conversion syllabus

In order for you to achieve your goals, we will cover the following information over the course of our meetings:

• We will meet regularly, a couple of extended contact periods per month): This can be achieved by either online video chat or in person, and we will cover the following categories of information in detail:

  • Keeping Shabbos

  • Keeping Kosher

  • Prayer

  • Yomim Tovim (Holidays)

  • Reciting Berachos

  • Jewish Marriage Laws and Taharas Hamishpacha (Family Purity)

  • Reading Hebrew (valiant effort)

  • Other essential Jewish topics such as beliefs, charity, etc.

Here’s What You Need to Learn to Do:

• Watch "Introduction To Practical Halacha" to get an idea of Orthodox Jewish Practice 

• Keep Shabbos, and really know about Bishul and a few other primary melachos (labors) relating mostly to stuff around the kitchen. We will also cover the other, slightly less common as well, but not as much in depth.

  • Shabbos Kitchen from Artscroll (R Cohen) http://www.artscroll.com/Books/9780899068824.html

  • If you really want all six of his books http://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422609439.html

  • The 39 Avoth Melochot of Shabbath http://www.feldheim.com/the-39-avoth-melacha-of-shabbath.html 

• Keep Kosher, so that you’re not even really eating out except in kosher certified places and can shop in any grocery store in the US (it’s harder when you travel). This includes learning how to use apps for information and knowing to call your Rov when something has gone awry in the kitchen.

  • http://kosherquest.org/

  • and read R Eidlitz’s book “Is It Kosher” http://kosherquest.org/resources.php

  • http://www.crcweb.org/ download their app, use their lists, and listen to their classes

  • http://oukosher.org/the-kosher-primer/ same as CRC

  • http://kosherliquorlist.com/en/

  • Shopping trip at a supermarket

• Learn how to use the siddur and pray everyday: Women at least one Shemonah Esrei daily, Men three times daily. Both should be saying morning blessings and men should learn Shema with blessing preceding and following, women just the paragraphs of Shema

  • Artscroll Siddur http://www.artscroll.com/Categories/PBK.html

• Learn about the Yomim Tovim (holidays) with their unique mitzvos and rules different than Shabbos

  • Laws of Yom Tov (R Cohen)http://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781578191628.html

• Reciting berachos on food, knowing their proper order, knowing about pas habah b;kisnin, and understanding ikar and tofel. This will include blessings after food as well.

  • Laws Of Brachos R Bodner http://www.feldheim.com/halachos-of-brochos.html

• Be familiar with Jewish marriage laws and family purity (taharas hamishpacha)

  • Bread, Fire and Water http://www.feldheim.com/bread-fire-and-water.html

  • Made In Heaven, R Aryeh Kaplan

  • Waters Of Eden, R Aryeh Kaplan

• Make a valiant attempt at being able to read Hebrew

• Be familiar with broader Jewish concepts such as the belief system, our form of charity, primacy of Torah learning, and so on.

  • Bible: Review the weekly parsha (Torah portion) 

  • Artscroll Chumash with Rashi http://www.artscroll.com/Categories/RAS.html

  • Tanach - Read books of Joshua through Kings I & II, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel

  • Full translation of the Hebrew bible http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/63255/jewish/The-Bible-with-Rashi.htm

  • or to buy a book for Shabbos use http://www.korenpub.com/EN/categories/tanakh 

  • http://www.artscroll.com/Categories/TAN.html

Jewish History:

• • Free online courses yutorah.org history category

  • http://www.yutorah.org/Rabbi_Aaron_Rakeffet-Rothkoff

  • Ken Spiro Crash Course in Jewish History

  • http://www.simpletoremember.com/authors/a/crash-course-jewish-history-mp3s/

  • Or download the kIndle edition at kenspiro.com

  • Jewish Literacy R Telushkin: Kindle and Hardcover http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Literacy-Revised-Ed-Important/dp/0061374989

These items will be discussed and progressed via each meeting