Becoming Jewish: At the Water's Edge

Mayyim Hayyim is in the business of welcoming. Each year, approximately 200 people become Jewish or affirm their Jewish identity at Mayyim Hayyim. This documentary raises awareness about welcoming Jews-by-choice into our community.
Produced and Directed by Jen Kaplan.
Thank you to Temple Hillel B’nai Torah for the use of the space in filming portions of this film. Forbes Graham and his family are members of Temple Hillel B'nai Torah led by Rabbi Barbara Penzner.

[@laerwen]

I am considering conversion and for years I've come back to videos on this account for some affirmation whenever I need it. What a beautiful day for this family!

[@iTzShakenJoE]

yea. don't do this conversion though. maybe sure you do it the correct way.. this is like a reform conversion. female rabbis... you do it this way you'll Run into issues all the time as a so called Jew...

[@eliedecastro5716]

Go through an orthodox conversion The others don’t follow Torah laws

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

​@@eliedecastro5716Wow, all this infighting PLUS antisemitism?!

[@vblake530530]

Oh G-d. This is making me so nervous. But . FULL SPEED AHEAD!

[@w0313440]

MAZEL TOV FORBES.Hope to have the strength to follow your step.

[@mcampbell6651]

Great Video. As someone who has converted and used the Mikveh at MayyimHayyim in that process this video brought all the feelings back to the surface. I would recommend it to anyone thinking of converting or using a Mikveh for other purposes

[@luisgcasiquet]

Thanks for sharing this incredible moment

[@woowwow7839]

Baruch Hashem ! Welcome to the family 😊🖐🏻 Mazal Tov

[@ReadingAde]

I take the dip this week. I’m so excited!

[@ban6096]

Mazel tov!!!!!

[@laurieferrell9468]

An amazing, inspirational, educational film! Bravo Mayyim Hayyim and Rabbi Penzner. Mazel tov to Forbes. Welcome to the community - it is a very special place!

[@christo-chaney]

Loved this video. Brings back amazing memories of my own conversion. Especially the mikveh and the first service I ever lead for my congregation as a Jew. Thank you for this video.

[@christo-chaney]

@Julian Clarke well since you’re quoting the New Testament it’s obvious that you’re a Christian. Also since you’re trying to prove the “biblical Israelites” are black you also have a very racist agenda. I’m not even going to read all that mishugas as I’ve pretty much heard it before.

[@cxarhomell5867]

@@christo-chaney You are not Jewish. You are of the heretical reform movement.

[@themosinguy6508]

@Julian Clarke the nations do not know Torah, cease your roman idolatry

[@yahyah5803]

Beautiful! Congratulations! Stay strong! 🔥🔥🔥

[@kristine8338]

Congratulations, well done ! 🌸

[@augustojaramillo2884]

Beautifull Baruj Hashem

[@majidamd2375]

Shalom All I Love Jews I Love Torah

[@JosephMage]

Baruch HaShem 🙏🏽✡️🌈

[@majidamd2375]

Shalom all I Love Torah I Love Jews

[@joer736]

I remember when i had my Orthodox conversion. I had my Hatafah earlier in the morning, and than i went to Manhattan to the Mikveh. Then my first Mitzvah as a jew was putting on Teffilin, and Davening on Rosh Chodesh. I guess you can say at this point it dosen't matter what conversion process he went through. I'm sure it was reform though. A female on the Beit Din, no Hatafah? anyways Mazal tov!

[@kgwillcox]

Hatafah beforehand, with male witnesses.

[@iTzShakenJoE]

@@kgwillcox stilll a reform..

[@christo-chaney]

@@iTzShakenJoEthank God for Reform.

[@Blade3759]

According to Jewish law are candidates for conversion for Judaism supposed to undergo lengthy courses on Judaism that teach them the intricacies of Jewish law for several years and then undergo testing to ascertain if they have mastered the material as a prerequisite for conversion? Furthermore are they obligated to move into a Jewish community as a prerequisite for conversion? Answer: It is written in the Rambam (Laws of Forbidden Relations chap. 14, 2) that when the potential convert comes to convert "we notify him regarding a small number of weighty mitzvot and a small number of light mitzvot and we may not prolong this matter". So we see that we should merely notify them regarding a small number of mitzvot and not to teach them the intricacies and finite details. And this is partly because we find written in the talmud (Sanhedrin 59) and codified in the Rambam (Laws of Kings 10, 9) that a non-Jew is forbidden to learn Torah and if he does so he is liable to death. This is also borne out from the gemara (Shabbat 31a) that we find that the great sage Hillel the elder taught the converts Torah only after he converted them and not before. Thus it is forbidden to teach them the intricacies of Jewish law until they have converted since prior to conversion they are considered completely as non-Jews. Thus, one who teaches them in such a manner is certainly causing them to sin. And thus it is written in the Holy Zohar (Achareh Mot 73a) that we may not teach the potential convert even one word or one letter from the Torah until he has converted and one who does so is destroying the world and defrauding the name of God. And it mentions there that the great sages Hillel and Shammai refused to teach the famous convert Onkelos the author of the Targum on the Torah even one word of Torah until he converted. And thus ruled the great later authority Rabbi Akiva Eiger in a response (chap 141, first edition) that it is forbidden to teach Torah to the potential convert and refuted the commentary of the Maharsha on the aforementioned words of the Talmud from tractate Shabbat that it is permitted to do so. And of course the commentary of the Maharsha is also clearly refuted by the aforementioned words of the Zohar that strictly forbids teaching them Torah. Also we find that it is forbidden to prolong this process since we do not wish to overly discourage and frighten them. Moreover, teaches the Rambam there (ibid. 5) that if he accepts this we must convert him immediately and it is forbidden to delay this. Explains the Bet Yosef (yoreh deah 268, 2) the reason for this that we are forbidden to delay a mitzva and must do it promptly. And writes the Rambam there that we should not be exacting on the convert and this clearly signifies that we should not give him a test to see how much he has memorized about Jewish law etc. And off course all the above mentioned is learned from the words of the Talmud (Yevamot 47a) and is brought in the Tur and the Jewish code of law the Shulchan Aruch (268, 2) as the undisputed halacha. Additionally, we do not find anywhere in the Torah or talmud or the Rambam or the Shulchan Aruch that a convert must move to a Jewish community prior to conversion and on the contrary the Rambam himself writes (Laws of Kings 5, 7) that a Jew is allowed to live anywhere in the world that he wishes except for Egypt and off course this includes the converts as well since we must treat them as full fledged Jews in every way like it is written many times in the Torah (Lev. 16, 29, ibid. 18, 26, Numbers 15, 14, ibid, 15, 29). It follows that if one rejects a potential convert due to this he is acting contrary to halacha since we may not be overly exacting on them and overly discourage them or delay them as mentioned above since we are thereby delaying a mitzva without any halachic justification. Also we are thereby preventing the potential convert from studying Torah and doing mitzvot and thereby robbing from him his portion in the world to come. Thus, in conclusion we find that according to Jewish law it is forbidden to teach potential converts the intricacies of Jewish law and likewise it is forbidden to draw out their conversion process for years. Also, one may not require them to be tested regarding this. And one may not obligate them to move to a Jewish community prior to conversion as a prerequisite. And all this stands in stark contrast to the tradition passed down to us from Mount Sinai as taught in the Talmud and the Rambam and the Jewish code of law the Shulchan Aruch.

[@majidamd2375]

Shalom all I love Jews

[@BneiAnusim]

Do new converts get a new Hebrew name? 🤔

[@Betty3131972]

Yasher koach

[@rutbrea8796]

Was the woman a Rabbi, the lady with the green sweater?

[@themosinguy6508]

not a halachic rabbi

[@christo-chaney]

@@themosinguy6508according to what source?

[@christo-chaney]

Does it matter?

[@themosinguy6508]

@@christo-chaney the fact that its a reform congregation, they’re not allowed to perform conversions since the reform movement does not keep any mitzvot, you have to keep mitzvot to be a Rabbi

[@christo-chaney]

@@themosinguy6508 how are you going to stop Reform congregations from performing conversions? Reform Jews keep far more mitzvot than you’re going to admit.

[@Truth4552]

For all of you watching this. This is not an authentic orthodox Jewish conversation but rather reform which doesn’t count

[@christo-chaney]

It’s a valid conversion that’s recognized in Israel. Interesting how the various liberal movements accepts others conversions…even your orthodox standards but many orthodox don’t accept other orthodox ones. Thank God for Reform Judaism.

[@shaifly3612]

מדומיינים עוכרי ישראל

[@y2kabilov]

Is this Reform Judaism?

[@themosinguy6508]

yes, thats why there’s a female “rabbi”

[@anonymousanonymous-qx7mv]

@@themosinguy6508 they are not converted. Its not accepted in mainstream judaism!

[@themosinguy6508]

@@anonymousanonymous-qx7mv exactly, only orthodox conversions are valid, all they did was waste this man’s time by lying to him and making him believe he really converted

[@anonymousanonymous-qx7mv]

@@themosinguy6508 its being totally unfair to them, tbem thinking its a done deal..just mind boggling, the deception...!

[@themosinguy6508]

@@anonymousanonymous-qx7mv exactly, the reform don’t care about Torah, they’re just happy they converted someone to their sick and twisted political ideology

[@user-dh5qi6lf9z]

Kipa 🤨for a women ???

[@iTzShakenJoE]

LMAOOO this is a reform conversion thats why lmaoo.

[@RabbiTuviaBolton]

Conversion requires an official Bait din: 3 MALE Jews that keep all the commandments.

[@christopherfitch5092]

Sorry that you decide not to accept female rabbis. This conversion is kosher & sexism has no place in modern Judaism.

[@RabbiTuviaBolton]

If you dont adhere to the Shulchan Aruch no such thing as laws!! Then there's no reason to be sorry about anything!!. That's how JC got his start.

[@RabbiTuviaBolton]

@@christopherfitch5092 if theres no difference bet men and women then theres no difference bet Jew and gentile either..... so no need for conversion at all. Too bad.... that convert looks serious......he'll eventually discover that you fooled him like you're fooling yourself.

[@ReadingAde]

@@RabbiTuviaBolton imagine coming here to this video to shit on someone’s moving experience.

[@RabbiTuviaBolton]

@@ReadingAde if anyone is defecating it is these fakers on Judaism. One day this young man will discover he was fooled.

[@rutbrea8796]

Mayyin Hayyin, are you an Orthodox religious institution? I see that you have a woman Rabbi. Which I don't agree with.

[@MayyimHayyim]

Hi Rut, thanks for your question. Mayyim Hayyim is a community organization and welcomes guests of all Jewish backgrounds and denominations to immerse at Mayyim Hayyim, for conversion and other reasons. Likewise, the organization engages rabbis from all backgrounds and we have an Orthodox rabbi who supervises the kashrut of our mikveh pools.

[@josephking1947]

As a matter of interest why do you not agree with a woman teaching the law? And before you answer kindly use the Torah to substantiate any assertions.

[@Blade3759]

@@josephking1947 only men can be rabbis according to halakha I believe.

[@josephking1947]

@@Blade3759 incredulous made up nonsense, how can a woman be a prophet (Devorah) and not a teacher of the law? Out of the Rabbis I've listened to over the years the most edifying I've heard are two Rabbinites.

[@Blade3759]

@@josephking1947 The Torah does not provide a reason why women cannot be judges on any cases, whether civil or criminal, leaving us only to speculate. The Jerusalem Talmud1 states unequivocally that women cannot be judges and provides several proof-texts. The ruling is codified in the Code of Jewish Law.

[@schlomyrosenbaum9516]

This is Reform Judaism not Orthodox and may be recognized by Israel but not in other Jewish Shuls especially Chabad/770 and other Orthodox Jews

[@themosinguy6508]

if the corrupt rabbinate recognizes the reform converts they might as well start accepting the messianics too😂🤦🏽‍♂️

[@josephking1947]

Laughable self righteous priggs, Chabbad are a Cult, who are they to discern what's what, its like getting tracing paper over Christianity, as for the assertion the Orthodox have the monopoly on the truth is incredulous, you have to be thick and stupid to believe and repeat such lies.

[@christo-chaney]

Well not every jew is orthodox. Thank God.

[@DoNBeRGamer]

not cosher gior

[@christo-chaney]

It’s a kosher conversion.

[@cxarhomell5867]

@@christo-chaney No, it is not. Only Orthodox conversions are, and if your mother is Jewish.

[@iTzShakenJoE]

sad part is he's not even really jewish.. he had like a reform conversion.. not even accepted.. hopefully they made him aware of how not authentic this conversion was...

[@christo-chaney]

He’s more Jewish than you are. It’s accepted & valid. Whether you like it or not.

[@marcoslapciuc5599]

Conservative sham

[@anonymousanonymous-qx7mv]

Its not a kosher conversion...not accepted...means zero...sorry

[@laerwen]

You're just one person with a narrow view on the internet - your opinion ultimately is zero.

[@anonymousanonymous-qx7mv]

@@laerwen oh no...my opinion actually has backing. Its not about me at all. Its either legit or not. No such thing as " narrowness" i Judaism..we are laws, rituals. Its not up to public opinion, mine or anyone's. Legit or not legit!

[@GabrielleAngelica]

Did you take a DNA test? Are you really Jewish?

[@KA2HRO]

All the religious folks fighting. How delightful.