Converting to Judaism
Jewish Conversion Chicago
4500 Dempster st.
Skokie, IL 60076
ph: 847-675-4141
fax: 847-675-0327
rabbi
Home
Looking for a Jewish Conversion program in the Chicago area?
Centrally located in Chicago metro, we are just minutes off Edens/I-94 or twenty minutes east of I-294 on Dempster Street in Skokie. Classes Sunday mornings throuigh September 2008, Tuesday nights thereafter. Enrollment is ongoing.
Study with us in our conversion institute. This Chicago based institute for Jewish conversion has continuous classes which are completed in a five month cycle approximately of 16 weeks of classes. This Chicago Jewish conversion program is the largets in the Metro area.
Also see the page on our Para Rabbi training Program
CONVERSION TO JUDAISM
4500 DEMPSTER, SKOKIE, IL
Conversion to Judaism is a serious undertaking. It is our hope that the information you find here can help you in your exploration. For more information, or to schedule an appointment to find out if our program is right for you, please contact Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg 847-675-4141 or rabbi@convertjudaism.org
1.Chair of Bet Din: name Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg
2. Name of Course Director Rabbi Gail Ginsburg
3. Telephone 847-331-3584
4. Email address rabbi@convertjudaism.org
5. Snail-mail address of contact: Street/ City/ State/ Zip
6. Location(s) of class(es):
7. Dates of onsite session(s): Online is ongoing enrollment. Onsite course runs three times a year, September, February, May
8. Number of class meeting per session 16
9. Curriculum God, Holy Books, Other religions and Judaism, History, prayer, Ritual Objects, Shabbat, Holidays, Jewish People, Anti-semitism and Holocaust, Israel, Life cycle,
10. Cost for each session: books/computer, Judaica, instructor
11. Is Hebrew reading part of the basic classes or additional [before/after
class or other time] additional course or on own
12. Does fee include, and if not what are the charges for each
a. Bet Din $100 each for other 2 Rabbinic witnesses
b. Mikveh $150
c. Hatafat Dam Brit (if males already circumcised) $75
d. Circumcision On their own expense
13. Does a candidate need to have a mentoring Rabbi, and if so, what are
their responsibilities for the candidate
14. Does the Region sponsor any post-conversion program(s), and if so,
please describe We have Conversion havurah, also all students receive my 3x a week Torah email
15. Does this program include provision for children yes children over 7 attend
16. Does this program require any prospective spouse to participate
The middle three recently spoke at the synagogue about their journey to Judaism. Program Director Gail Ginsburg is on the right.
Program Overview: Taught by Rabbi Jonathan and Rabbi Gail Ginsburg, Ezra-Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation offers a comprehensive program for people who are considering conversion to Judaism. The program is designed to provide a strong foundation in Jewish learning, a welcoming entry into the Jewish community, and a pathway to explore the sacred Jewish journey of your soul. Candidates come to us from the entire greater Chicago area. The program is both challenging and fulfilling. Goals include introducing class participants to ways in which they can become familiar with Jewish concepts and values, create a Jewish environment in their homes, become comfortable with Jewish holidays and life cycle events, and learn to worship as a part of the Jewish community.
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg, a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary (Conservative Judaism), a member of the Rabbinical Assembly of America (Conservative Judaism) and an associate member of the Reconstructionist Rabbbinic Association, directs the conversion Bet Din and conversion rituals.
Program Components and Requirements: In order to complete the conversion program, you (and your Jewish partner if you have one) attend our 16 week Fundamentals of Judaism class, attend Friday night, Saturday morning and holiday services, study Hebrew, write a final essay and meet several times with Gail Ginsburg and once with Rabbi Ginsburg, and attend various learning activities. To help you progress through this program, we have a variety of support mechanisms to assist you.
Length of Program: We expect candidates to study with us for a minimum of nine months, in order to experience Shabbat and holidays, and to become attuned to the rhythm of the Jewish year. Occasionally, candidates take longer than one year to complete the program. There is no set start date for the program; candidates may begin the program at any time of the year.
Beit Din and Mikvah: As the final step in the conversion program, you will participate individually in a ritual immersion in the Mikvah of the Conservative Movement at Beth Hillel Congregation in Wilmette and appear before a Jewish Rabbinical Court of three members (a "Beit Din") to answer questions regarding your desire to become a Jew. So that you will be acquainted with and feel comfortable with the mikvah process, we will discuss the details before you finish the program.
Hatafat Dam Brit: Males desiring to convert must undergo circumcision. If you have already been medically circumcised, you are required to undergo a ritual circumcision prior to appearing before the Beit Din. This ritual, called Hatafat Dam Brit, involves the symbolic and painless drawing of a small drop of blood.
Location: All classes meet at EHNTJC 4500 Dempster Street, Skokie Ill. 60076. Classes meet Sunday mornings, 9:30-11:30, virtually year around.
Fees: $300 for tuition; plus book and material fee of $100;
OUR CONVERSION BLOG
www.jewishconversionchicago.com/blog.html
Photos of some recent graduates:
Rabbi Gail Ginsburg, a college professor, directs the program. Gail is a Jew-by-Choice and former Lutheran Minister, co-teaches the class and does the spiritual counseling. This is a unique opportunity to be guided in the process by a Jew-by-choice.
The synagogue website is www.ehnt.org
Esynagogue.org is a not-for-profit corporation, incorporated in the State of Illinois
Rabbi Ginsburg is Rabbi of the Congregation and co-teaches the class. His website is www.jonathanginsburg.net
Read his daily blog at www.rabbireflects.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2008, Esynagogue.org
Unless otherwise stated on a page, the contents of this material, including but not limited to the text, graphics, sounds and scripts contained herein, were created by and are the sole property of Esynagogue.org, Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg and Rabbi Gail Ginsburg. The contents of this site may not be reproduced.
4500 Dempster st.
Skokie, IL 60076
ph: 847-675-4141
fax: 847-675-0327
rabbi
