Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 11/12/2007

Question
Hello Rabbi!

I am wondering about the process involved in converting to Judaism. My husband and I (35 and 28, respectively) are both feeling an urge to deepen our Spiritual journey. Currently, we attend a Unitarian-Universalist church; although he was raised Catholic and I was raised Protestant Christian. But, we are wondering about our son. He is 7 years old and uncircumcised. If we were to convert, would we have to have him circumcised? Or, is he exempted from this because of his age? Please let us know the thinking on this subject. Thank you very much for your time.

Answer
Dear Stefani,

Thnks for writing and I hope I can help.

There are a series of steps in conversion:
1. Education including Hebrew reading for home and synagogue worship, history, philosophy and theology, Bible, Rabbinic literature, Zionism and our relationship to Israel, Jewish calendar cycle and life cycle, dietary laws, Sabbath, Jewish value concepts, mitzvot, relationship with non-Jewish family. That's a bare outline.
2. Observance and attendance at a synagogue regularly

Then after you have the thoughts, the skills, the experiences, if you wish to convert you would be welcomed to the next phase. But, at the worse, you are now a very educated Christian about Judaism. :-)

The next phase consists
1. Meeting with a Jewish court [Bet Din] of three committed and knowledgable Jews, most often Rabbis who will determine if you have both the behaviors, attitude and knowledge appropriate for conversion.
2. Circumcision for a male who has not been circumcised OR a symbolic brit milah [covenantal which means only the drawing of a drop of blood.
3. Immersion in a mikveh which is a "natural" pool of water, both in spring-fed lakes, the ocean and an "indoor mikveh."

Thereafter, most congregations have a methodology for welcoming converts, even though once converted we are not allowed to ever refer to their "pre-conversionay status or life.

In our congregation, it is by inviting them to have an aliyah to the Torah, an honor in which they recite the blessings in Hebrew, and some have even read their portion. If they wish to speak, I invite them to do so, and it is always an emotional moment for us all.

Regarding your son, if he is physically uncircumcised, he would need to be circumcised; if he only needs the drawing of a drop of blood that is obviously easier to accomplish.

In the case of children I always defer to family physician, psychologist, urologist, etc. to be certain of the right time and approach. Each child is different. For example, if Dad and he are going through the same experience, that is quite different from Dad having but the drop of blood and your son having surgery in a hospital.

I would also offer to have you speak/email with a mohel - one who does ritual circumcisions in Israel where they have had literally hundreds if not thousands of conversions with circumcision at all ages for immigrants, especially from Russia. Let me know.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov