. Answer all questions asked by the rabbi completely and truthfully. It is essential the rabbi know exactly where you stand religiously and in your relationship with your fiance in order for you both to find a good match. Choosing a rabbi is not random and no two rabbis are alike.

3. Learn Judaism and all of the covenants you must follow. The rabbi will oversee your learning and guide you through the process. Though you may have started learning before and you may have gained knowledge through your fiance, it is important to follow the teaching of the rabbi and not skip parts. The learning process is expected to take between six months and one year to complete.

4. Appear before the religious court, known as "Bet Din." Your knowledge of Judaism and sincerity for conversion will be tested. This is not a graded test, but a measure of your commitment to Judaism.

5. Complete the required rituals by the movement. Not all movements require male converts to be circumcised. If you are already circumcised, you may be required to give a drop of blood. The drop of blood serves as a symbolic circumcision. Other possible requirements are the ritual bath ceremony, known as "tevillah"; making the symbolic offering, which typically means a donation to charity; and selecting a Hebrew name.

6. Make a speech at your public ceremony about your conversion. Your speech can include why you chose to convert, what you learned during your study and what Judaism means to you. Once these steps are completed, you are free to marry your Jewish fiance.

References

• The Jewish Virtual Library: The Tenets of Reform Judaism
• Convert.org: Movements in Judaism
• Convert.org: The Conversion Process
• Judaism 101: Jewish Attitudes Towards Non-Jews