This is a big step.
Maybe the biggest you’ll ever take.
And if you’re here, you probably have a million questions swirling around: What does the process actually look like? How long will it take? Will I fit in? What if I’m not ready? That’s exactly where we start. With your questions, your story, your pace.
Why People Choose To Convert Here
Because we believe questions make faith stronger.
You won’t get scripted answers or feel rushed through milestones. Doubt something? Ask. Need to revisit a concept? We’re here for it.
Because you get one guide for the whole journey.
Rabbi Mintz walks with you from your first nervous phone call all the way to celebrating after the mikveh. No handoffs, no starting over with new people who don’t know your story.
Because you’ll learn by doing, not just reading
Join us for Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, and weekly prayer at the JCC. This isn’t theory, it’s life as it’s actually lived.
Because we’re transparent about everything.
You won’t get scripted answers or feel rushed through milestones. Doubt something? Ask. Need to revisit a concept? We’re here for it.
Because conversion doesn’t end at the mikveh.
The real work—and joy—begins after. We’re here for your first Yom Kippur, your wedding planning, your kids’ questions – all of it.
This is your space to
Think Aloud.
Bring your doubts, your excitement, your complicated family situation. We’ll figure it out – together.
How Does It Actually Work?
ONE.
Let’s Start With Coffee (We’re buying)
Tell us your story. What brought you here? What are you hoping for? What’s keeping you up at night? We’ll talk through what conversion really means and whether this feels right for you.
TWO.
Getting Real About What Orthodox Life Looks Like
Shabbat every week. Keeping kosher. Daily prayer. Community involvement. We’ll walk through what this means for your relationships, your career, your Saturday plans. No judgment, just honest conversation.
THREE.
Learning That Makes Sense for Your Life
Shabbat every week. Keeping kosher. Daily prayer. Community involvement. We’ll walk through what this means for your relationships, your career, your Saturday plans. No judgment, just honest conversation.
FOUR.
Becoming Part of the Conversation
You won’t just learn about Jewish life—you’ll start living it with us. Come Think Aloud during our Shabbat discussions, help with community projects, be part of the real debates that make faith stronger. By the time you convert, this won’t feel foreign anymore.
FIVE.
When You’re Ready: The Official Stuff
Beit din (rabbinical court), mikveh (ritual immersion), choosing your Hebrew name. For men, there’s brit milah or hatafat dam brit. We’ll coordinate everything and prep you so that you know exactly what to expect.
SIX.
Welcome Home
The real adventure begins. Ongoing learning, holiday guidance, life-cycle celebrations, and a community that’s genuinely excited to have you.
How long? It depends on you. Some people are ready in six months, others need two years. We move at your pace, not ours.
About Recognition
Here’s something most people won’t tell you upfront: not every Orthodox community or institution recognizes every conversion. It’s complicated, and it matters where you want to live, send your kids to school, or get married.
We’ll have this conversation early. If your goal is moving to Israel, we’ll make sure your beit din choice aligns with that. If you’re planning to stay local, we’ll focus on what works for the communities you care about.
No surprises, no fine print, no discovering problems later. Just honest conversation about the landscape you’re entering.
What You’ll Actually Learn
The Big Idea
Who is G-d? Why Torah? What does it mean to be chosen? How do we understand suffering, miracles, and modern life through Jewish eyes?
Daily Rhythms
Morning blessings, Shabbat prep, holiday cycles, kosher cooking, business ethics, how to argue properly (yes, really).
Hebrew & Prayer
Who is G-d? Why Torah? What does it mean to be chosen? How do we understand suffering, miracles, and modern life through Jewish eyes?
Conversations
How to follow along in shul, when to stand and sit, what chesed looks like, how to Think Aloud respectfully when you disagree over kiddush.
Ready to take the first step?
Contact Us.
I wanted to be Jewish for years, but the intimidation of not knowing where to start — and honestly, the fear of mitzvot like kashrut — kept me frozen. Project Ruth changed that: I left every class not just feeling capable of taking on a new mitzvah, but genuinely wanting to.
- Kaitlin Kehler NYC/Boise, ID @kaitlinkehler
Project Ruth has profoundly deepened my entire family’s connection to Judaism and helped me finally realize my dream of a kosher home. Rabbi Mintz’s warmth, enthusiasm, and unwavering support made Orthodox Judaism feel truly accessible and welcoming.
- Elizabeth Strader Boise, ID
