Oh gee willikers, guys. There’s so much going on. And I can finally share it with you! First, let’s talk about some personal stuff. I fell off the face of the earth recently, and now I can tell you why: I’m finally pregnant for the first time, and I’ve been sick as a dog. In […]
You’ve probably seen this phrase really often but may not even know it, especially if you don’t yet read Hebrew. Most notably, it has been written on (sewed onto) every challah cover I’ve ever seen. For example: So what’s it all about? Meaning & Usage It means “in honor of/for the honor of Shabbat and
Phrase of the Day: L’Kavod Shabbat v’Yom Tov Read Post »
Yes, yes, and yes. I saw this google search come up and wanted to reassure all of you that your RCA (or IRF or private beit din or whoever) conversion does not tie you to a particular hashkafah (philosophy, approach to Judaism). Well, it doesn’t have to. I wrote a while back about the special challenges that
Can a RCA Convert Become Lubavitch After Conversion? Read Post »
Rabbis, rabbis, rabbis, everywhere you look it feels like there’s another guy in a beard and a hat (well, maybe not in your community, but you get what I mean). Interacting with all of them and coordinating them doesn’t just feel like herding cats, it actually is harder than herding cats because cats have less
The Rabbis Who Might Be Involved in Your Conversion Read Post »
I hope you have a fun Lag B’Omer! Break out the BBQ, shave, get a haircut, and don’t burn anything down!
You get four invitations to “The Annual Dinner.” In one day. Seven in one week, and I doubt the mail onslaught is over yet. From shuls past and present, Hatzolah, yeshivas, and seminaries. One is for a shul you’ve never even belonged to. In fact, you’ve never even been there. How does that happen?? All
Sign #374 You’ve “Made It”: The Annual Dinner Invitation Read Post »
I’ve written several times before about the need for every convert and BT to have a mentor. But really, you need at least five mentors because each will expose you to a different part of the community and to different facets of Jewish life. As a bonus, you see how multiple people handle similar situations
UPDATED: The 5 Types of Mentors You Need Read Post »
At some point in your orthodox journey, someone is going to suggest you go to ulpan. Another class and another thing to learn? Sounds great, but what’s ulpan? In short, it means modern Hebrew classes. But it’s more than that. It’s a particular style of teaching a foreign language through intense immersion and often with
Word of the Day: Ulpan Read Post »
“I take a shower on Friday morning, and by the time Shabbat is over, I feel disgusting.” This conversation came up recently, and I realized there had to be a post on it ASAP. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m OCD (in the real way), and cleanliness is unusually important to me. It broke my heart
UPDATED: When to Take a Shower Before Shabbat? Read Post »
Today, I bring a personal question to the blog. Despite over 11 years of being “Jewishly affiliated,” I still feel most connected to the secular calendar. Only in the last few years have I made more of an effort to interact with the Hebrew calendar. This has created a strange problem, I’m not sure how
How Old Are You Between Your Hebrew and English Birthdays? Read Post »