Am I Jewish Enough? Let’s Talk About Patrilineal Descent and Conversion You grew up Jewish. You lit candles, you went to Hebrew school, maybe even had a bar or bat mitzvah. And then—someone told you you’re not really Jewish. Welcome to the heartbreakingly common experience of patrilineal Jews. In this video, I break down what […]
Is Your Dad Jewish But Not Mom? Do Patrilineal Jews Need to Convert? Read Post »
Jewish conversion can feel like you’re scaling a mountain that no one else sees.You’re putting in the effort, doing the work, asking the questions—and still wondering if anyone notices. If anyone gets it. But you’re not as alone as you think. Today’s step is simple, but powerful:Name one supportive person you can lean on.A friend.
Who’s On Your Team During Jewish Conversion? Read Post »
I made this video last year, but apparently I never posted it here! Building a new workflow for my material has been surprisingly hard. Too many moving parts! But better late than never, right? Struggling with your old holiday seasons as you become Jewish? Not at all unusual. Whether you loved them or hated them
Dealing with Holiday Season Grief Read Post »
I’m a lawyer, and that means I try to be precise with my language. I don’t always succeed, but I try. So this means I do a lot of Google searches of “define X” to make sure I’m using a word correctly for the idea I’m conveying. I don’t remember why, but I wanted to
It’s been almost two months since my conversion. I have been shocked that the most common question I am asked is, “So what do I call you now?” Of all the things to ask about a conversion, that’s the first thing that comes to mind?? Maybe it’s the most polite (and practical) thing to ask,
Why I’m Not Going by My Hebrew Name Read Post »
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
Should You Make Up a “Jew-y” Name for Yourself? Read Post »
I have a big rallying point that I try to drive home in the born-Jewish community: Conversion candidates are the canaries in the mine of Judaism. If you don’t know the analogy, here’s what Wikipedia has to say: “Canaries were once regularly used in coal mining as an early warning system. Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, methane
Judge Favorably, But Don’t Ignore Red Flags Read Post »
There is a lot that can be said on this topic, but we’re going to touch on the major causes superficially. This is basically a warning to make sure you realize what you’re getting into. After the steep cost of the initial set-up, living Jewishly doesn’t seem that much more expensive to the average single
Why Being an Orthodox Jew Is Expensive Read Post »
I get very annoyed at how “modern” is thrown around like an insult. Conversion candidates seem to feel this struggle more acutely than the frum-from-birth crowd. Baalei teshuva are probably in the same boat as the conversion candidates, but at least they’re still Jewish at the end of the day. Even the people who act
Why I Am “Modern Orthodox” Read Post »
This time of the year is like walking on eggshells for many conversion candidates and converts in the Christian world. And even the supportive families can become a little crazy now, even if in their overenthusiasm. Christmas is coming, whether you like it or not. [Full disclosure: I don’t like Xmas at all.] And this
The “Holiday Season” Is Upon Us Read Post »