We occasionally make fun of celebrities converts (or potential converts). In almost all cases, the motivating factor seems to be a Jewish romantic partner, as opposed to a sincere interest in Judaism.
Which is why we are so pleased to have learned about Mare Winningham, who underwent a conversion to Conservative Judaism in 2003. (Yes, we’re a bit late to this story.) She didn’t do it because she was dating a Jew or engaged to one, or married to one. She did it because she thought it was the right thing for her to do.
Naomi Pfefferman, writing for the Jewish Journal (Los Angeles), explains how it happened:
It wasn’t until her children were nearly grown that Winningham found herself reading works by Jung, Joseph Campbell and others in an attempt to sort out nagging religious and psychological questions. In summer 2001, she visited a “creation of the world” exhibit at a science museum and made an announcement to herself: “I don’t think I believe in God.”
“But that night, I had the most remarkable dream, which told me, ‘If you’re going to reject something, at least find out what it is you are rejecting,’” she says. When a friend told her about the UJ’s Introduction to Judaism class, Winningham thought, “OK, I’ll begin by studying the Jews, since they started the one-God thing.”
While she intended to approach the class from a historical, intellectual perspective, the epiphanies began the day she stepped into Rabbi Neal Weinberg’s UJ class in November 2001.
“There I was, struggling with God, and one of the first things he said was, ‘Israel means struggle with God,’” she says…
Her observance has been “a real conversation starter,” especially among fellow Jews. Larry Miller, her co-star from CBS’ short-lived “Brotherhood of Poland, N.H.,” recalls his surprise upon learning that Winningham rushed home to bake challah one Friday afternoon.
“It was like having Grace Kelly say, ‘By the way, what time is Mincha?’” he says, referring to afternoon prayers.