Rachel - you didn't offend me at all, I was just stating my views on the subject.

Length of conversions are usually up to the disrection of the individual Rabbi and the appropriate Beis Din (Rabbinical court that awards the conversion). It also depends whether it was done through a Reform, Conservative or Orthodox Synagogue. As we are (Ultra) Orthodox, I can only speak for my experience within that community, but i know that it is a lot easier to convert through Reform or Conservative, but the conversations are not widely accepted, so people should be aware of that before they go in.

I believe (once again, not reform so can't speak for them), that in Reform your mother wouldn't have needed to convert, I believe they feel that 1 Jewish parent in enough?

Like i said before, in a synagogue women and men are seperated, either women upstairs and men downstairs (women can see through as its more like a gallery), or both on the same level with a curtain type material dividing. A bris is normally held first thing after morning prayers, so they won't exactly take down the division (called a mechitzah) for the bris. Maybe that is why your mother was in a different room, more out of practicality. I was just saying according to Jewish law (Halachah), there is nothing wrong with women being there.

You're on the Gold Coast right? My friends used to work in the Chabad House in Brisband, i can't remember which Rabbi was in charge though, but he was very nice.

Caro - because converting is not encouraged (infact, you have to actively discourage people), and there are a lot of laws people are obligated to follow once they convert, you want to make sure that 1) they are committed to living that kind of lifestyle afterwards, and 2) have learn enough about the religion to know what is allowed and what isn't. There are other reasons bought down by commentators on why Judaism is passed through the mother (mainly for spiritual reasons i believe), but the reason i gave you is one of the practical reasons given.

Rachel - if ones mother mother mother mother etc is Jewish, than the person is Jewish no matter what religion they might be practising. Judaism is not something you can get rid of by converting to another religion, one would always be Jewish. If you really believe you might be Jewish, you would need supporting documentation, normally in the form of a Jewish marriage certificate (ketubah) etc, and the subsequent birth certificates. There are many records still held in Germany today for people to trace things, i needed to find some documentations for when i got married. If one couldn't find the documents, but it was generally accepted that they were, normally the person would undergo an easier type of conversion, one done just to make 100% sure. Feel free to ask any more questions if you like.