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Is there any chance I would be able to convert if I don't live near a synagogue?

  

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Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg: Welcome. I'll be with you in a moment...what's on your mind?

Wannabe: hi, i wanted to know whether there's any chance i would be able to convert if i don't live near Shul. my finances have prevented me from moving but i really want to convert instead of waiting another few years

Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg: there would involve alot more then just a shul

Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg: but the rabbi involved in your conversion process would definately say to move closer to a shul

Wannabe: i know, he told me that i should move and then apply to the Beth Din. thing is, i moved but then i couldn't afford the place and i had to move again. I'm at uni (i've still got 2 years to go) and i don't really have any money to move again. do you think there would be any possible way to make this work if i'm not living near shul?

Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg: have you started the process of conversion?

Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg: as it is , it would take a while

Wannabe: no, the rabbi said that i won't be able to until i move and that after i move i would have to apply to the beth din. he told me that unless i can walk to shul on Shabbat that they won't take me in and start the process

Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg: ok, there is much prep work to do even before you start the formal process with the Beth Din.

Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg: living in a Jewish community is an integral part of living as a Jew, and a Beth Din usually won't accept the prospective convert until they are living in a Jewish community.

Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg: but before you reach that step you need to do much studying to prepare yourself for life as a Jew, and you can begin studying now.

Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg: when the time is right and you are ready to make the move into a Jewish community you will be ready to make the move into Judaism

Wannabe: thanks for your time, it's good to have someone to discuss these things with:)

Ed. note: Also read "Why should I choose an Orthodox conversion?"

All names, places, and identifying information have been changed or deleted in order to protect the privacy of the questioners. In order to preserve authenticity, the chat sessions have been posted with a minimum of editing. Please excuse typographical errors, missing punctuation, and/or grammatical mistakes which naturally occur in the course of informal chat sessions.

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Shabbat
(pl: Shabbatot). Hebrew word meaning "rest." It is a Biblical commandment to sanctify and rest on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. This commemorates the fact that after creating the world in six days, G-d rested on the seventh.
Shul
(Yiddish) Synagogue.
Beth Din
(Lit. House of Law). Rabbinical court.