Reading Time: 2 minutes
What questions do you have about Judaism? Submit them online, or fill out the form below.
Finding an Orthodox sponsoring rabbi would be the first step. The Orthodox Union is not the only group of Orthodox communities, but it’s the largest organization of Orthodox synagogues in the U.S. Through their website, you can find their list of recognized Orthodox congregations. That’s a good place to start in searching for an Orthodox rabbi to guide you.
The Rabbinic Council of America provides a link on Orthodox Conversion. They also offer a conversion resource page. Their official conversion policy and standards page will show you what to expect in the conversion process.
Research is a large part of conversion. So reading as much as you can about Jewish history, tradition, and practice is a good idea.
Joseph Telushkin’s “Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History” is a great start.
Any of Rabbi Telushkin’s books will help you learn about Judaism.
“Choosing to Be Jewish: The Orthodox Road to Conversion,“ by Marc D. Angel is one that I’ve seen highly recommended.
“To Be a Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life,” by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin is one I see on many reading lists.
Beingjewish.com offers a suggested reading list for those considering conversion.
You must live near an Orthodox community and be an active part of that community as part of the conversion process. That would be one of the best resources.
