Converting from Jehovah's Witness to Reform Judaism??

Question

Hi, I was raised a Jehovah's Witness but now I'm converting to Judaism with a Reform rabbi. (Long story, as you can imagine.) I was just curious, do most Reform Jews pray three times a day? The reason I ask is that after looking over the Gates of Prayer (Reform siddur) it seems more difficult to use at home than a traditional siddur.

My rabbi also says that most of his congregants don't own a siddur. Is that pretty typical??

Yes, I'm already aware that the Orthodox don't accept Reform conversions, so there's no need to point that out. But since the Orthodox are only a small fraction of American Jewry, it's not a huge concern of mine especially since I already come from an "outcast" denomination . . .)

What are some other issues I can expect as a former Jehovah's Witness becoming Jewish? I'm leaving the Witnesses because I disagree with them and feel an amazingly strong connection with Judaism.

Answer 1

Reform Judaism is the branch with the most relaxed rules. Most Reform Jews don't pray three times a day; any Jew who wants to is more likely to gravitate towards Conservative or Orthodox. So, if one doesn't pray at home, why own a siddur?
Reform Jews are probably the most receptive to converts, so I doubt you'll have any other issues. However problems may arise if you find your "amazingly strong connection with Judaism" growing deeper, and you decide to join a Conservative or Orthodox community. You'd probably be asked to go through another conversion-process, more in-depth.
BTW, there is no reason you cannot own a siddur of your choice and pray at home if you want to!

Answer 2

in case you sense a powerful connection to Judaism, why are you going reform on an analogous time as they don't rather save on with Judaism? There centers are like going to church, not some thing like a unquestionably synagogue and in case you pass to Israel you may have not have been given any concept what is going on for the era of trip journeys. I strongly recommend you learn the Tanakh( previous testomony) to artwork out what Judaism rather is.

Answer 3

If you feel a strong connection to Judaism, why are you going reform when they do not really follow Judaism? There services are like going to church, nothing like a real synagogue and if you go to Israel you will have no idea what is going on during holidays.

I strongly recommend you read the Tanakh( Old Testament) to see what Judaism really is.

Answer 4

Why didn't you try posting your Q on the main page again?
Only JWs will see your Q from here, seeing the Q was about Jehovah.

I do not know the answer though. I am former Catholic, now JW. I do not, for the life of me, understand why anyone would leave!! (Sorry, just my opinion)

Answer 5

Ironically, Jehovah's Witnesses are UNIQUE among self-described "Christians" in that they believe in the same monotheistic, non-trinitarian Almighty Father as Jews did and typically still do.

Jehovah's Witnesses are great students of the Hebrew Scriptures (they even refuse to call it an "Old Testament"). Jehovah's Witnesses appreciate the richness and robustness of the Law and the prophets, and recognize the literal thousands of ways they point toward Christianity. They recognize that a substantial number of the "kings and priests" who rule forever alongside Jesus must be ethnic Jews.

Jehovah's Witnesses are also unique in applying many of the principles of God's dealings with the nation of Israel to the modern Christian congregation.

Regarding their rejection of the so-called "trinity", Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Scriptures quite plainly demonstrate that Jesus and the Almighty are separate distinct persons, and the Almighty created Jesus as His firstborn son.

(Colossians 1:15) the firstborn of all creation

(Mark 10:18) Jesus said to him: 'Why do you call me good? Nobody is good, except one, God.

(Revelation 3:14) the Amen says, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation by God

(Philippians 2:5-6) Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God's form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God

(John 8:42) Neither have I come of my own initiative at all, but that One sent me forth

(John 12:49) I have not spoken out of my own impulse, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to tell and what to speak

(John 14:28) I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am

(1 Corinthians 15:28) But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him

(Matthew 20:23) this sitting down at my right hand and at my left is not mine to give, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father

(1 Corinthians 11:3) I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; ...in turn the head of the Christ is God

(John 20:17) I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.

(Deuteronomy 6:4) Jehovah our God is one Jehovah

(1 Corinthians 8:4-6) There is no God but one. For even though there are those who are called "gods," whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many "gods" and many "lords," there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him

Thanks again for an opportunity to share what the bible actually says about the distinct persons of Jesus Christ the Son and Jehovah God the Father! Since Jehovah's Witnesses are unique among Christians for recognizing this key bible truth, perhaps the questioner should more thoroughly investigate the apparent religion of his parents.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/ti/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20050422/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20020515/