I didn’t build Bayit Builders because I wanted to start a community. I built it because I needed help that didn’t exist. When I was converting to Judaism, I was overwhelmed, isolated, and constantly second-guessing myself – with plenty of information online, but most it was contradictory or “my way or the highway.” This video […]
The Support I Needed During Conversion Didn’t Exist, So I Built It Read Post »
Learning modern Hebrew can feel intimidating – especially if you assume it requires expensive programs, years of classes, or a full-time Ulpan schedule. For many people building a Jewish life, Hebrew becomes one more thing they feel behind on before they’ve even begun. The truth is, you don’t need to do everything at once, and
How to Learn Modern Hebrew on Your Own (Realistically) Read Post »
Choosing a siddur – a Jewish prayer book – often feels harder than it should. With so many options, translations, and traditions, many beginners and conversion candidates worry about buying the “wrong” one or committing too soon. But a siddur isn’t a test of Jewishness or knowledge. It’s a tool meant to support prayer and
What to Know Before You Buy a Siddur (a Jewish Prayerbook) Read Post »
Many people delay beginning Jewish life because they believe it starts with finding the right synagogue. But for a lot of people, that search takes time – and waiting can quietly stall the journey altogether. Jewish life doesn’t begin in a building. It begins in time, in daily choices, and in the small practices you
The Myth That Jewish Life Starts at a Synagogue Read Post »
The Jewish month of Tevet arrives quietly, after the lights of Hanukkah fade and winter fully settles in. The siege of Jerusalem remembered on the fast day of Asarah B’Tevet wasn’t destruction all at once – it was the slow tightening that came before it, ending in the destruction of the first Beit HaMikdash, the
Tevet: The Jewish Season Between Light and Collapse Read Post »
Jewish practice can feel harder when you’re neurodivergent – not because you lack commitment, but because so much of Jewish life assumes a neurotypical nervous system. If you’re ADHD, autistic, or otherwise neurodiverse, even simple mitzvot can take more effort than people realize. This piece explores why difficulty isn’t failure, how Jewish law already accounts
When Jewish Life Assumes a Neurotypical Brain Read Post »
Contacting a rabbi is one of the most anxiety-provoking steps in the Jewish conversion process – and it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Many people delay conversion for months or even years because they believe they need to be “ready,” prove themselves, or have their entire story figured out before reaching out. This post
How to Contact a Rabbi for Conversion (Without Ruining Your Chances) Read Post »
Antisemitism can land differently when you’re in the process of converting to Judaism. It may make you question everything, or it may pull you closer to the Jewish community – sometimes both at once. This piece is for anyone navigating that tension and wondering what it means. Bayit Builders exists to support converts through the
If Antisemitism Makes You Question Converting to Judaism, Read This Read Post »
The first year of building a Jewish life can feel overwhelming – especially if you’re converting, returning, or starting from scratch. Many people burn out not because they’re doing it wrong, but because committing these common mistakes. This short piece walks through what not to do in your first year, and why Jewish life is
What NOT to Do in Your First Year of Jewish Conversion Read Post »
Most people expect the hardest part of Jewish conversion to be getting started. The early months are full of learning, clarity, and momentum. Everything is new, and there’s a sense of forward motion that makes the work feel exciting and purposeful. The end of the process has a shape too – meetings, milestones, preparations, and
Why So Many People Panic in the Middle of Jewish Conversion Read Post »