Teen Looking to Convert
Question
I’m a teenage girl who has been thinking about converting to Judaism for years, but I don’t know where to start. My family is Christian (kind of), and I’m not sure how they’d react, so I don’t think I can convert until I’m out of the house in a few years, as well as I can’t contact local synagogues or rabbis since I live in a relatively small town and my parents would find out. What should I do? I’ve been trying to learn Hebrew and have been reading articles and watching videos, but I’d love some ideas on what steps I can take now or any resources you’d recommend. I can’t have any physical books lying around the house or anything like that. I just feel very lost right now and I’m not sure what to do. Lately I’ve felt like my life has lacked something, and when studying Judaism it feels like it fills that part of my life that I’m missing, but I will likely have to wait years before making any major changes in my life. I just need something that I can do with my time now so I’m ready when I’m able to.
Thank you!
Answers
As you write, there is nothing that you can do at present to convert. Being under the age of eighteen means that you need your parents permission. Not knowing you or your family dynamics, it is a little difficult for me to suggest what is the best option. Please use your own judgment, but trying to speak with parents in a respectful and gentle way about your desire to investigate Judaism might be the best approach for now. However, if you feel that right now it is not a topic that you can currently raise with them, you will need to wait, as you pointed out, until you are no longer at home.
In all events, as you feel that you access physical books at home, I think that what you are doing is really the best option. To read up as much as you can about Judaism online, to listen to lectures and to watch YouTubes are an excellent way to begin to get an understanding of the practical and the spiritual dimensions of Judaism.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team