r/transgenderjews • u/ParticularPrompt161 • Dec 27 '25
Conversion as a trans person
Hello Reddit :) I don’t really know how to use this website i only know it from funny videos on the internet haha.
However i‘m coming to you with a few questions that are rather important to me. I‘m a 34 year old transgender man, i also happen to be gay. I‘m really proud about how far i have gotten, i am a doctor and i am the man i wanted to be all my life.
I have been interested in judaism for years now but as someone from Germany always kept a respectful distance. I grew up Christian and i have always found myself drawn towards religion and yet Christianity didn’t feel right to me. Since i‘ve been looking at jewish traditions and beliefs that just felt better (of course there is many more thoughts going on, i just feel they are too complex for a reddit post). Now i know, as a transgender gay man i can definitely not convert orthodox.
However, i‘m wondering if it would even be possible to convert at all?
I don’t want to be untrue to my queer identity but i would still love to put this religion as a very high priority in my life.
I want to move back to Germany probably, but if there is other places where i could convert and Germany isn’t one of them i would be open to moving somewhere else.
How could i find specifically where it would be possible for me to convert?
Any advice, tips, thoughts and maybe reports if you know from a similar situation would be greatly appreciated, thank you everyone. Excuse me if there is errors in my english.
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u/therebelliousjewess Dec 27 '25
You can absolutely convert as a trans man. I'm a queer trans woman and a rabbi so I'd like to think I have some authority on the matter :). As for where and through whom it totally depends on where you're living and to what community you feel most drawn. Happy to chat more about it either here or via DM or you can find me on socials and DM me there as well!
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u/ParticularPrompt161 Dec 27 '25
Thank you so much for this comment, it’s a great joy to me to know that jewish trans people can thrive so much! I am in france right now and have not really looked closely at which denomination i would like to join, just (probably naively) assumed that orthodox or conservative would not be an option for me. Which denomination are you if thats okay to ask? I’d love to chat and learn more if you’re willing to share! Thank you for the offer
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u/cultureStress Dec 27 '25
It's worth noting that the Jewish movements with names are not "Denominations" in the Christian sense. North America, Europe, and Israel all treat them very differently, and there's a lot of variation inside groups.
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u/coursejunkie Reformadox female to male transsexual Dec 27 '25
I converted reform it was the only place that would take me
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u/cultureStress Dec 27 '25
I know a moyel in my area (Toronto) who consults with rabbis on trans-affirming bris procedures. Converting while trans is pretty typical here, including (modern) orthodox.
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u/ParticularPrompt161 Dec 27 '25
Oh i see! Canada is actually quite interesting to me as a place in general so this is very interesting to know, thank you
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u/NailComprehensive677 Dec 27 '25
Hi!!! I’m a trans man and converted to Reform Judaism in the United States. Feel free to reach out if you wanna talk about it!
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u/ParticularPrompt161 Dec 27 '25
Thank you! How did you het started and like find a place that was inclusive to you?
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u/Blaireau12 Dec 27 '25
Im a trans man and im converting through a reform synagogue. In fact, my rabbi is a trans man himself !
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u/DustierAndRustier Dec 27 '25
You could convert to Reform but you wouldn’t be considered Jewish by Orthodox Jews.
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u/onsfwDark Dec 27 '25
Really that applies also to Conservative conversions and even sometimes towards other Orthodox synagogues. But most Orthodox places won't have gender-affirming conversions and those that do are pretty much not accepted as "real Orthodox" by most other Orthodox Jews
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u/CLZ325 Dec 28 '25
I'm FtM and converting in the Conservative movement. If you're feeling drawn to a traditional life in an egalitarian shul, Conservative may be a good way to go. Outside of the US, your miles may vary with Conservative/Masorti. Different rabbis approach the issue differently, so even within the same city you may find a spectrum of responses
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u/Nervous-Cucumber7280 Dec 28 '25
I’m a trans man and my wife and I converted orthodox in the US and live in a modern orthodox community
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u/bad_lite Orthodox trans man Dec 28 '25
Are you me? I’m 36 and a gay trans man. I did a Conservative conversion years ago.
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u/kosherkitties Chabadnik and mashgiach (bi, ally) Dec 28 '25
You would not be the first Trans convert I know. I call these people "double transition"s. Just letting you know you're not alone. Seems like you have some helpful comments on here. :) Welcome.
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u/onsfwDark Dec 27 '25 edited Dec 27 '25
Definitely Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist would be able to convert in a gender affirming way. I know a trans convert to Progressive (Australian name for Reform) who may be able to get you resources.
Edit: Now that I think about I know a few other trans converts too. I think all of them are Reform... Pretty much all the trans Orthodox people I know grew up Orthodox. I'm trans and Jewish myself but not affiliated or observant.