If you’ve ever typed “how to convert to Judaism” into a search bar at 1:00 AM, welcome. You’re in the right place. When I began my own conversion journey (which, spoiler alert, I ended up doing twice), I had no idea how winding, emotional, and at times frustrating the process would be. I thought I […]
So You Want to Convert to Judaism. Here’s What I Wish I’d Known. Read Post »
Imposter syndrome during the Jewish conversion process isn’t just self-doubt. It’s not just you being too sensitive or needing more confidence. It’s a perfectly logical reaction to a system that constantly makes you prove yourself – and then punishes you for not intuitively knowing the unspoken rules. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not really Jewish
Is It Normal to Doubt Yourself When Converting to Judaism? Read Post »
If you’re feeling the pressure to stay up all night for Tikkun Leil Shavuot – caffeine in one hand, guilt in the other – you’re not alone. For years, I thought I had to do the whole thing: the cheesecake, the all-nighter, the Torah study until sunrise. But the truth is, Shavuot isn’t a test
What If You Can’t Stay Up All Night for Shavuot? Read Post »
So… can you actually convert to Judaism online? If you’ve ever found yourself doom-scrolling at 1 AM and typing “how to convert to Judaism online” into the search bar, you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. The internet is full of mixed messages, shady certificate offers, and more than one guy in a fedora promising you
Can You Really Convert to Judaism Online? Here’s the Truth Read Post »
If you’ve ever heard someone mention Shavuot and immediately thought “cheesecake holiday,” you’re not wrong—but you’re definitely missing the bigger picture. And honestly? Most Jews—even lifelong ones—aren’t exactly sure how to explain what this holiday is about. Shavuot doesn’t have a seder. It doesn’t have a sukkah. It doesn’t come with an obvious playbook. So
New to Shavuot? Here’s What You Actually Need to Know Read Post »
When I first started learning about Jewish prayer, I pictured deep, transcendent moments. Maybe a glowing sense of awe. Maybe a celestial soundtrack in the background. Spoiler: that’s not exactly how it went. Instead, my brain had a lot of… thoughts. “Did I leave the stove on?” “Why does my left shoe feel weird?” “What
My Brain Wanders During Prayer. Am I Doing It Wrong? Read Post »
If you’ve ever felt like converting to Judaism is less of a spiritual journey and more of a test of how much you’re willing to suffer… you’re not alone. In this video, I’m naming the thing we don’t talk about enough: endurance culture in Orthodox conversion is harming real people, and it’s not what Judaism
Hot Take: Why “Tough Love” in Conversion Spaces Isn’t Love at All Read Post »
Before you block out the trauma – sorry, the “spiritual growth opportunity” – that was this year’s Passover, let’s hit pause for just a minute. (As you know, I’m a Pesach realist who knows it isn’t all rainbows and unicorns of spiritual highs while bleaching the bathroom.) Because somewhere between the forgotten Pyrex, the gluten-free
What to Do *Right Now* to Make Next Passover Less Overwhelming Read Post »
The first time I tried to observe Shavuot, I felt completely overwhelmed. Cheesecake. All-night learning. Expectations I didn’t understand because in some ways, this holiday seemed suspiciously too easy. So few halachic requirements… but lots of customs. And a lot of pressure to “do it right.” If you’re new to Shavuot – or Jewish holidays
Shavuot Without Stress: How to Celebrate Without Burnout Read Post »
Friday night might be the heart of Shabbat – but it doesn’t have to be the whole story. Earlier, we talked about starting your Shabbat journey by making Friday nights special. Now let’s talk about bringing the peace of Shabbat into Saturday. If you’ve ever felt the glow of candlelight on Friday fade too quickly
Beyond Friday Night: Carrying the Spirit of Shabbat into Saturday Read Post »