Here are statements from the Society for Humanistic Judaism regarding 
adoption of/conversion to Judaism.  The statements are contained in
the _Guide To Humanistic Judaism_ available from SHJ (more info at
http://www.teleport.com/~hellman)
...................................................................
                        STATEMENT ON CONVERSION

>From Mate1920@aol.comTue Dec 19 22:37:02 1995
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 08:30:17 -0500
From: Mate1920@aol.com
To: hellman@teleport.com
Subject: Archives

The statement follows -- it is in the Appendix of the Guide:

"We recognize the necessity of a new approach to Jewish conversion.
We believe:
 1. That Jewish identity is primarily a cultural and ethnic identity.
2. That belief systems are too diverse among Jews to serve as criteria for
membership.
3. That joining the Jewish community is a process of cultural identification.
4. That a person who seeks to embrace Jewish identity should be encouraged to
do so and should be assisted in that endeavor.
5. That the cultural instruction for conversion should be left to the
discretion of each rabbi, congregation, or community.

We are convinced that Jewish survival requires creative alternatives to
traditional procedures."

end of statement.

.....................................................................


Date: Sat, 23 Dec 1995 21:22:48 -0500
From: Mate1920@aol.com
To: hj@teleport.com
Subject: HJ/ Conversions, etc.

I want to echo Walter Hellman and Al Tauber's posts re "Conversion"--or to
use the preferred Humanistic Judaism Guide's cemantics -- adoption.

For Roger -- and any others who have trouble with this -- I am posting the
Guide's  statement.  (Walter, you may want to archive this, as well).

                                ADOPTION

   Many Humanistic Jews prefer the word adoption to conversion in describing
the procedure whereby a non-Jewish person becomes Jewish.  While religious
communities, like Christianity and Islam, typically are united by common
beliefs, there are no beliefs or teachings that all Jews share and that
define their membership in the Jewish community.  Jewish atheists are no less
Jewish than are theists.  Viewed in this light, "adoption" into the Jewish
"family," rather than conversion to a religious faith, more accurately
conveys the meaning of the process by which a person not born of a Jewish
mother or father becomes a member of the Jewish community.

A person's decision to be Jewish makes her or him so.  Often, in preparation
for the decision, the prospective adoptee undertakes a program of study and
introspection, usually under the guidance of a knowledgable leader or
teacher.  Areas of study may include the nature of Jewish identity and of
contemporary Jewish community, as well as Jewish history, holidays, and
beliefs.

A formal ritual of acceptance into the Jewish people, though unneccesary, is
appropriate.  Some Humanistic Jewish communities have developed such
celebrations of welcome.

There are references for additional reading -- Robert Barr, "Adopting
Judaism," Humanistic Judaism, 16:4, Autumn 1988; Daniel Freidman, "Jewish
Identity and Conversion," Humanistic Judaism, 14:1, Spring, 1986; Sherwin
Wine, "Celebration", 1988; and Sherwin Wine, Judaism Beyond God,", 1985.

                       --end of Quote from Guide.

To Judith Seid, and any others-- as for a course of study and/or a welcoming
ceremony -- I can strongly recommend what were my assignments from Sherwin
Wine for my Bar Mitzvah (would apply for adoptees, as well)--Howard Fast,
"The Jews" (a history); Hayyim Schauss', "The Lifetime of a Jew"
(Celebrations and Life Cycle events); and Hayyim Schauss', "The Jewish
Festivals."  I would now add the new anthology edited by Renee Kogel and Zev
Katz, "Judaism in a Secular Age." 

Finally, as for a ceremony of welcome or for adoption, I refer you to the
text of what we used for my Bar Mitzvah last month.  It is archived -- it is
basically a ceremony of "Commitment" and is appropriate for use at any time,
by any community, as a Shabbat service, "Adoption" or whatever.

It went well and was widely appreciated by our attendees.  If it is easier
for anyone who is unfamiliar in downloading Archives, I will be glad to mail
a printed copy of the Ceremony if you email me your snail mail address.
 (You, too, Roger.)

Shalom chaver.

Bert Steinberg