Thinking about converting to Judaism but go to a Catholic school?

Question

I go to a Catholic High School in southern PA and I am a sophomore. My mother is Catholic and father is Jewish. Now that getting older I am starting to understand more about the Catholic faith, and there’s a lot that I don't agree with. I am starting to focus more on the Jewish faith and I am going to the temple to get more info. I am now feeling uncomfortable going to school, last week we had a group of college kids put on a retreat, which in my opinion I thought they were pushy, meaning you must do this and this to be a good Catholic, which made me feel very uncomfortable(my friends also thought the same). I was raised in NJ and live in a rural factory area in PA, I went to public school in the area which I am located and got made fun of for being Jewish and nerdy, it was horrible so I wanted to go to a Catholic school, at the time I was interested in the Catholic faith. I will be going to the temple to find out more info, and I will take it from there, just don't know about school

Answer 1

I don't mean to be rude, but what is your question? I'd like to help, but I'm not sure of what you are asking. Please post more details, and I will come back to see if I can answer.

For right now, I can only tell you to have faith. Part of the conversion process is recognizing and being okay with the fact that once you convert, you're a Jew, and you get everything good--and bad--that comes with it. These bad things often include anti-Semitism and people trying to convert you. It is something you will have to deal with. The best advice I can give you is talk to the rabbi as soon as possible, he will be able to help you.

Peace

Answer 2

Our Lord had this knack of making people feel "uncomfortable". What I am about to tell you is in that same category - but it needs to be said.

If you don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God then indeed, join the false prophets of the Torah loving Pharisees and Sadducees of today who Call our Lord a liar and a charlatan (even if they will not say it) who perpetuated the greatest hoax in history. Go read what the non-biblical Talmud really says about Jesus of Nazareth and the utter blasphemies it spews against the Mother of God.

No other man spoke the way He did and no other man ever claimed moral and spiritual authority over the entire human race. No other man ever said “Before Abraham was I AM”. He was not some nice milquetoast limp-wristed philosopher or prophet espousing feel-good clichés on “tolerance” and human “love”; He cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit; He drove the money changers out of the Temple and He came with the sword of Truth, the Truth which would divide families and set brother against brother - and He said if you do not believe that He is the Son of God you will die in your sins.

Talk about being "uncomfortable"! He said unless you eat My Body and drink My Blood you will have no life in you"; talk about being "uncomfortable"!

He said destroy this Temple and I will raise it again in three days. And the Jews cried “blasphemy” and put Him to death. He rose from the dead - believe it or die in your sins. St. Paul said that if he did not rise then our religion is for naught - it is barren - a complete hoax - and the Talmudic Jews are right. If that’s what you believe, then God have mercy on your soul.

Stay away from modern day "Jewish Catholics" who perpetuate the lie that the Old Covenant has never been abrogated - they spread poison and still believe “they” are the chosen ones. All true Catholics are the “chosen ones” - the New Zion (the Catholic Church) which saw its fulfillment in the redemptive merit of Christ's Blood.

He is either the Son of God or he isn’t - and your acceptance or rejection of that truth will have eternal consequences - for outside of His One Mystical, Ecclesiastical and Corporal Mystical Body there is no salvation - period.

May you make the right choice - for choose you must - you are either with Him or against Him - there is no middle ground. Ponder (pray) seriously over this Man of Nazareth, study the traditional Catholic Faith (it cannot change) and read the conversion stories of some famous Jews, such as the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Israel Zolli (1945), and Alphonse Ratisbonne who was converted by the direct intervention of our Blessed Mother.

Wear the Miraculous Medal and pray the Rosary every day - you will need all of the Spiritual weapons at your disposal; for the world and the evil one will tempt you to reject the one and only source of your salvation - pray he does not succeed.

Answer 3

Awesome...you have to decide which type of Judaism fits you. So if there are Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform synagogues around try and visit one of each and see which one you like best. Then, like paperback said, when you feel thr pull go and speak to a rabbi. Some will discourage you some might not. If you're sincere, be persistent! The rabbi will tell you what you need to do, etc. But most of all, good luck!!

Answer 4

Catholic schools accept people of all faiths (as long as you can pay tuition).

Get the best education you can, and always be true to yourself.

Just because you go to Catholic school doesn't mean you approve of Catholicism at all. You can show up to the masses and watch and listen without it injuring your faith, can't you?

Most kids in Catholic school aren't even the slightest bit spiritually inclined at that age. Just relax and study hard!

Answer 5

According to Torah law, being Jewish is passed down by the mother, not the father. If your mother was not born Jewish, then according to Torah law, you aren't Jewish. If she was, then you are.

So if you want to convert to Judaism according to Torah law and be accepted as a Jew by all facets of Jewish society, you will need to undergo a full conversion under an Orthodox Rabbi, a study period, coming before a Beit Din, and immersion in the mikvah. If you're male you'll need to undergo a circumcision if you haven't already had one, and if you have, you'll need to have a small drop of blood drawn.

Reform conversions are not acceptable for moving to Israel under the "Right of Return" at all in Israel, you will not be considered a Jew there if you convert through the Reform movement. You will not be considered a Jew there if you just adopt the religion of Judaism even though your dad is Jewish, either. It has to be your mother born a Jew, for that.

Orthodox conversions are acceptable for moving to Israel under the "Right of Return". Recently the law was changed to allow Conservative converts the Right of Return as well, but this is being fought against and may change in the future, back to being Orthodox only who are accepted.

So further down the line if you feel that you want to move to Israel as a Jew under the Right of Return, you will need to have this information and take it into consideration.

If your father is a Reform Jew, which I am assuming because you used the word "Temple" instead of shul or synagogue, please be aware that a conversion done through Reform is not done according to Orthodox traditional Torah law, and you will not be accepted by Orthodox Jews as a Jew.

Just a heads up for you to consider. You sound like you may have a Jewish soul that seems to be waking up. If this is the case, then you will almost certainly end up converting to Judaism and nothing will be able to stand in your way.

So it's important that you have all the information about it that you need in order to make a decision that is best for you.

I wish you the best! Good luck and much success to you. In the meantime maybe your parents could put you in a Jewish school if there is one in your area, you might feel more at home there.

Questions about non-Orthodox conversions:
http://www.beingjewish.com/conversion/non-orthodox.html

And for those people who are telling you to go find a "Messianic Jewish" group, please keep in mind that these are not Jewish, they are Christian. This movement was begun by Baptists as a means to convert Jews by deception, getting rid of all Christian symbols in their churches etc. and dressing up like Jews, learning Hebrew, etc. They are Christians, not Jewish.

The best way to protect yourself against this is education, to learn the actual JEWISH prophecies for the Messiah and what he is supposed to do, the circumstances of his birth, etc. which bears no resemblance at all to what Christianity has. Please see:

http://www.aish.com/spirituality/philoso...

http://www.messiahtruth.com/response.htm...

http://ohr.edu/ask/ask00j.htm

http://shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/fa...

http://www.beingjewish.com/toshuv/whynot...

http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=1...

http://www.jewsforjudaism.com

Answer 6

Go to the source that you believe in. If you believe in Jesus then go the bible, if you don't then the Old Testament or other holy writings. Don't get caught up in tradition or peer pressure. Above all else, pray to find our creator. He'll let himself be found. Be around those you want to be like.

Answer 7

I think I know where're you're coming from. As problematic as Catholicism is, why not explore the idea of Yeshua of Nazareth being the Jewish Messiah before you embrace Judaism completely? Many Jews came to the conclusion, that he indeed is the Messiah. Check out their claims before you jump.

Answer 8

Well, you'll have to make up your own mind on this. But, after you visit the temple, look for a Messianic Jewish group. You may like it better. The temple crowd will not want you to do this.

Answer 9

You should really talk to your parents about your feelings. If your dad is Jewish already I'm sure they'll understand.

Answer 10

Well if it was your choice to go to Catholic school, can't you convince your parents to put you in another school again?