Becoming Jewish: Building a Support System

Human beings are social animals. Rare indeed is the person who goes through life with no one to offer friendship, comfort and support. When contemplating a major life change like conversion to Judaism, it is essential that you have a strong support system. Learning a new religion, embracing a new culture, practicing unfamiliar rituals and spiritual introspection can be challenging. You are moving out of your comfort zone and into a new world. It is vital that you look at those who are a part of your life and build supportive relationships with them.

As important as it is to have a strong support system, building such relationships can be difficult. Not everyone will approve of the changes you will be making. You may be living in an area where the Jewish community is very small. And unfortunately, not all Jews are as welcoming to newcomers as the Torah teaches they must be. All of these issues can make that task of  becoming Jewish that much more difficult. How does one go about finding and developing new relationships in a challenging environment?

Begin with yourself.

By that I mean make sure that you are committed to learning, practicing and following through with the process of becoming a Jew. If you don't have a siddur, get one and begin davening (praying) daily. This will help to strengthen you spiritually. You will also gain confidence in knowing when and how to pray and say various brachot. The stronger your spirit, the more confident your observance, the more comfortable you will become within the Jewish community.

Maintain family ties.

Hopefully you will have support from your family members. Be sure to maintain strong family ties. Your non-Jewish relatives may not understand your motives or desires. It is important that they know that you are not rejecting them or simply abandoning your past traditions. Keep the lines of communication open. If you are not living at home make sure you visit or call frequently. Be willing to discuss your plans and share your needs and desires with them. It isn't always easy but it is important to maintain strong family ties.

Get involved in your synagogue.

Participation in a synagogue community is a vital means of maintaining a strong support system. Learn what opportunities are available to you and become involved. You will make new friends, learn more about how the community functions and become immersed in the Jewish way of living. No one can live a Jewish life in isolation. Many mitzvot require a minyan or at least the presence of fellow Jews. In this way we strengthen each other. Don't sit on the sidelines. Get in the game!

When you build a viable support network, you will become more at ease with your new life. And you will enjoy the experience more and more as you progress.

Related links:

How Do I go About Converting to Judaism? (Reform)
The Conversion Process
Why is Conversion to Judaism so Hard?