I have wanted to convert to Reform Judaism for several years now. However, I have heard that Reform Jewish converts will not be accepted by all denominations as "officially Jewish" unless they convert to Orthodox Judaism. Is this true?

Answered by
Rabbi Victor S. Appell

Judaism is not a monolithic religion. There are a number of branches or streams of Judaism, including Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, and Orthodox. Each branch of Judaism sets its own standards for conversion. Orthodox Judaism usually requires that conversions be under the auspices of Orthodox rabbis, and they typically only accept conversions supervised by Orthodox rabbis.

If your interest is in Reform Judaism and you plan to be a part of a Reform Community, then pursuing conversion under Reform auspices makes sense. Learning about each of the branches of Judaism, its practices, beliefs, and requirements for conversion will help you find the denomination of Judaism that is right for you.