A rabbi gave me a great piece of advice about how to respond when someone inevitably gets upset about something (which usually has nothing to do with you anyway) and says something like, “I was born Jewish, what do you know?” or “Who is a convert to tell me how to be Jewish?” The answer? […]
A Good Piece of Advice for All Converts Read Post »
This was my first year being Shabbat observant. My luck being what it is, this was also the year of the 3 Day Yontif. Rosh HaShanah and both Shabbats around Sukkot had 3 days of Shabbat and Yom Tov prohibitions. This means Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of each of those three weeks (within 1 month!) could
Jewish Holiday Fails: My First 3-Day Chag Experience Read Post »
Shabbat Shalom, all! This is the first week of short winter Shabbats here in the US, thanks to the fall time change. I really hate when Shabbat comes in early. Not because I run out of time to prepare (heaven knows I don’t have much to prepare!), but because I really feel the Shabbat spirit
ShabShal, Ya’ll! The Early Shabbat Edition Read Post »
You cannot hide that you are a convert. Whatever their reasons may be, I’ve known many converts/conversion candidates who adamantly felt that it was no one’s business if they are converts and that no one has the right to ask them if they are a convert. That’s all well and good, but they’re still going
Rule #1 of Conversions: You Can’t Hide that You’re a Convert Read Post »
Disclaimer: While I’ve only been “frum” since June, I’ve been primarily shomer negiah for several years. I haven’t always given it the attention it deserved, and being a bit of an idiot, I was shomer negiah except where it mattered: in my romantic relationships. That’s no longer the case, even though there is no risk
The Most-Thought Yet Least-Asked Question: Are You Shomer Negiah? Read Post »
Am I the only one who thinks “Jews-by-Choice” is an unnecessary term? What’s so wrong with being a “convert”? For some reason, I like it, despite not really having another religion to convert “from.” At a minimum, I don’t see what’s wrong with the term convert or why some people are so opposed to it,
Adventures in Semantics: Jew-by-Choice v. Convert Read Post »
Reason #12 You Know You’re Crazy: You’re unusually attached to a particular mitzvah. Mine is my mezuzot. I couldn’t tell you why, but I bought a mezuzah case (and non-kosher scroll) in 2005. I knew I couldn’t hang it, but it stayed with me for the next 5 years. This involved 5 moves. All but
Reason #12 You Know You’re Crazy: You’re Unusually Attached to a Particular Mitzvah Read Post »
Today I’m writing about the importance of a support system during and after your conversion. Sure, this sounds obvious, but really, it can’t be overemphasized. And not only do you need to know that your family and friends still love you and support your choices, but you also need observant friends to support you. It
The Importance of Support Read Post »
I suspect that everyone who has become Jewishly observant as an adult has cravings for treif food. (See the Glossary if you aren’t familiar with “treif.”) The question is what you do with these cravings. I suspect that most people divert their attention to something else and try to forget about it. Usually, this results
What to Do When You’re Craving Treif Read Post »
Disclaimer: I had never heard of the Vancouver Beit Din until this week, when I was given access to a copy of their conversion manual. For those of you who are also unaware of them, they are (among other things) a regional conversion beit din for the Rabbinical Council of America. This means (for today
Converts & Fear: Is a Beit Din on Halachic Thin Ice? Read Post »