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Is Converting to Judaism More Expensive Than You Think? | Conversion on a Budget Part 3

August 27, 2025

When I started my Jewish journey, nobody told me that the biggest costs wouldn’t be the obvious ones. Sure, I expected to pay for books, classes, maybe some ritual items. But what blindsided me were the hidden costs—the unpaid time off for holidays, the career shifts, the synagogue memberships, even the emotional toll of burnout. […]

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What NOT to Do When Converting to Judaism

July 27, 2025

Converting to Judaism is already hard… don’t make it harder. I’ve spent over 15 years helping people navigate the Jewish conversion process—and I’ve made more than a few mistakes myself. Some of them were honest. Some were based in fear or confusion. And some… well, I didn’t know any better. But here’s the thing: there

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Screenshot from posted video with picture of female author with captioned text saying, “You would be shocked how many times this”

When a Rabbi Crosses the Line: What’s Not Okay During Conversion

April 25, 2025

Let’s be blunt – this shouldn’t have to be said, but here we are. If you’re in the middle of the Jewish conversion process and a rabbi asks you out (or does things that feel like dating)? That’s not okay. The power imbalance in conversion is real, and it matters. You deserve safety, clarity, and

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Screenshot from posted video with picture of female author with captioned text saying, “They hold your future in their hands. If you are”

When Gatekeeping Becomes Dangerous: Sexual Harassment in the Jewish Conversion Process

April 23, 2025

“Sexual harassment and abuse can and do happen during the Jewish conversion process – and we need to talk about it.” That’s the heart of this video. It’s not just a one-off scandal or a bad-apple rabbi. It’s a systemic vulnerability created by intense power imbalances, isolation, and a gatekeeping structure where one person’s word

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Shidduchim and Nose Jobs

February 21, 2012

I have a well-documented enjoyment of the Groggers. They released a new song on Valentine’s Day, and I wasn’t planning to comment on it. It’s the first song off their upcoming (as yet unnamed, apparently) album: Jewcan Sam (A Nose Job Love Song). As always, power pop/punk combined with satire makes me happy. But I don’t

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Why Not Be a Noachide?

February 17, 2012

Born Jews are very quick to throw out the advice that a conversion candidate should “try being a Noachide!” They’re very enthusiastic about this, but I find that they rarely know what it entails, much less what it is really like to be a Noachide. Most can’t even name the seven laws. Yet they are

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Should You Make Up a “Jew-y” Name for Yourself?

February 15, 2012

Disclaimer: All names in this post are completely made up (and often from random name generators). If I happened to accidentally choose your name, I apologize. Well, except for the famous names. I just felt like using those. It’s very common for converts to take on a Hebrew name as their “everyday” name, even if

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How to Choose a Waiting Time Between Meat and Milk

February 2, 2012

In short: Just pick one. Your options: A full 6 hours 5 hours and one minute 3 hours 1 hour (Almost no one does this, and you better be able to say you’re Dutch or in a Dutch community. I have a Dutch name, I really should have considered this option.) I believe there is

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My Conversion Is Complete

January 30, 2012

I debated on if/when/how to write about this on the blog. My conversion was finalized on Jan 12, and I’m very happy with the conversion experience. It had its difficulties early on, but a new location and new rabbis gave me a conversion that was as respectful and as painless as a conversion can be.

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How to Prepare for Your First Beit Din Meeting

December 16, 2011

You finally have a date with your full beit din! Yay! …Now what? Whatever you do, don’t panic. Google “how to cope with stress” if you need tips on how to keep your calm over the next few days or weeks. Nervousness will trip you up in the meeting and make you forget basic facts.

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