When I was converting to Judaism, I didn’t have a rabbi, a synagogue, or a roadmap. I had questions, confusion, and a growing sense that everyone else seemed to know rules I had never been taught. There was plenty of infrastructure for people born Jewish who wanted to become more observant. There was almost none […]
Why I’m Still Talking About Jewish Conversion 15 Years Later Read Post »
A lot of people assume that if self-guided Jewish learning isn’t working, it’s because they’re not disciplined enough, not motivated enough, or not serious enough. That’s rarely the problem. Most people struggle with self-guided Jewish learning because they’re trying to do it alone – without structure, context, or anyone helping them understand what actually matters
You’re Not Bad at Jewish Learning – You’re Missing This Read Post »
I didn’t convert to Judaism because it was easy. I converted because, at a certain point, *not* converting became the harder choice. For many people, the beginning of a Jewish journey doesn’t arrive with fireworks or certainty. It comes quietly – as a sense that your old life no longer fits, as questions that won’t
If You Keep Coming Back to Judaism… Read Post »
Feeling “behind” is one of the most common – and most painful – experiences people have during Jewish conversion. It often comes from the sense that everyone else knows the timeline, the rules, or the pace, and you somehow missed the memo. But Jewish conversion doesn’t move in straight lines. It starts and stops. It
Why Pauses Don’t Ruin a Jewish Conversion Read Post »
Not all Jewish advice online is created equal. The internet is full of Jewish advice, and not all of it is helpful. This post walks through common red flags to watch for when you’re learning about Jewish life online, especially if you’re converting or building Jewish practice from scratch. These aren’t abstract concerns. Bad advice
Not All Jewish Advice Is Good Advice – 6 Red Flags Read Post »
I didn’t build Bayit Builders because I wanted to start a community. I built it because I needed help that didn’t exist. When I was converting to Judaism, I was overwhelmed, isolated, and constantly second-guessing myself – with plenty of information online, but most it was contradictory or “my way or the highway.” This video
The Support I Needed During Conversion Didn’t Exist, So I Built It Read Post »
Learning modern Hebrew can feel intimidating – especially if you assume it requires expensive programs, years of classes, or a full-time Ulpan schedule. For many people building a Jewish life, Hebrew becomes one more thing they feel behind on before they’ve even begun. The truth is, you don’t need to do everything at once, and
How to Learn Modern Hebrew on Your Own (Realistically) Read Post »
Choosing a siddur – a Jewish prayer book – often feels harder than it should. With so many options, translations, and traditions, many beginners and conversion candidates worry about buying the “wrong” one or committing too soon. But a siddur isn’t a test of Jewishness or knowledge. It’s a tool meant to support prayer and
What to Know Before You Buy a Siddur (a Jewish Prayerbook) Read Post »
Many people delay beginning Jewish life because they believe it starts with finding the right synagogue. But for a lot of people, that search takes time – and waiting can quietly stall the journey altogether. Jewish life doesn’t begin in a building. It begins in time, in daily choices, and in the small practices you
The Myth That Jewish Life Starts at a Synagogue Read Post »
The Jewish month of Tevet arrives quietly, after the lights of Hanukkah fade and winter fully settles in. The siege of Jerusalem remembered on the fast day of Asarah B’Tevet wasn’t destruction all at once – it was the slow tightening that came before it, ending in the destruction of the first Beit HaMikdash, the
Tevet: The Jewish Season Between Light and Collapse Read Post »