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发表于 2005-10-18 23:50:00
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与多伦多正统犹太机构联系后了解到的归依程序,供参考。
THE PROCESS OF CONVERSION TO JUDAISM
The decision to convert to Judaism, to embrace all of its laws and customs, will affect virtually every aspect of your life; where you live, what and where you eat, where and how you socialize, the relationships you will have with family members, where your children will go to school, camp, etc., what kind of work you do and the expectations of the workplace in terms of work hours, travel, socializing, etc.
It is a commitment that cannot be made without extensive thought, learning and preparation. The process of conversion to Judaism is a lengthy one. Before Beis Din will approve the conversion, we must be positive that you are fully committed to observing all of the laws and precepts of Judaism, that you are fully integrated into the Jewish way of life and are comfortable in the Jewish community – that you will be able to live a full, happy and productive life as a Jew.
The following outlines the steps that are involved and what will be expected of you in the process of conversion:
1. Upon contacting our office for the first time you will be directed to speak with our Administrator, who will discuss with you your reasons for considering conversion to Judaism, your background, your current situation with respect to how and where you live, your family relationships, friendships, whether you are involved at present with Jewish friends and the Jewish community, what your level of Judaic knowledge is, etc.
* Please note that if you are, or become involved in a relationship with a Jewish partner, it is very important that we know this, as both partners in the relationship will need to be involved in the conversion process, and both must be committed to living a fully observant Jewish life. A lack of sincerity in this regard could mean that you will not be able to continue the conversion process. If, after the conversion, Beis Din were to be made aware of a Jewish partner, Beis Din has the right to withhold the Certificate of Conversion and bring the validity of the conversion into question.
2. Depending on your situation, and your level of knowledge, at this point you will likely be provided with a list of suggested reading material to get you started. We ask that, as you read, you consider what you are learning on a very personal level, having in mind that, should you choose to continue the process of conversion, everything you are reading and learning would apply to you personally. Think about whether you would truly be prepared to take on all of the obligations of Jewish life.
* Before you can complete the process of conversion, you must be fully committed to keeping all of the laws of Judaism. You will be expected to know and practice the requirements of Jewish daily life. You must be observing all of the laws of Shabbos and Yom Tov in an observant home as deemed appropriate by the Beis Din. You must be observing kashrus in and out of the home and you will be required to submit the name of the Rabbi who koshered the home. You must be familiar with the laws of family purity and be prepared to observe these laws. You will be required to be fully observant for a minimum period of one year before the actual conversion takes place.
3. The next step, should you decide to proceed, will be to meet with Rabbi Reuven Tradburks, the administrative Rabbi for the Beis Din. Rabbi Tradburks will assist you to complete the ‘Application for Conversion’, will speak to you further about what will be expected of you and will give you direction to help you progress in terms of learning and observance. At this time you will be required to sign this document indicating that you have read and understood it.
4. There is a Beis Din fee of $600.00 for the conversion process, which Rabbi Tradburks will discuss with you In addition you will incur the cost of any learning arrangements you might make – private lessons, etc.
5. There are four Rabbis in addition to Rabbi Tradburks who are involved in the Beis Din for conversion. As you progress with your learning and observance, you will be scheduled to meet with these Rabbis, usually every three to four months during the process. You might meet with only two or three of the Rabbis at one time, however, you will need to meet with all four Rabbis, and all four must give their approval before you can complete the conversion. It will be your responsibility to contact the Administrator one month before it is time for you to meet with Beis Din to schedule an appointment.
At these meetings the Rabbis will want to know details of how you are progressing, what you are learning and with whom, how you are living, how you are integrating into the community, are you connected with a Rabbi, a synagogue, etc. They will ask you questions to determine your level of knowledge.
6. As you progress, you will need to be living within a Jewish community, within walking distance of an Orthodox synagogue, so that you can live a full Jewish life, participating fully in Shabbos and Yomim Tovim.
7. It is essential that you develop a connection with an Orthodox Rabbi who will get to know you in your daily life, will agree to sponsor you, and who will ultimately be willing to submit a signed statement attesting to your sincerity, your level of observance, and readiness to assume the responsibilities of becoming a Jew.
8. Couples living together must separate for a period of three months prior to conversion. You will be advised when to separate and will be responsible to inform the Beis Din of the arrangements for separation.
9. When all of these things are in place, and you, your teachers and Rabbi/s feel that you are ready, you will meet with the four Rabbis of the Beis Din who will assess your readiness to take the Conversion Test. This is an extensive written test covering every aspect of Jewish life and observance.
If approved, you will be provided with a copy of the test. You will need to make arrangements to take the test in a supervised place, such as at your synagogue, your teacher’s or Rabbi’s home, etc. The test usually takes between ten to twelve hours to complete. It does not have to be done all at one time, and can be completed in sections over a period of days or even weeks, depending on your situation and preference.
Once you complete the test, you will deliver it to Rabbi Tradburks who will review it, and schedule you to meet again with the Rabbis of the Beis Din. At this meeting the Rabbis will go over your test and advise you if you are ready for conversion or if they feel there are areas that require further attention.
10. Once approved, a date will be scheduled for the actual conversion. This involves ‘tevilla’ – immersion in a kosher mikveh. You will be given detailed information and instruction on how to prepare for, and what is involved in the tevilla at this time. If you have not already, you should now decide on an appropriate Hebrew name.
11. If you are involved in a serious relationship and intend to marry, arrangements will need to be made for the marriage. It will be necessary to wait a minimum of seven complete days after the conversion before the marriage; however it is best to have the wedding as soon as possible after that time.
12. Once the tevilla is done, we will prepare your Certificate of Conversion. This is held in our office for a period of one year after the conversion. You will be asked to come back to Beis Din after one year, at which time, all being well, your Certificate of Conversion will be released to you.
13. When a person converts to Judaism, the Rabbis of the Beis Din become in a sense ‘responsible’ for that person. Therefore the Beis Din may want to meet with you periodically to make sure that you are well and happy, and that you are living a full Jewish life in accordance with the laws of Judaism.
14. At any point in the conversion process, Beis Din has the right to refuse to allow you to proceed further should it be felt that you are not a suitable candidate for conversion.
We are available to answer questions, guide and assist you at any time during the process. You can reach us by calling (416) 229-2600, ext. 2.
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