good advice

Red Flags in the Jewish Conversion Process: What to Watch For and Why It Matters

Let’s start with the obvious: not every awkward moment in the conversion process is a red flag. It’s a deeply human, often messy journey full of growth, challenge, and—yes—imperfection. But when something feels off, when you’re constantly questioning yourself, or when a leader’s behavior starts to erode your sense of safety, dignity, or connection to […]

Red Flags in the Jewish Conversion Process: What to Watch For and Why It Matters Read Post »

So You Want to Convert to Judaism. Here’s What I Wish I’d Known.

If you’ve ever typed “how to convert to Judaism” into a search bar at 1:00 AM, welcome. You’re in the right place. When I began my own conversion journey (which, spoiler alert, I ended up doing twice), I had no idea how winding, emotional, and at times frustrating the process would be. I thought I

So You Want to Convert to Judaism. Here’s What I Wish I’d Known. Read Post »

Is It Normal to Doubt Yourself When Converting to Judaism?

Imposter syndrome during the Jewish conversion process isn’t just self-doubt. It’s not just you being too sensitive or needing more confidence. It’s a perfectly logical reaction to a system that constantly makes you prove yourself – and then punishes you for not intuitively knowing the unspoken rules. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not really Jewish

Is It Normal to Doubt Yourself When Converting to Judaism? Read Post »

What If You Can’t Stay Up All Night for Shavuot?

If you’re feeling the pressure to stay up all night for Tikkun Leil Shavuot – caffeine in one hand, guilt in the other – you’re not alone. For years, I thought I had to do the whole thing: the cheesecake, the all-nighter, the Torah study until sunrise. But the truth is, Shavuot isn’t a test

What If You Can’t Stay Up All Night for Shavuot? Read Post »

Can You Really Convert to Judaism Online? Here’s the Truth

So… can you actually convert to Judaism online? If you’ve ever found yourself doom-scrolling at 1 AM and typing “how to convert to Judaism online” into the search bar, you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. The internet is full of mixed messages, shady certificate offers, and more than one guy in a fedora promising you

Can You Really Convert to Judaism Online? Here’s the Truth Read Post »

My Brain Wanders During Prayer. Am I Doing It Wrong?

When I first started learning about Jewish prayer, I pictured deep, transcendent moments. Maybe a glowing sense of awe. Maybe a celestial soundtrack in the background. Spoiler: that’s not exactly how it went. Instead, my brain had a lot of… thoughts. “Did I leave the stove on?” “Why does my left shoe feel weird?” “What

My Brain Wanders During Prayer. Am I Doing It Wrong? Read Post »

What to Do *Right Now* to Make Next Passover Less Overwhelming

Before you block out the trauma – sorry, the “spiritual growth opportunity” – that was this year’s Passover, let’s hit pause for just a minute. (As you know, I’m a Pesach realist who knows it isn’t all rainbows and unicorns of spiritual highs while bleaching the bathroom.) Because somewhere between the forgotten Pyrex, the gluten-free

What to Do *Right Now* to Make Next Passover Less Overwhelming Read Post »

Beyond Friday Night: Carrying the Spirit of Shabbat into Saturday

Friday night might be the heart of Shabbat – but it doesn’t have to be the whole story. Earlier, we talked about starting your Shabbat journey by making Friday nights special. Now let’s talk about bringing the peace of Shabbat into Saturday. If you’ve ever felt the glow of candlelight on Friday fade too quickly

Beyond Friday Night: Carrying the Spirit of Shabbat into Saturday Read Post »

Spiritual Bypassing During Jewish Conversion: What It Is and Why It Hurts

“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 »

The One Document I Wish I Had During My Conversion

You’re learning, you’re showing up, you’re doing the work… but how do you show that? If you’re converting to Judaism, chances are you’ve been told to “track the Jewish books you’re reading.” Maybe even the classes you attend or the prayers you’re learning. That’s a great start—but it’s not the whole picture. Because your Jewish

The One Document I Wish I Had During My Conversion Read Post »

Scroll to Top