For the vast majority of people, religion is an important element of their lives, instilled in them and passed down through their families. For one young girl, however, the decision to convert to Judaism stands as a testament to a fervent personal belief.

At age 14, Jeanne Wilkinson is an average teenager. She attends eighth grade at Ladue Middle School, socializes with her friends and updates her Facebook page just as most of her peers do. However, she is also in the process of becoming a practicing Jew. Her decision to make this change was spurred by the sense of community that Judaism offers.

“I love the sense of community the Jewish people have. It’s as if a new realm of friendships has opened up for me ever since I became interested in Judaism,” Jeanne said.

Religious conversion is a foreign concept to many people. Often, people consider their moral and social behavior intrinsically tied to their religious affiliation. For others, religion is a comfortable place in which they can exist, and the idea of shifting from one faith to another can be foreboding and mystifying. Jeanne made the decision to brave these dark waters and has found that dividends are already paying off.

“My dad spent a few weeks calling various teachers and rabbis, and I started to become very discouraged,” Jeanne said. “However, when they offered for me to join a youth group, I figured it would be an easy start. The first time I went to the Junior Youth Group (JYG) program at Temple Israel, I was very excited, and my friends made it easy to get adjusted. It ended up being lots of fun, and I was welcomed by all.”

The combination of support from both the Jewish community and Jeanne’s family has proved critical. Her peers created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, reaffirming her notion that the community is a very tight-knit and accepting group.

“The rabbi at the temple I requested to join suggested I just join the temple’s youth group at first, seeing as I may have been overwhelmed to jump right into a new religion. But it’s been pretty smooth,” Jeanne said.

Jeanne’s dedication to understanding and integrating herself into Judaism has been equally important to the transition process. In addition to her youth group participation, she has begun to explore other spheres of Judaism with the full support of her parents.

“The first time I asked my parents for assistance and actually made an effort was when I got back from a four-week Jewish residential camp (Camp Sabra) this past summer,” Jeanne said. “My parents have been extremely supportive of my decision. In fact, this past year on my first Hanukkah, they bought me my first menorah and listened to my reciting of the traditional Hanukkah prayers.”

The commitment and passion with which Jeanne has dedicated herself to learning about and becoming Jewish is uncommon for someone so young. This change has affected many aspects of her life, and is not the typical path a teenager follows.

“No one in my family as far back as we know is Jewish. Almost all my friends are Jewish, and many of them are now in my youth group. They’ve all been supportive, answered my questions and generally helped me settle in. Over all, it’s been a great experience,” Jeanne said.