Some people might think this is a downer of a Shabbat shalom post, but it was certainly liberating for me! Quite simply, other people’s problems are just that: other people’s problems. I don’t worry about people who don’t follow halacha (or follow it differently) or judge me as a convert or any of that other […]
Convert Questions: How to Choose a Hebrew Name
Choosing a Hebrew name can be the hardest part of your official conversion process. After all, you have to live with it for only the rest of your LIFE. Some people make it their everyday name. Or even adopt it as their legal first or middle name. And some people never use them ever again […]
The Conversion Mikvah Visit in a Nutshell
Every conservative and orthodox convert (and an exponentially increasing number of reform converts) will go to the mikvah (also spelled mikveh) to complete the conversion. Just in case no one has spelled it out explicitly for you, emerging from the mikvah is when you actually become “Jewish.” For a more mystical perspective, some say the […]
What to Do If You Question the Validity of Your Conversion
I know what more of you are thinking: Who in their right mind would do that?? I have yet to see anyone anywhere discuss this topic: what if you question the validity of your own conversion? Quite frankly, that’s everything converts want to avoid! The LAST thing a convert wants is someone else to question his […]
Status Wars: Not Nearly as Fun as Star Wars
There is a Status War going on in the world. People who have become religious later in life (either as baalei teshuva or converts) are having a very difficult time proving that they are, in fact, Jewish. Personally, as painful as the conversion process can be, I think the baalei teshuva have it worse. Thanks […]
A Response to a Very Good Question: Why Not Fake It ‘Til You Make It?
I saw a great question about conversions. I decided to post the question and my answer to that question here because I think that’s a struggle the overwhelming majority of orthodox converts face at some point in their process. How would you respond? THE QUESTION: Not to risk offending anybody, but I’d be curious as […]
A Milestone: 100 Blog Posts!
It seems like I started this blog yesterday! Yet here we are, 100 blog posts in! I hope you’ve all enjoyed my blog as much as I’ve enjoyed writing for you! I hope you’ve found it comforting, funny, and useful. After all, conversion/becoming observant shouldn’t be as soul-crushing and humorless as some people would like […]
UPDATED Convert Questions: What Is the Ideal Conversion Process?
Disclaimer: This is my idea of the ideal process. Others may feel differently. Regardless, no matter which advice you take, most converts wait far too long to begin getting involved in their local orthodox community and with the prospective beit din out of shyness and/or fear. What should the orthodox conversion process look like? What […]
Convert Questions: Does Anyone Fail the Beit Din?
In short, no, especially in orthodox conversions today. However, I think that is generally true in all the movements. If your sponsoring rabbi recommends to your beit din that it is time for you to take the oral examination part of your conversion (“the” beit din) and your beit din agrees, then you likely ARE […]
Convert Questions: Converts and Aliyah
A common question for many converts is whether they can make aliyah to Israel. In short, yes, a convert from any movement can make aliyah to Israel under the Law of Return. This means the convert can get expedited citizenship and be labeled as a “Jew” on their ID card. (I’m still very confused by […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Next Page »