Not Every Conversion Program Is Legitimate. Here’s How to Protect Yourself. Not every conversion program is legitimate. Some are scams designed to mislead, exploit, or even to push an entirely different religion onto unsuspecting candidates. Here’s some important information you need to know to protect yourself. Conversion is like everything else – there are scammers […]
Do your politics matter while converting to Judaism? No! (Yes, of course they do.) Should you be open about your politics while converting? Only you can answer that, but let’s give you some useful information to make that decision. Disclaimers! Lawyers love disclaimers, and I’m no exception. I’ve been a part of and visited more
Can Politics Ruin Your Jewish Conversion? Read Post »
Can I go to synagogue on the High Holidays without a ticket? Well, sure. However, your mileage may vary whether you get in the door, whether you have a seat, or whether people are jerks to you. (All of the below applies to synagogues in any movement – orthodox, conservative, and reform.) I don’t
Synagogue Tickets & the High Holidays: What No One Tells You Read Post »
Most of you are familiar with one thing batei din do in the modern world: convert people. But what else do they do? You’d be surprised. A beit din can do most of the things a secular court can, in addition to presiding over pure halachic issues. What doesn’t a beit din do? Hear criminal
What Does a Beit Din Do Besides Conversions? Read Post »
As most of you have figured out at this point, my conversion was finished a month ago. So what happens to the blog now?? My current plan is keep on doin’ what I’m already doin’. There is clearly a need for this kind of information and discussion. This isn’t going to turn into a “what
Management Update: The State of the Union Read Post »
There’s an interesting thing going on in Manhattan in the month of February! The Seforim Sale has conquered the Yeshiva University campus. It is the largest seforim sale in North America, and almost everything is being sold at a reduced price. There’s books, cookbooks, music, children’s books, all kinds of things. For a bibliophile, it’s
The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread: The Seforim Sale Read Post »
I have two things I want to quickly cover today. A) I’m having a long-running problem with Blogger, and I’m looking to talk with anyone who might be able to help. Since beginning this blog, the search function at the top of the page does not work properly. I don’t know why, and I don’t
Management Update: Requests for Assistance Read Post »
Parnassa (also written parnassah) means livelihood. It is your income and your ability to support yourself. Traditionally, it has meant your “living” in the sense of “making a living.” I think the shift in people (primarily men) learning instead of being a breadwinner has shifted the “definition” to one focused more directly on the money a
Word of the Day: Parnassa Read Post »
There is a lot that can be said on this topic, but we’re going to touch on the major causes superficially. This is basically a warning to make sure you realize what you’re getting into. After the steep cost of the initial set-up, living Jewishly doesn’t seem that much more expensive to the average single
Why Being an Orthodox Jew Is Expensive Read Post »
Just a short tip today. One of the most annoying things about orthodoxy is the sheer volume of candlewax that invades every part of your life. (Drip cups are always a good idea, but they can only lessen the inevitable.) I know Chanukah is getting close when I begin thinking, “Ok, it’s time to clean
Getting Ready for Chanukah: The On-Going War with Candle Wax Read Post »