FAQs

Those who are not Jewish, but have always been a little curious. Those who are not planning to convert but are sharing their lives with Jews. Those who are considering conversion to Judaism. Those who have been Jewish in their hearts for years and want to make it official. Hebrew school drop-outs. Rabbinical school wannabes. You.

Absolutely! Whether you were born Jewish but never quite learned what it was all about, you’re back after a long hiatus, or you’re just looking for a deeper understanding of your heritage, most of us could use a bit of a refresher. Jews from all walks of life enroll in the program: from people who had a Jewish day school education to those whose strongest connection was the annual box of matza on the kitchen counter.

We are an Intro to Judaism class, not just a conversion program. Some of our students are thinking about becoming Jewish. Some are just interested in learning more. Some are already Jewish. We are eager to meet you wherever you are on your spiritual journey. We will never pressure you to convert.

Of course! The Intro Program welcomes all those who want to learn and experience Judaism with us.

Classes cover Judaism’s biggest and most inspiring ideas as well as the nuts and bolts of daily Jewish living. Over 18 weeks, we’ll cover history, holidays, practices, texts, and values, and we’ll tour a Mikvah (ritual bath), hear from a Holocaust survivor, hold a model Passover seder, and more. In addition, we’ll start with Aleph-Bet (Hebrew alphabet) and either teach you to read or help you brush up on your Hebrew skills.

YES! We strongly encourage couples to attend the classes together and share in this powerful, transformative experience. Most couples report that attending class together sparked inspiring and important conversations and brought them closer together.

The Intro Program is pluralistic and open to the whole community. Many of our students and alums consider themselves Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Orthodox, or “just Jewish.” Affiliate partners and institutions teach our curriculum from across the Jewish spectrum. As we see it, our job is to help people become the Jews that they were meant to be in the world rather than forcing them into any particular box or denomination.

We are proud that the Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative/Masorti) has officially adopted the Miller Intro to Judaism Program as a highly recommended program for its communities. Read their announcement here.

Yes. You can complete the Intro Program at your own pace by taking more than one class per week. You can also take your time — your registration is good for a whole year.

Just remember, if you are converting there will likely be additional requirements from your sponsoring rabbi. Talk to them about what timeline they require for completion of the conversion process.

Almost everyone needs to miss a class from time to time. The Miller Intro to Judaism Program is offered on many different cycles throughout the year. Some students may know in advance that they cannot attend particular dates and/or some may wish to take more than one class per week (as the classes can be taken in any order). Since your tuition is good for one year from the time you enroll, you may wish to take certain topics more than once, and are welcome to do so. You will be provided with the schedules and Zoom links for all current classes upon registration in one of our online courses. You are welcome to take an unlimited number of classes with other cycles and you can complete up to 3 missed classes via Zoom recordings. If you miss more than 3 classes, you can attend class with another cycle – just be sure to send us an email to confirm your attendance at maascenter@aju.edu.

Yes, our rabbis do officiate weddings (as well as other lifecycle events).  We would be glad to speak with you about celebrating life’s most meaningful moments. Please contact us at intro@aju.edu, to schedule a time to speak.

You can see all currently available courses and register for them here. Or you can call us at (310) 440-1250.

Our highly subsidized tuition is $475 for an individual and $650 for a couple, including digital course materials. If you don’t have enough for tuition right now, don’t panic. Through the generosity of various alumni and friends of the program, we make sure that no one is turned away. Call us to discuss payment plans and other options.

You can pay online at the outset of the class, or you can make payments. Class tuition, minus a small tuition deposit ($125/person), is refundable up to the fourth week of class. You read that right! You can try us out for the first month; it’s basically risk-free.

We offer payment plans for those who would prefer to pay over time. Scholarships are granted in certain cases only. Please email intro@aju.edu.

Completion of the Intro Program fulfills the basic learning requirements for conversion to Judaism. However, it is just the first step in the journey. Each candidate for conversion needs a sponsoring rabbi, who will work with you individually to determine what additional steps you will take to officially become a part of the Jewish People. Every person is different, and every conversion journey is unique. Learn more on how to convert here.

* Please note that your sponsoring rabbi must be from the community in which you live. We believe that becoming Jewish is inseparable from becoming part of a Jewish community, so we are unable to provide “distance conversion.” We are happy to help you connect with a great sponsoring rabbi in your area. We love being “match-makers.”

Your sponsoring rabbi will ultimately be the one to determine the exact timeline of your conversion process. The average minimum length of time for a conversion process is 1 year, due to the fact that part of the process involves being part of the life of a community and experiencing the holiday cycle of a calendar year. During this year, a conversion candidate would also take their Intro course and have a series of one on one meetings with their sponsoring rabbi to discuss their background, interests, motivation, etc. Building this relationship will allow the rabbi to assess if/when the candidate is prepared and ready to go in front of the Beit Din and immerse in the mikvah to complete the process.

Every Beit Din will be different depending on who is on the Beit Din. There is no need to feel anxious about your Beit Din. Your sponsoring rabbi would not have scheduled you unless they thought you were ready! Here are some common questions you might be asked: What brought you to Judaism? What about Judaism is most attractive to you? How do you understand the idea that Judaism means peoplehood as much as it means religion? What is your favorite Jewish holiday and how do you celebrate it? Describe the meaning of Shabbat in your life. What Jewish values are part of your ethical life? What Hebrew name have you chosen and why?

Judaism is a religion practiced in community, and certain practices and ideas can only truly be learned through doing them oneself. While there is much of Jewish practice that is/can be done in the home or on one’s own (e.g. Shabbat meal rituals, Torah study, personal prayer, a Passover Seder, or building a Sukkah), there are similarly a number of rituals and practices that can only be done in community (e.g. certain central prayers, public Torah reading, prayers and rituals for mourners). While it is certainly possible to convert while living in a city without a synagogue, your sponsoring rabbi will likely want you to travel regularly to the nearest Jewish community, particularly for the celebration of shabbat or special holidays There are also many online only or hybrid communities.

One non-related Jewish adult witness is needed for a niddah session, or a pre-wedding appointment for a woman (also considered the first niddah). Two non-related Jewish adult witnesses (often including, but not limited to, clergy) are needed for the conversion of an adult, Three non-related Jewish adult witnesses (usually three clergy) are needed for the conversion of a child. For all other types of appointments, a witness is not necessary, but it is recommended.

Yes! For those planning to convert, think of the Intro Program as a personal concierge service for your whole journey into Judaism. We will help you find a local synagogue and sponsoring rabbi, and for those in Southern California, we will assist you in arranging your Mikvah (ritual pool) and Beit Din (rabbinic court) appointments. Finding your way into the Jewish community can feel overwhelming, but we’re always here to help.

A male conversion candidate will need documentation of their circumcision or hatafat dam brit (ritual drawing of a drop of blood from someone already circumcised who is becoming a Jew). The hatafat dam brit is a quick painless prick to elicit a drop of blood on a piece of gauze, shown to a male witness. This can be done at home, in a doctor’s office, or at the mikvah prior to immersion.

Trans-men have the option of doing hatafat dam brit, but it is not required. For those in Los Angeles County, Dr. Andrew Shpall has experience doing this for trans men, but if a candidate wishes to perform it themselves, they can do it at the Mikvah prior to immersion.

In Jewish law, a marriage is terminated only by a GET. The GET contains traditional language, codified over the centuries. The GET must be written and delivered under the auspices of the Rabbinic Court (Bet Din), which makes sure that the legal requirements are followed. The document is hand-written by a specially trained scribe. It is then signed by two expert witnesses trained to review the text and correct any errors. The process is overseen by the mesadder gittin, a rabbi trained and certified in Jewish divorce law. For more information or to start the process, email Rabbi Dan Shevitz at get@aju.edu or call 213-222-6310.

*Aliyah, or making Aliyah, in this context, means moving to Israel as a Jew.

If you are interested in moving to Israel after your conversion, the single most important decision you make is about your sponsoring rabbi. Your sponsoring rabbi should be part of either the Reform, Conservative or Orthodox Jewish movement and in good standing with their movement’s professional organization:

Central Conference of American Rabbis (Reform)

Rabbinical Assembly (International Conservative)

Rabbinical Council of America (Orthodox)

Masorti Olami (International Conservative)

World Union for Progressive Judaism (international network for Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements)

In addition to our 4 Steps to Becoming a Jew, our recommendations regarding the conversion process and documentation are as follows:

When you are ready to make Aliyah, there are other organizations that can help walk you through the process. Nefesh B’Nefesh works in cooperation with the Jewish Agency for Israel to facilitate the Aliyah process through their joint application. Find their overview of how to submit your application and required documents for Aliyah from North America, along with the subsequent steps, here.

Any Jewish person of any age or gender identity, or marital status can immerse at the AJU Community Mikvah. However, we require a guardian for those under 13.

We have facilitated immersions for babies as young as 2 weeks old, though we recommend that you consult with your pediatrician for babies under 8 weeks.

Contacts and glasses must be removed before immersing in the mikvah. If you need a prescription to read, please bring glasses with you. You can bring them into the mikvah, use them to read the blessings, and then place them on the side of the pool while immersing. If you wear contacts, we have contact cases and solution you can use to store them.

Yes. Regular nail polish is not allowed in the AJU Community Mikvah. We do have nail polish remover and cotton balls, but please try to prepare before arriving. Gel and acrylic nails are okay.

Yes, a person with fully healed tattoos can enter the mikvah. Please wait until after your tattoos have healed (approx 4 weeks) to enter the mikvah. The primary concern for mikvah immersion is that the water must make direct contact with the entire body, so anything that serves as a barrier (like dirt or certain types of adhesives) must be removed. However, tattoos are under the skin and do not obstruct the water, so they are not considered a barrier.

In terms of immersing in the Mikvah in alignment with your menstrual cycle (also known as niddah), traditionally, once you stop bleeding, you count 7 days without bleeding and on the day following the completion of the 7 clean days (typically the 12^th night from beginning your menstrual cycle), you come immerse in the Mikvah. This can vary depending on the length of a person’s cycle. However, if you do not feel called to follow the counting of the days strictly, our only requirement here at the mikvah is that you are not bleeding when you immerse, so you could come anytime after your period as a ritual for renewal and alignment with your cycle. This is an opportunity for you to slow down and check in with yourself every month. Our niddah appointments are 30 minutes. They are meant for those who are immersing as a monthly or semi-regular ritual.

No, but please wipe them with nail polish remover before going into the mikvah. We will provide the supplies for this in our prep room.

At the AJU Community Mikvah, it is fine to immerse with a piercing, especially if it would cause you harm to remove it. In general, the goal is to remove anything that separates you from the water. However, according to Jewish law, if you cannot remove a particular piece of jewelry, you can immerse after rotating it under the water. Likewise, acrylic nails that have been on for more than 30 days are considered a part of your body and do not have to be removed.

For immersions beholden to halakha (Jewish law) like conversion and niddah, the 3 traditional blessings must be said – the blessing over the mitzvah of immersing in the mikvah, the shehechiyanu the blessing we say when we do something for the first time, and the shema, central prayer of Judaism. After the ritual is over, you will have some alone time in the Mikvah that you may use however you’d like. You may also bring anything that you feel will add to this moment – songs (sung live or pre-recorded), poems, etc. Speak with your Mikvah guide to design a ritual that is meaningful to you.

Unfortunately, no. We book appointments for an hour because immersing in the mikvah is a beautiful ritual that deserves spaciousness. We would hate for you to be rushed through this sacred process when you will get the most out of it by being in true ceremony. Additionally, every person who immerses in the mikvah is a cost to our facility, and that is part of why we ask that each person immersing has their own appointment. However, we do have our 1.5 hour 2 person appointment option, which is meant for this exact purpose. This type of appointment is not available to conversion candidates. 

Please ask your rabbi for financial aid resources. If this is unavailable to you or you don’t have a relationship with a rabbi, please let us know, and we will find a way to accommodate you. 

While access to Jewish rituals should be free to all, the AJU Community Mikvah facility has costs associated with running it. Of the few open community mikva’ot in North America, all operate with fees. Our costs cover pool and facility maintenance, staff salaries, and general operational expenses. 

Immersion should not take place if one has any open cuts, sores or communicable diseases (e.g. bronchitis). Any specific questions can be addressed to your physician.

Yes. Those with disabilities can immerse in the AJU Community Mikvah. However, if they need assistance getting in and out of the mikvah or standing and immersing, they will need to bring a certified aide to assist them. Even if they cannot immerse fully or need to hold on to someone or something, they can still have a kosher immersion. The Mikvah staff are unavailable or certified as physical aides to people needing assistance. We do not have a Hoyer lift, so if they are in a wheelchair, we regret that we cannot accommodate them at this time.

No. At the AJU Community Mikvah, we believe everyone should maintain bodily autonomy. We will explain what preparation needs to happen before the mikvah, but you will take care of the rest. Additionally, there is nothing that you can do to ‘un-kosher’ the mikvah. If you feel you are ready to immerse, you are ready.

The immersion pool holds approximately 4-5,000 gallons and is large enough for a 6-foot tall person to fully immerse with hands outstretched (six feet wide). When standing in the pool, the water level is approximately at chest height for an average size adult: the deepest point of the pool is 5 feet. The Mikvah room is large enough for others to be present; if for example, a baby is being immersed for conversion–held in the water by parents–family and friends can witness the ceremony.

The AJU Community Mikvah is kosher, as certified by Rabbi Ben Zion Bergman z”l, a global authority recognized for his knowledge of halakha (Jewish law). As the only pluralistic mikvah in the Pacific Southwest, we welcome Jews of all denominations to come and immerse themselves.

The water is a comfortable 98 degrees. Safe for pregnancy.

We book up to 90 days in advance.

You can schedule a session at AJU Community Mikvah here.

For cancellations made more than two weeks before your appointment, you will receive a full refund. Cancellations made within 2 weeks of your appointment are non-refundable. In these cases, your payment will be received as a donation to support the AJU Mikvah, a mitzvah that helps sustain this sacred community resource. If you are cancelling due to a contagious illness or menstrual cycle, we offer a one-time rescheduling at no additional cost. We are deeply grateful for your support, which helps keep the Mikvah accessible and meaningful for all who seek its waters.

Unfortunately the Mikvah is unable to provide scholarship at this time. Please ask your rabbi for financial aid resources or about their discretionary fund.

While access to Jewish rituals should be free to all, the AJU Community Mikvah facility has costs associated with running it. Of the few open community mikva’ot in North America, all operate with fees. Our costs cover pool and facility maintenance, staff salaries, and general operational expenses.

One non-related Jewish adult witness is needed for the conversion of an adult, a niddah session, or a pre-wedding appointment for a woman (also considered niddah). Three non-related Jewish adult witnesses (usually three clergy) are needed for the conversion of a child. For all other types of appointments, a witness is not necessary, but it is recommended.

At our Mikvah, we deeply respect and prioritize modesty, ensuring that each candidate feels at ease throughout their experience. To maintain a high level of comfort and privacy, candidates enter the Mikvah water alone and in a dimly lit room, where the atmosphere is serene and respectful. After the candidate enters the water, they are instructed to ring a bell to alert our Mikvah staff that they are ready for the ritual to begin. If there are any guests or clergy, they will enter the room behind an opaque curtain to audibly “witness” and share blessings with the candidate, while our Mikvah staff will enter the Mikvah room on the same side of the curtain as the candidate in the water.

Our witness, who is the sole female staff member, sits at a considerable distance and has experience witnessing immersions of all genders. Visibility is minimal, limited to the shoulders up, preserving the candidate’s dignity and tranquility.

For those who do not feel comfortable with a female witness, unfortunately we are unable to provide witnesses of another gender, however, you are welcome to bring someone with you (Jewish adult, not related to you) to be your witness and our staff will show them what to look for. Please let us know if you have any questions. We are committed to upholding these practices to honor each individual’s personal and spiritual journey.

You can access your original confirmation email and click “change appointment” or call us at 310-440-1221.

You can email mikvah@aju.edu or call 310-440-1221.

No way! This space is for anyone curious about Judaism, whether or not you have Jewish roots. Maybe you’re in community or partnership with someone Jewish, or you simply want to learn more about Jewish history and traditions. No matter why you’re here, we’re glad to have you.

That’s totally okay, and it’s why we’re here! Judaism is full of questions and exploration—it’s designed for curiosity. Our resources can help you understand Jewish history, culture, and traditions. Feel free to take our survey so we can better answer your questions.

You don’t need to convert or formally “join” to explore or connect with Jewish history or culture. Judaism values exploration. We encourage you to engage in a way that feels right for you. This space is here for you to learn and connect without any pressure.

While Judaism is a religion, it’s also a culture, a peoplehood, a shared language, and a history. Jewish identity includes everything from foods and holidays to values, art, and storytelling passed down through generations. It’s a rich tapestry that doesn’t fit neatly into a single category. There are many paths to being Jewish!

No pressure here! You’re welcome to explore and learn as much as you’d like without the need to make any sort of commitment. Judaism has a long tradition of welcoming curiosity, and we’re here to provide resources for your journey, whatever that looks like.

Converting to Judaism is a beautiful and meaningful journey for many people. While the process varies by community or denomination, it typically involves learning about Jewish history, traditions, and practices alongside building relationships with the Jewish community.

If you’re ready to convert, we recommend taking one of our Miller Intro to Judaism classes. Read all about it here, and let us know if you have any questions about how to get started. Classes are available locally and online.