Convergence: Where Your Story and the Jewish Story Meet
A 9-month program of Jewish learning and discovery for those interested in the possibility of conversion to Judaism. The program contains monthly learning sessions (shiurim) and monthly conversation and reflection sessions (sichot). All offerings are on Zoom, with the possibility of additional in-person gatherings down the road.
This is a learning and preparation program. At its conclusion, individuals who want to proceed with conversion will consult with Rabbi Irwin or another rabbi of their choice to gauge their readiness and plan for a ritual of conversion, if the participant is deemed ready to proceed.
Here are some of the features of the program:
Shiurim and Sichot: The first Tuesday of each month at 6pm Pacific Time, we will have a 90-minute teaching (shiur) on Zoom from one of our Convergence faculty. These will be presentations of core Jewish themes. The third Tuesday of each month at 6pm Pacific Time will be a conversation (sichah) in which we reflect on how the shiurim are landing and how our exploration of Jewish practices and belonging are taking root. Our schedule (subject to change) is:
Sichah: Nov. 25 – Welcome, with Rabbi Irwin
Shiur: Dec. 2 – Israelite Religion, Rabbinic Judaism, and Diaspora, with Rabbi Irwin
Sichah: Dec. 16 – Reflections and Practices, with Gesher
Shiur: Jan. 6 – Shabbat, with Rabbi Diane
Sichah: Jan. 20 – Reflections and Practices, with Rinat
Shiur: Feb. 3, Life Cycle Ritual, with Rabbi Irwin
Sichah: Feb. 17 – Conversation with Ner Shalom Jews by Choice, with Rabbi Irwin
Shiur: Mar. 3 – Israel, Palestine, and Zionism, with Rabbi Irwin
Sichah: Mar. 17 – Israel Debriefing and Reflection, with Rinat
Shiur: Apr. 7 – Jewish Approaches to Prayer, with Rabbi Margaret
Sichah: Apr. 21 – Follow-up on Prayer, and Look at the Festivals, with Rabbi Margaret
Shiur: May 5 – Intro to Torah, with Rabbi George
Sichah: May 19 – Choosing a Hebrew name, with Rabbi Irwin
Shiur: Jun. 2 – Introduction to Hebrew, with Gesher
Sichah: Jun. 16 – Reflections on Torah, with Rabbi George
Shiur: Jul. 7 – Teshuvah and the High Holy Days, with Rabbi Diane
Sichah: Jul. 21 – Reflections and Practices, with Rinat
Shiur: Aug. 4 – Introduction to Mysticism, with Rabbi Irwin
Siyyum: Aug. 18 – Culmination Gathering, with Rabbi Irwin and other Faculty
Faculty: Besides Rabbi Irwin, the faculty includes Rabbi Diane Elliot, Rabbi George Gittleman, Rabbi Margaret Holub, Ner Shalom Elder Gesher Calmenson, and ALEPH Rabbinical Student Rinat Abastado.
Tuition
There will be a tuition for this program: $720 for Ner Shalom members and $1080 for non-members. There is also a sliding scale available on the registration mechanism. Offer an amount meaningful but affordable for you, and honoring of the skill and experience of the teachers. For a payment plan, please call the office. We want to make sure that no one is kept out for lack of funds.
Conversion
This program is a preparatory program for possible conversion to Judaism. Completion of it, however, does not in itself constitute conversion or qualify you for conversion. Each of you will meet with Rabbi Irwin over the course of the nine months. Those who wish to become Jewish will write a statement at the end of the program that includes a spiritual autobiography. If you are serious about moving forward, and if it feels to Rabbi Irwin or whatever rabbi you choose to work with that you are ripe, they will arrange for a Beit Din – a rabbinic tribunal – to read your statement and meet with you. You will also at that time want to arrange a mikveh or ritual immersion for yourself. If Rabbi Irwin has reservations about your candidacy, he will talk about it with you and discuss a plan.
Commitment
This program is a big commitment. And on another level it feels introductory. We encourage you, if you enroll, to also come to synagogue, take classes at Ner Shalom or elsewhere, and try on Jewish practices for size. This journey will be what you make of it.