Choosing a Jewish Life, Revised and Updated: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends
The definitive guide to the conversion process—for a new generation of Jews-by-choice.
However you choose to fashion your personal journey to Judaism, Anita Diamant is the perfect guide. In this comprehensive, wide-ranging book you will learn how to choose a rabbi, a synagogue, a denomination, and a Hebrew name; how to discuss your decision with your birth family; what happens at the mikveh (ritual bath) and at the hatafat dam brit (circumcision ritual for those already circumcised); how to find your footing in a new spiritual family and create a new Jewish identity; and how you and your children can maintain bonds to your family of origin. Also included are suggestions for readings, prayers, and poems that can personalize conversion rituals; a glossary of terms; and a short history of conversion in Judaism. This revised edition contains a completely updated chapter on how the mikveh is used in the conversion process and an updated list of online resources and books for further reading.
Whether you are just beginning to consider converting or have already started down the path to Judaism, here is everything you will need to make the process joyous, sacred, and meaningful.
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Community Reviews
I'm not Jewish and I dislike religion, but it's always important to learn more about cultures. This book is not about that it's homespun low tier advice for how to do basic stuff when converting. Most advice is basic like "it's a flexible religion and you just need to care about people around you". That's it. We hear 100 of such statements about how you should feel good about it, how you should be polite and kind, how people need to be more polite, how most of the culture is just loose advice.
There is no depth here at all and frankly even I could have written this book. Also, why is this about US Jews only? Where is all the Israel stuff? US Jews are mostly secular so of course advice is vague as breaking any ruleset or cultural norm is not a huge thing.
There is no depth here at all and frankly even I could have written this book. Also, why is this about US Jews only? Where is all the Israel stuff? US Jews are mostly secular so of course advice is vague as breaking any ruleset or cultural norm is not a huge thing.
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