Jews By Choice Program
Welcome!
Converting to Judaism is a serious undertaking. It is our hope that the information you find here can help you in your exploration. For more information, or to schedule an appointment to find out if our program is right for you, please contact Elizabeth Berke at 773-281-1423.
Program Overview
Anshe Emet offers a comprehensive program for people who are considering conversion.
While we are located in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, our JBC conversion program is available to those from other areas of Chicago as well. Anshe Emet is comprised of approximately 1,100 member units, including singles and families. Among our members are many Jews by Choice who are active in synagogue life and serve on committees and on our Board of Trustees.
JBC program participants include people of all ages and backgrounds, intermarried couples (with and without children), couples who are engaged or contemplating marriage, and a growing number of singles who have decided to pursue the path to a Jewish life on their own.
Through the Anshe Emet Jews by Choice program, participants will:
• Be familiar with Jewish concepts and values
• Be able to read Hebrew language
• Know how to create a Jewish environment at home
• Be comfortable participating in Jewish holidays and life cycle events
• Feel confident as full members of the Jewish community
Both challenging and fulfilling, our program consists of two primary courses: Jewish Heritage (7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m) on Monday evenings and Hands-On Judaism (9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.) on Saturday mornings.
The Heritage class provides a strong background in Jewish history and philosophy, while Hands-On Judaism is a great introduction to Jewish practice. Hebrew is offered every Monday night at 6:15 p.m., immediately before Heritage.
The JBC program also includes great deal of supplementary activities, including prayer tutorials and learners’ services, field trips, and social activities
Action Steps
The JBC Action Steps are your guide to living a Jewish life. This is a month-by-month way to build your Jewish practice at home. You work at your own pace, selecting steps which are the easiest for you, then gradually building your level of observance.
Recommended Reading
The following texts support the comprehensive curriculum and cover topics taught in the Shabbat class and the Jewish Heritage class as well as prepare you for required action steps. There are a limited number of copies available for participants to borrow. As a participant in the JBC program, you have access to the reference books and magazines located in the Adult Library, you may check out non-reference books, and you may use the computer in the library. The Library is open during synagogue office hours.
All of these books can be purchased at Rosenblum’s World of Judaica (9153 Gross Point Road, Skokie IL) or online at All Things Jewish. Many of these books can also be found at or ordered from bookstores such as Borders or Barnes & Noble. Used book stores or discount online booksellers such as Half.com and Overstock.com are also a good source. Please note: All prices listed below are taken from Amazon.com and are included only for reference.
As a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg, $14.35
Night by Elie Weisel, $5.39
The Jewish Holidays by Michael Strassfeld, $16.47
Shabbat: The Family Guide to Preparing for and Celebrating the Sabbath by Ron Wolfson, 2nd Edition, $13.57
Siddur Hadash: A New Prayer Book for Sabbath & Festival Mornings by Sidney Greenberg, Jonathan D. Levine, $53.90
Saying Kaddish by Anita Diamant, $11.16
Pray Tell: A Hadassah Guide to Jewish Prayer by Rabbi Jules Harlow, $28.45
The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel, $9.00
Kosher: Sanctifying the Ordinary-An Interactive CD by USCJ (available from Rabbi Siegel’s office), $23.00
The New Jewish Wedding by Anita Diamant, $11.20
Jewish Literacy by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, $23.10
Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), the Jewish Publication Society translation, $23.10. Please note that this text is available in either English only, or English and Hebrew. The English / Hebrew version is a little more expensive, but will be of great value as you study Hebrew.