Conversion during wartime

I've been thinking about diving more into Judaism thing and converting in the future. (All this started because I have Jewish family members) But with the current war situation, I'm wondering if it's cool to kick off the process or if I should hold off for some time. Also, any tips on getting over the nerves of stepping into a synagogue? Thanks.

Hello,

Judaism, unlike other known religions, does not encourage conversion.

On the contrary, Jewish law imposes the obligation on the conversion court to delay and make the conversion process difficult until it is clear to them that the process is serious and sincere.

An exception to this is a case where someone wants to convert due to their Jewish descent. If it is determined that they are Jewish according to Jewish law, they are encouraged to clarify their Judaism, and if it is doubtful, to convert in order to become a definite Jew.

Another important point to know is that Jewishness is determined by the mother, so a person whose mother is Jewish, or if their maternal grandmother is Jewish, even if the other ancestors are not Jewish - they are considered fully Jewish according to Jewish law and do not need to convert.

[Many times, people come to the conversion court because their mother or grandmother was Jewish, and then it becomes clear to them that they do not need to convert because they are already Jewish].

Now to the question:

In Jewish law, we find that during times of crisis for the Jewish people, converts are accepted among the Jewish people, whereas during peaceful times, they are accepted to a lesser extent.

The reason for this is clear from what I wrote before - Judaism is

interested only in a convert who comes to embrace the faith as an absolute truth, and not someone who is uncertain in their belief. Therefore, during times when the people are in war or difficulty, it can be understood that the convert who joins the people is not doing so to gain comfort or other benefits, but rather is accepting the faith and religion as an absolute truth.

For this reason, it is the duty of the conversion court to remind every convert that the Jewish people have faced and will continue to face difficulties throughout their history.

Furthermore, when the complete redemption comes, no more converts will be able to join the people. As the people will be at peace and calm, we will no longer have the proof that a convert truly understands the faith, as it is possible that their desire for peace and tranquility characterizes the Jewish people at that time.

Regarding the second question, when you begin the conversion process and have a clear understanding of who the Jewish people are and their relationship with the Creator, you can interpret the concept of a synagogue as a place where you draw closer to this relationship. In this way, the synagogue can be a holy place and distant on one side, and a place of closeness and connection on the other side.

I hope this clarifies the matter

יבמות מז. 

שו"ע יורה דעה סי' רסח ס"ב
כשבא להתגייר אומרים לו: מה ראית שבאת להתגייר, אי אתה יודע שישראל בזמן הזה דחופים סחופים (פי' אבודים וסחופים מן מדוע נסחף אביריך (ירמיה מו, טו)) ומטורפים, ויסורים באים עליהם. אם אמר: יודע אני ואיני כדאי להתחבר עמהם, מקבלין אותו מיד.

יבמות כד:
ת"ר אין מקבלין גרים לימות המשיח כיוצא בו לא קבלו גרים לא בימי דוד ולא בימי שלמה :