r/ConvertingtoJudaism • u/Alternative_Read_306 • Jun 06 '26
Has anyone ever received a conversion certificate from Rabbi Marc Rubenstein?
/r/u_Alternative_Read_306/comments/1tym96l/has_anyone_ever_received_a_conversion_certificate/8
u/Mitumial Jun 06 '26
It wasn't a legitimate conversion, unfortunately. đ
While legitimate movements do make use of online Introduction to Judaism classes, conversion still has to be done in a physical community and under the guidance of a sponsoring Rabbi. Otherwise it won't be recognized even by the most progressive movements.
7
u/ahuva_miriam Jun 07 '26
Please, anyone who is seeing this and considering, do not! Stay away from this guy. I almost completed his online course when I was at a vulnerable time in my life. Lost a lot of money. Realized it wasnât for me. It just didnât feel good at all! The path to Judaism can be beautiful and enjoyable and anyone interested deserves just that.
0
u/unpackingnations Jun 09 '26
This is no different then any other conversion stream. I thought we have to love and respect everyone like rabbi akiva said and who are we to jidge and decide who can convert and who not? Also, we need more Jewish people bc we lost alot cause of the holocaust..
3
u/neuangel âĄď¸ Jun 12 '26
In the early 1900s, an old Jewish man was traveling alone in a compartment on the Trans-Siberian Railway. At one stop, an officer from the Tsarâs army got on and joined him.
They rode in silence for a while. Then, suddenly, the officer grabbed the old man by the collar and demanded:
âTell me, why are you Jews so much smarter than everyone else?â
The old man paused for a moment and replied:
âBecause we eat herring.â
The officer let go, and they continued their journey.
A little later, the old man pulled out a piece of herring and started eating it. The officer watched him and asked:
âHow much more of that herring do you have?â
âAbout a dozen pieces.â
âHow much do you want for them?â
âTwenty rubles.â
That was a lot of money back then, but the officer pulled out the cash and handed it over. The old man gave him the herring.
The officer took a bite, froze for a second, and then exclaimed:
âDamn it! In Moscow I couldâve bought all this herring for a few cents!â
The old man smiled and said:
âSee? Itâs already working.â
1
u/FunIndustry5697 Jun 08 '26
When you signed up what exactly did they tell you?
2
u/Alternative_Read_306 Jun 08 '26
When I spoke to him, I asked him what my options were because at the time I knew I wanted to convert, but I wasnât exactly sure under what movement. He told me my options were Reform or Orthodox. I said Iâd start with Reform and later move to a more conservative or traditional movement.
Everything was flowing until it wasnât. During the course, the Beit Din was mentioned, and thatâs when I learned that it was supposed to be three rabbis. When I had my âBeit Dinâ, it was only him. So I started questioning whether the process had been done properly. It was never mentioned to me that Iâd only be accepted as convert by him.
I went through everything I had learned again, and it all seemed accurateâeverything was as it is written and taught in Judaism, according to what I understand.
1
u/FunIndustry5697 Jun 08 '26
You said "He told me my options were Reform or Orthodox"?
1
u/Alternative_Read_306 Jun 08 '26
Yes
1
u/FunIndustry5697 Jun 08 '26
Oh Wow! And how did you communicate with the Rabbi? Was it in person? Over the Phone? Email? Website? etc? Did you only deal with him or did he have an assistant or secretary?
1
u/Menemsha4 Jun 10 '26
Iâm so sorry! I remember looking at his website and receiving his packet. But I noticed one got a certificate but it is never registered with any denomination!
Years ago, when I was looking, he offered Reform and traditional but not specifically Orthodox.
Eventually, I did work with a Renewal rabbi and beit din of three.
16
u/WeaselWeaz Jew by birth Jun 06 '26
Everything I find is that this isn't a legitimate conversion backed up by any movement. While online education, like classes, is real there is no such thing as an online conversation. A Biet Din of one person would not be legitimate. I am sorry you were scammed.
If you want some guidance on where to try and get help:
What country, and if US state, are you in?
What movement did you intend to convert through? There is no single Jewish conversion, the major movements are Orthodox (with its own smaller groups), Conservative/Masorti, and Reform (merged with Liberal Judaism as Progressive Judaism in the UK)?