CONVERSION /ADOPTION

We, at Humanistic Judaism UK, define our Judaism by what we do believe, how to live by Jewish values in ways that contribute to Tikkun Ha’Olam (repairing the world) and to our own moral, ethical, and spiritual development. As such, we affirm that adopting Judaism is a commitment to living up to Jewish values, to celebrating the festivals of the Jewish year, and marking personal life-cycles accordingly. This commitment is not imposed on us by an external authority and no group of Rabbis decides on how or what we do. We are free to decide for ourselves. Our commitments to our Judaism are our mitzvot (obligations) and we find value in our masoret (tradition).
The Jewish people have always been formed by people who were born into Jewish families, by people who were born into blended families, by people who were born into non-Jewish families, and by people who adopted the Jewish community for their own personal reasons. We affirm this diversity and cherish it, for arguably it is one of the ways in which the Jewish community has thrived and survived throughout time.
We affirm the 1980, Association of Humanistic Rabbis resolution stating that we should support those desiring to become Jewish. We should support them in their quest, and decisions about the course of study towards identifying as Jewish would remain with the individual rabbi or community who were welcoming them. Thus, we recognise and accept as valid the conversion processes of communities and leaders affiliated with the Humanistic, Progressive (including Reform, Liberal, Neolog, Reconstructionist and Renewal), Conservative & Masorti, and Orthodox (including Sephardic) denominations of Judaism.
We also affirm the second resolution of the International Federation of Secular and Humanistic Jews which stated that “… a Jew is a person of Jewish descent or any person who declares themselves to be a Jew and who identifies with the history, ethical values, culture, civilization, community, and fate of the Jewish people.”
We have found that many people who approach us for conversion desire a process that helps them feel more authentic and affirmed by other Jews. Therefore we affirm that it is equally as important to be identified as Jewish by other Jews in community as it is to identify oneself as such, there being certain steps that help validate this mutual identification. We do not mandate immersion in a mikvah, nor berit milah (male circumcision), but we do support individuals wishing to do so (we do not endorse circumcision on minors). We offer the services of a Bet Din (a panel of three Jewish community leaders) following a period of Jewish learning and grounding in Jewish holidays, Shabbat and Kashrut.
NECESSARY FIRST STEPS
1. Write an essay titled “why I identify with the past, present, and future of Jews and why I identify as Jewish” sending that to Martin.hjuk@gmail.comwith the subject “ADOPTION.”
2. Adopt a Shabbat practice, it could be as little as lighting two candles at sunset on Friday nights, to a full 25 hours free from work and strenuous activities. Watch a class on Shabbat here. Keep a record of your experience.
3. Start researching the concept of Kashrut (keeping kosher). Think carefully about what it means to have boundaries around what we consume and why all cultures have them to differing extents. Whatever choices you make about kashrut, we would like them to be informed by Jewish values.
4. Join Humanistic Judaism UK and make a membership donation.
5. Start thinking about your Hebrew name, which could be a translation or approximation of the sound of your given name. We can support you in finding one that’s right for you.
6. Write to martin.hjuk@gmail.com requesting a meeting with our leadership team to discuss how you want to be supported in your conversion process.
7. Keep a record and file of any essays you do as part of your conversion process.
CERTIFICATION
Following confirmation of your Jewish identity via completion of all the previous steps and meeting our Bet Din, you will be given an adoption/conversion certificate signed by our leadership team, postage and printing costs required.
Under 18 year olds require parental/guardian consent from the beginning.
Conversion through Humanistic Judaism UK is recognised by the Society for Humanistic Judaism, and there is a varying degree of acceptance from Progressive strands of Judaism. Orthodox, Conservative and Masorti do not recognise Progressive and Humanistic conversion. Most Progressive Judaism denominations will require that you have undergone a period of study, regular engagement with a community, and that you have appeared before a Bet Din in order to accept your conversion.
Humanistic Jewish conversion is not currently accepted for emigration to Israel.
Humanistic Judaism UK affirms diaspora Jewish identity and we call for a peaceful process to end the war[s] in Israel and Palestine. We support the right of all people living in the land of Israel and Palestine to freedom from persecution and to live in peace without fear.