Union for Reform Judaism / Outreach / Conversion / First-Person Perspectives on Becoming a Jew
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FIRST PERSON PERSPECTIVES ON BECOMING A JEW

Below are first person perspectives written about becoming and being a Jew. Read the heartfelt stories and poetry these people have chosen to share. Please feel free to pass along these perspectives to friends and loved ones.

Article A Born Jew's Introduction to Judaism
by Michal Merraro
Article A Note to Aunt Judaism: ( at the news of my partners conversion)
By Leonore Gordon
Article An Open Letter To Those Who Converted to Judaism
by Rabbi Matthew Cutler, Gates of Heaven, Schenectady, New York
Article Becoming A Jew
By Arthur Bargonetti
Article Coming Home
By Becki Brenner
Article Finding Faith in Judaism
By Katherine Finnegan
Article Honoring My Christian Family
By Jennifer Marshak
Article How My Children Help Me
By Martie Lenk
Article Interfaith Families A Daughter and Mother's Journey
By Ariel and Cynthia Salk Temple Chai, Phoenix, Arizona
Article Journey to Conversion
by John Tibbetts, Temple Emanu-El, San Francisco
Document Journey to Conversion (DOC 33.28 KB)
by John Tibbetts
Article My Story
By David Rickerd III Temple Chai, Phoenix, Arizona
Article My Story
By Stephanie Schlossmacher Temple Chai, Phoenix, Arizona
Article No, I Did Not Convert Because My Husband is Jewish!
By Nilmini Klur
Article Passing The Torah
By Ruth Adar
Article Telling My Dad
By Lisa Bock
Article The Convert Among Us
by Rabbi Deborah Prinz, Union for Reform Judaism Outreach Commission
Article The Stranger
By Lisa Bock
Article The World Of Our Fathers
By Judith Erger Smalley
Article Thoughts After Reading From The Torah For The First Time
By Barbara Grosh
Article What Shabbat Means To Me
By Brian Smollett
Article Why Be Jewish
by Katherine Finnegan
Article Why I Became Jewish
by: Alison Blaine

 

These articles, written by Kari Hofmaister, a convert to Judaism, appeared in a series of columns written for her synagogue's newsletter. The columns detail her journey to Judaism, as well as the programs offered by her synagogue for interfaith families, couples and those interested in conversion to Judaism.