When I was converting to Judaism, I didn’t have a rabbi, a synagogue, or a roadmap. I had questions, confusion, and a growing sense that everyone else seemed to know rules I had never been taught. There was plenty of infrastructure for people born Jewish who wanted to become more observant. There was almost none for people standing on the outside, trying to build a Jewish life from scratch.
This reel is the story of how Bayit Builders came to be – not as a brand or a vision board, but as a practical response to a very real gap. It’s about why clarity matters, why unwritten rules cause harm, and why no one should have to figure this process out alone.
If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or quietly unsure whether you’re doing this “right,” this is for you.
If you want structure, context, and support while you’re building Jewish life – without pressure or performance – Bayit Builders is here for that. Doors open January 11–15. Learn more or join the wait list here.
Transcript below.
Transcript:
I didn’t build Bayit Builders ’cause I wanted to start a community.
Have you met me? I’m a hermit with a book.
I also didn’t mean to start a blog in 2010 when I started posting the answers to Jewish questions I had while I was converting.
What I was doing was looking for help.
I built Bayit Builders so no one would have to go through what I went through: lost, alone, and second guessing every step. I had no community. No rabbi. No synagogue.
I kept looking for someone, anyone, who could tell me that I wasn’t crazy for wanting this, which is why my blog used to be called You’re Not Crazy.
Someone who could help me figure out the next steps without judging me for it.
As much infrastructure as there was for people who were born Jewish and interested in becoming more involved, that same infrastructure didn’t exist for conversion candidates ’cause after all… we’re not Jewish.
And worse, no one was saying the quiet parts out loud. There were all these unwritten rules.
And the process often felt so random and lonely.
It was too personal and impersonal all at the same time.
So I took notes.
I’m a great pattern seeker.
It’s my autistic superpower.
I paid attention.
When I finally made it through, twice, once conservative and then again orthodox, I knew I wasn’t the only person who needed support that was clear, honest, and human.
Bayit Builders is that space that I needed back then.
Practical, supportive, and built for real life. Messy as it is.
You shouldn’t have to figure this out all alone. There’s no reason why we should reinvent the wheel with every new person.
Let’s build your Jewish life step by imperfect step together.
Because I am only one person and a person with a chronic illness and young children, I only open the doors to the membership three times a year. That way I can spend my time focusing on the people inside instead of out here marketing, making all these reels and stuff.
So your next chance is January 11th through the 15th.
You can learn more or join the wait list at Building a Jewish Life.com/membership.
