Course of Instruction

Overall Objectives

The process of integrating into the community takes time and is multi faceted. While you need to read and to learn about Judaism, you also need to be practising it and exploring it and finding ways for you to feel comfortable as a Jew.

It is essential that all would-be converts are equipped with the skills necessary to lead a Jewish life. During the course you should cover issues of fact, customs and laws, ways to be part of the community and how to integrate your Jewish identity into your daily world.

You will be converting into the branch of Judaism known as Reform (also sometimes called progressive). While it is important that you understand orthodox traditional practise, it is also important that you (and your partner) feel comfortable within a Reform context. Reform is neither ‘diluted Judaism’ nor ‘second best’ – it is a valid dynamic expression of Judaism that is more than 200 years old in its present form.

You will need to have the ability to conduct basic home ceremonials (Kiddush for Shabbat and festivals, havdalah, Seder etc)

You will need to have the ability to follow and participate in communal services

You should have the confidence to perform mitzvot in the synagogue

You should have a knowledge of the basic vocabulary of Jewish life.

With this in mind, a vocabulary list is appended to this document. The more you know these terms, the more at ease you should feel in Jewish company

Hebrew reading is a basic skill, and you need to have reasonable fluency in the services, and the ability to sight read – accurately if slowly. 

It is also important that not just the ability to decode the letters is achieved, but that you have some reasonable recognition of words and a siddur/ritual vocabulary

The aim is that you will be equipped to understand and live the identity of a Reform Jew – in both ritual and ethical areas of life. This cannot be done only in formal classes – it is up to you to build up your Jewish identity during your conversion – and afterwards too. 

Prayer Goals

Know by heart:
a) Blessing for candles – Shabbat, Yom Tov, Chanukah.
b) Blessing for wine
c) Blessing for bread
d) First paragraph of the Shema
e) Blessing for children where appropriate
f) Kaddish

Be able to read with fluency – and also understand and be able to explain:

a) First two paragraphs of the Amidah – also to know the meanings behind the rest of the Amidah
b) Blessings before and after Torah
c) Blessings before and after Haftarah
d) Ma Tovu
e) Bar’chu and response
f) Aleynu
g) Kaddish
h) Kiddush – morning and evening
i) Havdalah
j) Birkat HaMazon


In addition the candidate should be able to find his/her way around the prayer book and be able to read with accuracy – if not speed – any prayer.