The International Assembly for Netzarim Judaism facilitates conversions to Judaism through our beit din and based on our own standards. Before discussing conversions through us we should discuss a few other issues related to conversion.
Who Is A Jew
The first issue we need to address is the question of who is a Jew according to tradition and halachah. Within Netzarim Judaism we recognize any person as born into the Jewish people when either biological parent is Jewish. Further, we recognize as Jewish, anyone who has converted under any form of Judaism, anywhere in the world, where brit milah is done. We do not recognize conversions where circumcisions for men are not required (we do however recognize medically extenuating circumstances). The specific movement or rabbi is irrelevant to us. We also do not recognize conversions done by any messianic organization, regardless of how accurately they copy Jewish halachah.
For more information of the subject of Who Is A Jew, please read this article.
The Politics of Conversion
Judaism, like all religions, is fraught with politics. It is a sad and unfortunate reality of the world that we live in. We need to face the current conversion crisis in Judaism head on. The simple truth is that not everyone recognizes conversions done by everyone else. We try to be very straight forward within Netzarim Judaism. Your conversion could have been Reform, Masorti/Conservative, Orthodox, Sephardic, or under the auspices of Independent, Universalist, post-denominational, Chassidic, or ‘other’ Rabbis. Your training might have been online or in-person. You may have read a little or a lot. But regardless of what rabbi, or what organization, you converted under, if you did a mikvah, witnessed by other Jews, and had a brit milah (for the men), than we recognize you as Jewish. Something that many other groups will not do. Orthodox only recognize Orthodox conversions (and even then there is a lot of infighting). Reform might recognize most or all of them, and Conservative synagogues walk the line. The truth of the matter is that you might be fully Jewish according to Halakhah, but still not recognized in many communities.
The second political issue comes up when we are talking about making aliyah to Israel. The government of Israel controls who they recognize for conversions, so if you are interested in making aliyah, than you need to insure that the organization issuing your conversion documentation is recognized by the Israeli government. Again, politics. However, even if the government recognizes you, the religious establishment may not. You can make aliyah, move to Israel, be an Israeli citizen and still not be able to get married or be buried in Israel if you did not have an Orthodox conversion recognized by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. Again, more politics.
Netzarim Jewish Conversions
Rabbis associated with the IANJ facilitate conversions for sincere seekers. There is never a charge by the IANJ or by any rabbi associated with us. Students might need to purchase their own materials and pay for the cost of a mohel, but the conversion itself is free.
Conversions to Judaism do not occur online. Unless you live close to a rabbi or existing Netzarim community, your education and meetings will probably be facilitated through online means. The bet din may be in-person or online, depending on where you live, but the conversion itself occurs in real life. You will already be living a Jewish life, practicing Jewish spirituality and living a Jewish lifecycle, all of which occurs in real life. When your rabbi and the beit din decide you are ready, you will utilize a mikveh for purification, and at that point your rabbi and witnesses will sign your conversion document and you will be Jewish.
While we refer to our specific approach as Netzarim Judaism, you are not converting to a specific movement when you join the nation of Israel, when you become one of the Jewish people. You are becoming Jewish. A Jew is a Jew. You may be converting under the auspices of the IANJ, and a Netzarim Jewish rabbi, but you are no different than a Jew who converts in New Jersey through an Orthodox rabbi, or a Jew in England who converts under a liberal rabbi, or one in Northern California converting with a Karaite community. We are all equally Jewish.
The formal process of conversion under the IANJ begins by contacting a rabbi in your area if you know one, or reaching out to us through our contact page. The rabbi will arrange to meet and speak with you, to asses your previous knowledge, why you wish to convert, if you understand what it means to be a Jew and to take on the yoke of the mitzvah. Your rabbi will than help you to setup a study program with assigned reading and projects to accomplish. Along the way you will begin to live and practice Judasim until your rabbi feels you are ready, at which point your rabbi will arrange for you to meet with a bet din. The bet din is not there to judge you or find fault with you, they are there to simply confirm what your rabbi already knows – that you are ready to join us. Once the bet din gives their okay, the male student will need to arrange for a circumcision (if they are already circumcised we do not require an extra act known as hatafat dam brit). The whole process of conversion can take anywhere from a month or two for someone with extensive experience already, to six to twelve months for someone with little or no experience.
In special cases, IANJ rabbis may also rush conversions, though they are usually done with the assurance that the person converting will continue their education following the conversion. This may occur for marriages or in certain circumstances regarding child birth. These rushed conversions are very rare and require prior approval of a bet din.