Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 6/27/2006

Question
Dear Rabbi,

Do I have a pickle for you.  My husband and I are living in Okinawa, Japan.  My husband is the lay leader for our community.  (We are a military family living abroad.)  As such, we have no rabbi.

I would love to convert, but am without a rabbi, let alone a bet din.  

I have lived a complete lifecycle.  Have actually been studying Judaism and the 3 major movements for the past 14 years.

We have one child already, and would like to have more, however, I feel I need to have my conversion finished so that our next child will not have to convert.

I would gladly go to Israel however, my husband's job keeps that out of our reach, as one of us needs to be home with out son.

Please help,
Dory  

Answer
Dear Dory,

Thanks for writing and I truly wish I could help more long distance.

To be honest, I am trying to set up distance education course for conversion.

The challenge to such an effort is that it is limited to information and skills, ideas and beliefs. What such an approach cannot achieve is as important as information and ideas: community, shared experiences, shared identity, etc.

It would appear that the latter is being provided or partially provided with your family and your husband in Okinowa.

In the meantime, have you spoken with the Jewish chaplain in Japan - or is there not one?  Have you spoken with Henri Noach in Tokyo?

Looking forward to your response - bdlerner1@comcast.net or through Allexpert.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov