Beth Sholem Synagogue announced plans today for a new class of prospective converts to Judaism after 10 women and five men were accepted as converts in services at the Conservative synagogue. The new class will be started in the fall.
The 15 converts were received into the faith in the first such group ceremony in Philadelphia. A private ceremony was held first and then a public ritual followed. The ceremony included the ritual immersion of the converts in a pool in the synagogue. The five men had previously undergone ritual circumcision.
The group ranged in age from youths in their twenties to grandparents. Many of them were either married to Jews or planning such marriages. Others said they were attracted to Judaism because of its teachings.
The ceremony was conducted by Rabbis Morris V. Dembowitz and Morris S. Goodblatt. The two rabbis conducted an Institute of Judaism which the converts attended for 15 weeks of instruction. They were given Hebrew names in accordance with Jewish religious requirements and received certificates of admission to Judaism.
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