Jewish Conversion Programs

Introduction: This section of the website is intended as a snapshot of these different programs/methods of becoming Jewish. The information shared is drawn from the websites of these programs, personal experiences of the author, and a few other sources (most often cited by way of links).

Conversion Comparison Chart:

Name of Program	Mode of Preparation	Bet din required?	Mikveh required?	Circumcision required for males?1	Approx. Cost	Recog. by Humanistic Jewish movement?	Recog. by Reform movement in the US?	Recog. by Conservative movement in the US?	Recog. by Recon. movement?	Recog. by Orthodox Movement?
SHJ Adopting Judaism	Guided self-study	No	No	No	$952	Yes	Yes	Maybe	Yes	No
DIY-Humanistic	Optional	No	No	No	$0	Yes	Maybe	No	Maybe	No
Reform	Class	Yes	Often but some rabbis make exceptions	Optional	$100-1000 3	Yes	Yes	Maybe	Yes	No
Liberal (UK)	Class, involvement with synagogue for 15 months	Yes	Strongly encouraged but not required	Strongly encouraged but not required	Unknown	Yes	Yes	Maybe	Yes	No
Conservative/ Masorti	Class	Yes	Yes	Yes	$100-10004	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Orthodox (in Israel)	Classes, often other work that focuses on being observant of mitzvot	Yes	Yes	Yes	$0-?5	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Orthodox (not in Israel)	Class or private study	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reconstructing Judaism	Class	Yes	Yes	?	$100-10006	Yes	Yes	Maybe	Yes	No
Universalist: Sim Shalom	Class	Yes	Yes	No	$1,500	Yes	Yes	Maybe	Yes	No
Multi-Denom: Darshan Yeshiva	Mixed	Yes	Depends on rabbi	Depends on rabbi	$1990-$23907	Yes	Yes	Maybe	Yes	No
Reform Movement (UK)	Class or private study	Yes	Unknown	Yes, with medical exceptions	£350 for the bet din, plus any costs for the class.	Yes	Yes	Likely Yes	Yes	No

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Humanistic

Society for Humanistic Judaism – Adopting Judaism Program

DIY Humanistic Jewish Conversion

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Reform/Liberal

Reform Movement (US) Conversion Programs

Liberal Judaism (UK) Conversion Programs

Reform Judaism (UK) Conversion Programs

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Conservative/Masorti

Conservative/Masorti Conversion Conversion Programs

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Reconstructing Judaism

Reconstruction Judaism – Conversion Programs

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Orthodox Movements

Orthodox Conversion Information

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Jewish Universalist

Sim Shalom Jewish Conversion Program

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Post-Denominational/Multi-Denominational

Darshan Yeshiva Jewish Conversion Program

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1. For discussion of the issues regarding circumcision for transgender men and transmasculine people, see this article from Svara.
2. The only cost is the required membership in the SHJ.
3. The costs often include the cost of required classes, and fees for mikveh, and/or the bet din. Many congregations do offer reduced-priced classes for financial need upon request.
4. The costs often include the cost of required classes, and fees for mikveh, and/or the bet din. Many congregations do offer reduced-priced classes for financial need upon request.
5. At least some programs are free according to ITIM, but there may be governmental fees that are not included.
6. The costs often include the cost of required classes, and fees for mikveh, and/or the bet din. Many congregations do offer reduced-priced classes for financial need upon request.
7. The lower amount reflects a $400 need-based scholarship that is available on request. Please also note that this amount does not include the cost of travel to the rabbi’s location for the final rituals.