THE COURSE OF STUDY FOR GERUT Walter Jacob

QUESTION: Several members of a congregation have questions about the conversion of a woman who has recently joined the congregation. She has moved to our city from another state and they claim that the study which led to her conversion was insufficient. Upon investigation it was discovered that the woman in question was converted to Judaism after only an afternoon of instruction. She followed the normal ritual of conversion with the appropriate witnesses. Since that time she has lived as a Jewess and since her arrival in this city she has attended the synagogue with some regularity and affiliated almost immediately. May her conversion be questioned?(Ernest Levi, Los Angeles , CA )*

ANSWER: For many decades the North American Reform movement has provided a fairly uniform course of study for conversion. This has been followed in most communities throughout the country. The length of time spent studying may

vary from six to eight months as may the intensity of the instruction provided. The intent, however, has been to give the convert a reasonable background of the major aspects of Judaism and an understanding of basic concept, holidays, practices, liturgy and

theology. There have, of course, been deviations from this norm usually due to very specific circumstances, as for example a perspective convert who has long been active in the Jewish community or one who has privately studied Judaism for years; under such circumstances the normal course would be redundant.

In all instances the primary consideration remains the intent of the individual to convert. If intent is present and rm will usually be accompanied by a desire to learn far more A introductory course. A major aspect of our courses 1S the Pie of the convert to many aspects of Judaism which may test his

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