These are the things I’ve found most useful in transitioning to an observant life. Timers. Environmentally friendly and useful for kicking out Shabbat dinner guests who won’t leave at a decent hour! I usually set mine to go off at 1am, but most people seem to prefer midnight. They’re cheap: about $10 for a timer […]
The Best Inventions Every Convert Should Own Read Post »
I’ve got an ethical dilemma on my hands, and I’m seeking advice. But I think the underlying issue is very relevant to all of us: when a “good” mistake happens to us, is it serendipity or just a mistake that we have an ethical obligation to fix? (Apparently “fix” is a very Southern verb. Just
An Ethical Dilemma: Serendipity or a Mistake that Needs Fixing? Read Post »
Reason #827 You Know You’re Crazy: You’re drowning in Jewish acronyms, but eventually they begin to make sense. Some of the acronyms I’ve found to be the most common include… B”H: Baruch HaShem. Thank G-d. B”H: B’Ezrat/Ezer HaShem. Means “With G-d’s help.” Some people write this at the top of letters/emails. BS”D: B’si’ata d’shmaya. Means
Reason #827 You Know You’re Crazy: Drowning in Acronyms Read Post »
Reason #237 You Know You’re Crazy: You Have a Love/Hate Relationship with Jewish Geography. As for me, I have an unnatural love of Jewish Geography. I’m not athletic or competitive in general, but Jewish Geography gets my competitiveness going. I really get into it. I get really excited knowing that I know Jews all over
Nothing too big going on in my world today. Just looking forward to the peace of Shabbat! I could use it! However, this Shabbos is going to be either totally awesome or a little painful because I’m starting a new book: the Kosher Kitchen by Rabbi Forst. I think it’s only meant to be a
Shabbat Shalom, Ya’ll! Read Post »
Reason #97 You Know You’re Crazy: I don’t know why this is, but most of the converts I know eat very little meat, if at all. Yet, by becoming orthodox, orthodoxy at least triples your meat consumption. That’s how it was with me. I only ate meat in restaurants before I became kosher-observant. (My conservative
Reason #97 You Know You’re Crazy: Orthodoxy Has Tripled Your Meat Consumption Read Post »
Reason #643 You Know You’re Crazy: If you live in an area without kosher restaurants, you develop a heinous Starbucks habit. Starbucks is the only “kosher” place I can go in town. Sure, the food isn’t kosher, but many of the drinks are! (Please check with your LOR and rabbinic websites to find out which.
Reason #643 You Know You’re Crazy: Developing the Starbucks Habit Read Post »
So…I’m trying to learn how Blogspot works. I have to say, it’s pretty amazing. I have used LiveJournal, and this is the space-age compared to LJ! I finally figured out how to schedule posts for the future, so now postings will arrive as a regularly scheduled thing. I have one post scheduled for 7am Pacific
Management Update: Chavi is learning how Blogspot works Read Post »
My parents have no idea what I’ve gotten them into. My dad reads this blog, so he knows that I’ve told him this phrase so many times over the last few years. They just have no idea. But to their credit, they’re willing to go with the flow and deal with the problems when they
My Parents Have No Idea What I’ve Gotten Them Into by Converting to Orthodox Judaism Read Post »
Reason #2,421 You Know You’re Crazy: You decide you’d like law school because you really like Talmud-based classes. And then you actually go to law school.
Reason #2,421 You Know You’re Crazy: Judaism Makes You Go to Law School Read Post »