If you have decided to convert to Judaism, you should find a Rabbi to be your "sponsor" to conduct your conversion. You need to be living in or near a Jewish community so that you have access to the Temple and can become integrated into Jewish way of life.

Here are some of the basic elements of a Jewish conversion. This list consists of required stages in an orthodox conversion, although your Rabbi is at liberty to require you to add elements to the conversion process. If you are doing a conservative or reform conversion the list will be different.

The time that it takes to convert to Judaism depends on the level of orthodoxy you are going for, it could take up to two years or as little as three months for some reform conversions.

A standard Jewish orthodox conversion will include the following, you will also be required to begin living a Jewish life and all that it entails.

Jewish Conversion Study:

This includes reading the Old Testament and other books which teach about Jewish law and tradition, for example the book To Be a Jew may be among the recommended reading for your Jewish conversion. The study for a Jewish conversion also includes being taught by a Rabbi or teacher who will explain the certain elements of Jewish life. You will be required to learn the Hebrew blessings by heart and also some of the prayers in Hebrew, which can be read from the Hebrew text or from a transcribed version. To convert to Judaism you will also need to know about family purity, kosher eating, the order of the various prayers and the traditions and laws for each of the Jewish holidays.

Keeping a kosher home

As you study the Jewish laws and learn about keeping a kosher kitchen you will be required to begin living accordingly, this means converting your kitchen to a kosher one. You will learn all the ins and outs of kosher law and have to begin putting all this new knowledge into practice. Among other things you will need separate utensils, plates, pots and pans for meat and milk; separate sinks or washing basins for meat and milk and to not bring non-kosher food into your house. During the Jewish holiday of Passover you will be required to rid your house of every trace of bread and other leaven products. On some of the Jewish conversion courses a Rabbi will come and check out your kitchen and help with any difficulties you may be having applying the Jewish Kosher laws.

Modest dress and behavior

Among the other areas of your life that will change when you begin converting to Judaism your clothing will need to be modest (no vests, boob-tubes or miniskirts) and your behavior appropriate. Promiscuity and excessive alcohol are just two of the behaviors that are not fitting for someone during the Jewish conversion process. Male converts will need to begin wearing a head covering, a yamaka or hat, and the religious tsitsit. This will probably not be from day one of your conversion but from when you have studied about these items of clothing.

Attending temple

You may call it Temple, synagogue, Shul or Bet Knesset, but you need to become a regular attendee. Religious Jewish men attend Temple (or prey privately) three times a day and on a Saturday four times. Women prey privately and attend temple on a Friday night and/or Saturday morning. As a potential Jewish convert you will be expected to attend temple at least on a Friday night and a Saturday morning. You should get to know the community and the Rabbi of your Temple and be seen to be participating in the Temple events and prayer. Usually one of the regular families attending temple will be asked to take you under their wing. Jewish religious services are for the most part conducted in Hebrew, but you can get a Sidur (Jewish prayer book with English transcriptions). In addition to the Temple attendance male converts need to learn how to use Tefillin, in a reform conversion this may also be required of women.

A Jewish Family

Together with attending Temple, as a potential Jewish convert you will probably need to find a religious family which will "adopt" you and include you in their life as a Jewish family. You can attend Temple with them and join them for Shabbat meals, you can also celebrate the Jewish holidays with them. If you are female the mother of the house can explain day to day details of running a Jewish household and if you are a male the father can take you under his wing. If finding a Jewish family is not required on your Jewish conversion then your Rabbi or teacher will most likely include you in some of the Jewish celebrations throughout the year.

Once you are ready for the completion of your Jewish conversion you must undergo a few more steps:

Circumcision

Male converts to Judaism need to be circumcised; there is a symbolic procedure for previously circumcised male Jewish converts.

Beth DinYour rabbi or teacher will decide together with the Beth Din, when you are ready to go for your final "exam" with the Beth Din.

Towards the end of your Jewish conversion you will be required to pass an "exam" with the Beth Din – the Jewish High Court. This will probably involve an interview with the three Rabbis of the Beth Din who will quiz you on what you have learnt and also your sincerity in converting to Judaism. You may be asked questions like: Do you believe in Jesus, will you continue to practice Judaism after the conversion; what is your understanding of heaven or the afterlife; what would you look for in a husband; Who is the Messiah; what do your parents think about you converting; what would you do if you fell in love with a non-Jew after you convert and perhaps the hardest question of all "why not simply practice Judaism and live the life of a Jew without the official conversion?"

In front of the Beth Din the converts must attest to believing that there is one true G-d, the G-d of Israel and he is the source of the Torah and they must commit to observing the oral and written Jewish laws or Halacha.

Mikvah

Once you have passed the Beth Din test you are authorized to go to a Mikvah – the Jewish ritual baths – at an appointed time and immerse yourself, the members of the Beth Din are present to see the head of the converts immersed in the ritual bath. Provisions are made for the modesty of the converts. On exiting the Mikvah you will be finally Jewish and all that remains is to receive your official conversion papers….and of course up hold Jewish law for the rest of your life!

If you are in the United States a good source for information about Jewish conversion is http://www.judaismconversion.org/index.html.