Synagogue course - interested in Judaism but not planning to convert

[Fandango52]

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all well.

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!

It does sound like a course for people who are intending to convert, as it includes taking part in services and meals.

If you’re not planning to convert, there are less structured (and cheaper!) ways of learning more about Judaism - books, podcasts, less formal courses online.

It’s amazing that you want to learn more. Good luck with whichever path you take!

Thanks PurpleChrayn! Do you have any recommendations please on books/podcasts I could look at to find out more please? Thanks!

I def wouldn’t do a paid course, there’s so much information online. Start with Chabad.org https://www.chabad.org/holidays/default_cdo/jewish/holidays.htm
I’d recommend ‘falling down the rabbit hole’ - chabad info is very digestible. You could start with the high holy days, the minor festivals, the fast days, the Jewish lifecycle, then look at practice, observance, traditions, laws, history… whatever grabs your fancy!
there are some AMAs on here, one with Jews of all types, and one multi thread from a few Orthodox Jews. I’ve linked them in the past and will see if I can dig up the links.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/jewish-mumsnetters/5126258-im-not-jewish-but?reply=137015815&utm_campaign=reply&utm_medium=share this is the post with the links to the AMAs.

other links regarding Jewish learning on the same thread