Introduction to Judaism
The advantage of working one-on-one is that you can set the pace of the 90 minute meetings. Ideally, the 18 meetings are spread out over the course of a year or more. Working one-on-one with Rabbi Deborah, means that she will help you “shul hop” (visit many different congregations) to see what they have to offer and to help you find a spiritual home.
The advantage of taking a group-course is that you meet others going through the same thing. If you think that a group course is part of your journey, please check out the Union for Reform Judaism courses taught throughout Los Angeles (click here for more information).
If you live in the South Bay, Rabbi Deborah co-teaches Introduction to Judaism with Rabbi Silver at Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach on Thursday nights at 7:30pm (start date: Oct 27, 2011, ongoing enrollment accepted). For more information on this course, please click here.
Conversion to Judaism
Rabbi Deborah works one-on-one towards conversions to Judaism and she has a flexible schedule. Conversion is a process. In Judaism, you learn and experiment first, then we can officially talk about the conversion (but again, you can initiate the conversation at anytime). This course is one of three requirements towards conversion. The course is a minimum of 30 hours of meeting time plus homework. Typically, there are 18 sessions, of 90 minutes each. These meetings can (and should) take place over the course of at least one year.
Something to keep in mind is that we can start studying together at any time, and at any time you can change your mind. While Rabbi Deborah is open to discussing whatever questions you have throughout, she won’t ask you if you are ready to convert until the last three meetings, which are dedicated to preparing for the conversion.
At the end of the 18 meetings, the conversion takes place at the mikvah – a ritual bath ceremony.
Requirements for Conversion
Classes – reading and engaging with the materials and asking questions
Experimenting – you must experiment with Jewish traditions in order to develop a Jewish identity. For example, lighting Shabbat candles, finding a meaningful way to spend Shabbat and other holidays, thinking about your motivations for eating the foods you eat and contemplating the possibility of eating differently. “Experimenting” means that some rituals may stay with you forever, while others will not feel meaningful and/or authentic to you.
Community – When someone converts, that person never converts alone. When someone converts, they are converting into a community. For this reason, some commitment to a Jewish community must be made. Rabbi Deborah can easily help make connections with a synagogue and she can facilitate the conversation about dues. There are many ways to make a commitment to a synagogue (it is not simply a matter of paying membership dues that you may feel are out of your reach).
Over the course of the meetings we cover all the topics below. These topics are covered on a basic level. Some topics will be studied more in-depth, according to the student’s interest:
- Life Cycle, i.e. Birth, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Death rituals in the Jewish Community
- Jewish Calendar and Holidays, i.e. Shabbat, Lunar Calendar, Hanukah
- Jewish Prayer, i.e. Making prayer accessible, navigating the Siddur (prayer book)
- Ethical Eating vs. Kosher Eating: Becoming conscious of our eating habits
- Living a Jewish life: Finding and creating meaning in our everyday lives
- Jewish Texts and Study: Understanding where Judaism comes from and gaining access to various Jewish sources.
- Israel: The Land, The People, The Modern State
- Basic features of Jewish history
- Preparing for Conversion: Knowing when you are ready, How and when to tell other people, understanding how conversion will impact your family, developing a Jewish identity, finding a Jewish community.
I’m ready! So, what kind of a financial commitment do I need to make?
The classes (whether Introduction to Judaism or towards conversion) cost $120/session. There is some flexibility in this fee, depending on how often we meet and location of meetings. Please don’t hesitate to contact Rabbi Deborah directly if you need to make special arrangements.
Remember that conversion is a process. For this reason, this is a pay-as-you-go system. When it is time for the Mikvah (the ritual bath, where the conversion takes place), there is an additional cost payable directly to the Mikvah.
Some kind of financial commitment (one that you can make without stress!!) must be made to a Jewish community in your area.
Feel free to contact Rabbi Deborah directly with any questions you might have.
