Between two religions

Helen Cadbury relates her experience of training to convert to Judaism

by Helen Cadbury 19th November 2009

Sixteen years ago, I found myself between religions. It was an odd state to be in. Having been brought up in the Society of Friends, I had visited several different churches in my teens and at the age of twenty I began a relationship that brought me into contact with Judaism. My partner and his family worshipped at West London Reform Synagogue. Over a period of seven years I worshipped there too, eventually making the decision to convert. I studied several key texts, began to learn prayer book Hebrew and had lessons from the wife of a reform rabbi. She taught me about the festivals and the reasons for different customs. She also gave me an insight into a logical, rational basis for interpreting these customs today.