Journeys of the Soul: Celebrating Conversion to Judaism 

Earlier this month, on Shavuot, we celebrated receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai together.  Shavuot is the quintessential communal holiday.  According to a midrashⁱ, all Jews — past, present, and future — stood at Mt. Sinai to collectively experience the revelation of Torah.  This includes not only those born into Jewish families but also individuals who have chosen to join our community through conversion.  For over three millennia, the Jewish community has embraced those who seek conversion.  Even if one’s origin may not be Jewish, once a convert becomes a part of the Jewish community, we recognize that they, too, were with us at Sinai.  How lucky we are to welcome them home after such a long journey! 

In the summer of 2020, the CCAR published a quarterly journal focused on conversion.  In an essay submitted by Vickie Carroll about her “journey home” to Judaism, she paraphrases something she was taught during her conversion process.  She wrote: “A rabbi tells a potential convert that we are all created with a Jewish soul, but some get lost in the transition to birth.  The fortunate ones find their way home.”  Over the past several months we have been blessed to “welcome home” many beautiful Jewish souls, many who have chosen to publicly celebrate their conversion during services.   

There are common misconceptions about what motivates a person to convert.  I believe it is because there was a time when the majority of people who sought conversion were influenced to do so because of marriage.  That may be what initially brought them through our doors, but they, like all other converts, did so because Judaism called to them on some level: spiritually, communally, intellectually.  Today, marriage is no longer a leading reason people seek me out to discuss Judaism.  With rabbis increasingly officiating interfaith weddings, the external pressure to make the commitment within a specific timeline has diminished.  Conversion students are driven by an array of deeply personal, spiritual reasons.   

Some individuals choose to become Jewish because they have come to realize that Judaism “fits” them.  In some cases they have a Jewish spouse, raised a Jewish family, and have, in essence, been living Jewishly for decades.  They may not have been ready to make their commitment official until now but have long felt that Judaism is a part their identity.  For others, choosing to be Jewish is akin to coming home—a recognition of their Jewish soul finding its rightful place.  My friend and colleague, Rabbi Dr. Kari Tuling, eloquently shared: “My soul has always been Jewish…. I became Jewish because I simply could not be anything else: I had at last come home to the place where my soul belonged.”    

It is crucial that we welcome new Jews with the same warmth and inclusivity extended to all members of our community.  The process of conversion demands significant time, effort, and spiritual commitment. The depth of one’s Jewish nature is not defined by the length of time they have been Jewish.  You only need to spend a short amount of time with them to realize this. In the words of one of my colleagues: “Converts don’t convert to Judaism to become converts.  They do so to become Jews.”  We would all do well to remember that.  Conversion is a deeply private matter, and some prefer not to discuss it at all.   

As someone entrusted with guiding conversion students, I have been deeply moved by their personal reflections and stories.  I wanted to share a few of their comments, especially because much of what they love most is the community that has embraced them. Thank you for the warm welcome to the many travelers making their way home, no matter how long the journey.  Let us continue to be a community in which we all are able to grow into the fullest expressions of our Jewish selves. 

Here are a few sentiments shared by our students: 

• I feel at home and truly accepted in this community. I can truly be myself here.   

• The Temple community has become a home away from home. 

• Joy and Judaism are inextricably linked in my mind. 

• Throughout this process I have focused on intentional growth and learning and I want that to continue. I want to be intentionally Jewish. To make my Judaism purposeful. And like my conversion journey, this pursuit has no end, only waypoints, places to stop and honor all the steps taken before taking the next. 

• Can a person ever say they are done learning or exploring? 

• I was excited to work and put in the effort toward the process because the rabbi was just as excited to teach me as I was to learn from her. 

• My first step after my conversion is to officially become a member of Temple Israel and give back to the community that has supported me for the past year. 

• I feel most connected to Judaism when I am delving into Jewish texts and having meaningful conversations about them with others. 

• Engaging with text is so important to our lives as Jews. 

• The end of this process is only the beginning of a lifelong journey of study, celebration, worship, mitzvot, and yes, even debate. I will never stop wrestling with God, and I’m beyond excited to do so. 

^[i](Midrash Tanchuma, Nitzavim 3:1)