#conversion to judaism

[cornbreadjustice]

beit din + mikveh tomorrow

#conversion to judaism #jewish conversion #jumblr #im so excited and nervous i cant think

[fromgoy2joy]

I heavily relate to this because whenever I walk into any situation, I’m always thinking “please, please, please don’t let me fuck this up!” And then am promptly relieved when I somehow didn’t burn down the building.

#fromgoy2joy thoughts #jumblr #jewish #jewish convert #jewblr #jewish tumblr #jewish conversion #jewish humor #judaism stuff #judaism #conversion to judaism

[bringmemyrocks]

I noticed on your about the point saying "christianity isn't inherently antisemitic". I'm not challenging you on this, but I am asking - How can you believe this? I know for me, a lot of this has to do with religious trauma. But I struggle with the idea. One of the first things I learned when I left that faith was about supercessionism, about all the nasty antisemitic undertones and overtones in the New Testament, all that. The more I learned, the more everything I had once held dear just felt appropriative, or hypocritical, or paper-thin, or downright hateful... when you cut all that out of Christianity.. what even is left? That doesn't mean that individual practitioners can't be good people, but learning all this and its history just made me want to get away from it even more. It felt profane, I didn't want to touch it or even be associated with it at all. It made me bitter and a little hateful, if I'm being honest. I'll never go back, that wasn't why I left to begin with, but I'm trying to put that bitterness behind me. Especially seeing what Palestinian Christians are going through I think I at least owe them that. Normally when I see people talking about Christianity in a positive light it just makes me uncomfortable but since you feel so strongly about this that you put it on your about, I thought I should ask what your thoughts are

Hi anon, you are welcome to challenge me however you like. I'm glad my about page made you think, and I'm glad I put that particular note there ("Christianity/Islam/atheism are not inherently antisemitic.") I'm also glad you felt comfortable coming to me about this.

This is going to be a hard pill to swallow, but you’ll be much happier once you accept: 

You have been taught to see everything that threatens your interpretation of Judaism as a threat. This is wrong and makes you feel bad for no reason. 

You need to ask yourself “is XYZ really a threat to me, or have I just been conditioned to think that way by my community?” (Some) evangelical Christians see the world this way, "Starbucks is doing a war on Christmas" etc.–you have been conditioned to see threats to your religion everywhere just like they have. 

A good book on this is The Gift of Fear–it’s not about religion, but rather how to actually spot threats in a world that lies about where the danger really is. 

This “everything is against the Jews” conditioning is intrinsically tied to Zionism. Zionism benefits from Jews feeling that they are under threat. Zionism benefits from Jews thinking Judaism as a concept/a nazi-style race is under constant attack and needs to be protected. I had to come to this realization myself. I am not exaggerating. A comic from religious zionist institution Aish HaTorah that was rightfully mocked among Jews had a picture of a sad Jew with the text “If you are Jewish, somebody out there hates you!” (literally.) 

Ask yourself: who benefits from me thinking this way? Certainly not you; I can tell it’s causing you anguish. 

Some gems from Jumblr which demonstrate that this type of thinking is inextricably linked to Zionism: 

If you think that Christianity and Islam are “appropriations” of Judaism, boy howdy do I have something to tell you about Judaism’s relationship to ancient Canaanite religion…

This is going to get long, sorry. I’m going to use “Hebrew Bible,” “Old Testament,” and “Tanakh” interchangeably. 

General notes: 

The Bible is public domain. Anyone can read it, and they can interpret it however they want. Jews do not have a special claim to this text, and we have never tried to keep it secret from others. 

Interestingly, some of the mistranslations in Isaiah and the Book of Psalms/Tehillim that lend the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible/Tanakh to a more Christian reading are from the Septuagint, a Jewish translation of the original text into Greek. Oops. 

There is nothing inherently wrong with supersessionism in its basic definition. It just means that Christians and Muslims believe they no longer have to follow the covenant of Moses because their new covenants supersede the covenant of Moses. Muslims actually believe that everyone is born Muslim (thus the term “revert” rather than “convert”,) so Islam is technically more supersessionist than Christianity. Unlike Christianity, which takes both the Old Testament and New Testament as scripture, Islam believes that while the Bible contains some truth, it contains many errors, while the Quran does not. Nobody is harmed by this. 

Regardless, Christianity is not “about supersessionism” anymore than Judaism is "about Moses"; that is simply one aspect of the religion and how some people view it. 

If you’re going to split hairs over the literal text on the page instead of its interpretation, there’s a lot of condoned violence against non-Jews in the Tanakh. If you’re going to cherry pick lines from a text you don’t like, realize that the text you do like does not hold up under scrutiny, either. 

The harm comes in when people use violence to impose their beliefs on others. You see this throughout history. You are not harmed by a Christian thinking “smh doesn’t anon know it’s fine to eat pork” or even "doesn't anon know that Jesus can provide eternal life?"  

Groups driven practicing both Christianity and Islam have carried out large-scale violence against Jews throughout history. Christians moreso, but no tradition’s hands are clean here. There is no denying the historical connection between the institutional Christian church and antisemitism. Plenty of Christians, including Christians who are not themselves antisemitic still do not know this part of Christian history, and that is a problem.  

The particular strand of evangelical Protestant Christianity that believes that the modern state of Israel must exist to bring about the second coming of Jesus is called Premillennial Dispensationalism. This particular theology is actually the opposite of supersessionism because it believes the Jewish covenant is still relevant to Christians. Thus supersessionism is neither necessary nor sufficient for antisemitism. 

In my opinion, “supersessionism” is a buzzword that is used online to get Jews to refuse any engagement with Christianity. Same with “original sin”, a concept traditional Judaism actually believes in, but you won’t catch Jumblr admitting that…

Orthodox Jews refer to liberal Judaism as an “appropriation” and “twisting” of True Judaism ™ all the time. Your reaction to Christianity is just a version of that made palatable for liberal Jews. It’s just as chauvinistic. Anyone is allowed to read the Bible however they want to. They can add books in or they can take books out. You cannot control what people do in their religion, nor should you try. 

*Unless they’re advocating anti-gay/antisemitic/racist laws, which plenty of people of all faiths are currently doing worldwide. Then you should say something. But the problem is the prejudice and use of violence, not the religion itself. 

Assuming you were brought up in a form of Christianity that is actually antisemitic (not just one that you’re labeling as such by virtue of it believing in Jesus), I am truly sorry that that was your experience. You say: “when you cut all that out of Christianity.. what even is left?”

My heart sank when I heard that. What is left? What is left, anon? Thousands of years of history and tradition! Poetry and music and mysticism of every flavor! 

I am glad you are aware that you feel bitter and hateful towards other religions. I hope that your choice of words indicates that you want to change that. In recovery, there’s a saying of “first thought, second thought.” The first thought is what comes immediately–it can be “I would be happier if I was still using.” The second thought is “actually, let me think about this, I’m doing much better now than I was when I was using.” 

For you, the first thought might be “Christianity is evil and should be abolished,” but what might your second thought be? 

You mention Palestinian Christians. That’s a good start. I really don’t want to sound like Bartolome de las Casas here; I do not want to sound patronizing, but truly anon, Palestinians are the kindest people you will ever meet. Most Palestinian Christians are Catholic or Orthodox, both types of Christianity that are supersessionist (again, not needing to keep kosher, the new covenant of Jesus supersedes the covenant of Moses,) yet they are kind people. And not the fake nice you get from megachurch pastors who spend their congregation’s money on private jets. 

When I decided to become Jewish, I left behind one of my favorite hobbies of all time, singing from the Sacred Harp. It’s an early American folk hymn tradition that’s sung on shape notes. I thought “this is idolatry; I cannot engage with it” and I broke my own heart for no reason except my own stubbornness. 

If you’re familiar with the Sacred Harp tradition, you’ll recognize the little girl in my avatar is from the documentary “Awake My Soul,” and she’s leading a song from the Sacred Harp hymnal. I describe the Sacred Harp as being similar to opera: you either love it or you hate it. I promise you can have a normal healthy relationship with Christianity. (And there are a truly astounding number of Jews involved in Sacred Harp singing.) 

As a fellow convert, once upon a time I also fell for this nonsense. I now recognize that this stuff was taught to me and I can unlearn it. So can you! Block the chauvinists on Jumblr, stop listening to Tovia Singer podcasts, and appreciate the world in all its diversity. It’s what we are compelled to do as Jews. 

Anyone wrestling this is welcome to talk to me on anon or on DMs. Unlearning this type of thinking is so important. Asking questions is a good first step. The fact that you reached out to an antizionist Jew shows that you’re willing to listen to alternative voices. It’ll be easier for you to get rid of this type of thinking than it is for others who can’t let go of Zionism. 

I’ll leave you with my two favorite verses from the New Testament (yes, I can still have favorite verses in a holy text I don’t follow. Try reading it again and learn to appreciate it as an outsider. That can be key to dismantling your negative associations with it. Read the Jewish Annotated New Testament if you like extra commentaries and can’t stomach Christian commentaries on Christian texts yet–truly there’s a lot of fascinating stuff there.) 

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Matthew 25 (linking because it’s too long on this already overly-long post): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A34-46&version=ESV 

I love talking about theology. I came to Tumblr to talk about faith, not politics, but I am compelled to speak about genocide, so my posts have mostly been about Palestine of late. 

I know an absurd amount about Christianity because I studied it for so long. I will gladly expand on any of the points I mentioned here. (But you don’t have to become a theologian like me to dispense with anti-Christian prejudice.) 

Also, kudos to you for not spelling it “xtianity”--that always gave me a headache. 

Anon, do feel free to come back if you have more thoughts. I try to modulate tone, but I can come across as quite serious even if I don't intend to. Truly, thank you for asking me this question.

Good faith responders who have read the entire post are welcome to engage. Anyone who believes Jumblr's strawman version of Christianity is accurate will be blocked.

#jewish convert #long post #christianity #judaism #conversion to judaism #i #cultural christianity #jumblr

[jewishtwig]

“A person has two eyes—one to see the greatness of G‑d and the other to see his own smallness.”

- Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk

#jumblr #judaism #jewish #conversion to judaism #jewish conversion #jewish posting #jposting

[askjumblr]

Hi! I'm a prospective convert and currently something of an atheist. Basically, I believe in the divine as a concept, and I believe that certain actions are in themselves holy (feeding the hungry, healing the sick, etc.), but I don't believe in the existence of a higher power. I haven't properly studied Torah yet, but I worry that I would not be able to study in a meaningful way since I would not literally believe in the Torah. I worry that this would make conversion functionally impossible.

I know that it's possible to be a Jewish atheist, but my understanding is that Jewish atheists are typically born Jews. I can't picture a rabbi taking on a conversion student who does not believe in God and is therefore unable to accept the Torah.

Being that I'm an atheist and expect to continue being an atheist, should I just give up on the idea of converting, or is there a meaningful way to convert without belief in a divine being? Any advice on navigating this? (If anyone has book recommendations, I'm prepared to do a lot of reading.)

OP does not mention what movement they intend to convert under. Please state your FOR and identify which movements you are discussing clearly 😊

#jumblr #ask jumblr #judaism #jewish conversion #jewish convert #conversion to judaism #conversion #atheist jew #belief in g-d #belief in hashem #agnostic jew

[charliecharlston]

from @edenfenixblogs

#jewish #judaism #conversion to judaism

[called-by-the-shekinah]

My first Seder y’all

#pesach #Seder #passover #jumblr #phoenyx’s adventure with judaism #conversion to judaism

[lookingforhashem]

Me trying to understand a calendar that is both solar and lunar, runs on a 19 year cycle, has an extra month depending on what year of that cycle it is, and has conditions where the new year is postponed based on the day of the week and what the moon is up to

#In all honesty though learning this is so fun #judaism #jumblr #conversion to judaism

[finallyrivka]

I'm Jewish. I don't have Jewish ancestors so I converted, but I'm pretty sure some Jewish person in the past would've loved to adopt me and support me on my journey to becoming Jewish and then to becoming a better Jew.

#i know we are kind of adopted by abraham and sarah but you know what i mean #jumblr #conversion to judaism #jewish convert

[standingatsinai]

9 Nov 2023 / 25 Cheshvan 5784

It's been a year since I posted so I thought I'd give an update.

I privated a bunch of posts because I became concerned that they could impact my conversion.

Last time I gave an update things had become stagnant.

The Beis Din had arrived in my city and my Rabbi didn't tell me about it. I was absent from Shul for a few weeks due to medical reasons, whilst keeping the Rabbi fully informed of everything thar was going on for me.

The Rabbi then completely ghosted me and began ignoring ALL of my emails. I contacted the only other Orthodox Rabbi in my city, who then ghosted me after a brief email exchange (I am assuming he communicated with my old Rabbi, who may have said something).

This left me feeling quite disenfranchised and like my obvious efforts were not appreciated. I questioned for the first time in six years if it was really for me - I was asking myself about how many barriers HaShem was putting up for me, and thought that maybe that was a message to just stop, but realised that my life does not feel complete without Judaism.

A while ago I decided to move to a smaller town, located near a big city with a larger Jewish population.

I recently contacted the local Chabad to see if they can provide me with more connections as I'm not sure where to begin here when it comes to the Jewish community.

I've had to take a few turns that I didn't except but IYH we'll get there.

#conversion to judaism #jewish conversion #frumblr #orthodox judaism #jumblr #jewish convert

[yenteleh]

Hi!

I made this blog to documents my conversion journey & thoughts as I go through the process: a little more about:

I’m in my early 20’s and have been set on conversion for about 8 years now, but the circumstances where never right (lived in a city w/o community, moved, COVID was raging for almost three years when I lived there, moved again for a master’s and then was too anxious to approach a rabbi). I feel like I’m finally in a good place to take that leap, especially since I FINALLY live somewhere with an established Masorti community.

#jumblr #jewish #jewish convert #jewish conversion #conversion to judaism

[fromgoy2joy]

Last Friday night, after Shabbat dinner in a friend’s room-

Me: yeah so I’m feeling much more of a pull to be shomer shabbos and i think that’s really going to come in the form of turning off my phone for the 25 hours and-

Josh: wait. So you’re going to be off your devices, without the distraction of the Jews on your phone, and unable to look away?

Me: … yes?

Josh: perfect. Shut the door, Hao. Close the blinds. We’re watching the Dark Knight trilogy, and there’s nothing you can. Don’t touch the remote, that’s breaking shabbos.

#for context I’m terrible at watching movies #help I’m being held captive #or looking ao3 fanfics up in the meanwhile #jumblr #fromgoy2joy thoughts #jewish #jewish convert #jewblr #jewish tumblr #jewish conversion #jewish humor #Judaism #judaism stuff #Jewishness #jewish stuff #conversion to judaism #shabbat shalom #Shabbat #Shabbat moments #or r

[shoshanaa]

IM GONNA SHIT MYSELF WHAT IS HAPPENING

#byeee #jews #judaism #israel #jewish things #conversion to judaism

[bringmemyrocks]

Conversion questions for candidates in the Conservative Movement of Judaism

Short context: The Conservative/Masorti Movement is generally more egalitarian and progressive than orthodox Judaism, but is less liberal than Reform Judaism. At this point, Reform and Conservative both allow for female rabbis, but the Conservative movement is more traditional with regards to liturgy, laws around kashrut, and laws around intermarriage with non-Jews. That was a very short summary, and these details can be further explored elsewhere. Note that the Rabbinical Assembly is the rabbinical leadership body of the conservative movement in the USA.

For anyone critical of the Israel questions (as you should be), please read my bolded notes:

These questions are not required of conversion candidates--it is an offered framework only and is up to the sponsoring rabbi and beit din to determine if they want to ask any/all of these questions or to take a different approach.

Do not assume that every Jew who converted conservative was asked all of these questions or that they had particular answers to them. This is for informational purposes only.

"The House of Israel" and "The People of Israel" refer to the Jewish community, not to the modern nation-state.

Source: Moreh Derekh: The Rabbi's Manual of the Rabbinical Assembly as cited on p. 75 of this paper. https://www.levisson.nl/images/stories/020912%20Semicha/Thesis%20IGoldberg.pdf

This stuff isn't easy to find, but I was able to dig it up because a rabbinical student posted their thesis online and included sources from the book. Thanks!

Archived snapshot: https://web.archive.org/web/20240213125707/https://www.levisson.nl/images/stories/020912%20Semicha/Thesis%20IGoldberg.pdf

Text is as follows, only edits are formatting:

Essay questions for the Bet Din About a month to six weeks before meeting with the Bet Din, a conversion candidate should begin preparing an essay. The document should include the candidate's: (1) full name, (2) address, (3) home and business phone numbers, and (4) desired Hebrew name. In addition, the paper, to be distributed to each member of the Bet Din, should address the: following issues:

Describe the process that led you to want to become Jewish.

Which Jewish values and beliefs do you find most appealing and persuasive?

How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or lifestyle?

Describe how your personal and home life has changed because of Jewish tradition and how it may yet change in the future.

Describe your sense of identification with the Jewish people in relation to Israel, world Jewry, the local Jewish community, and your synagogue.

Describe how you intend to fulfill the mitzvah of צדקה.

What is your commitment to prayer and religious services?

What are your plans for future Jewish study?

If blessed with children, how will you handle their Jewish education?

List the Jewish books you have read and the newspapers or periodicals to which you subscribe.

The Bet Din's final questions of the conversion candidate If the Bet Din is satisfied with the written answers and oral responses, the interview may be concluded with the following questions:

Are you converting to Judaism by your own free will and volition, without coercion or undue external influence?

Do you renounce all beliefs you may once have had in any other religion?

In becoming Jewish, are you giving up all religious practices, holidays, and life cycle events such as baptism and communion that might be associated with your former religion?

Do you accept the God of Israel as the one universal and indivisible God?

Do you commit yourself to observing the mitzvot of Judaism, as defined by Jewish law, to the best of your ability and knowledge?

Do you commit yourself to the further study of Judaism and to continued growth in the observance of its mitzvot?

Will you support all those who seek to reestablish and revitalize our Jewish homeland by making the land and State of Israel a part of your life and the life of your family?

If blessed with children, do you pledge to raise them exclusively in the Jewish religion by providing them with a quality Jewish education and timely involvement in Jewish life-cycle events?

Do you commit yourself to associating with the Jewish community by joining a synagogue?

Do you bind your personal destiny to the destiny of the Jewish people?

These are the questions/statements, copied and pasted. I have only altered formatting when it didn't transfer over.

Again, do not assume every convert was asked these questions or answered them in the affirmative. This is just a framework that is offered, not mandated, by the Rabbinical Assembly. The framework deserves criticism; people who have converted to Judaism do not deserve individual scrutiny solely based on the above suggested questions and statements.

I know plenty of converts who converted conservative who were never asked about Israel at their beit din. This does not mean that we should not challenge zionism in our institutions, but it does mean our anger should be directed at the right places (including at converts and anyone else should they choose to defend a genocide.)

I posted this because I think transparency is important. Conservative Judaism cannot claim (as it sometimes will) that it welcomes differing opinions on Israel and Palestine if their handbook states otherwise. But you can't buy a copy unless you're a rabbi because these books are published by the Rabbinical Assembly and these questions weren't posted online until recently, so that plausible deniability is there.

I hope and pray that any non-Jew who decides to engage with/re-post this includes my caveats that this is not a reason to target individual converts solely because they are converts or because they are Jewish.

It also is important that converts know what to expect, at least on some level, when they go to their beit din. They know they will be asked some questions, but it's not clear which ones, so it helps to have a list. (Again, this is for the Conservative movement in the USA, and these questions are a framework rather than a legal requirement.) Converts to Judaism are put through a lot, especially those in conservative and orthodox traditions.

The least they could do is know in advance what they're likely (not guaranteed) to be asked.

#jewish convert #conversion to judaism #anti zionism #judaism #conservative judaism #long post #i

[jewishtwig]

Shabbat Shalom, everyone!!!

I’m Jewish!!!!!

#jumblr #jewish conversion #judaism #jewish #conversion to judaism

[adopteeconvert]

hi part 2

apparently I don't know how to use the my heritage site bc I found out I'm Roma with jewish DNA matches that triangulate. Roma people are commonly known as the slur G*psy. the shul I go to is fantastic and I look forward to going every week to Shabbat services.

I know they don't have an interim rabbi yet (the previous rabbi retired) , and I have introduction to Judaism classes this fall and I also have a surgery August 17th. I know I will be recovering for 6 weeks, which means I'll miss Shabbat services and other things. My classes do meet on Zoom so I can still do those.

i'm just sad about not being able to go to shul while I'm recovering, because I will possibly be in rehabilitation hospital recovering.

Again I appreciate the people who have commented on my post about possibly converting to Judaism! thank you!!

Also my adoptive parent said they would help pay for conversion classes and everything I need even though they are not converting themselves. which I truly am grateful for.

Thank you jumblr! I appreciate your willingness to answer my obvious questions!

#jumblr #jewblr #jewish #judaism #jew #jew by choice #conversion to judaism