As someone new to full Jewish observance, I can tell you that the #1 practical lesson you learn from observance is discipline. This is also probably the hardest for people to learn, especially for us spoiled Americans! We take pride in not being “tied down” by rules, people, whatever. (Leaving aside the argument that we […]
Orthodoxy and Eating Disorders: Kosher Discipline to the Extreme Read Post »
So…Apparently Mike Tyson is in talks to open a chain of high-end kosher restaurants. I promise that isn’t a story from The Onion, but will likely end up in News of the Weird. The Original Story The “Are human ears kosher?” jokes have begun! I’m excited about anyone wanting to open up a kosher restaurant,
Jewish News: Mike Tyson in Talks to Open Chain of High-End Kosher Restaurants Read Post »
These are the things I’ve found most useful in transitioning to an observant life. Timers. Environmentally friendly and useful for kicking out Shabbat dinner guests who won’t leave at a decent hour! I usually set mine to go off at 1am, but most people seem to prefer midnight. They’re cheap: about $10 for a timer
The Best Inventions Every Convert Should Own Read Post »
Reason #97 You Know You’re Crazy: I don’t know why this is, but most of the converts I know eat very little meat, if at all. Yet, by becoming orthodox, orthodoxy at least triples your meat consumption. That’s how it was with me. I only ate meat in restaurants before I became kosher-observant. (My conservative
Reason #97 You Know You’re Crazy: Orthodoxy Has Tripled Your Meat Consumption Read Post »
Reason #643 You Know You’re Crazy: If you live in an area without kosher restaurants, you develop a heinous Starbucks habit. Starbucks is the only “kosher” place I can go in town. Sure, the food isn’t kosher, but many of the drinks are! (Please check with your LOR and rabbinic websites to find out which.
Reason #643 You Know You’re Crazy: Developing the Starbucks Habit Read Post »
My parents have no idea what I’ve gotten them into. My dad reads this blog, so he knows that I’ve told him this phrase so many times over the last few years. They just have no idea. But to their credit, they’re willing to go with the flow and deal with the problems when they
My Parents Have No Idea What I’ve Gotten Them Into by Converting to Orthodox Judaism Read Post »
Reason #254 You Know You’re American: You’ve memorized the before-eating food brachot, but you don’t even know which one to use because you have no idea where your food comes from. (Since two of the brachot require knowing whether the fruit/vegetable came from a tree or a bush.)
Reason #254 You Know You’re American: Food Brachot Read Post »
Shabbat shalom, ya’ll! I’ll be off the interwebs until Saturday evening. But there are plenty of posts sitting in my editor, just waiting to be posted. Proud moment of the day: Saw very obviously observant Jews at the grocery store who were also very obviously lost. I got to explain the weirdness of our 5
Shabbat shalom, ya’ll! Read Post »
You know the best part about converting? Preparing for a mitzvah IS a mitzvah, so I will eventually get “credit” for all the things I’m doing pre-Conversion 2.0. Why is this awesome? It means that even my most awful, stupid mistakes are actually a mitzvah in themselves rather than being a chet that might turn
The Best Part of Converting Read Post »