Is it allowed religiously to charge money for conversion ?

Mnay people are sending us emails asking about the fees of conversion so we decided to write it once forever.

Let us clarify it clearly in short: It is not allowed to charge money for conversion. It is against the Torah law and it is basically corruption. Torah should never be sold for money.

We know that some people do it, but you should know that it is considered corruption, beside of taking advantage of pople which is disgusting.

Conversion Should Never Be for Sale - Only fake conversaion is sold!

Charging money for conversion is strictly forbidden according to Torah law. The Torah must never be sold or commercialized. Spiritual truth, mitzvot, and access to the Jewish people are not commodities to be bought or sold.

Conversion must be a sincere spiritual journey, motivated by love for God and his Torah, and the Jewish people, not by financial transaction or business interests.

Misconduct and Corruption

Unfortunately, we are aware that in some places or communities, people do ask for money in exchange for conversion. This behavior is not only a violation of Torah principles, but also an act of moral corruption. It takes advantage of vulnerable people seeking truth, often during sensitive periods in their lives.

Exploiting people spiritually or financially under the guise of religion is repugnant and damaging, both to the individuals involved and to the sanctity of the Jewish people as a whole.

What May Be Paid For

To be clear: it is acceptable to reimburse basic costs, such as:

• translation of documents (mostly not needed!),

• lodging and travel (if applicable),

• educational materials (mostly not needed!)

• The travel costs of Dayanim to come or the cost of cancelation their job time, if they do have one! (For instance, in our community 2 more Dayanim are coming from other country to join the local rabbi. They are not expected to pay their volunteering.

But none of these costs should ever be tied to "passing" or "receiving approval." The conversion process is not a transaction, it is a sacred covenant.

If You Are Considering Conversion

First of all, consider it well, since there are many reasons not to do so (please read this article about that). If you are in the process of exploring Judaism or considering conversion, we encourage you to:

• Seek sincere rightous and honest guidance.

• Be cautious of anyone who demands money as a condition for conversion itself.

Conclusion: Never pay money for converstion and be far away from those who ask for convertion.