What is the minimum knowledge required to convert to Judaism?
This question, often approached through a legalistic or academic lens, is typically answered with references to halakhah, study curricula, or requirements set forth by authorities such as Maimonides (Rambam), who famously said a convert should be taught “a few of the major and a few of the minor commandments.” But when we turn to the Bible itself—the ultimate authority for Netzarim Jews—we find a very different kind of answer.
We find Ruth.
Ruth the Moabite is one of the most powerful examples of a convert in all of Jewish tradition. And yet, the story of Ruth doesn’t mention detailed knowledge of commandments, Hebrew fluency, halakhic classes, or ritual obligations. What it describes is far more profound—and far simpler.
She declares:
“Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
— Ruth 1:16
In that single sentence, Ruth expresses identity, allegiance, and faith. She doesn’t list the mitzvot. She doesn’t recite theology. She lives as one of us, and that is what makes her one of us. She works the land, honors Jewish customs, embraces our people, and follows our God. She joins Israel not through paperwork or a checklist, but through life.
This should challenge us. In Ruth’s story, the emphasis is not on knowledge but on belonging—on living a Jewish life.
Netzarim Judaism affirms that Torah is central. But we also know that legalism, when taken to extremes, can obscure the deeper truths of our tradition. Becoming Jewish is not primarily about memorizing laws—it’s about becoming part of the people. It’s about accepting the covenant, aligning your life with the rhythm of the Jewish calendar, the Jewish values of justice and compassion, and the Jewish identity of living in covenant with the God of Israel.
We value study, but we do not require exhaustive knowledge. We look for sincerity, lived practice, a commitment to mitzvot, and a willingness to grow.
As the International Assembly for Netzarim Judaism writes in our own policy on conversion:
“You will already be living a Jewish life, practicing Jewish spirituality and living a Jewish lifecycle… When your rabbi and the beit din decide you are ready… you will be Jewish.”
For the Netzarim, the spirit of the Law has always been more vital than the letter of the Law. Torah is not a codebook—it is a way of life, a covenant of sacred responsibility. What matters most in conversion is not passing a test or citing sources; it’s walking the walk.
That is what Ruth did. That is what we ask of those who wish to join us.
It is important to remember: Judaism is not merely a religion—it is a peoplehood. To convert to Judaism is to join a family. It is to say, I am one of you now. That may involve study, yes. But it must involve a change of life, a new identity, and a willingness to walk with us.
And once you do, as Ruth reminds us, you are not a second-class Jew. You are ours.
