I am 16 years old and am serious about joining the Jewish faith. I have read all about it and decided I would like to convert, but there is one huge problem:
My whole family is Christian so I can't really go to temple or meet with a rabbi.
There wouldn't be any problem with attending temple and "coming out" as a member of the Jewish faith if I were and adult, but I'm still in high school.
When I go to college I have every intention of an Orthodox conversion.
Right now, I'm following the Kashrut but I don't know how to perform the prayers and whatnot, and don't know how to learn and join the community without seeing a rabbi.
What do I do in the meantime?
2007-09-06 12:24:11 · 9 answers · asked by Jake 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think you can. As far as I know, a person is not considered Jewish unless he/she has an orthodox conversion which can only be done through a rabbi.
You can for sure practice the faith and celebrate all their festivals but officially you are not considered Jewish until you have an orthodox conversion.
2007-09-06 12:32:03 · answer #1 · answered by Mimi 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but whathappenedtothisnation is dead wrong.
Secondly--I understand what you are going through. I do have bad news though--you cannot convert without seeing a rabbi, and no court, I mean no Jewish denomination at all, will accept those "online conversions" people are trying to scam now. Maybe you could talk to your family and kind of drop hints about it--sometimes they are more supportive than you know. Until you are 18 however, you cannot convert without their permission. In the meantime, you can read. You can study. You can observe. You can learn. You can talk with rabbis online at askmoses.com
How much have you studied so far? Just think of it this way: when you meet that rabbi, he is already going to be skeptical of your intentions because of how young you are, but you can make your age work for you. You can study as hard as you can until you turn 18, so when you finally call him, it won't be long at all before he realizes how serious you are.
If you want, I can recommend some great books and websites for both knowledge and living with a non-Jewish family
Peace
2007-09-06 13:15:24 · answer #2 · answered by LadySuri 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
You cannot become jewish without seeing a Rabbi. However, I'm puzzled as to why you don't believe you can see a Rabbi or go to temple at your age. Your contacting or meeting with a Rabbi is a completely confidential. The Rabbi does not need to speak with your parents in order to meet with you.
If you want to speak with a Rabbi in more detail about what converstion entails, a dear Rabbi friend of mine is discuss this with you and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to contact her at 'rebbephd' via your Your Tube user account (if you have one).
2007-09-08 10:58:50 · answer #3 · answered by skipper_727 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
How do I become Jewish without seeing a rabbi?
I am 16 years old and am serious about joining the Jewish faith. I have read all about it and decided I would like to convert, but there is one huge problem:
My whole family is Christian so I can't really go to temple or meet with a rabbi.
There wouldn't be any problem with attending...
2015-08-19 01:27:26 · answer #4 · answered by Nannie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't get why you can't just go on the weekend and talk to the local rabbi or something...just make sure not to go to a reform or conservative rabbi if you really do want to join serious Judaism. I know a women who went and started keeping the Jewish laws at 12 when she went out searching for the truth, and not the Christianity nonsense. Now she's a top-notch religious women while, sadly, her daughter doesn't quite follow it very well.
2007-09-08 17:28:14 · answer #5 · answered by וואלה 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can read and study- but you cannot become jewish without going through a proper conversion- and that requires a Rabbi, and the finalisation of ti actually requires three Rabbis (though all that will be handled by the Beis Din (Rabbinical Court) through whom you would be converted).
The chabad site is an excellent one for chassidic Judaism, for the other side of Orthodox Judaism try http://www.aish.com
I would recommend against converting through anyone but an Orthodox Rabbi for the simple reason that if you do, it would not be recognised by any Orthodox Jews as a valid conversion!
2007-09-06 22:44:05 · answer #6 · answered by allonyoav 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Why are you in such a hurry? Judaism is a journey, and a major part of that journey is study. I've been studying about 5 years and still experience that feeling of a light bulb going on when I learn something new about Judaism. Don't rush the process. Relax! Enjoy! Anticipate the feeling of how much more you'll learn when you are finally able to study with a rabbi!
L'Shalom
Jew-by-choice
.
2007-09-09 04:07:55 · answer #7 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I suggest you keep reading, and if you want establish some online contacts with Jewish organizations and Rabbis.
When you are in college then you can start going though the conversion process.
2007-09-08 19:22:34 · answer #8 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can't convert until you see a rabbi. Basicly just keep learning as much as you can, follow the 7 laws G-d gave to Noah and keep adding more laws to prepare you. and when you have the chance, see an Orthodox rabbi.
2007-09-07 07:28:53 · answer #9 · answered by ST 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
http://sidduraudio.com/
Establish another email ID for your private use. To become Orthodox Jewish, seek out a Chabad and keep in contact with a rabbi. http://www.chabad.org/
God bless.
2007-09-06 12:32:38 · answer #10 · answered by The Carmelite 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋