Returning to Judaism

General information only. Every case is decided by a rabbi.

Start with your family

Most questions about returning begin with one: am I Jewish? According to halacha, that depends on your mother. These pages explain it in plain language:

• A Jewish mother: what matrilineal descent means, and how a mother’s status is usually confirmed
• DNA tests: what a result can and can’t tell you

You don’t have to work this out alone, or before you call. A rabbi looks at every situation personally, and we can help you find one if you don’t have one.

Where the brit comes in

For many men, the brit is one of the first mitzvot they take on. Which kind depends on your situation:

• Never circumcised: adult brit milah, under local anesthesia and in private
• Circumcised in a hospital, without a brit: usually hatafat dam brit
• Not sure what was done: how it’s usually cleared up

A quiet first step

If you’d like to read more first, the first mitzvah and is it too late for me? were written for men in your position. When you’re ready, simply call or message us and ask whatever is on your mind.