#jewish conversion

[modestly-trying]

Sometimes even though I'm physically alone during holidays I don't feel alone it feels like I can feel all these other Jewish peoples joys, sorrows, worries, and angers It's like I can feel their arms so close to giving me a hug but not quite there yet and when people ask why I'm converting I don't know how to explain this to them How do you explain feeling so connected and drawn to a group

#and dont get me started about how it felt the times i got to go to the synagogue that alone makes converting worth it #mecore #jewish conversion

[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

[disgruntled-detectives]

A friend of mine also going through the conversion process was talking to me about getting a tallit when he’s done and I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve never worn one because I’m not ready for that, but I imagine it must be like being wrapped in the arms of gd.

#jumblr #judaism #jewblr #jewish conversion #Jewish #tallit

[avian-misdemeanors]

as someone who was born into Judaism, I always love hearing the stories of Jewish converts. They're always so passionate about their Judaism and it makes me smile inside and out. it takes so much heart and love for our culture to undertake such a long and challenging journey and see it through to its completion. it's truly beautiful.

any Jewish converts reading this, I hope this brings you a smile. and if you have a story to share about your journey home to the Tribe, I'd love to hear it.

#jumblr #jewish conversion #jewish convert

[pomegranateandhoney]

tomorrow i will have the honor of being a mikveh & hatafat dam brit witness for a transwoman's conversion and i just wanted to affirm for people that yes, trans people can certainly be accepted in jewish community -- not just reform, either, as in this specific case it is a conservative conversion. ❤️

#jewish joy #jewish conversion #jumblr #and for reference while i am queer i am cis

[soxiyy]

Every Jewish person is ethically jewish weather they are born from the waters of a womb or the waters of a mikvah

#jumblr #actually jewish #jewish conversion #jewish culture #jewish convert #jewblr #jew by choice #jewish #jewish joy #jewish positivity

[spacelazarwolf]

most of the jews who barge into my inbox or onto my posts about jews by choice don't actually seem to know literally anything about how conversion actually works, so let me break it down for you.

conversion takes at the very least one calendar year, but can take upwards of several years or even several decades depending on the individual and when they feel ready.

the process (for people who are converting as adults, not people who were converted as children) usually looks something like this

person starts to question if conversion is right for them. this stage can take anywhere from months to years.

if the person is in a place with a jewish community, they start researching synagogues and eventually reach out to a rabbi or several. if they're not in a place with a jewish community, they'll need to decide if they want to move in order to convert.

some rabbis will be indifferent when contacted about conversion, some will send you away to see if you come back (there's an old tradition of sending prospective converts away three times, but this isn't as common practice now), some will be happy to talk to prospective converts.

the person now has a sponsoring rabbi. they will be signed up for educational classes that will teach them the basics of jewish history, jewish tradition, liturgy, etc. they will also be expected to do a lot of independent reading. most prospective converts meet with their sponsoring rabbi once per month or so.

most sponsoring rabbis want prospective converts to have a certain level of observance in order to practice what it will be like to live as a jew. there are some things they may ask prospective converts to hold off on until after their mikveh, like wearing a tallit and wrapping tefillin or wearing a star of david, some orthodox converts will intentionally break shabbat in order to not 'fully observe' until after their mikveh.

there are usually a lot of costs associated with converting. it's very possible to borrow books from libraries or find them for cheap, but many want to fill their bookshelf with as many resources as possible. there is also the cost of judaica, as most prospective converts do not have jewish family to inherit judaica from. this can get incredibly expensive.

the sponsoring rabbi is the one who decides if the prospective convert is ready for their beit din. once they approach the topic with the prospective convert and the convert agrees they are ready, the beit din is scheduled.

for their beit din, three rabbis (or sometimes non rabbinic scholars) will speak to the prospective convert about what their journey has been like, why they want to convert, what they find meaningful, how they have handled any antisemitism they've faced, if they are ready to align themselves with the jewish people for the rest of their life, etc. it's not just a 'u ready?' it can get very intense.

the beit din decides if the prospective convert is ready to join the jewish people. if they decide they're not ready, the prospective convert can continue to study and schedule another beit din in the future. if they decide they are ready, a mikveh is scheduled and the prospective convert becomes a jew.

after that, they're a jew. that's it. the end.

details can vary from community to community, but this is a general rundown of how it works. no one just randomly decides one day to become jewish. people who go through the conversion process, even through movements that are not as rigorous as orthodox movements, are required to do essentially a mini degree in jewish studies, uproot their whole life, potentially lose family, friends, and community, and align themselves with a marginalized people for the rest of their life. so anyone who tries to trash them can sniff my farts.

#jewish #jewish conversion

[nesyanast]

A young man studying for conversion turned to his teacher and said, "But, Rabbi Kushner, Fitzpatrick isn't a Jewish name." To which Kushner replied, "It will be."

-Choosing a Jewish Life by Anita Diamant

#jumblr #jewish #judaism #jews #nesyapost #jewish conversion #jewish reading #jewish books #jewish quotes #jewish convert #rabbi #gonna look through this book again and look at quotes i like! lol #jew by choice #jewblr

[hindahoney]

Wild and revolutionary concept: maybe don't treat converts like trash just because they're converts? And also don't ask someone if they're a convert in a public setting?

#having lunch before shabbat and had to remind my friend not to do this to people #like i get it might be a hard concept for some born jews to understand but one thing jumblr has taught me #is that its a sensitive and private topic #you dont just.bring it up. especially not in front of people? #because i have seen other born jews get all Different when they find out someone is a convert #and its crazy disrespectful #side note you can disagree w a convert about their opinions on certain things #and still not go after them for being a convert #thats a dif topic though #anyway unless the convert is openly inviting that convo #dont fucking bring it up???? #jumblr #judaism #jewish #jewish conversion #like it prob feels like how i do when someone treats me dif for being baal teshuva #its just a shitty thing to do in general #dont bring it up? #if you have to ask they prob havent told you for a reason #yes even if its from a movement you don't think is vaid #like what do you expect them to go back to their rabbi and be like 'is like to return this conversion and exchange it for orthodoxy' #thats not how it works they already converted to that movement what is the point of you trying to make them feel bad about it #like what do you change or affect by doing that #same w being baal teshuva #you want me to get in a time machine and tell my parents to move to a jewish community? #whats the point of saying anything just shut up

[loki-god-of-mischief-13]

I have two Jewish parents, but whether you were born Jewish or converted, you know every word in the Torah or can’t speak a word of Hebrew, are super religious or knows barely anything thing about Judaism, only celebrates the holidays or never stepped foot in a synagogue, whether you had a b’nai mitzvah or not, let me tell you a secret your still a Jew.

and to converts, welcome to the religion, the family. I know the process is hard, but congrats. And like family if anybody says anything like, ‘You’re not a real Jew.’ Like family I’d punch them in the face for you. judasim is very family oriented. When I think of Judaism I think of big meals with family, laughing and eating.

Jew how you Jew.

#Jumblr #jewblr #judaism #jewish conversion

[fromgoy2joy]

During the distribution of the maror at the Seder, I take one look at the innocuous white herb. “So this is the bitter thing?”

I pop the entire thing into my mouth and begin to chew. And everyone else, including the rabbi, did exactly that apparently because five seconds later, all of us are screaming.

It’s not so much bitter as much as “oh my lord, my nose is on fire, my nose!!”

#it was horseradish #fromgoy2joy thoughts #jumblr #jewish #jewish convert #jewblr #jewish tumblr #jewish conversion #jewish humor #passover things #passover #chag pesach sameach #judaism stuff #judaism #jewishness #jewish tradition

[disgruntled-detectives]

I am ✨inebriated✨ and really thinking about Jewish joy. Last night being in a room full of screaming, booing, cheering, clapping, singing queer Jews filled my heart in a way that I don’t think is easily describable. It was resilience. It was defiance. It was a room full of strangers that for two hours were a family. I went up to a stranger and complimented her tichel. Another stranger complimented my shirt. I had a drink with someone I knew for about ten minutes and held hands with someone I met an hour earlier. When Esther said “You will stop persecuting my people.” Everyone screamed, applauded, cheered. I felt connected and alive and home. It was oh so beautiful and I love the Jewish people. My. People.

#Jewish joy #jumblr #jewblr #judaism #jewish conversion

[queertransetc]

Is it ok to convert to Judaism so I can work with Lilith without breaking closed practice rules? Ive been told only jews can work with her. I don't believe in the Jewish god but I believe in Her and feel a connection.

For starters, I don’t know a ton about Lilith, aside from yes, only Jews can work with her. I’m also no expert on conversion, as I’m not a convert nor have I been heavily involved in someone else’s conversion. For this reason, I’d like other Jews who see this, especially converts, to add in their thoughts on the matter. My answer is going to be relatively vague considering the question at hand

That said, I would be very wary of someone converting specifically for Lilith, especially if they don’t believe in any tenets of Judaism. You don’t believe in our god, not all converts do. But there’s so much more to Judaism that conversion requires beyond that belief. My question for you, anon, is what other reasons do you have for converting? If it’s only for Lilith, you don’t actually want to be Jewish. You just want access to a closed practice. Ask yourself: am I ready to join a new culture and ethnicity? Am I ready to face antisemitism? Am I ready to analyze the antisemitic thoughts and beliefs I already have and uphold? Am I ready to support a new community? Am I interested in adopting other beliefs and practices of Judaism?

Talking to a rabbi will likely give you even more questions you need to ask before you can know if conversion is right for you. As I said, I know relatively little about conversion, and I know nothing about you, anon. If you feel serious about converting already, tell a rabbi exactly what you’ve sent me, and ask to have a more in-depth discussion on your interest in converting. After getting to know you more, they’ll likely have a better answer on whether converting because of Lilith is appropriate or not

At the end of the day, I cannot tell you whether conversion is right for you. What I can say is that it’s a serious decision that takes a lot of time and hard work. Converting to Judaism is not something a rabbi will let you do unless they’re certain you are ready for all that entails

@ folks in the notes, if you intend to respond to anon’s message, please be kind and assume they’re asking in good faith <3

#Lincoln logs #ask box #Judaism #jumblr #conversion #Jewish conversion

[hadeantaiga]

Happy Hannukah to fellow converts

Can I reach a hand out to fellow converts-in-progress right now?

Like. This is a hard time to sit and say "yes, I still want to become a Jew". It is a hard time to maintain that conviction in the face of this sharp, blunt-force increase in antisemitism. It's hard to lose friends and connections, to have to cut people off who a month ago claimed they supported you in your conversion, who are now neck-deep in conspiracy theories and antisemitism. It feels like darkness is closing in around us.

So here's to us, this Hannukah. May our faith and our desire to convert burn longer than anyone expected it. May we last through this night when many hope we will give up.

#hannukah #jewish conversion

[convert-kid]

I think L’cha Dodi is my favourite song that we do at shul for Shabbat Eve. There was another one we did tonight that I really enjoyed (that we don’t usually do!) but I can’t remember it.

But I LOVE L’cha Dodi SO MUCH.

#jewblr #judaism conversion #jumblr #jewish conversion

[your-soul-stood-at-sinai]

Your conversion story is fascinating, unique, precious, and holy. When you become a member of the Jewish people, your story enriches the heritage of the Jewish people [...] which will be forever changed by your presence.

 —Anita Diamant, Choosing a Jewish Life

#jew by choice #jumblr #judaism #jewish conversion #jewish convert #jewish