Back to Basics

After years of searching and learning more about my roots, the conversion process seemed the natural thing to do. I was unsure how to go about it until I found a shul in Bedford and began going to services. Gradually I started to get more involved and began weekly lessons with David Young. The more I learned, the more I realised that this was who I was and it was liberating to say the least. It was the missing piece to the puzzle. It hasn't been an easy journey despite the support of most of my friends and family. Judaism isn't just a religion. Its a way of life, and I learned very quickly that by choosing to be me, it meant throwing off everything that WASN'T me. There were questions from people who knew me, followed by mostly supportive responses but also a few that were not. 
The day I went to the Beth din I was nervous and it all seemed very surreal whilst at the same time very natural and it was the day I 'came home'. 
A few weeks later I went to the mikvah and despite being terrified of water I actually found myself singing. I would say to anyone who is going through or thinking of going through conversion, don't be afraid to be the real you; Judaism is not easy but at the same time it's very simple; it gets back to basics; it holds us together by a tradition that goes back thousands of years and cuts through all the clutter of today's world. Thank you to David Young for teaching me, and Naomi, Hilary and the everyone else who has been a support to me.

Julie Mitchell Middleton

At a special service in January 2017, Julie was presented with her conversion certificate by Rabbi Danny Rich, Chairman of Liberal Judaism along with her teacher David Young and her witnesses, Hilary Fox and Naomi Fellerman