Question: Is feeling Jewish enough to become Jewish?
Shalom,
Looking at my family's history, it seems we have many names that sound Jewish on both of my parents' sides. However, we fail to have hard proof that our ancestors were Jewish. We feel that we are Jewish and we believe in the Torah, but we've never been associated with any Jewish organizations or groups. I feel like an unofficial Jew who wants to become official. Can I just start to be Jewish or do I need to go through the whole conversion process?
Many Thanks, J.
Answer: Thank you for your letter.
You write that you and your family believes that you have Jewish heritage. You say that there are many names in your family that "sound Jewish," but you have no proof of Jewish ancestry. You say that you are an "unofficial Jew" who keeps the Torah, but you do not attend synagogue or associate with other Jews. You'd like to know if you could be recognized as a Jew without having to "go through the whole conversion process."
I could say two things to you. I could say: "No. You can only be Jewish by being born Jewish or by converting to Judaism. In order for you to be a Jew, you must spend a year studying Judaism under the supervision of a rabbi, make a Jewish community part of your life, live a Jewish life, and then complete the process with the conversion ritual, including immersion in a mikveh."
Here's the other thing I could say to you. I could say: "How wonderful. You have a Jewish soul and it is greatly to your merit that you have discovered this truth about yourself. However, in order to truly fulfill your Jewish self, you MUST make your life of Torah into more than something you do in private, you must share it with other Jews. Do not keep your Jewish soul hidden, let it shine to its maximum brightness by studying Torah with a rabbi who can teach you its secrets. Finally, confirm your Jewish self by immersing in a mikveh to cleanse yourself of your former non-Jewish identity."
I want you to know, that I believe -- passionately -- that both of these responses speak a truth to you. If the first response sounds like a rejection of what you already know about yourself, allow yourself to open to the possibility that there is more to being a Jew than just "feeling Jewish." If the second response sounds too deeply demanding, allow yourself to open to the possibility that being a Jew is a deeper experience than you thought.
You should also know that you are not alone. Thousands of people convert to Judaism every year. Why shouldn't you be one of them? Tens of thousands of people describe converting to Judaism as one of the most powerful, spiritual experiences of their lives, not just a process to "go through." Why wouldn't you want to have an experience like that for yourself?
If you know in your heart that you are a Jew, make it real. Don't keep it to yourself, share it with others. There is a whole world of Judaism out there that you have not yet discovered.
Best wishes,
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser
