Which form of Judaism should I convert to?

Question

I am going to cinvert to Judaism and I've been studying the Torah. It's fascinating! But I am unsure of what form of Judaism to join. My friend goes to a Conservative congregation. The Reform sounds interesting and is the largest I think. There are so many. Can I join one and attend other congregations? Also I'm Black and generally how are Blacks received in Jewish Temple? I still plan to convert but I'm just curiuos. Thans guys.

Answer 1

Blacks are welcomed in all branches of Judaism.

Your decision will probably depend on your commitment to observance of the laws. Do you live within walking distance of the shul? Do you keep kosher? Are you shomer shabbos? If not, you should probably start with Reform and work on becoming more observant.
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Answer 2

A couple of things:

1. L'Chaim has given the only really correct answer.

2. Yes, you can start with Reform (it is the largest stream) and work your way towards more observant streams, although visit all of them before you decide.

3. Blacks--like everyone--are **well** received. Period. Also, once someone has converted it is **forbidden** to ever speak of them as a "convert" for fear of embarrassment, so you don't have to worry in that regard.

Answer 3

Just explore. Attend services and talk with people. Meet with the rabbis. Asking questions is definitely a Jewish trait -- and highly valued.

Reconstructionist and Reform are very open and welcoming movements. Your race won't matter in either of those. (It shouldn't in Orthodox or Conservative either, but I don't have all that much experience with those.)

Take your time and find the one that's truly your home.

Mazel tov!

Answer 4

Why convert to any form of Judaism? You can can be Torah observant without becoming Jewish. If you have a desire to find the truth and YHWH, then you may be an Israelite... one of the tribes that was dispersed among the nations and has yet to return to YHWH and the land. The bride of YHWH is Israel and you must first be grafted in. Please email me so that I may assist you.
Today's judaism is full of idolatry and paganism. Modern Judaism regards the laws of the Rabbi's greater than the laws of YHWH... although none will admit this. Please heed my words and contact me. In the meantime please visit the following website and study. Judaism is not a matter to take lightly and I would encourage you make an informed decision not an emotional one.
Shalom,
Ben Yahuah
http://beyondthechurch.spaces.live.com

Answer 5

It depends on how you view the Torah. If you believe it to be a Divine revelation, and its precepts to be binding, orthodox is the way to go. An orthodox conversion is the only one that's done according to Jewish Law, because to convert according to Jewish Law, you need to accept the Torah and its commandments, and views on this vary with the different denominations. To get a better understanding of where the denominations come from, and what words like "Reform," "Conservative," and "Orthodox" mean, check out this essay: http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ReformConservativeOrthodox.htm

Typically, a Jewish group will accept conversion from within, or from any group more, but not less, traditional than itself. So a Reform conversion is only going to be recognized by reform or secular Jews (but not Conservative or Orthodox), a Conservative conversion will be recognized by Conservative, reform, or secular Jews, and an orthodox conversion is the only one that will be recognized by all Jewish movements.

Before you seek out a rabbi to guide you through the conversion process, I'm going to ask you to consider the following. Judaism does not demand that the rest of the world become Jewish. There's no automatic Hell for all "non-believers," and we don't believe you need to be Jewish to get on G-d's good side. No less an authority than Maimonides himself said "The righteous of all nations have a share in the world to come." Conversions are traditionally discouraged for this and other reasons. Another reason is that if you decide to convert, and to do it the authentic (i.e. Torah-based) way, well, that entails accepting the ENTIRE Torah. For Jews, there are 613 commandments (and that's just biblical commandments - not counting 2000+ years of legally-binding rabbinic enactments). For non-Jews, there are 7 commandments. Check it out:

1. Do not murder.
2. Do not steal.
3. Do not worship false gods.
4. Do not be sexually immoral.
5. Do not eat a limb removed from a live animal.
6. Do not curse God.
7. Set up courts and bring offenders to justice.

These are the commandments you need to keep to be considered "righteous" as per the Rambam's statement above. The reason I mention all this is because, if you convert, but you're not 100% on keeping the Torah, you could do yourself more harm than good. If you finish reading this answer, then go off and have a ham sandwich for lunch, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you become a Jew, though, suddenly, there IS something wrong with that. For an observant Jew, there is no distinction between ritual and ethical commandments. The commandment not to eat pork is just as binding as the commandment not to speak badly of another person. And the commandment to fast on Yom Kippur is just as binding as the commandment not to cheat someone in your business dealings. So it's great that you find yourself inspired by the Torah, but unless being Jewish is more important to you than ALL of the things you would have to give up (and the inconvenience of all those things you will have to start doing), then it isn't for you. However, after all these warnings, you still feel that it may be right for you, that the benefits of joining the Jewish people, and the special way of relating to G-d that it provides, is worth all that, then keep studying, and seek out a rabbi for further guidance.

Now, to touch on your last question - of being black and Jewish, I'll say a few things. First of all, bigotry exists everywhere, and it is an ailment that, I am sad to say, affects even in the Jewish community to some extent. So might some people be rude to you, or look at you funny? It's entirely possible. A lot of people, Jews included, mistakenly think that there is no such thing as a black Jew (except Sammy, of course). In fact, you can find Jews of just about any ethnicity - Black, White, Caucasian, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Asian. When I was learning at a yeshiva (a school for Jewish studies) in Israel, a few of the guys learning there were Black. And not all Black Jews are Jews-by-choice (i.e. converts), either. Israel actually has a large Black Jewish community, comprised primarily of Ethiopian Jews (you can look it up - they're called "Beta Israel" or "Falasha Jews," though I think the latter was perhaps a derogatory term thrust upon them by the Ethiopian gentiles) who were covertly airlifted out by the Israeli government to save them from persecution. My point is that there are more Black Jews than you might think, and though you might run into a few jerks, and you might stand out depending on where you live (I'm in the Phoenix area and I only know of one African-American Jew in Arizona) - though the same can be said of a Mizrahi (Oriental Jew) in an Ashkenazi (non-Spanish European) Jewish congregation, or vice-versa - you ought to be accepted the same as any member of the congregation. And in fact, it is a severe violation of Torah law to remind a Jew-by-choice of his or her conversion, or life prior to their conversion (unless they wish to discuss it), lest they be made to feel like second-class citizens, G-d forbid.

So, I hope this information helps, and I wish you the best of luck in your spiritual journey, whether it leads you to join the Jewish people or not.

For more about the Noachide Laws, and the B'nei Noach Movement (a modern religious movement comprised of people who worship the G-d of Israel, and who follow the Torah as it applies to them - they're not Jews, but they definitely deserve props for what they're doing): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noachide

Answer 6

Whatever works best for you and that you feel like you fit into...not what someone else tells you where you belong.

Answer 7

Why r there different forms? A religion should be its own thing. Why take judaism and twist the beliefs to make other forms? You should choose a religion where you really belive in wut your learning, they speak the same language that u do so you can understand and take in that knoledge, where they act on what there teaching instead of just talkn. Im not looking down on jews, i hav jewish friends and i hav nothing against them. A black jew i think is different and they may not take it so well, not a racial issue but there arent any black jews that are by blood jews.thats how we know Jesus wasnt black, there were no black jews. But on the other hand they might welcome you and be willing to teach you there ways just as Jesus taught people of many different races,backrounds,lifestyles, cultures,etc

Answer 8

Do you really wanna be a second class jew? Converts are never seen the same as jews by blood.

It is like islam in that sense, where arabs have a sense of superiority over their non-arab muslim brothers.

Re Learn: US, Canada, Europe, Middle East, Indonesia and Turkey. Discussions with muslim relatives.

Answer 9

I reccommend spirit-filled Baptist Christianity