Why do you have to go though 2 years of school to be jewish?

Question

And how much does this cost?

Answer 1

Why shouldn't you have to understand the religion you follow before you choose it?  All religions should follow this example.  That is why evangelical Protestantism is so theologically and doctrinally muddled and insipid - it doesn't even insist that pastors are educated in their faith, let alone converts.

Shuls are almost always free.  I have attended a couple myself on and off when I was learning Hebrew, as an open atheist, with no recrimination or pressure.

EDIT - ermm... if you're one why not just ask the Rabbi about your friend's attending Shul and if there would be a cost for this?  Wasn't for me in two different cities, so it's certainly not expensive (I bought books of course).

Answer 2

Hey Mary M, Joe J, I see you learned to keep your questions secret & your avatar names less consistent to hide your obvious trolling to insult Jews.

None of this is true.  You aren't Jewish (no Jew could come up with such garbage.)  It isn't expensive.  There's charity to cover the cost if needed as well.  There's only a symbolic prick of blood.  If that troubles you, your a wimp.  And converts have held many, many a high level position in Judasim.

You have repeated this rash of false questions for several days now.  You are a true bigot, & anit-semite.

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Divine Light

Zionist liar -- care to repeat any more "Hitler - like" like generalized hatered of Jews?  What's particularly idiotic is I didn't mention anything about a homeland (zionism).

Answer 3

A rabbi is entitled to charge for his time in the preparation and teaching of conversion courses so $30 per course may not be so ridiculous depending on the situation.

The use of a mikva can also be subject to a fee as any public facility, such as a pool and the like, in order to help with maintenance costs.

Additionally,there may be legitimate costs for people's time throughout this process (the mikva attendant, secretary of the Beit Din, etc).

So, you have Rabbi's class costs (minimal), mikvah charges (ours costs $12 per visit) and the only other fee I can think of would be the annual cost of joining the synagogue. Our annual fee for an entire family is $900. We don't pay for High Holidays, etc. There are many classes available that are free.  And, no one sets a time limit on how long it takes.  Two Years?  Ridiculous.

As far as being "a second class citizen", this is also absurd.  A converted Jew is respected as much - if not more than a Jew born into the religion.

Anyway, whoever informed you it was expensive is inaccurate.

Answer 4

Firstly, it does not always take two years, though it will take a minimum of one, yes.

Secondly it is not 'school', as such. We take conversion seriously: what religion doesn't? Being Jewish is not easy, and Judaism is a complex religion. Why on earth shouldn't someone who wants to join the Jewish family have to understand PRECISELY what they are getting involved in?

In terms of cost: the only costs, if any, are very basic for things like books and also maybe some classes. I've never heard of anyone being unable to convert because of money problems. Once it is clear that someone is genuine about wanting to join the Jewish family, then they get total support and help.

http://www.becomingjewish.org/

http://www.ajewwithaview.com

FIREBALL - why do you keep saying that when EVERY DAY virtually, we Jews keep explaining that one can convert to Judaism?!

EDIT

No Rabbi would EVER have told your friend such RUBBISH about being an 'outsider'. That is UTTERLY UNTRUE.

Once someone converts they are every bit as Jewish as those of us born into the faith. There is NO difference between us!

So I don't know who your friend has been getting advice from, but it's BAD advice!

As for precise costs: your friend needs to find out from the Rabbi and synagogue he will be converting with. Preferably NOT the one he is with right now and that has been MISadvising him!!

In the Talmud it states: G-d has a special affection for converts, as they consciously seek out the Jewish faith.

Answer 5

My suggestion would be to ask a number of different Rabbis.  There should be a nominal fee (as Phoenix suggested) for the Rabbi's time or there may be class fees.  It may not take as long as 2 years (as Paperback has rightly noted), but a lot depends on your friend and the classes and the Rabbi.

I'm a bit dismayed with your sentence "you will stil be a second class outsider".  Not true!  Once you convert, it is forbidden to remind one of their former status and in fact, many converts are looked upon with favor, since they CHOSE to become Jewish!

Good luck!

Answer 6

same reason it takes two years for confirmation, there is a lot of information and instruction and traditions to give, and they need time to grow spiritually and to be able to take this education and use the disciplines in their adult lives..

Answer 7

I would advise your friend to find a different rabbi.

Since it is very clear in the Talmud that G-d has a special place in his heart for those who convert, and there is a mitzvot that one should treat them *better*, as well as one forbidding anyone from mentioning their past as a non-Jew, any rabbi that says that they will still be an outsider is in the wrong and shouldn't be teaching the class.

There will be a lot of books to buy, and there are some rabbis that will charge a minimal fee for the teaching of the classes, but all the people I have heard of who converted said that it was fairly easy, especially since there isn't a lump sum involved.

Answer 8

no....they are born into it thru the mom...