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There seems to be plenty of websites that offer online conversion to Conservative Judaism. Are these real? Has anyone done this? Is it a scam?

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    At the minimum, it should be noted that Orthodox groups would very likely not recognize the conversion.
    – mevaqesh
    Oct 31, 2016 at 4:28
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    Online? Can you show an example?
    – kouty
    Oct 31, 2016 at 5:16
  • you may be interested in judaism.stackexchange.com/q/59257/759
    – Double AA ♦
    Oct 31, 2016 at 18:23
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    I would guess they are scams as online conversions are not accepted by even Conservative rabbis according to the answer below coupled with the fact that the three conversion websites I found charge $500 to $2200 so it just smells like an easy money making scheme.
    – A L
    Oct 31, 2016 at 18:54
  • A bais din is forbidden to accept testimony or any procedures unless everyone involved is present in person. This includes all testimony in court cases as well as any other procedure (even a monetary case). Thus, any such attempt to call this a "conversion" is invalid.
    – sabbahillel
    Oct 31, 2016 at 19:46

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Such a conversion would not be accepted in the Conservative movement. A site offering an online-only Conservative conversion is at best extremely misguided, and possibly a scam.

For starters, Conservative Judaism would not accept a "conversion" that did not include mikvah and (for men) circumcision. This doesn't even come up in the law committee responsa on conversion; it's taken as a given.

Conversion requires individual study with a rabbi. I have heard of people in isolated locations who have no local rabbi doing some of their study remotely (for example via Skype), but I've never heard of one who was able to complete a conversion that way (including the beit din). This is anecdotal evidence only, I know. The Conservative rabbis I know expect a convert to become part of a local Jewish community, which means in person.

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Conversion is a major life changing decision that cannot be thrown out like the whims of an online dating account and something like this should be avoided as not being genuine. Any responsible rabbi will require a period of study and a knowledge test before proceeding.

Additionally if someone tells you that you can convert to Judaism and it does not require all of the following 1. acceptance of the entire Torah both in practice and belief. 2. If male either circumcision or hatafas hadam bris. 3. mikvah 4. an understanding that when the beis hamikdash is rebuilt you will have to bring a sacrifice then the conversion being offered is a scam

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