Conversion to Judaism is not about changing religions. It is about entering covenant.
From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells one continuous story — the story of Israel, Torah, and redemption. If you have ever felt drawn to live fully inside that story, this message is for you.
Can a follower of Yeshua convert to Judaism and become a Jew?
Here are the Top 10 Biblical Benefits of Converting to Judaism
1You Join the Covenant of Abraham
Genesis 12:5 says Abraham and Sarah took “the souls they made in Haran.” Rashi explains: Abraham converted the men, Sarah converted the women.
From the beginning, covenant included those who chose it.
Conversion is not new. It is Abrahamic.
2You Stand at Sinai
Jewish tradition teaches the Torah at Sinai was spoken in 70 languages — the languages of the nations — so all could hear.
Acts 2 mirrors this: the message proclaimed in many tongues.
Sinai was never small. It was global.
Conversion brings you under that same Torah spoken to Israel.
3You Receive the Torah Written on Your Heart
Jeremiah 31:33:
“I will put My Torah within them, and write it on their hearts.”
Ezekiel 36:26–27:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you… and cause you to walk in My statutes.”
The “new covenant” is not a new religion.
It is internalized Torah.
4You Align With Yeshua’s Own Words
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets… until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter will pass from the Law.” (Matthew 5:17–18)
“If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)
Yeshua affirmed Torah as eternal and life-giving.
Conversion aligns your life with what he himself upheld.
5You Become Part of the People of the Promises
Romans 9:4 speaks of Israel as those to whom belong:
The covenants
The giving of the Torah
The promises
Conversion is joining the people entrusted with those promises.
6You Leave Religious Confusion Behind
Many feel stuck between Christianity and Judaism.
Conversion is not “trying to be Jewish.”
It is formally entering Israel under Torah and halachic responsibility.
7You Live in Sacred Time
Shabbat. Pesach. Shavuot. Sukkot.
These are not symbols.
They are covenant appointments.
Conversion moves you from observer to participant.
8You Enter a Real Community
Judaism is embodied.
It requires:
Study
Accountability
Beit Din oversight
Mikvah immersion
It is not self-declared spirituality.
It is covenant recognized by Israel.
9You Step Into the Same Path as Ruth
“Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)
Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David.
Conversion is not second-class.
It is fully covenantal.
10You Walk in One Law
“As you are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD; one law and one ordinance shall be for you and for the stranger.” (Numbers 15:15–16)
One covenant. One Torah. One people.
How to convert
How to Convert to Judaism Through Benei Avraham: 8 Steps
Conversion to Judaism is not a transaction. It is a covenant. At Benei Avraham, we follow the Torah model of gerut: joining Israel through faithfulness to Hashem, commitment to the mitzvot, and integration into the community. The process is relational, educational, and communal. Below is the biblical and rabbinic foundation for each step.
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Step 1: Join the Community First
Attend weekly Shabbat services & classes
Required for those in the Dallas area. If you live in or near Dallas, in-person attendance is required as part of your conversion process. Online participation is available for those who are truly remote, but conversion is ultimately lived within a physical community.
Shabbat morning – 10:00 am CT
Minchah & classes – 4:30 pm CT
If you are local, we expect you to be present in person, not only online. Remote participants: introduce yourself in the Zoom chat.
In Exodus 12:48 the Torah says, “When a stranger sojourns with you… he shall be as a native of the land.” Notice the phrase with you. Conversion in the Torah is not done privately or in isolation; it happens within a people, among a community.
We see this in Ruth 1:16: “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” Ruth did not convert on her own. She joined herself to Naomi, to Israel, and to a shared way of life.
The sages echo this. In the Talmud (Yevamot 47a), when someone comes to convert, we begin teaching them and gradually integrate them into the community. Conversion is not instant. It is a process: relational, lived out over time, and observed within a community, not just learned in theory.
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Step 2: Learn Torah Seriously
Watch the conversion classes
Conversion requires knowledge. Work through our conversion classes on YouTube and bring your questions to Shabbat classes.
A person cannot truly accept what they do not yet understand.
In Genesis 18:19 Hashem says of Avraham, “For I have chosen him, that he may command his children… to keep the way of the LORD.” From the very beginning, covenant life is taught and passed down. It is not assumed; it is instructed.
Deuteronomy 31:12: “Gather the people… that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God.” Hearing, learning, and then living in reverence.
The Talmud (Yevamot 47a) teaches that a convert must be informed of the mitzvot. Conversion is not just a declaration; it is a process of learning, understanding, and embracing a way of life.
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Step 3: Participate and Contribute
Donate as you are able
Judaism is a covenantal partnership. Belonging to Israel has always included contributing to the life of the community, as each person is able.
Giving becomes a visible expression of sincerity, belonging, and covenant faithfulness.
Exodus 25:2: “Take for Me an offering from every person whose heart moves him.” The Mishkan was built through willing participation. It was not forced; it came from the heart.
Malachi 3:10: “Bring the full tithe… and test Me in this.” Giving reflects trust in Hashem and loyalty to His people.
The Talmud (Bava Batra 9a) teaches that tzedakah is equal to all the commandments. Even within the mitzvot we see structured giving, such as separating tithes, a reminder that sustaining the community is built into Torah life.
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Step 4: Submit a Formal Request
Fill out the application form
Conversion requires an intentional declaration. When you are ready, fill out our application form. Conversion is never rushed or pressured; it must come from clarity, willingness, and personal conviction.
Ruth 1:18: “When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she ceased speaking to her.” Ruth’s decision was not casual. It was clear, firm, and unwavering, knowing it would change her identity, her future, and her way of life.
The Talmud (Yevamot 47a) describes asking a potential convert, in essence, whether they understand what they are joining. This is not meant to push anyone away, but to make sure the decision is intentional and informed.
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Step 5: Appear in Person for Covenant Milestones
Minimum holiday attendance in Dallas
Judaism is embodied. Conversion is not only theological; it is lived within sacred time and community. Candidates are required to appear in person in Dallas for key pilgrimage moments.
During Pesach, attend one of:
The Passover Seder, or
Seudat Mashiach (the festive meal on the last day of Chag HaMatzot)
During Sukkot, attend one of:
The first day of Sukkot, or
Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah
That is the minimum for each festival cycle. If possible, we strongly encourage you to join us for the full week of Pesach, the full week of Sukkot, and Shavuot as well. The more you immerse yourself in sacred time with the community, the deeper your covenantal integration becomes.
Biblical & rabbinic basis
Deuteronomy 16:16: “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place that He will choose.” Covenant life was meant to be lived together, in sacred times and gatherings.
Exodus 12:48: “When a stranger sojourns with you and would keep the Passover…” The Torah directly connects conversion with Pesach, the birth of the nation. To enter the covenant is to step into that story of redemption.
Pesach: remembering and entering redemption
Shavuot: receiving the Torah
Sukkot: dwelling with Hashem
Simchat Torah: rejoicing in the Torah itself
These are not merely symbolic traditions. They are covenant markers.
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Step 6: Families Convert Together
Spouses and children
Spouses should convert together. Girls under 12 and boys under 13 convert with their family.
Judaism is designed to unite a household under one covenantal way of life, not divide it.
Biblical & rabbinic basis
In Genesis 17:12–13, Avraham circumcised his household together. From the beginning, the covenant was familial, not only individual.
Joshua 24:15: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
The sages affirm this pattern: in Yevamot 48b, minor children may convert together with their parents. Marriage and family unity are essential to the stability and continuity of the covenant.
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Step 7: Beit Din Interview
A formal interview before a rabbinic court
Before the conversion ceremony, the candidate (and family, if applicable) appears before the Beit Din for a formal interview. The interview will:
Review belief alignment: Hashem’s absolute unity and the authority of the Torah (see our Statement of Faith)
Spouses appear together. Minor children converting with their parents are included.
Conversion is not self-declared. It is recognized by a court.
Biblical & rabbinic basis
Deuteronomy 17:8–11 establishes the authority of Israel’s courts.
Yevamot 47a–48b describes how a convert is examined, informed of the mitzvot, and formally accepted. Conversion requires knowledge, acceptance, and judicial oversight.
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Step 8: Covenant Sealing: Brit Milah & Mikvah
Usually scheduled near a major holiday
The conversion ceremony is usually scheduled near a major holiday, reflecting entry into sacred time.
For men
If uncircumcised, brit milah must be performed and fully healed before the conversion ceremony.
On the day of conversion, hatafat dam brit (drawing a drop of covenantal blood) is performed as confirmation of covenant entry.
For all converts
Men and women, adults and children, immerse in a kosher mikvah.
When possible we use a natural body of water (lake, river, or ocean) or a halachically valid mikvah.
Immersion represents spiritual rebirth, entry into the covenant, and leaving one’s former status.
Biblical & rabbinic basis
Genesis 17:10–14: “Every male among you shall be circumcised… and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” Circumcision is covenantal identity.
The Talmud (Yevamot 47b) establishes immersion (tevilah) as required for conversion, and describes the convert as “like a newborn child.”
In Temple times a convert also brought an offering (Numbers 15:14–16: “As you are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD… one law and one ordinance”; Talmud Keritot 9a). In the absence of the Temple, immersion and acceptance of the covenant suffice.
At a glance
The order of completion
Education
Community integration
Beit Din interview
Circumcision (if required)
Hatafat dam brit (ceremonial confirmation)
Immersion in the mikvah
Formal declaration
At that moment, the convert is fully Jewish under halachah.
The tent of Avraham
“The souls that they made in Haran.” (Genesis 12:5)
Rashi explains: Avraham converted the men, Sarah converted the women. Avraham’s tent was open. But it was a covenant tent.
If you feel called to join Israel: Come. Learn. Live. Walk with us.
And if Hashem has truly placed this on your heart, we will walk with you into covenant.
Conversion day
Benei Avraham Conversion Ceremony Procedure: Beit Din & Mikvah Guide for Gerut
This guide gives a reverent, modest, halachically grounded, and orderly procedure for conversion (gerut) in the Benei Avraham community. Some parts include direct quotations and traditional sources used historically in Jewish conversion practice.
Part IOpening Teaching Before the Beit Din
Before beginning the formal proceedings, the Beit Din explains to the candidates the seriousness, holiness, and covenantal nature of conversion. The Beit Din may read the following.
What are the basic principles of Jewish faith?
The great codifier of Torah law and Jewish philosophy, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (“Maimonides,” also known as “the Rambam”), compiled what he called the Shloshah Asar Ikkarim, the “Thirteen Fundamental Principles” of the Jewish faith, as derived from the Torah. Maimonides calls them “the fundamental truths of our religion and its very foundations.” (See how Benei Avraham reads each one in our Statement of Faith.)
I believe in the existence of the Creator, who is perfect in every manner of existence and is the Primary Cause of all that exists.
I believe in G-d’s absolute and unparalleled unity.
I believe in G-d’s non-corporeality, nor that He will be affected by any physical occurrences, such as movement, rest, or dwelling.
I believe in G-d’s eternity.
I believe the imperative to worship G-d exclusively and no foreign false gods.
I believe that G-d communicates with man through prophecy.
I believe in the primacy of the prophecy of Moses our teacher.
I believe in the divine origin of the Torah.
I believe in the immutability of the Torah.
I believe in G-d’s omniscience and providence.
I believe in divine reward and retribution.
I believe in the arrival of the Messiah and the messianic era.
I believe in the resurrection of the dead.
Part IITalmudic Teaching Regarding Conversion
The Beit Din may then read this teaching from the Talmud:
“Our Rabbis have taught: If at the present time a man desires to become a proselyte, we say to him as follows: ‘What reason have you for desiring to become a proselyte; do you not know that Israel at the present time are persecuted and oppressed, despised, harassed and overcome by afflictions?’ If he replies, ‘I know and yet am unworthy,’ he is immediately accepted, and is given instruction in some of the minor and some of the major commandments…
As soon as he is healed, he undergoes immediate immersion [in a mikveh]. Two Torah scholars must stand by his side and acquaint him with some of the minor commandments and with some of the major ones. When he comes up after his immersion he is deemed to be a Jew in all respects.”
Babylonian Talmud, Yevamot 47a–47b
The Beit Din explains:
Joining Israel includes both blessing and hardship.
Conversion must be voluntary and sincere.
Torah observance is now binding.
The convert becomes fully part of Am Yisrael.
Part IIIInitial Beit Din Interview
Before immersion or hatafat dam brit, the Beit Din privately interviews the candidate.
The Beit Din confirms
The conversion is voluntary
The candidate sincerely desires to join Israel
The candidate accepts Torah and mitzvot
The candidate understands the permanence of conversion
The candidate understands both blessings and responsibilities
Questions may include
Why do you desire to become Jewish?
What changes have you made in your life?
Are you committed to Torah and mitzvot?
Do you understand this covenant is lifelong?
Are you entering willingly and freely?
The Beit Din should neither pressure excessively nor discourage excessively.
Part IVPhysical Preparation for Mikvah
Before immersion, the candidate must remove all barriers (chatzitzot) between body and water.
Candidates should
Bathe thoroughly
Wash hair completely
Brush teeth
Clean fingernails and toenails
Remove makeup if substantial
Remove nail polish
Remove lotions and heavy cosmetics
Remove watches, rings, necklaces, earrings, jewelry, and piercings
Hair must be
Completely loose
Untied
Fully wet
The water must contact every part of the body.
Part VModesty Instructions
For men
Male converts must immerse completely unclothed. No clothing or barriers should remain, and no jewelry may be worn.
For women
Women may wear loose immersion garments if necessary for modesty. However:
Garments must not create a barrier to the water
Hair must remain fully loose and uncovered
No undergarments
A female attendant accompanies female converts. The attendant should:
Assist preparation
Verify modesty
Confirm no barriers remain
Assist with immersion logistics
The Beit Din does not watch the woman walk into the mikvah, and does not watch her exit. Instead, the woman enters privately, the attendant positions her in the water up to the neck, and the Beit Din remains outside or averts their eyes until she is situated. The Beit Din should see only her head, neck, and possibly upper shoulders; the body remains beneath the waterline.
Part VIHatafat Dam Brit (Circumcised Males)
Requirement: Circumcised male converts must undergo hatafat dam brit (“drawing covenant blood”).
Materials
Sterile lancet
Alcohol wipes
Gloves
Gauze or paper towel
Procedure
The convert washes his hands.
He cleans the area with alcohol.
He uses the sterile lancet himself to draw a small drop of blood from the circumcision site.
He places the blood onto the gauze or paper towel and shows it to the Beit Din.
The Beit Din does not need to perform the procedure physically; it witnesses and confirms completion. Fathers may perform hatafat dam brit for their minor sons.
Blessing for milah
ברוך אתה יהוה אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על המילה
Blessed are You, HaShem our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning circumcision.
Part VIIInstructions Read Before Immersion
The Beit Din or attendant may say: “Take a few moments for silent personal reflection before continuing and entering the mikvah.” Then the candidate may read silently:
“With pure waters will I purify you, that your life be pure and blameless. A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit I will place within you. I will direct you in My teachings, and you shall keep My statutes. You shall be My people, and I will be your God.”
Ezekiel 36:25–28
Part VIIITevilah (Immersion): Traditional Halachic Reading
The Beit Din may read:
“Three [judges] stand over him and inform him about some of the easy mitzvot and some of the more severe ones a second time while he stands in the water.”
Rambam, Issurei Biah 14
And regarding women:
“If the convert was female, women position her in the water until her neck while the judges are outside… Afterwards, they turn their faces away and depart so that they will not see her when she ascends from the water.”
And from the Shulchan Aruch:
“And because he immersed, behold, he is an Israelite!”
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 268
Part IXActual Immersion Procedure
First immersion
The candidate enters the mikvah, takes a deep breath, immerses completely beneath the water, remains under briefly, and emerges. After the first immersion, the blessing is recited:
Blessing on immersion
ברוך אתה יהוה אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על הטבילה
Blessed is the Eternal, the God of all creation, who has blessed me with life, sustained me, and enabled me to reach this moment.
Third immersion
The convert immerses a third time. Upon emerging, the convert recites:
Shema
שמע ישראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד
Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
Hear O Israel, HaShem our God, HaShem is One.
Part XImportant Halachic Note About Blessings
The Beit Din may explain: many authorities place the blessing after the first immersion for conversion. Some rabbis note that the blessing itself does not determine validity. The essential elements are:
A kosher mikvah
Proper intent
No barriers
Valid witnesses
Sincere conversion
As one rabbi explained: “The blessing on any mitzvah, if not recited, does not take away the mitzvah.”
Part XIDeclaration by the Beit Din
After immersion, the Beit Din may declare:
“You have entered the covenant of Israel and are now fully part of the Jewish people under the authority of Torah and the covenant of HaShem.”
Part XIIHebrew Name
The convert receives a Hebrew name. Traditionally, male converts are called ben Avraham and female converts bat Avraham. For example: David ben Avraham, Miriam bat Avraham.
Part XIIIConversion Certificates
The Beit Din issues signed certificates including
English name
Hebrew name
Date of conversion
Location
Names and signatures of the Beit Din members
Certificates affirm
Appearance before the Beit Din
Hatafat dam brit (if applicable)
Kosher immersion
Acceptance into the covenant community
Part XIVMarried Couples
If a couple was previously married civilly or outside a covenantal Jewish marriage, a proper Jewish wedding ceremony should be performed after conversion: immediately afterward, later the same day, or at another scheduled time.
Part XVChildren
Minor children converting with their parents appear before the Beit Din appropriately and immerse according to halachic standards. Fathers may assist sons; female attendants assist daughters.
Part XVIFinal Blessing
The Beit Din may conclude:
“Welcome to the people of Israel. May HaShem strengthen you to walk in Torah, holiness, humility, and faithfulness all the days of your life.”
FAQ
Questions about converting to Judaism
Can a follower of Yeshua convert to Judaism?
Yes. Benei Avraham is a Torah-observant, traditional Jewish chavurah inspired by Mashiach, and we welcome sincere converts who desire to join Israel through Torah. Yeshua upheld every letter of the Torah (Matthew 5:17–18), so conversion aligns your life with what he himself taught. Watch our video, “Can a follower of Yeshua convert to Judaism and become a Jew?”, at the top of this page.
How long does conversion take?
Conversion is never rushed. It is a process of learning, community integration, and covenant living over time, including at least one Pesach and one Sukkot with the community in Dallas, followed by a Beit Din interview and the conversion ceremony.
Do I have to attend in person?
If you live in or near Dallas, yes: in-person attendance at Shabbat services and classes is required. If you are truly remote, you may participate online, but every candidate must come to Dallas in person for the required Pesach and Sukkot milestones and for the conversion ceremony itself.
Which holidays do I need to attend?
At minimum, one of the following during Pesach: the Passover Seder or Seudat Mashiach (the festive meal on the last day of Chag HaMatzot). And one of the following during Sukkot: the first day of Sukkot or Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah. We strongly encourage joining us for the full weeks of Pesach and Sukkot, and for Shavuot.
Can my spouse and children convert with me?
Yes, and spouses should convert together. Girls under 12 and boys under 13 convert with their family. Spouses appear before the Beit Din together, and minor children converting with their parents are included.
What happens at the Beit Din interview?
The Beit Din reviews your beliefs (Hashem’s absolute unity and the authority of the Torah), confirms your acceptance of the mitzvot, asks about how you keep Shabbat, kashrut, and the festivals, confirms that your decision is voluntary, and answers any remaining questions. Questions may include why you want to become Jewish and what changes you have made in your life.
Do men need to be circumcised?
Yes. A man who is not circumcised must have a brit milah, fully healed, before the conversion ceremony. A man who is already circumcised undergoes hatafat dam brit, drawing a single drop of covenantal blood, on the day of conversion.
What is a mikvah, and where is the immersion done?
A mikvah is a body of water used for ritual immersion. Every convert, male and female, adult and child, immerses. When possible we use a natural body of water such as a lake, river, or ocean, or a halachically valid mikvah. The immersion is done with full attention to modesty.
Will I receive a Hebrew name?
Yes. At the conversion the convert receives a Hebrew name, traditionally as a son or daughter of Avraham, for example David ben Avraham or Miriam bat Avraham. The Beit Din also issues a signed conversion certificate.
How do I start?
Join us for Shabbat (in person in Dallas, or on Zoom if you are remote), start watching the conversion classes, and text us at (469) 608-9944 with any questions. When you are ready, fill out the conversion application form.
Ready to begin?
Conversion is not rushed
If this stirs something in you, begin with Step 1: join us for Shabbat. The full path:
Very kind and genuine people. A real love for the Torah.
BatyaGoogle review
Every time my wife and I have visited Benei Avraham, we have been greeted with hospitality. The Rabbi and Rebettzin are very friendly and they love discussing Torah, Halacha, and Yehoshua with those willing to do so.
Gordon “Conya” HayesGoogle review
I have only participated online, but feel a part of the family even from Alabama. My Hebrew has improved and I've learned halacha in such a gentle way. Our family has been able to absorb it and walk in the new things we have learned. I hope to be able to meet them in person someday!
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Very welcoming. It is the place we call “home.” Lots of learning and discussion, lots of support, and a great community.
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A Synagogue, a home, a family, a community. If you are looking for an Orthodox environment with a tolerant viewpoint this is the place for you. This place is filled with ahavat achim. Sephardic in style.
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Wonderful, caring and inviting people. Great place for friends and fellowship.
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I found a community at BA. If you are seeking to understand what Echad in action; if you want to learn how to be a diligent student of the Word and to live your worship in a daily, moment by moment, experience, I would encourage you to find a community that embraces you as you are and still challenges you be more. It is a joy to learn, even when it's via video.
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The people are very friendly and the Rabbi is awesome. This is a very good place to learn more about Judaism. If I lived in the area I would attend weekly.
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Amazing place to worship and fellowship
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I can't say enough about this amazing family/shul. Amazing fellowship and services. Relaxed atmosphere to learn and grow together. Very welcoming to newbies and families. Come ready to learn and love torah 😊
Sydney MarriottGoogle review
This is a wonderful welcoming shul. They have welcomed me into their community and services though I am only able to attend via Skype and zoom. They teach classes in conversions, Hebrew and kashrut. I hope if you are looking for an orthodox messianic shul you would consider making this your community shul.
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Beautiful, welcoming people and extremely helpful too.
