Synagogue course - AIBU to go even though I’m not planning to convert to Judaism?

[Fandango52]

Hi everyone, hope you’re all well. I originally posted this on the Jewish Mumsnetters section, but haven’t got any replies so far, so just thought I would repost here as there’s more traffic.

I’m not Jewish, but am very interested in learning more about Judaism, and I’ve emailed a couple of synagogues where I live - in London - to ask if I could visit them.

One has agreed for me to visit, and the other has asked if I might want to do a course which is open to people wanting to find out more about Judaism and people who’d like to convert.

The course lasts for a year, with weekly sessions, and course attendees are encouraged to play full part in synagogue life, including attending services, and there is a reading list as well. It’s not clear yet whether course attendees are expected to buy the books on the list or whether the books could be accessed another way. There is also a cost to the course - £400 for the year - which works out roughly to about £10 per session.

On the one hand, I’m keen to do the course as it sounds very interesting and it would be a nice way to connect with like-minded people, as course attendees are encouraged to have dinners at the synagogue together as well as the weekly sessions.

On the other hand, as I’m not planning to convert to Judaism but just interested in it, it sounds like quite a lot of commitments and I worry I might be a bit out of place and in the minority. There is the option to go along for three sessions to try out the course before committing to it, and I quite like that idea.

I’d be keen to find out if anyone here has done anything similar to this course and what your thoughts are on it.

Thank you!

@SnappyCyanShaker
I am a convert and have come across others who have done the same.

There are thousands if not more of Jews who converted. There ‘is’ a belief by some branches of Judaism that you can’t actually stop being Jewish - that if you are born Jewish you are always Jewish. I don’t know the biblical reason but the more modern reasons are things like the forced conversions in Spain, the Nazis including anyone with a biological Jewish grandparent etc.

My brother’s wife converted, plenty of people at my synagogue chose to be Jewish and I’m sure many others across the world. This member of ‘they’ is very glad to welcome them all.

Apologies if you didn't want replies. I was just interested in your statement about "Afaik it depends on what part of Judaism you are talking about - whilst Jews don’t proselytise in the sense of looking for more followers, I believe it’s much easier to convert if you are joining a reform or liberal synagogue than to an orthodox one."

As a Tom Lehrer fan I knew he was a non-observant Jew and wondered how that fitted into the various other contemporary categories of Jewishness, which might have interested the OP.

Broadly it says in ancient texts to deter coverts. The traditions is to dissuade three times - this comes from the Book of Ruth when Naomi tells Ruth to go back to her people three times.

So there is an overall tradition in all streams of Judiasm not to seek converts.

Haven't read the other posts, I'll come back and do that.

I'm Jewish and my husband converted through a Liberal shul and did the course. We are not very religious in terms of practice.

I'd say, give the initial sessions a go, give going to shul a go. See how you feel. You can start the course and not convert if you want, no one will pressure you.

Where are you located? There used to be a Jewish museum in London but it closed over covid sadly. There's a cultural centre in London JW3 which has loads of stuff. There's a Jewish film week. I'm sure there's plenty in other cities. I would check out some cultural as well as religious activities.

You are probably aware but the different streams of Judaism are very different from each other! I would recommend you stick to Liberal, Reform or Masorti. Liberal and Reform services will have a lot more English, Masorti and United and others it will all be in Hebrew.

Hope that helps!

Feel free to ask me more questions.

Thanks, I am aware of this. I was referring to those who like to talk about Jewish people in general as ‘they’ and pontificate about what ‘they’ think, usually from a place of ignorance, or worse.

You could just get yourself a copy of ‘Judaism For Dummies’ … pretty comprehensive .

Also, ‘not to seek converts’ is very different from ‘you can’t do it.’ DS is doing it!

Ex orthodox now progressive / liberal Jew here!

I would focus on liaising with liberal synagogues. There is one in Streatham which is very come one, come all.

Seconded re JW3!

I suspect the course is for people who are preparing to convert. If you are just curious, perhaps you should turn up to some services and chat to a friendly rabbi.

Christians run courses like Alpha and Christianity Explained which are free, but much shorter - I think they are about six to eight sessions iirc. They give you a copy of the Bible too, so you can read it at home, and they give you dinner after each session.

Maybe some synagogues might run similar courses. But I just looked up our local synagogues and a similar course to yours is £750! It would be good if they had a briefer set of sessions similar to Alpha.

I've just come across this thread.

My mother converted to Judaism 35 years after marrying my Jewish father. They then a little while after had a Jewish wedding ceremony. I was their Maid of honour. They are Reform of course. In Australia, not here.

I consider myself to be Jewish and always have done.

My parents synagogue has a number of quite regular visitors. They are knows as Friends of the Synagogue and some of them are very active in social events etc. Some of them are just interested, others are actively Christian and want to have a deeper connection with Judaism as part of connecting with Jewish / Christian history as well.

I think it is fair to say that non-Jews are vetted extensively as to what their intentions are. It's too dangerous for us otherwise, particularly in the current climate. That's just self-protection.

I am in a teeny rural area in the UK and we are miles from a synagogue so we just have a small Jewish group, of varying Orthodoxy. All of our events have a strict vegetarian requirement in order to get around any kosher requirements. We do have people contact us and say they wish to join in. Usually because they had a grandparent (for example) who was Jewish and they are interested. We do welcome them of course, but again we have to check them out and they don't come to anything (our events happen inside private homes) until a few of us have met them in public to try and gauge if they are actually intent on harm.