For those of you following the conversion/aliyah issues with Israel and the greater Jewish community, you may want to check out yesterday’s blog post at On the Fringe-Al Tzitzit, Conversion Crisis Update: the New Jewish “Papacy.” I won’t express an opinion on the content (or maybe my jury is still out?), but I did particularly […]
A Non-Orthodox Response to the Current Orthodox Conversion Issues Read Post »
Quite honestly, you’re probably going to look like a nutter whatever you do. But that’s ok. You can minimize your public nuttiness with a few tips. This topic always makes me think of plane trips, so perhaps this colors my discussion. Feel free to add your tips in the comments! First, seek a private location,
How to Daven in Public Without Looking Like a Nutter Read Post »
(Hatafat dam brit is the “drop of blood” drawn from an already-circumcised male as part of his conversion. It is the “completion” of brit milah, if you look at it as completing the original circumcision.) This is a question that gets bantered around a lot, but no one gives an answer. I asked around and
Convert Questions: What Does Hatafat Dam Brit Feel Like? Read Post »
The New York Times had an article last Friday about non-Jews using ketubot (also Englishized by us English speakers as ketubahs) as part of their wedding ceremony: Christians Embrace a Jewish Wedding Tradition. (You may have to create a NYT account to view older stories.) This definitely goes in my “least expected national news stories
Jewish Traditions in a Nutshell: The Ketubah and the Get Read Post »
You’ve already heard that conversion is like falling in love. But you may not know that getting an orthodox conversion can sometimes be like an abusive relationship. In a cosmic sign that I can’t escape this topic this week, Frum Satire posted yesterday “Stop Screwing with the Converts Already!“ The world Jewish community and Jewish
The Monster that Orthodox Conversion Has Become Read Post »
I had a hard time deciding how to title this post. You can group mitzvos in any number of ways, but here I want to focus on 1) mitzvot that are primarily actions and 2) mitzvot that are primarily ethical (I also like calling them interpersonal). We each have a preference or one group that
Action-Based Mitzvot and Ethical Mitzvot Read Post »
Of course, the cop-out, generic answer is always, “It depends on the person.” It also depends on the “thing.” Let’s start by talking about a couple of things, and then we can continue the discussion in the comments if you want to talk about other Jewish items! Jewelry: Personally, I think anyone can wear Jewish
UPDATED: When Can a Conversion Candidate Begin Wearing Jewish “Things”? Read Post »
If you’re like most people, you haven’t really thought about this question. But yes, there are times when you will be asked if you are Jewish, and you should answer a simple “Yes,” even if you’ve had no conversion. (And even if you’ve taken no formal steps at all!) Here are the usual suspects: a)
When Is It OK to Say “I’m Jewish,” Even If You Really Aren’t? Read Post »
Everyone hears that a rabbi “has” to discourage a conversion candidate 3 times. Some rabbis don’t hold by that at all. Some do exactly three and then will begin a congenial conversion learning process. Some may or may not obviously discourage before working with you, but will continue to discourage you regularly and to varying
Convert Rants: Discouraging the Conversion Candidate Read Post »
Halacha in a Nutshell is a new series that does not aim to actually teach you halacha. The goal is to acquaint you with the general ideas of a halachic issue so that you can follow conversations without looking like a total n00b. Loshon hara literally means “evil tongue/speech.” It’s usually translated as “gossip,” but
Halacha in a Nutshell: Lashon Hara Read Post »