Most Jewish converts don’t get “outed” by a rude question. They get outed by ordinary conversation. If you’ve ever found yourself frozen mid–small talk, suddenly aware that the next question will push you into sharing something private you didn’t plan to explain, you already know how this happens. Jewish geography – the well-meaning, mildly competitive […]
The Social Game Every Jewish Convert Eventually Loses Read Post »
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 »
The first thing that ever felt holy to me wasn’t a ritual or a rabbi – it was a footnote.If you’ve ever felt like religion was a perfection contest you were destined to fail, this story might change that. It’s about the moment I realized Judaism didn’t need me to be flawless – just honest,
The Footnote That Changed My Life Read Post »
If you haven’t discovered it already, 2 Jews equals 3 opinions! And it is entirely possible for all of those opinions to be correct. How is that possible?? I’m Jewish, so I could give you 18 answers to that question. The best answer I can give you is that Judaism is not only NOT a
What Is a Chumrah and What Is Halacha Read Post »
I’m a lawyer, and that means I try to be precise with my language. I don’t always succeed, but I try. So this means I do a lot of Google searches of “define X” to make sure I’m using a word correctly for the idea I’m conveying. I don’t remember why, but I wanted to
People either love or hate this phrase. What does “be attractive, not attracting” mean to you? And do you think it’s a phrase worth telling someone (particularly a woman) as they’re learning the rules of tznius? If someone said it to you as you were becoming tznius, was it helpful?
Phrase of the Day: “Be Attractive, Not Attracting” 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 »
Disclaimer: All names in this post are completely made up (and often from random name generators). If I happened to accidentally choose your name, I apologize. Well, except for the famous names. I just felt like using those. It’s very common for converts to take on a Hebrew name as their “everyday” name, even if
Should You Make Up a “Jew-y” Name for Yourself? Read Post »
I find it interesting that Hebrew names is the #1 topic that brings people to this blog through search engines. I wonder where all this interest in names comes from! Based on the search terms themselves, it appears to be adults choosing a name for themselves, rather than parents naming a baby. Well, this week’s
Should You Change or Add to Your Hebrew Name When You Have a Second Conversion? Read Post »
Personally, my biggest tongue-twister is hashkafah and hashgacha. My brain consistently combines the two into a nonsense word: hashgafa. Hashkafah: Worldview. It generally refers to your “brand” of halacha and Jewish living. Modern orthodox, yeshivish, Satmar, etc. Hashgacha: The kosher certification of a restaurant. It’ll be evidenced by a little sign in the window, which
UPDATED: Adventures in Semantics: Hashkafah, Hashgacha, Haskalah Read Post »