Martha Chitate: Discovering Judaism at Her Own Pace  

For many of the students who enroll in the Miller Intro to Judaism course, the experience culminates in a conversion to Judaism. 

But that isn’t everyone’s journey. 

For Martha Chitate, a student in the 2024 cohort, the 18-week class allowed her to deepen her engagement with Judaism, but she’s still taking her time before she converts—she’s going, she said, at her own pace.  

“I’m not trying to rush things,” she said over Zoom. “There’s no exact timeframe for my conversion.” 

Martha set out to learn more about Judaism after a DNA test revealed she had Jewish genes. Her mother told her they had had a connection to the Lemba Tribe of Zimbabwe—a Southern Africa community with Jewish genetic roots—and it turns out she was right. 

The DNA test, she said, “set me on this path of wanting to learn more about Jewish history and practices.” It was also a feeling of uncertainty about the faith group she was raised in—her upbringing is Evangelical—that led to her seeking out information about Judaism. 

Her time in the class, led by Rabbi Ben Kramer, was a success. 

“I was particularly drawn to the program’s strong reputation and the convenience of its online format. Experiencing the program alongside individuals from all walks of life had a lasting impact on me, one that I will carry with me as I continue my journey toward Judaism.” 

Martha lives in in Pikesville, Maryland, a community that happens to have a high population of Orthodox Jews. That proximity to Jewish life has made it easier for her to continue her Jewish journey even after finishing the class. She meets regularly with a sponsoring rabbi. She sits with him and asks tough questions, particularly about Jewish ritual. She’s curious about “why things are done and how things are done,” she said. 

Already embracing Jewish practice, she set foot in a synagogue for the first time during Rosh Hashanah in 2024 and returned to synagogue for the most recent High Holy Days. When she spoke with AJU, she had just experienced her first Chanukah. 

During her class, she learned much about Jewish history, including Jewish persecution by other faith groups. She was struck by how far back in time one could trace the scourge of antisemitism. 

Her mother, too, has taken an interest in Judaism. Sheila Chitate was a student in the May 2025 cycle. “In all fairness she has been on the conversion journey longer than I have,” Martha said. 

She’s excited to see where both of their journeys take them.