The Rabbinical Association is offering a year-long course, “Judaism for Conversion Candidates,” for those seeking a comfortable forum to learn more about the fundamentals of Jewish thought and practice.
Interested candidates can contact the Rabbinical Association to learn how they can register to participate in this year’s community-wide course that begins August 18.
An orientation session is scheduled for Thursday, August 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., for those wanting to learn more about the 36-week course.
The course is taught on a rotating basis by rabbis from the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Progressive movements. Classes will take place virtually, with some sessions taking place in person. Each student is required to secure a congregational rabbinic sponsor and meet the conversion requirements developed by their sponsoring rabbi.
The class provides a comfortable forum for students to learn about Jewish holidays, home celebrations, life-cycle observances, rituals, Jewish prayer and history, Torah, Israel, Judaism’s view about God, and about Judaism’s religion’s movements.
Each class will include a 30-minute basic Hebrew component. Participants will combine Jewish learning with Jewish “doing” as they become part of a shared community and create Jewish memories by taking part in a Shabbat and Havdalah experience. They will also participate in holiday celebrations and observances at Sukkot, Hanukkah and Passover.
This course allows future Jews-by-choice the opportunity to meet one another, and to learn not only about Judaism but also about the Kansas City Jewish community.
Those interested can visit kcrabbi.org for information. To register, interested candidates can contact Annette Fish, Rabbinical Association Administrator/Program Director, by email at or 913-327-8226.
Funding for this Rabbinical Association program is provided by the Menorah Heritage Foundation and the National Center to Encourage Judaism. This course is taught through a collaborative educational partnership with the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program of American Jewish University.
