Course of Study for Conversion

Texas A&M Hillel offers an introduction into Judaism allowing people to

consider conversion to Judaism.
The process is divided into three parts:
Part 1: The study of Judaism
Part 2: Jewish ritual of conversion
Part 3: Acceptance by the local Jewish community
Part 1:
This is the academic part of the process. It is divided into the following
units and usually takes about 9 months to 24 months for completion.
The time frame is determined by the students ability to absorb the
material and to show an inclination toward a sincere acceptance into
the Jewish faith and people.
Jewish history
Jewish holidays
Jewish life cycle
Jewish home life (kashrut, mikveh etc)
Jewish prayer and the Siddur
Jewish philosophy and Jewish ethics
The sociology of the US Jew
Israel and its role in Jewish life
Introduction to halalchah and Talmudic thought.
Shaelot uTeshuvot
Students are required to read written material on each of these units,
attend weekly class discussion, and at least one Jewish religious
service per week.
Students are also encouraged throughout the year to have one-on-one
sessions with Rabbi Tarlow and are required to have a minimum of
three personal meetings.
Part II
Upon completion of the academic aspects of the conversion process
those people who then seek admittance into the Jewish faith and local
Jewish community are required to have a personal discussion with the
rabbi to determine that this is a choice made out of personal desire
and without other motives.
Upon completion of this process, male converts are expected to
undergo brit-milah (if needed) or tipat-dam, a beit din is formed to
examine the candidate for conversion and the person is submerged

either in the Mikveh in Houston or Dallas or at a place with living

waters
Part III
The final process is declaring publicly the desire to become part of the
Jewish community, the announcement that the person has severed all
ties with any former religious faith , and processes his/her loyalty to
the Jewish people under all circumstances. A certificate of conversion
is presented to the candidate and a special oneg is held in his or her
honor.
Personal information:
Mr. Jonathan Steed met with Rabbi Tarlow in the early in the Fall of
2000 and passed his initial interview allowing him to become a
candidate for conversion. He understood the requirements as outlined
above and began his Jewish studies plus his Texas A&M Hillel activities
during the Fall semester of 2000.
During this intensive study, Steed completed all material requested of
him as outlined above. In August 2001, Jonathan Steed approached
Rabbi Tarlow saying that he felt it was time to continue with the
process and requesting the commencement of a formal conversion
process. After passing through all of the conversion procedures (see
above) as required by our local Jewish community he was accepted in
the Jewish community on September 30, 2001 and given the Hebrew
name of "Yonatan ben Avraham Avinu".
On Friday evening, September 30, 2001, Jonathan Steed appeared
before the entire Texas A&M Hillel congregation to be given his
certificate, which he now holds. Jonathan Steed was an active member
of the Texas A&M Hillel community, residing in College Station for the
next three years and sitting on the student Board of Directors.