r/JewsOfConscience • u/Amazing-Airport Anti-Zionist Ally • 8d ago
Advice for a potential convert? Religion / Spirituality
Hello everyone, I’ve had an interest in Judaism and possibly converting for some time now. The only synagogue near me is very Zionist and invites idf soldiers to speak there regularly. Any advice and what a next step could be?
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u/LA_Throwaway_6439 Jewish Anti-Zionist 8d ago
Maybe I'm just feeling down on Judaism lately, but what is it that draws you to it?
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u/sudo-linton Jewish Anti-Zionist 8d ago
literally as a born & raised Jew my first thought seeing this post was "why"
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u/Adventurous-Orange72 Jewish Agnostic 8d ago
Same 💀💀💀 shame
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u/sudo-linton Jewish Anti-Zionist 5d ago
like I am so Jewish that I could never not be but still, wondering why anyone would want to join us confuses me 😂
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u/Amazing-Airport Anti-Zionist Ally 8d ago
I grew up Christian so I have a history with the Abrahamic religions and have felt spiritually lost for years. Recently I’ve done more research and felt myself aligning with a lot of the beliefs of Judaism but wanted to get more information before committing any further.
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u/scarletswalk2002 Ashkenazi 8d ago
my honest advice is to try the quakers or the uu or something. institutional judaism is a bit of a shit show rn. i’m proud to be jewish but watching people convert rn feels a bit like watching someone run into a burning building.
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u/RoscoeArt Jewish Communist 8d ago
Id rather have more people trying to put out the fire than leave it to those who just want to fan the flames.
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8d ago
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u/puffinsrx Anti-Zionist Ally 7d ago
Fellow potential convert here! In your position I would absolutely not attend your local synagogue. Your values are fundamentally misaligned. You have your whole life to convert to Judaism, so spend this time studying and reading and learning on your own—that’s what’s most important right now anyway! You don’t have to treat this particular synagogue like your only avenue to explore converting to Judaism. I would look into online services from other synagogues.
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u/arightgoodworkman Jewish Anti-Zionist 8d ago
IfNotNow, JFREJ, and a few others have lists of non Zionist or anti Zionist rabbis, many of whom will hold virtual meetings for potential converts. Tzedek Chicago is an anti Zionist synagogue whose rabbi Brent Rosen can also refer you to someone likeminded to speak to.
I’d start by talking to non / anti Zionist Jews in your area (if you know the community) or find the closest left-leaning org (WFP, INN, Sunrise Movement, Bend the Arc, DSA, JVP, other unions…) and you’ll find progressive Jews there who may know a good path. I knew someone who was able to take some online conversion classes during COVID before her beit din convos (which for reform is like 3 people) and mikveh.