Home - Building a Jewish Life

Common Question: What Can’t You Do on Shabbat?

I get this question a lot, as I imagine many of you do. I’ve finally hit on an answer that I like to use on friends. I have yet to try this on someone I don’t know as well, but I would try it out. Question: What are you not allowed to do on Shabbat? […]

Bullying Within the Conversion Community: The Enemy Within

An important read from the other convert blogger named Chavi: The Real Danger? Other Converts. From the post: “I don’t know if it’s new, but all of the conversion crises talk has exacerbated this self preservation to the point that converts, in some communities, have become bullies. It is the classic case where the bullied […]

Halacha in a Nutshell: The Laws of Family Purity

Halacha in a Nutshell is a 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. Now here’s a fun topic full of vague euphemisms. This will not be […]

Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut

Yesterday and today are two “Jewish” holidays. I only put Jewish in quotes because the existence of the state of Israel is a hotly debated topic within Jewish groups. So yesterday was Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. Someone in particular was on my mind: Elad ben Kochava. I went on a Birthright trip to Israel […]

Word of the Day: Nebbish

As you know, I’m driving cross-country at the moment. Driving all day, every day since Sunday morning is totally awesome. Not. Well, it mostly is, but after four days, I’m tired of it. I want to be in my new home already! But tonight, Wednesday night, I’m only 2 hours away from New York City, […]

Months of the Hebrew Calendar

You may be asked to memorize the months of the Hebrew calendar. I’ll admit I don’t have them memorized, at least not in order. But here’s a handy list! Keep in mind that there are four new years in the Hebrew calendar, so you can begin counting the months at multiple places. For the purpose […]

Awkward Conversation of the Week

Masseuse: [Some question about church attendance] Me: Oh. I’m Jewish. Masseuse: Oh… Like Christian Jewish? Me: Nope. Just Jewish Jewish. Masseuse: …Oh. On the bright side, the awkwardness ended there, and the rest of the time went pleasantly. But that was a conversation-stopper.

Social Strategies for the Isolated Conversion Candidate

Some of you may be considering orthodox conversion, but you don’t live in an orthodox community. You know that you will be required to move if you want to pursue this. (See Convert Issues: the Community Requirement.) However, because of school, a lease, saving money, owning a home, or a million other reasons, you’re stuck […]

No Posts for the Last Two Days of Pesach

This blog is shomer Shabbat and yom tov. Therefore, no posts on Monday, April 25, and Tuesday, April 26.

Shabbat Shalom! The Bitachon Edition

Word of the day: bitachon. Most basically, it means trust. Trust in Hashem. Being a Type A, practical-to-a-fault person, I often say that bitachon and emunah (faith) are very difficult for me. I’m beginning to rethink that statement. As you should all know by now, I’m moving cross-country in a week. Only today did I […]