When I was converting to Judaism, I wasn’t too worried about giving up Christmas. But Halloween? Oh hell no. But for years, I had a zero-tolerance policy. I was committed to my Jewish life, and that meant leaving Halloween behind… or so I thought. Then I had kids. And suddenly, things weren’t so simple anymore. […]
Can Jews Celebrate Halloween? The Nuance No One Talks About Read Post »
Back to School, But Make It Jewish Whether it’s preschool or grad school, back-to-school prep isn’t just about new pencils and fresh planners. For Jewish families, students, and seekers, this time of year brings a whole new layer of questions: How do I fit Shabbat into a school schedule? What does Jewish rhythm look like
Back to School as a Jew? Here’s What No One Tells You | Jewish Back-to-School Part 1 Read Post »
Have you ever been told that converting to Judaism isn’t possible for you? That Judaism is closed off to converts? These myths are not only wrong — they’re rooted in antisemitism, which tries to racialize Jewish identity and deny our long history of conversion. I’m Kochava, a Jewish convert with over 15 years of experience
Can You Really Convert to Judaism? What Does Jewish Tradition Say About Conversion? Read Post »
You probably know me for Jewish content—videos about conversion, holidays, identity, and the tangled beauty of building a Jewish life. But there’s a lot you don’t see in those clips and captions. You probably don’t notice the heart monitor I wear on my arm, helping me manage life with Long Covid. You don’t hear the
What You Don’t See in My Jewish Videos 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 »
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 »
“It’ll all be worth it.” If you’ve heard that phrase during your Jewish conversion journey—especially when you were struggling—you’re not alone. And you’re not overreacting if it didn’t sit right. There’s a name for that kind of response: spiritual bypassing. It’s when someone uses spiritual language to gloss over real pain, pressure you into feeling
Spiritual Bypassing During Jewish Conversion: What It Is and Why It Hurts Read Post »
Imposter syndrome during the Jewish conversion process isn’t just about doubting yourself – it’s about being in a system that constantly asks you to prove your sincerity, while rarely making the rules explicit. You’re expected to navigate unspoken expectations, and then penalized for getting them wrong. In this video, I unpack how imposter syndrome really
Imposter Syndrome in the Jewish Conversion Process: It’s Not Just in Your Head Read Post »
Imposter syndrome during the Jewish conversion process isn’t just about feeling insecure – it’s about living inside a system that constantly makes you prove yourself. You’re asked to show your sincerity, your growth, your commitment – while navigating a whole world of unspoken rules. And somehow, if you mess up? It’s on you. This video
You’re Not Broken: Imposter Syndrome and the Jewish Conversion Process Read Post »
This wasn’t easy to make. I’ve been part of the Jewish community for years now, but there are some things I still carry quietly. One of them is how vulnerable conversion candidates can be – and how rarely we talk about it. Sexual harassment and abuse do happen during the Jewish conversion process. Sometimes it’s
Sexual Harassment in the Jewish Conversion Process: What You Need to Know Read Post »