Rabbi Dr. Yossi Feintuch
(He/Him/His)
Reform

Conversion requirements
Brit milah/Hatafat dam brit:
Not required but available, upon request* (Student pursues independently; supervision is not required.)
Mikvah:
Not required but available, upon request* (Natural mikvah — River in Bend, Ore., or student pursues independently; rabbi supervision is not required.)
Beit din:
Required (Virtual beit din via video conferencing is also acceptable; Reform Rabbis)
Conversion location:
Bend, Ore. and/or virtual via video conferencing
Mentoring sessions available in:
English
Conversion requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Brit milah/Hatafat dam brit:
Not required but available, upon request* (No change)
Mikvah:
Not required but available, upon request* (No change)
Beit din:
Required (No change)
I am happy to work with
Families with children, People who identify as LGBTQ+, People in interfaith or dual-faith relationships
Personal statement
Rabbi Yossi Feintuch is a Reform rabbi serving a Reconstructionist congregation.
My Judaism is based on continuous learning while daring to ask challenging questions. We must learn continuously because we forget, but more importantly, we discover new insights that we overlooked before. It is ethics that comprise the foundations of Judaism, supported by ritual and ceremony that are meaningful and enriching.
Who am I? I am a native of Israel, where I visit annually, and I am also a veteran of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). I earned a doctorate in US History and published my dissertation, US Policy on Jerusalem. In addition, I was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of my “commitment, dedication, and service to Judaism and the Jewish people.”
Besides my love for Judaism and ongoing scholarly writing and blogging – please visit my recent Torah commentaries here and on the Times of Israel. I also love my dogs with whom I hike daily in nature. I also enjoy traveling to foreign countries and learning about unfamiliar cultures and geography.
I will learn with and be a resource on Judaism for anyone who is genuinely interested in joining the Jewish people and adopting its religious and cultural heritage.
*About conversion ritual
Reform Judaism upholds a sacred principle of personal authority. As my student, a conversion candidate may invoke personal authority and decide to opt out of certain rituals, such as brit milah/hatafat dam brit and/or tevilah (mikvah immersion). I do not view these as a formal requisite, rather as a symbol of the candidate’s adoption of the Jewish people. To this end, I encourage serious study about and consideration of these rituals, and I leave the final decision at the discretion of the candidate. If they’d prefer, they may voluntarily perform this ritual within their own community with my guidance but without my supervision following their beit din.
Education
Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
Doctor of Divinity
Smicha (Rabbinical Ordination)
Emory University
Doctor of Philosophy, US History
New York University
Master of Arts, History
Hebrew University in Jerusalem
Bachelor of Arts, International Relations and History