What happens when your community standards (which are either halacha or custom) are not the standards of a place you travel to? Let’s discuss some examples (this is not exhaustive): You live in the diaspora, so you celebrate an “extra” day of yom tov for 8 days of Pesach. You travel to Israel, where Pesach […]
UPDATED: Your Community Standards v. Travel Read Post »
You’ve heard it before (and maybe you’ve even said it), “Shabbat is so restrictive. All you can do is go to synagogue.” And reenforcing that perception, a Google search looking for activities allowed on Shabbat only returns pages and pages of things you can’t do on Shabbat. For someone new to Shabbat, you’re left wading
What CAN I do on Shabbat? Shabbos-Friendly Activities Read Post »
Today, I’d like to take a minute to discuss something that I believe is important to clarify. From a comment: “There is a lot of pain involved with conversion for many people, but I’ve noticed time and again that you don’t seem to see this. Human feelings and embarrassment and dignity are a PART of halacha… I’ve read a
My Narrow, Unsympathetic Point of View Read Post »
Starting tonight through Wednesday morning, we mourn the destruction of our Temples. As some basic Jewish education, what caused the destruction of the First and Second Temples? There’s the “easy” response: The First was destroyed by the Babylonians. The Second by the Romans. However, the Sages in the Talmud have an additional explanation, in order
Still Broken: The Beit HaMikdash and Today’s Jewish World Read Post »
There have been requests for more “personal” stories about my conversion process. Well, today is your lucky day! If you don’t actually care about who I am and how I got here, feel free to stop reading here and check back for a new post later today! Knowing me, this is about to get long-winded.
Chumrahs: Making This Convert Crazy Since 2004 Read Post »
Question: What is the status of the ‘extra’ conversion immersion [tevila leHumra] demanded by some Orthodox rabbis? You may know this as geirus l’chumrah. A geirus l’chumrah is when a convert (already converted) is required to undergo a “new” conversion because of doubt about a prior conversion. Sometimes this is necessary. That’s why it exists. You
Rabbi Speaks Out Against Geirus l’Chumrahs Read Post »
If you’re a pet owner, you have probably already discovered that you’re a bit of an oddball in the Jewish community. Especially if you own a dog. (Much less a big dog…or two big dogs like your author.) Because of the lack of pets in the community, it is key to find a rabbi knowledgeable
How to Walk a Dog on Shabbat Read Post »
Tomorrow night is Rosh Chodesh Av, the first day of the month of Av. It also begins the period known as the Nine Days, a time of great sadness for the Jewish people. Ashkenazim have been observing mourning practices since the 17th of Tammuz, but starting tomorrow, their mourning practices intensify and Sephardim begin observing
The Nine Days in a Nutshell Read Post »
As the Nine Days approaches, you should begin preparing your clothing. During this period, we do not wear “freshly laundered clothing” and don’t do laundry. So what will you wear without looking and smelling like a crazy homeless guy? It’s easy. A) You may wear freshly-laundered (aka, clean) underwear and socks (and some say undershirts)
How to Wear “Clean” Clothing During the Nine Days Read Post »
Today begins the period known as the Three Weeks. At the end of this period is the Nine Days and then Tisha B’Av. During the Three Weeks, some of the laws of mourning apply, and the mourning observances are intensified during the Nine Days. In short, you “decrease” your joy. Some say that because of
The Three Weeks in a Nutshell Read Post »