Thank you for writing and sharing your thoughts.

According to the Code of Jewish Law (the "Shulchan Aruch"), there are three
requirements for a valid conversion:

1) Mikveh - All converts must immerse in the Mikveh - a ritual bath linked to a reservoir
of rain water.

2) Milah - Male converts must undergo circumcision by a qualified "Mohel." If he was
previously circumcised by a doctor, he then undergoes a ritual called "hatafas dam."

3) Mitzvot - This is the clincher. The convert must believe in God and the divinity of the
Torah, as well as accept upon himself to observe all 613 mitzvot (commandments) of the
Torah. This includes observance of Shabbat, Kashrut, etc. -- as detailed in the Code of
Jewish Law, the authoritative source for Jewish observance. This means that a motor
vehicle is not used on Shabbat, that cheese is eaten only with kosher supervision, that a
woman uses the mikveh every month, that hands are ritually washed before every bread
meal, that the status of a Kohen is preserved, and much much more.

All of the above must be done before a court of three Jewish men who themselves
believe in God, accept the divinity of the Torah, and observe the mitzvot. In the case of
someone who denies fundamental principles of Jewish belief (such as, the word for word
divinity of the Torah), or offers to perform the conversion without requiring full mitzvah
observance, the conversion would be invalid according to the Code of Jewish Law.

There are two excellent books which are helpful for conversion:
- "To Be A Jew" by Chaim Halevi Donin
- "Becoming a Jew" by Maurice Lamm

Also recommended are two real-life accounts of non-Jews who converted to Judaism:
- "Migrant Soul" by Avi Shafran
- "The Bamboo Cradle" by Avraham Schwartzbaum