Cranston family hears the call of Judaism, converts

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The Jewish people are not known for aggressive efforts to spread the Jewish faith; most people who are Jewish were born Jewish. But what about those who Judaism speaks to later in life?

The Kane family, of Cranston, can tell you all about it.

Meet Jayson “Jay” Kane, a 36-year-old nurse practitioner, and Kim Kane, a 36-year-old paramedic. Kim comes from a Catholic family that, she says, didn’t seem to have a particularly spiritual connection to their religion. Jay describes his upbringing as non-religious, but says he always had an interest in Judaism. He says this became especially true after he spent some time working in the famously Jewish Boston suburb of Newton.

Together, with three of their four children, Jay and Kim converted to Judaism in December 2015. The couple says that one of the things that attracted them to Judaism was what being Jewish will mean for their kids.

“The bigger thing is that we’re both giving something to our children that we didn’t have,” said Kim.

While the idea of conversion was in the air for some time, the family’s turning point was in the fall of 2014.  Jay and Kim were discussing taking an introductory class to Judaism, but before they could enroll, Jay went into cardiac arrest. He was in a coma for two months. It was a trying time for Kim and the rest of the family, and when medical staff asked Kim if she would like any pastoral support, she asked for a rabbi.

Jay says that this experience, with Rabbi Carol Glass at Rhode Island Hospital, was what really set the conversion in motion.

“When I awoke … we spoke at length about what I wanted to do,” Jay says. “From that conversation, I decided to look into the class.” Coincidentally, the class at Temple Beth-El, in Providence, started a few short weeks after Jay woke up, and Jay and Kim enrolled.

The couple said the things they learned in the class about being Jewish reflected beliefs that they already had; the class provided affirmation. Students had a chance to meet with several rabbis from the community, and Kim and Jay felt a solid connection with Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser. Only later did they learn that Temple Sinai, the Reform congregation he leads, was close to their home in Cranston.

Rabbi Goldwasser gave Kim and Jay assignments, including written assignments on their conversion and what called them to Judaism, and generally mentored and supported them through the conversion process.

“We had a lot of conversations with the rabbi,” Kim says of the process. “Raising Jewish children, what will family think, what it’ll be like … it was emotionally challenging, thought-provoking stuff.”

Kim and Jay say their three young children, 3-year-old Jacoby, 7-year-old Zackary, and 10-year-old EmmaLyn, quickly took to the idea of being Jewish.

“They integrated very smoothly.… From the start they were like, ‘We’re Jewish.’ They just took it on as their identities,” said Kim. And in the way of true mensches, Kim and Jay say that the kids make a valiant effort to add to tzedakah.

While their three youngest children converted, their eldest, Michaeyla, has not. Kim and Jay decided that Michaeyla, 17, should be allowed to explore Judaism on her own timeline.

“She’s come to synagogue several times, and has volunteered with the youth group,” Kim said. “We began our journey at a time when she’s finding out who she is as a person, so it was a lot to ask of her to find herself spiritually. … She is beginning to understand the process in a way that suits her.”

Kim says the family will continue to be a spiritual role model for Michaeyla, and that she can choose whether to become Jewish whenever she feels ready.

The whole process took a little over a year, ending with the final step in their conversion on December 16  at Mayyim Hayyim, in Newton. After a preparatory cleansing, Jews-to-be are led into an immersion pool, or mikveh, where a rabbi, cantor, and witness are present. According to Kim, the group was very supportive.

“You could hear them cheering outside the door,” she said with a laugh.

Since their conversion became official, Kim and Jay say it has been smooth sailing into the Jewish community.

“It wasn’t a transition; it was just automatic,” explains Jay. “It was just like, ‘we’re Jewish now, and these are my peeps!’ ”

ARIEL BROTHMAN is a freelance writer who lives in Wrentham, Massachusetts.

Temple Sinai, Kane family, conversion