Choosing a siddur – a Jewish prayer book – often feels harder than it should. With so many options, translations, and traditions, many beginners and conversion candidates worry about buying the “wrong” one or committing too soon. But a siddur isn’t a test of Jewishness or knowledge. It’s a tool meant to support prayer and […]
What to Know Before You Buy a Siddur (a Jewish Prayerbook) Read Post »
One of the questions I hear most often is: How do you actually learn to read Hebrew? If you’ve tried before and found it frustrating, slow, or downright discouraging, you’re not imagining things. Learning the Aleph Bet can be genuinely hard – especially if you’re dyslexic, neurodivergent, or learning Hebrew as an adult without a
My Top Hebrew Reading Recommendations Read Post »
Finding a meaningful gift for someone in the middle of converting to Judaism — or celebrating becoming Jewish — can feel unexpectedly tricky. (Or for this person at Hanukkah! Or maybe you’re making a wish list for yourself?) You want to honor the moment, mark their hard work, and choose something that actually fits their
The Jewish New Year isn’t just about apples and honey—it’s about connection. And one of the simplest, most meaningful ways we connect during this season is through our greetings. But if you’ve ever stood at the synagogue door or sat down at a holiday table wondering, “Wait, what do I say??”—you’re not alone. In this
Jewish New Year Greetings Made Simple 🍎🍯 What Do You Say on the High Holidays? Read Post »
If the words “High Holidays” make your stomach drop instead of your heart lift, you’re in good company. These days are meant to be holy – but between synagogue tickets, menus, schedules, and a chorus of “am I doing this right?”, they can spiral into stress fast. That’s exactly why I made this video: the
10 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First High Holidays Read Post »
Some Jewish moments are big and obvious — holidays, life cycle events, milestones you can see coming from a mile away. Others sneak up on you: the first time you light Shabbat candles on time, the first day back to class, the first time you feel truly at home in your Jewish community. This is
Can you daven in English? YES! In fact, sometimes maybe you should daven in English. Transcript available below. Transcript: Do you have to pray in Hebrew? No. You can pray in English or whatever language is most comfortable for you. You don’t have to be davening in Hebrew in order to be a real Jew
Can a Conversion Candidate Pray in English? Read Post »
At some point in your orthodox journey, someone is going to suggest you go to ulpan. Another class and another thing to learn? Sounds great, but what’s ulpan? In short, it means modern Hebrew classes. But it’s more than that. It’s a particular style of teaching a foreign language through intense immersion and often with
Word of the Day: Ulpan Read Post »
Calling someone “off the derech” can mean many things, depending on who the speaker is. There are apparently many ways of categorizing someone as off the derech. But at the end of the day, it’s a judgment about someone else, which you should probably avoid when you can. It may matter to know whether someone
Phrase of the Day: Off the Derech Read Post »
This has been a surprisingly contentious issue. What do you say to someone upon finishing their conversion? Congratulations in English is a simple, easy way to do convey all the possible emotions. Out of the 200+ congratulations I’ve received in person and online, almost all people said “mazal tov!” to me, and I think that’s
How Do You Congratulate a New Convert? Read Post »