Conversion to Judaism involves significant changes to one’s life and lifestyle. Judaism governs every action that a person undertakes, from the moment he or she gets up in the morning until the moment he or she retires at night. Judaism strives to impress upon us that we live in the presence of G-d, and that all our activities should be viewed with this perspective. Conversion will likely affect family relationships and significantly alter one’s world outlook. A candidate for conversion should be motivated by a sincere desire to embrace both the people of Israel and the faith and practices of Judaism.

A potential candidate must find a sponsoring rabbi, who will serve as the liaison to and make the initial contact with the regional beis din. Any Orthodox rabbi that is approved by the GPS system may serve as a sponsoring rabbi. Generally speaking, a sponsoring rabbi may only sponsor someone who lives in his or her own community, with whom he is personally familiar, and whom he is confident in recommending as a candidate. If a potential candidate does not live in an Orthodox community, he or she must move in to one as part of the conversion process. The beis din will not accept an application without a sponsoring rabbi and is available to assist in directing candidates to an appropriate sponsoring rabbi.

While moving may involve financial and other hardships, a candidate for conversion must realize that it is not possible to learn and absorb Judaism and Torah living at a distance. Jewish observance must be experienced on a daily basis, especially on Shabbat and holidays. Living in an Orthodox community allows one to socialize with other Jews, walk to synagogue on Shabbat, and share in community activities on a regular basis.

Transient candidates (for example, college students or highly mobile professionals) who cannot live in a standard Orthodox community must at least have ongoing, reasonable access to the institutions of Orthodox life and live within walking distance to an Orthodox minyan that meets regularly each Shabbat and Yom Tov. The candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to conducting his or her life so as to maintain access to those institutions for the rest of his or her life.

The application should typically be submitted after the candidate has begun studying under the guidance of a sponsoring rabbi and the sponsoring rabbi is prepared to endorse him or her as a serious candidate for conversion.

The candidate can expect to be contacted by the beis din within a month (not including Jewish holidays) of submitting the form to schedule an initial meeting.

The amount of time for a convert to be prepared for conversion varies from case to case, depending upon the level of knowledge and experience that preceded the quest for conversion and many other factors. A minimum of two years of study and experiential growth is generally recommended, though individual circumstances may vary in this regard. During this time, the candidate will be in communication with the beis din to review his or her progress, and make any necessary adjustments or decisions as to the remaining course of study and personal growth.

The formal conversion consists of a number of elements:

1) For male converts, bris milah (circumcision) is required. If the candidate was previously circumcised, he must undergo hatafas dam brit – the letting of a drop of blood. This must be performed in the presence of a beis din.

2) Both male and female candidates must perform tevilah, immersing in a kosher mikveh in the presence of a beis din. The modesty of a female convert is ensured throughout the process. The members of the beis din must witness the convert’s head fully immersed in the water.

3) All converts must undertake kabbalas hamitzvos – the acceptance of the commandments – in the presence of the beis din. The convert should make a declaration (in his or her own words) embracing the G-d of Israel as the one and exclusive Deity, accepting the Divine origin of the Torah and indicating that he or she commits to observance of halachah which includes both the oral and written laws.

The Denver Beis Din charges $750 for conversions. A family converting together typically only pays one fee. Upon submission of the application, the candidate pays $400 up-front and the remaining balance of $350 is due upon conversion.

There is also a $150 fee payable to the Rabbinical Council of America upon application.

If the conversion process is terminated for any reason – either by the beis din or by the candidate – all payments made to the Denver Beis Din over $200 are refunded. At the completion of the conversion, there is a fee for use of the mikveh (usually $100-$180). (The mikvah fee is charged by the mikveh and not by the beis din.)

These fees are necessary to support the administrative operation of the beis din. We will never allow financial hardship to prevent the conversion of a worthy candidate.

Conversion of an adopted child is based on the premise that it is a zechus (benefit) for that child to convert.

While some have argued that simply becoming Jewish is a zechus, the consensus opinion in rabbinic literature is that it is a zechus to convert an underage person only in circumstances where observance of mitzvos is likely to be part of the child’s life as an adult.

Therefore, adoptive parents who wish to convert a child must:

1) Both be Jewish,

2) Belong to an Orthodox synagogue within walking distance of their home,

3) Commit to 12 years of Orthodox day school education for that child,

4) Live an observant lifestyle that includes Shabbat, Kashrut, holidays etc.

A child converted as a minor must be informed prior to becoming bar or bas mitzvah that he or she was converted. They have the opportunity at such time either to renounce their conversion or demonstrate their commitment to Judaism by continuing to practice a fully committed Jewish life. There is no need for this formal acceptance of mitzvot to be performed in front of a beis din.

The sponsoring rabbi is responsible for assisting the convert in continuing to acclimate into the Jewish community following conversion. He is responsible for providing the regional beis din with a follow-up report one year after the conversion on how the convert has progressed in his or her religious development.