Hebrew Voices #51 – How Do I Convert to Judaism?

This is not entirely true.
For the State of Israel, any conversions made by liberal, Massorti and Orthodox rabbis are accepted. And the person who converts through them has the right to legally immigrate to Israel (aliyah) and become a citizen.
Thus, for the State, this person is a Jew like any other Jew.
The problem lies in the fact that there is no civil marriage and divorce in Israel, and this matter is controlled by the rabbinate, which is Orthodox.
Thus, for the rabbinate, anyone who converts through the Reformation is not a Jew and cannot marry another Jew in the State of Israel.
In practice, what happens is that liberals and Massorti go to locations in the Mediterranean, such as Cyprus, to marry/divorce.

The text focused a lot on the prophets and forgot the most fundamental: the Torah.

Conversion to Judaism is a mitzvah found in Shemot 12:48 which says, “and when a stranger (ger) who resides with you makes Pesach to YHWH, (you) circumcises all his males, then he will approach and maintain and be like a native of the land”.

Is very simple: If a non-Jew living in a Jewish community wants to celebrate Pesach, then the Jewish community will perform brit-milah on all the males in their household, and they must accept them as being a natural-born Jew.

It is the community who does the conversion, it is the Jews. And this conversion is material, it is done by removing the foreskin of males who intend to keep the commandments (or at least the Pesach commandment).

Therefore, the refusal to carry out conversions consists of a simple and flagrant breach of the Written Torah.
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Furthermore, in the “spiritual” aspect and in the promises of redemption, the conversion presents itself as the means by which YHWV carries out this operation, especially in certain parts of the world.

For example, Latin America is home to a considerable number of people who are descendants of Jews and who ended up, due to the impositions of the Iberian Inquisition between the 16th and 19th centuries, losing their community ties and Jewish identity, despite the fact that, in certain regions (such as the Northeast of Brazil) have maintained endogamous marriage practices and maintained cultural elements that can be traced back to the Jewish traditions of the Iberian Peninsula.

Today, there is a phenomenon in these regions of rediscovery of this origin and the desire to return to ancestral tradition. And how can this be done without conversion? In other words, through formal acceptance of belonging to the community of Israel?
Unfortunately, this conception, in addition to violating the mitzvah of Shemot 12.48, is also disconnected from the process of redemption underway by Bore Olam in this era.

Shalom!

I am not his wife.

This saddens me. I listened to this and Nehemia’s wife left her faith in Yeshua and turned to Yehovah. You can NOT come to Yehovah except through Yeshua. So she lost both. She was already a “jew” with a circumcised heart in Yeshua.

“Jews” does not refer only to the descendants of the tribe of Judah, but also of descendants of any Hebrews who lived in the southern kingdom of Judah prior to and after exile and return. There were more than just Judah-ites living in the southern kingdom. As there was no return of the northern kingdom as of yet, that fulfillment is still yet future, at which point all “Israel” shall be saved. If I am mistaken I do hope for correction please

Nehemia, have you looked at the scrolls they found in Herculaneum? It was buried at the same time as Pompeii but much better preserved. They found a library with scrolls still intact, but very fragile. Last I heard BYU was put in charge of using new technology to try and read the scrolls. I am very curious to know if they will find any information useful to Bible understanding.

A good teaching biblically sound. It’s a Spiritual matter of the heart not a pedigree.

I love this teaching, “How do I convert to Judaism?”
So well done. I love who you are and how strong a man of valor you are.

Blessings Pappy

A time will come when Israel will not only need but welcome the Lost Ten Tribes to complete the Whole House of Israel in an expanded and greatly strengthened State of Israel.

Benjamin has always been with Judah, as well as most of Levi. There are at the most ten tribes of Israel who need to cast off paganism, repent, and RETURN to the Covenant to which they are just as entitled as Judah/Benjamin, having sworn to it while still with Moses in the desert. And these Lost Ten Tribes were at one time settled in the original State of Israel, with territorial allotments, before they unwisely separated themselves into the Northern Kingdom and turned to paganism at the behest of their self-appointed King Jeroboam, being subsequently conquered and distributed to foreign lands.

Nehemia, you completely ignored the return of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel! I am one of them, and it is my understanding that the LTT will be gathered into Israel if and when they accept the Covenant, which is between a Holy God and the Whole House of Israel, not Judah only. I am not a Jewess and have no need or wish to be. Most likely I am Ephraimite, most blessed of Jacob’s sons. Israel need the Whole House of Israel, not Jews only. Of course I respect that Judah has kept the Covenant while the LTT adopted pagan Christianity, but being a Jew is not possible or even desirable. Two sticks become one in His hand, remember?

I wish you were right my friend. Joe’s only error is you can technically move here on a Reform or Conservative convertion. You just won’t be considered Jewish. This might change any second though

What I find ironic about the Jews in Israel not being willing to accept non Jews is the fact that, by definition, the members of the other eleven tribes are not “Jews” either. For example, the descendants of Reuben are Reubenites not Jews. The children of Benjamin are Benjamites. What are the Jews going to do when God starts to bring the other eleven tribes back? Turn them away at the door as well?

Shalom,

It is sad how everything important nowadays has to be documented on paper. I’m going through conversion to Reform right now, however I do agree with the true conversion in the Tanakh.
Thank you for talking about this.

May Yehovah bless all the true Hebrew Israelites an Jews.

Shalom !!!!

To Israel,
All converts, orthodox, reform, conservative and Karaite, must go before the Supreme Court of Israel for determination for citizenship. The Karaite’s have been successful in a convert family making Aliyah about two years ago.

Many converts of all streams of Judaism are able to make Aliyah. The Supreme Court has parameters but they are not impossible.

This is heartbreaking. Israel is where we long to be.

I totally agree.

Vida Carr, Ruth and Isaiah 14…(Gal 6:16 = the perfection of Yisrael.)

How Do I Convert to Judaism? Thank you Nehemia and Dev for the truth of coming into the fold.

Over 26 years ago, my husband David, told me that we had to keep the Biblical Sabbath! He was starting his own copy of the Torah from the Hebrew (Devarim 17:18). I told him he was crazy…I worked a small business from home on Sabbath (I grew up Presbyterian, he was Baptist).

However, he was insistent, so I asked for the verses and I studied on my own. After reading about Shabbath, Yehovah made it known to me that I needed to listen to my husband. We never looked back!

We raised two boys, Matthew and Aaron, started Beyt Sefer Academy to homeschool them, and studied Hebrew. We kept Shabbath and were in the wilderness for 5 years, just our family. It was hard on the boys, as we never met others who had children their age. After 5 years, others joined us. Some taught us, we taught others and we tried to teach our families (still working on it).

It has been a journey.

Nehemia we have followed you for many years, thorough Michael Rood (where we first saw you), up until today with you and Keith Johnson. We cannot thank you enough for all you have taught us!

We have known for years that we are of Israel (Ruth and Isaiah 14). We now have others who join us every Shabbath here in NC, including those who have moved from NC to Alabama, Pennsylvania and W.Virginia.

ALL came of their own accord, from Yehovah’s word.

David is still perfecting his copy of the Torah! We may print it someday!

Shalom,
David, Vida, Matthew & Aaron Carr (ALL Biblical Names – How about that?)
Beyt Sefer Academy
Fayetteville, NC

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WEDDING!

So what about Naaman’s conversion? He simply made a statement to Elisha. And Elisha wouldn’t accept anything from him. That’s vastly different than $2250.

I could not agree more.

It seems that Judah is merely HaShem’s control measure to get Torah submitting Ten Tribers to Return and become ONE with Judah (Ezek. 37:15 –>). In terms of Return, Conversion is therefore not a process to make you part of the tribe of Judah. Because Judah is mandated divinely as God’s Justice Arm (Mechoqeck) Gen. 49:10, conversion ensures that the returnee submits to the Torah.

this is not true, Jeff. Firstly, only maternal descendency is recognized. But that wont get you citizenship, it will merely inspire and commit the Rabbis to do a proper conversion for you.

deut 4:2

yes that’s for me. no plurals please. don’t believe the creator needs help.

I agree. its to bad the lost tribes can’t be traced.

Yosef, with all due respect, unless I am not understanding you: all you need to move to Israel is at least one (1) Jewish grandparent! Plus, you do not need to convert as it will just say in documentation : “relative of a Jew”. This is from the very minimal research I have done in the last 4 months.

I was told that the problem “fat” is that on the organs, that was burned on the altar. I typically wash then strain my ground beef. Gets most blood out, and the cooked meat tastes a lot like “fresh home made bread” without the blood.

now that I’m a grown man, I’ve traveled here and there… I’ve learned that the word of yahweh and a song; the greatest things that you can share, “praise yah”, the greatest things that you can share… (etc) Yah bless, have a great shabbath and new moon! And thanks Nehemia for recognizing this truth, about joining the covenant with yah. If I did it, anyone can… (but yes, Yahshua did help me, he is actually the one that got me into yah’s torah)

De donde eres Bernardo, yo de Oaxaca.
(Where are you from Bernardo, I am from Oaxaca)

That’s true. It is written so. We might be from another tribe. What we are now is just very dry bones. We know nothing. First tendons then flesh and blood, then a pause… and our Father YeHoVáH will say the word and we’ll live as part of His people under His Covenant.Ez 37

Isa 56:7  Even them WILL I BRING to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 

I agree. But I also we have YeHoVáH who has promised to take us there in His timing. Something we don’t pay attention to is that there’s a word to describe HOW we will get there. YeHoVáH Himself will BRING US. We don’t have to loose our patience, we learn from Abraham and Sarah.

I mean all of this is well and good, but unfortunately if someone wanted to move to Israel for what ever reason … you really have to convert with a recognized orthodox agency. No reformed Judaism is recognized and no conservative Judaism is recognized, but both will gladly take money for a conversion class that in the end has no power to help you immigrate to Israel in anyway whatsoever …..and unless you have recognized proof of lineage no karaite agencies that I know of can help anyone in anyway via a conversion. It is unfortunate, but as it stands currently this is the way it is and I’d have to say being as God is the controller of all things … it works this way for whatever His reasons are.

The other thing you can do as a non-Jew, you can get a immigration lawyer and for around ten grand you can go through a legal process, and if you are wealthier then most of the lower bracket of people in the world you can immigrate to Israel via legal means . Usually you have to have a talent usable by the state or a certain amount of money in the bank .. this is standard in most modern countries or first world countries. You could also get a job from a leading company willing to pay your immigration legal fees in order to attain your talents and services.

This is the long and short of it without jumping around making it sound like it’s no big deal to live in Israel or not . I often hear this from people who are able to live there or who already did a recognized orthodox conversation and who lived there , oh it’s no big deal , it’s what in your heart that matters . I think it needs to be recognized that it is also put in the heart of many by the creator to be part of Israel and to live there also and experience walking the streets the patriarchs walked and where Gods spirit dwelt and dwells … .

It’s a big deal . And for some it’s s life long dream and so ingrained in one’s spirit it’s not something to devalue… just as having a child might be a dream, or a home, or standing before the mountain of God and or his city.

Shalom.

.

Gal 6:16

The vast majority of the House of Israel are almost wholly unrecognised amongst the nations of the world and are unaware of their identity today. Around 930 BC the united kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms and the northern kingdom, the House of Israel, abandoned the constitution given to them by their creator including the additional but separate covenant of keeping the sabbaths that would have identified (i) their maker and (ii) who they and their descendants were and which parts of the world they would end up moving to. After their abandonment of the constitution and their captivity and deportation by the Assyrians around 720BC they migrated through the Caucasian mountains, across the Mediterranean and by other routes to far away places. They integrated into other societies and eventually became clueless as to their origins. Large swathes of “lost” Israelites went on to form the peoples of Europe, GB and their colonies around the world including the USA, Canada, Australia etc and elsewhere. The House of Judah continued to acknowledge the constitution that the creator had given to them including the Sabbath covenant and have done so even until this day unlike their brothers . . the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Yiskah, I suggest you re-read ALL the Tanach accounts of righteous men and women making a covenant OATH; a VOW to YHWH. It requires the presence of others as witnesses of your spoken word and accountability; a community, or the more modern beit din of today, to hear and see as witnesses of your oath. That is what is provided by KJA to officiate that lifestage oath that you make. Your oath is made to YHWH, and also to the community. They are your community of witnesses. What if you violate that oath. There are other life choice events like marriage, divorce, murderous death, incest, that this community will make judgements given you are now adherent to Halakic Laws as well. Personally, I want the Karaite Council making those judgements based on TORAH, and not from a Rabbinical court. This due to the manmade misinterpretations they have added and subtracted to/from TORAH, and the whole books of manmade laws that have replaced Halakic Torah Law. Now, Yiskah you chose, which would you want judging you in this earthly mans world? The closest rulings to TORAH, or to those from another political religious manmade construct of laws that has been accepted due to religious social pressure from a time since before our Temple was destroyed and we were cast out into diaspora across the globe. Chose well.

let me know if anyone is interested in the rest of the “lyrics”, hahaha…

When I was a little baby, my daddy said “hey son”, learn what you can about the great eternal plan, and praise the holy one, (praise yah), and praise the holy one. (chorus) And I don’t give a hoot about a green back dollar, spend it fast as I can; for torah, psalms, and the naviim, the only thing that I understand, praise yah! the only thing that I understand. (to the tune of “greenback dollar”)

One of my favorites, Nehemia!! Especially loved your prayer at the end! Thank you and Yehovah continue to bless and guide you! Nancy M.

I know this is off topic but I am wondering what Nehemia’s thoughts were on blood as compared to fat when mentioned in the Torah. Are the fat and blood in the muscle edible? It seems almost impossible to get these out of all the muscle. After pouring the blood on the ground and covering it, nothing is mentioned. And the Torah says not to eat any fat or any blood. The same language is used for these two and they are talked about together, although different reasons are given for the prohibition. The fat is God’s and the blood is the soul of an animal.

I would love your prospective on this issue especially because of your knowledge of Hebrew and your love for Yehovah’s Torah.

Correct me if I am wrong here, but there is a distinction between the House of Israel and the house of Judah. Judah are who we now know are the Jews and Israel are those who have been scattered among the nations. To be a part of Israel, the gentile joins themselves to Yehovah as Isaiah states, but that is not the same as being a member of the tribe of Judah. So there is a difference and to join yourself to Yehovah and become a part of the house of Israel still does not make you a Jew. This is where the issue lies between those who claim to be a Jew and not having converted in the eyes of the Jewish establishment and the state of Israel. Those who join themselves to Israel need to study the scriptures to understand the 2 houses and their place in the Lord’s plan and end time events.

Nehemia and Deb, what a fantastic episode. My story is similar to Deb’s, and I converted for the purpose of being accepted as a member of a community bit I always knew in my heart that Yehovah had accepted me into the tribe long before I stood before a Beit Din. This conversation spoke to my heart. Shalom to you both.

Mi casa es su casa en México. Shalom y’all.

I want to learn more. I want to read the Tora for myself. And follow Yahova please help

LOL!

I for one am a person who was awakened by the Creator to a perception which most closely resembles Karaite Judaism. Am of Crypto Jewish origins, and apologize beforehand for any offense, but my conversion has been quite lengthy because I do not accept Talmudic interpretation as the sole authority for interpreting our history and the Torah. The initial conversion starts within ones heart and is a personal Covenant made between the Creator and the creation He chooses to change. In all honesty, given this undeniable truth, what need is there for a person to officially be confirmed by a Rabbi in front of a congregation via a ritualistic ceremony?

I’ve listened to this a few times because my heart jumped with joy at how biblically accurate it is. However, I am disappointed to know that the KJA requires a “legal” conversion, if thats the best way to describe it. Truly, the conversion occurs in our hearts and that is what Yahweh sees and others see as we walk it out. Do you think the KJA or official Karaite movement in general will stop this rabbinic-like conversion requirement of classes and a ceremony etc, and recognize others based off of their own self-identification? I identify as a Karaite but find it concerning that our basis is supposed to be Tanakh alone, but are still promoting a ritualistic conversion. Shalom and thank you so much for your work Nehemiah, it is changing lives and truly helping to bring us closer to true Torah observance!

Interesting, in the Tanach from Avraham, Yitzhack, Yaacov… onwards….. every person who had a “visitation, revelation of יהוה” had a change in the way he understood or viewed GOD and even on his opinion of the existence of יהוה… why would it be any different today?
So I for one, appreciate the study because it emphasizes that it really takes God to love God.

My wife has “suggested” to me that Ruth in Ruth 1:16-17 was committing to Naomi (Jewish Woman) and was the widow of a Jewish man so my commitment should also be to a Rabbi or an observant Karaite in Israel. The Elohim, land, and people thereby being of Israel. She would feel more comfortable converting via Orthodox because it has broader community acceptance which is where the discussion started. Isaiah 56 helps explain YHWH’s acceptance of my commitment but would like for my wife and I to be on the same page.

Please share your thoughts.

May it be so. Amen

I think what some of us who are on this journey are wondering is this. For those who have read Devarim 4:39 and 10:20-21 and understood the plain implications, we have no home in a religion that postulates a plural deity. Nor do we have a place in a monotheistic religion that teaches man-made traditions of which the TNK knows nothing. So, where do we go? Where do we find associates? Because at the end of the day, it’s hard to walk the derech without a little company.

Nehemia is exactly right on, you must join yourself to True Worship/Leviticism. It is entirely unnecessary to convert as to become a Jew; it is acceptance by the Almighty which counts, not any rabbinical court or other manmade institution. Further, it is entirely possible that those drawn to Leviticism are of the Ten Lost Tribes and by birth just as entitled to return to the Promised Land as are those of Judah, Benjamin and Levy. Prophecy is that ALL the tribes will be resettled in the Land. Look to the parable attributed to the Jewish rabbi known as Jesus, the parable of the prodigal son. The prodigal repents of his foolishness and returns with sorrowing, begging to be even as a servant in his Father’s house. The elder son who never left his Father is jealous, and objects to his Father’s celebration to have His younger son back home, but the Father reconciles the two. This will happen, and I believe it will happen in our day.

See Ecc. 12:13. “The sum of the matter…Revere God and keep His commandments.” For myself I was saved from the death sentence pronounced on me by Baptist preachers, by study, enhanced by keeping kosher, more study, and most importantly keeping the Sabbath. It was tough to make that last step, giving up the false christ, but once you know the truth you must accept it or else live a lie, knowing that it is a lie.

Well said, the Torah way, His Words !

Bravo Nehemia! I love to see the truth come out that the Holy One of Israel is not looking for people to be institutionalized into his kingdom. I find much value with your teachings. The old testament is more than 1/2 my bible and is profitable for me to know and understand as much as possible. All my christian apostles had nothing but the old testament to preach their messages from!

As a (One God) christian I see it like this: Most churches are full of the indoctrinated but have they been born again the bible way? Death, burial, resurrection? Ye shall know them by their fruits.

From the lips of a Hebrew of Hebrews trained in the Torah…
In a letter to the believers in Rome, Paul writes – “Everyone/whoever calls upon the Name of YEHOVAH shall be delivered”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10&version=OJB

What an awesome quick recording! Shalom

Amen! As it is written!

Shalom Dev and Nehemia.

Blessings to you and your families.

toda raba for addressing this topic.

My heart is singing in JOY.

Praise YHVH for HIS gathering miracle of HIS PEOPLE!

Amein. amein.

I just want to go home

I am so eager–I yearn to go home to Jerusalem! And…it will truly be YHVH Who brings me as He has promised almost 33 years ago, just weeks after my first child was born, in a dream: Jeremiah 3:14. I wandered in the desert of the diaspora of christian denominations after her birth, studied myself out of christianity eventually, and have been so blessed these last four years as our Wonderful Father has taught me what the new covenant is! Jeremiah 31:31-37 during a time when I had no job and only time to study and pray! What a joy to read our scriptures (Tanach) within the context, language, history and there is no punctuation marks so it must be read in context!! I learned I have Jewish ancestors on my mother’s side (of blessed memory) out of eastern Europe, and have not yet researched my father’s of blessed memory. My great aunts would never speak of it, and later in life, my dear mother shared what she knew before she died. As I look back over my 63 years I see Abba’s loving hand upon me my whole life, protecting and guiding, but it has taken many years. The best will be when the final temple is built and the, prince, who will have sons come to lead all! The world will follow Torah and the beauty and glory of this will be for all who thirst for the beauty of the Law Thank you, thank you, Nehemiah, for all the wonderful things you’ve shared the past four years! It always seemed that I heard it at just the right time or confirmed something our Abba had shown me! Both my children got to go to Israel as part of birthright, and I am waiting my turn, but to stay! Shalom dear ones!

Short and to the point, excellent discussion.

How do I convert so that I can move to Israel?

Just kidding!

Thank you Nehemia for being a current day Naomi.

Thank you for such an awesome message. Truly Yehovah our God
is so loving and kind.

Thanks for the truth.

Ok-couldn’t have come at a better time. Thank you,

Just got back from Israel and was labeled so many things. But I knew where my heart was and I’m grateful to you and dev for that!