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 »
Just as there are many baalei teshuva who read this blog, there are many conversion candidates reading Beyond Teshuva, a blog created for BTs. [Grammar note: notice that the plural of BTs is not BT’s. That’s your dose of my crazy for the day.] Last week, Beyond Teshuva had a great breakdown of the kinds
Do You Have an Adequate Support System? Read Post »
This post is going to be a cross-over between my two main “specialties”: conversion issues and law. NOTE: I am not a family lawyer, but I did work in a family law office as a student for half of law school. While I loved working in family law, I don’t plan to practice family law
Conversion Special Cases: Converting with Children from a Prior Relationship Read Post »
I’m having soapbox Friday early this week. I’ve seen a lot of discussion lately about the price of kosher food and students becoming kosher. To be honest, the price argument eludes me. I don’t get it. If you think that G-d has commanded you to only eat meat in a certain way, then you would find
Priority-Setting and Jewish Life Read Post »
Gwyneth Paltrow has announced that she is raising her children Jewishly. US Weekly has one version of the story: “Gwyneth Paltrow: I’m Raising Apple and Moses Jewish.” However, the story is wrong in that the episode did not show anyone giving Paltrow lessons in Jewish halacha about matrilineal descent. While I’m sure it came up in
News: Gwyneth Paltrow Announces She’s Raising Her Children Jewish …Huh? Read Post »
Last Friday’s soapbox moment got a lot of attention. Worse, it got a lot of sympathy, proving that I’m not alone. However, I want to clarify what prompted me to write that post because of some of the reactions in the comments. As you should all know by now, I’m studying for two bar exams.
Revisiting Last Friday’s Post Read Post »
You know someone who is about to complete or has recently completed a conversion. Very graciously, you want to give that person a gift. I don’t think Miss Manners writes about which gifts are appropriate for this occasion, so we need to figure that out for ourselves. I will present my suggestions, but please feel free
Gift Ideas for a Conversion Read Post »
Since I became observant of the kosher laws while living in a largely non-Jewish area, I got a lot of practice in explaining kashrut in a quick-and-dirty way. This is what I came up with, and maybe it will be useful to you! Eating kosher is essentially three levels of paying attention to what you
Explaining Kashrut to the Clueless Read Post »
I get this question a lot, as I imagine many of you do. I’ve finally hit on an answer that I like to use on friends. I have yet to try this on someone I don’t know as well, but I would try it out. Question: What are you not allowed to do on Shabbat?
Common Question: What Can’t You Do on Shabbat? Read Post »
Word of the day: bitachon. Most basically, it means trust. Trust in Hashem. Being a Type A, practical-to-a-fault person, I often say that bitachon and emunah (faith) are very difficult for me. I’m beginning to rethink that statement. As you should all know by now, I’m moving cross-country in a week. Only today did I
Shabbat Shalom! The Bitachon Edition Read Post »