To want to convert to Judaism?

[indiraisindiaisindira]

No partner.
Parents are non religious Christian. I was baptised.
I have one great grandfather who was Jewish from New York, the odd Jew in the family tree, but nothing to make me at all culturally Jewish.

Strangely, the odd person has thought I was Jewish/or my sister. Despite us being dark blonde.

I have always felt an attraction to the religion. I share their values. I get along much better with Jewish people than others on a whole. I like to read up on their history, religion etc. I really think the religion would give me comfort.

bertrand I'm sending you a live action feed from our kitchen

Oh deliciousness Essential! Your challah bread looks perfect. What's in the stew?

Essential.. I am now feeling massively inadequate! My challah never looks anything like that and, despite being 43, we are going home to my Mums as I just can't cook well enough!

Hummus, that looks amazing!

I used to live near a very large Jewish community and it always fascinated me as a child with the beliefs, culture etc

Just here to reiterate what Ratonastick said. There has been an attempt to get rid of Jews across the world about every 50-100 years: from the Pogroms in Russia, to the 1500s Vienna (where they killed half the Jewish population and exiled the other), to the Spanish Inquisition to the persecution in Iran in the 1970s (during the Shah's time Israel and Iran were actually very close).

The Holocaust is just the best well known and most recent example of Jewish persecution. In fact, in England, King James considered moving all the Jews to Ireland as a way of dealing with both Jews and Irish (he apparently didn't like either).

Indira, the length of time it takes to convert will vary depending on which sect you choose. And yes, it can take some doing to convince a rabbi you want to convert. My understanding of this has always been that due to the history of persecution, they want to make sure someone's desire is sincere before proceeding. At the very least it would take a year as almost all rabbis will want you to go through the cycle of the Jewish year.

Depending on the sect, I'm not sure belief is always important. It might cause people to wonder why you're converting, but after all, Israel does mean "he who struggles with God". Struggle, and dissecting the text, and questioning, is a strong part of the tradition (leaving the ultra-Orthodox out of it).

I love Jewish ethics. That practice comes first and hopefully your heart will follow. So you do that good deed, not always because you want to and certainly not to get into heaven, but because it's the right thing to do.

I like that there is no concept of Satan in Judaism. And that they do not believe that sex is bad (unless coercive). In fact, a man refusing his wife sex is grounds for divorce in the Talmud.

I like that there is so much to learn you can never master the whole thing.

So do your research as to which strain fits your ethics and then see what is available in your area. Many schools in my area have an Introduction to Judaism type class. For those who are getting married, for Christians, for people who are just curious, and for those who want to convert.

It sounds like you may have a Jewish ruach, so don't ignore that voice, just see where it takes you!

flame it's a moroccan chicken with prunes. We're now onto dessert and tea here (an hour ahead in Kenya).

Whoops!

talk to your local rabbi and ask him
That should tell you all you need to know, 51% of the population are excluded.

As pp said, Judaism is more focused on what you do than what you believe. Along with studying, part of the conversion process would be to participate in Jewish life, observe Sabbath and the festivals.

YANBU to investigate and see where it takes you.

Looks amazing Essential. I have Jewish grandparents and have a love for matzos and challah bread.

Ifailed Reform and Liberal Judaism have both male and female rabbis and full participation by women in all aspects of Jewish life.

I'm from an Orthodox background but my grandparents were so strict re observance with my parents, that they rebelled totally. We never went to synagogue, didn't even pay lip service to any of the festivals or really holy days, didn't keep kosher etc. I can't speak for my brothers though, but I still feel very Jewish. Although my parents didn't follow the religious side, they embraced a lot of the cultural aspects and still seemed very Jewish in a lot of ways.

I know a few people who have converted. They joined the Reform branch who are more accepting of conversion I think.

The person I know best, who converted doesn't seem integrated into the local community where everyone has known everyone since forever and you can't go anywhere without bumping into someone you know. I'm not sure if that's because of her personality, the local Jewish community or what really. It would be really sad if you did convert and weren't properly accepted into the community though, so if you do consider it, I'd try attend some services in different synagogues and try get a feel for how welcome you are made, not just by the rabbi, but by the congregation. Some synagogues seem quite cliquey and insular from what I can tell.

Essential your cooking and baking looks fab.

I wish everyone well over the fast.

Ifailed, that's bollocks, of course there are female rabbis. At the moment the rabbis near me are male. We used to have a female rabbi but she was an absolute twat, so I'm very glad she was replaced by a rabbi who's much nicer & happens to be a man. Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist all have female rabbis.

And I know people who've converted Orthodox and modern Orthodox and that's their choice & I wouldn't question it.

Just don't want to leave people with the impression there aren't female rabbis (if that's important to them).

Massive chocolate pudding also look marvellous!

As for people not accepting converts, I think that depends where you live and your age group. Older congregants, some of them can be that way. It is not okay to behave that way, however, and when questioned (sometimes subtly), you don't have to immediately fess up, as it where. As they are not meant to be asking! Questions can come in the form of "who were your parents, dear?" But I think there's an understandable level of concern about newbies, given how the larger community has treated Jews over the centuries. It's not personal, is what I mean. If you volunteer at your schul for holidays, elder care, community support (my schul does a lot of work with the homeless for example), you'll quickly meet people and get to know them.

YY the rabbi at my friend's shul (Reform) is female.

I. A Christian but becoming g Jewish has grown on me for over a year. I love the rituals. My dh isn't going to like it.

Love the pictures!!! My challah didn't bake so well

OP i come from a reform community and it takes a couple years in fact my SIL converted. As others have said it's just as much a cultural thing as religious and if you feel you fit in with us quite well then your half way there

Well, first off, do you believe in God? You didn't say and I think it's a necessary component. Otherwise you're just in it for the baked goods.

Second... are you just in it for the baked goods? I mean, nothing really in your life will change. I have no close family so I get warm fuzzy feelings at the idea of a parallel life where I have lots of family, lots of aunts and cousins and big get-togethers and family weddings, whether I'm watching or something based on Judaism or Indian families or Mediterranean families - but ultimately I know no changes I make can make that happen for me (alas, citizenship of nations or conversions to religiosity will not bestow upon me aunts and cousins.)

The first thing to recognise when seeking happiness is that you will still be bringing you along. If you have some sort of unsatisfied feeling about yourself and your life, Judaism is unlikely to solve it. "Getting on with Jewish people more than others" is a little strange... what's the difference? Will participation in Jewish traditions be something you can do with others (or will they only invite family?) or will you be sitting at Seder alone?

What I'm trying to say is - whatever hole you're trying to fill, whatever shortcoming you're trying to make up for? I'm not sure this is the way to solve it. You perhaps need to identify what exactly it is you think your Jewish lifestyle will look like and how it differs from now, and whether or not you truly have the belief necessary not to be, well, faking it.

Sancia makes some very good points indeed.
I love going to my friend's when she invites me for the occasional Fri night dinner as well as their New Year and Seder get together. We did used to go to my Grandparents for Seder night but that was it. Because my parents got rid of most traditions, lock, stock and barrel (which I think was a shame), our family don't do these things. My brother's married out and I'm divorced. My friend's family life is how you'd imagine a Jewish family life to look like. But that isn't my experience or that of other people I know.

As Sancia says, it's important to ask yourself what your Jewish life will look like and what will be different for you then. Who would you celebrate high days and holy days with - you could go to meals and other celebrations held by your synagogue for those who don't/aren't able to share the occasion with family/friends,but would that give you what you need/want do you think?

I know there is what's referred to as Cultural Judiasm and that's what I'd say I am because although I'm a firm atheist, my family are from a very Orthodox background and I do feel 'Jewish'. But as Sancia says, if you don't believe in the religious side of it all, then you are sort of in it for the baked goods (I love that :) ). Although it has to be said the baked goods are very good indeed.

Reform and Liberal Judaism have both male and female rabbis and full participation by women in all aspects of Jewish life
I know, in some sects it's a bit like the CoE. But you will not be recognised as Jewish by the many more hard-liners. The OP stated she was interesting in converting to Judaism; for some it's not just a social club of like-minded people, it is a misogynist believe system.

In the interests of full disclosure on the holiest day of the year, the baking was in the hands of my various cousins. I was fully responsible for eating, however.

Erm, ifailed, I really take exception to that. Sure there are sects that are misogynist, but the text can be interpreted in different ways and I've never encountered any oppression. In some schuls men and women sit separately, but I've got bigger fish to fry, oppression-wise.

As for belief, I'm also not sure that's 100% necessary. Because being Jewish is more than belief in g-d (& there are many names for g-d because there are many ways that being is seen as manifesting, including as a female energy). Being Jewish is, in addition to belief and rugelach, a system of ethics, a way of being in the world. That can exist happily with atheism and agnosticism. And while you do have to go out or have people in in order to celebrate Shabbat and the holidays ... Jewishly, well, that's not so bad. Most communities have various Seders and break the fasts and Purim parties and Channukah parties. It's a very community-oriented religion that also offers up opportunities for individual reflection (particularly relevant at this time of year).