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 |
| 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 |
Humanistic
Society for Humanistic Judaism – Adopting Judaism Program
DIY Humanistic Jewish Conversion
Reform
Reform Movement Conversion Programs
Conservative/Masorti
Conservative/Masorti Conversion Conversion Programs
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstruction Judaism – Conversion Programs
Orthodox Movements
![[Orthodox Judaism]](https://humanistictorah.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/orthodoxjudaism.png)
Orthodox Conversion Information
Jewish Universalist
Sim Shalom Jewish Conversion Program
Post-Denominational/Multi-Denominational
Darshan Yeshiva Jewish Conversion Program
- For discussion of the issues regarding circumcision for transgender men and transmasculine people, see this article from Svara.
- The only cost is the required membership in the SHJ.
- 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.
- 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.
- At least some programs are free according to ITIM, but there may be governmental fees that are not included.
- 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.
- 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.