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What is the difference between the conversion of a minor and that of an adult? Who is considered a minor? What does the conversion process include? This section provides information on the criteria for the conversion of minors and as well as the conversion process. |
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| Who is a minor? |
According to the laws of Jewish conversion, a minor is a boy under the age of 13 or a girl under the age of 12. Since children of that age are too young to understand the full significance of the conversion process and its implications, the religious courts accept minors “at their discretion.” This means that the courts accept responsibility for converting children to Judaism and their acceptance into the Jewish faith.
In contrast to adult conversion, the conversion of a minor is provisional. Should the minor later declare, on reaching adulthood, that he does not in fact wish to be Jewish, his conversion is null and void. On the other hand, should he continue to live as a Jew after reaching maturity, he is considered a Jew for all intents and purposes and cannot then leave Judaism.
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| Meeting between the minor’s parents and dayanim (rabbinical judges) |
A minor may not be converted by coercion. The biological or adoptive parents must bring the child to court of their own free will. In order to perform the conversion, both parents must be present in court or, alternatively, must submit a signed document to the court attesting to their joint agreement to the minor’s conversion.
In Israel there is a special designated court for the conversion of minors, headed by Rabbi Haim Druckman and Rabbi Yosef Avior. Parents wishing to have their children converted come to the court to obtain information and explanations of the nature of the conversion process. They will subsequently be asked to attend another meeting, this time together with the minor, and to appear before a rabbinical court forum consisting of three dayanim (rabbinical judges).
In the course of the brief second meeting, the dayanim repeat to the parents the conditions that must exist in order to perform the conversion. On completion of the conversion the dayanim bless and congratulate the minor on his/her new affiliation to the Jewish faith. |
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| Immersion at the mikveh (ritual bath) |
Once the minor has been blessed by the dayanim, the parents must then take him/her to be immersed in a ritual bath, while the mother or father recites a blessing during the immersion. After this procedure, girls are considered Jewish, while boys must also be circumcised. |
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