No mikvah? No bet din? No brit milah or hatafat dam brit? No problem!
When we say that Darshan Yeshiva is pluralistic, we really mean it. That includes rabbis and cantors who mentor students in conversion without requiring the classical conversion rituals at the end of one’s journey to Jewish identity.
While most of these educators make these options “not required”, a few may recommend it. Here are the educators that students looking for an all-virtual experience may want to work with.
Rabbi Dr. Adam Fogel, a pluralistic, non-denominational Rabbi, and the founder of MindfulJudaism.com. Additionally, he is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. We’re thrilled to have him in our newest group of Darshan Yeshiva mentors.
He often finds himself “amazed by the courage and intention it requires to enter Jewish practice and community by choice”, acknowledging the myriad of reasons why individuals make this decision. It would be his honor and privilege to be a part of a student’s journey, aiming to assist them in making their experience as meaningful as possible.
Rabbi Fogel is a graduate in the first cohort of rabbinical students at our sister organization, Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary, and is a fantastic choice for students who are also inspired by eastern spiritual practices and meditation.
Meet Cantor Karen Webber, another of our newest Conversion to Judaism mentors who offers an all-virtual experience.
As a passionate liturgical artist and life cycle officiant, she dives into rituals, prayers, and calendars through the lens of creative arts. With a knack for turning Jewish texts into poetic wonders, she finds beauty in the intersections of language and spirituality.
Having grown up within the Reform movement, Cantor Webber has journeyed through serving intimate congregations, offering solace as a community chaplain, and crafting heartfelt ceremonies for Bar/Bat Mitzvah candidates with special needs.
Although Cantor Webber requires mikvah and bet din, the mikvah can be a natural body of water near you, and the bet din is entirely virtual.
There are many other all-virtual conversion Darshan Yeshiva mentors you may have met before through Substack. Here’s a quick list of our current rabbis and cantors who may be able to provide an all virtual conversion experience:
Rabbi Brian Mayer (Reform)
Rabbi Tzemah Yoreh (Humanistic)
Rabbi Joshua Gray (Post Denominational)
Rabbi Naj Siritsky (Reform)
It is not possible...