Mi Yodeya Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [conversion-to-judaism]

Conversion to Judaism. This entails acceptance of the mitzvos, tevila (immersion), and for men, bris milah (circumcision).

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Understanding discouragement of converts

Why do we discourage converts? I know that Naomi did so with Rus, but Moshe doesn't seem to do so with Yisro. Why wouldn't Judaism want to encourage converts? Furthermore is it a responsibility merely of the Rabbi performing the conversion or of any…
user1552
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How is giyur le’chumra different from a standard conversion in practice?

I am interested to know how giyur le’chumra is different from a standard conversion in practice? Does anyone have any personal experiences? My understanding of the meaning of giyur le’chumra (from an article I found on Torah Lab) is as…
Simd
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Why Jews feel no need to evangelize/convince others of their beliefs?

I've read in the interview with Monica Cellio that “Jews feel no need to evangelize.” I am curious why is that. There is no need to share the truth with the others? Even the loved ones? Are there some rules for that (convincing)? (What will happen…
TGar
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Can someone convert to "Messianic Judaism"?

Is "Messianic Judaism" considered to be a legitimate sect of Judaism? Could someone (gentile) convert to "Messianic Judaism"?
KL Langdon
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Does growing up in Israel (thereby being fluent in Hebrew and Jewish traditions) with a Jewish family have any effect on the conversion process?

Assume a boy, Ploni, is born to a non-Jewish mother and a Jewish father in Israel. Ploni's mother is not halachically Jewish but has integrated into non-Orthodox Jewish culture. Ploni speaks, reads, and writes in Hebrew as his mother tongue, and…
k.jackson
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What is the function of a beis din in regards to a non-Jew becoming a Jew

In order for a male non-Jew to become Jewish he needs to do three things which all must be performed in front of a Beis Din (panel of 3 judges.) Those are that he must have a bris milah, accept upon himself the Mitzvos and go to the mikveh. For a…
Yehoshua
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Does someone maternally Jewish, but without documented proof, need "giyur l'chumra"?

If a person is Jewish by maternal decent, but can't prove it conclusively through documents. Do they need to convert? Do they need normal conversion or giyur l'chumra? What are the steps involved? I read about giyur lechumra, but heard that it can…
Needhelp
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What's the status of a convert whose father is Jewish? Is he unrelated to his biological father like every other Ger?

If a Jewish man had a son from a non-Jewish woman, and this son later converted to Judaism, what's the halacha regarding his relationship with his biological father. A convert is כקטן שנולד and unrelated to his parents, but is that the case when his…
Moishie Lerner
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What is allowed to be studied during conversion?

I have been studying on my own for a year in order to convert to Judaism (Orthodox) as my current job doesn't allow me, moving every week, to settle next to a jewish community and formally launch the process with a Rabbi. I am due to change my job…
Jacob
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Can I become Jewish just by saying “I am a Jew”?

I am interested in the faith of Judaism. I am curious about being “informally Jewish”. This is because I am interested in this religion because of its history and willingness to be open. I am not willing to be completely kosher (I mean this in the…
Number File
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What is the meaning of the word Ger?

A Ger can mean a stranger, foreigner and many other things but what is the origin? I have heard the Ibn Ezra say that it comes from the Hebrew word Gargir meaning a certain type of berry because it is severed form the branch. Can anyone provide a…
Josh
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Is there a negative connotation around converting to Judaism?

Is there any text in the Torah or Mishnah that sees a convert as some kind of "imitation" Jew or someone who isn't as good as a real-deal matrilineal Jew?
Ely Eastman
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Do I have sufficient reason to investigate converting to Judaism?

About 18 months ago, I began contemplating earnestly investigating converting to Judaism, which three years of casual thinking and reading about god had engendered. I regard this interest in converting as a consequence of reason and intuition. That…
Hal
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Child convert rejecting conversion at age of maturity implications

If a child was converted as a child and then rejects that conversion at the age of maturity, does it have backwards implications? Say they touched non mevushal wine before rejecting the conversion… does it become forbidden for a Jew to drink after…
A S
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On the occurence and existence of mass conversions to Judaism after antiquity

I've been reading up on conversions to Judaism/the Jewish people and most conversions have been (and are) of an individual nature. But there seem to have been a few mass conversions along the way. I tried to find out what the religious view might be…
Shellshock
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