Kosher Skinny Dipping

My Conversion Story (Briefly!)

In March of 2004 I took the plunge. Literally.

Actually, the story starts a little earlier–October ‘02 to be exact. I vividly remember walking from the train station to Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple for my appointment with the rabbi. I thought I might want to be Jewish. I was nervous. What would he ask? I had never been in a synagogue before; it was all terrifying and exciting at the same time. A the end of my meeting he said, “Okay Sara, let’s see if you have a Jewish soul.” That day I started my formal study of Judaism under the guidance of my helpful rabbi, and lo and behold–it seems this Catholic girl did have a Jewish soul, after all. My year and half of study culminated at the mikveh (ritual bath), where, in the presence of my mother and Ron’s mother I immersed myself in the water and came out a Jew.

Things to Consider

1. Go to the Mikveh! This turned out to be the most personally meaningful part of the conversion process for me. I highly recommend participating in this ritual–even if it’s not required by your rabbi or congregation.
2. Don’t be afraid to shop around for a synagogue before you start studying with a rabbi. In some ways, it’s the easiest way to get an idea of how the different branches of Judaism really “feel.” I attended my first Friday night service not understanding a word of Hebrew or the structure of the service, but it still was a powerful experience.
3. Speaking of synagogues… think through your choice of which branch of Judaism carefully. For me, it was an easy decision and I have absolutely no regrets for having converted through a Reform congregation, though I did run into difficulties later while trying to find a mikveh to use before my wedding. (I was turned away by a local Orthodox mikveh for being “not really Jewish.”)
4. The amount of literature on Judaism and conversion is daunting. Here are three books that I found especially enlightening, and ones that I would recommend to anyone interested in learning about Judaism:
   • Wanderings, by Chaim Potok
     A wonderfully written narrative about the history of the Jewish people over the past two-thousand years. An exhausting but highly recommended read! I would encourage non-Jews to read this as well, as he does a marvelous job of detailing the start of the Christian and Muslim faiths as well.
   • Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History, by Joseph Telushkin
     Entertaining and well-organized, Telushkin’s book is a veritable encyclopedia of everything Jewish. This book came in handy for many a dinner-table debate.
   • Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends, by Anita Diamant
     This book covers the entire conversation process with insightful information on what to expect and how to prepare for the life-changes ahead–illustrated with many personal stories. Several sections deal specifically with how to “break the news” to family and friends.