Becoming Jewish: One Girl's Journey

Have I mentioned lately...?

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 03:24:34 GMT

...how wonderful it is to have a boyfriend who cares about the fact that I eat kosher?

That's all. Move along. Nothing to see here.

Chag Sameach

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:06:22 GMT

Chag Sameach - First night of Passover, a small gathering, fun with nephews, and an overnight on a couch. But a lovely beginning to my holiday. (read more...)

Purim Shpiel

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:33:22 GMT

Purim Shpiel - I managed to make it to my synagogue Saturday night, to enjoy the Purim Shpiel. The best thing about the whole experience was repeated to me by everyone I greeted: We've missed you. I've missed them too. (read more...)

Starting Where I'm At

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:10:42 GMT

Starting Where I'm At - I read an interesting post today about learning things in order of importance, rather than "in order." And I was reminded of my own journey, and where I'm at so far. (read more...)

Painful Timing

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:49:51 GMT

Painful Timing - My reflections on Debbie Friedman z"l. I'm not certain what to say to summarize how I can feel such loss, when I wasn't raised on her music. I feel a little bit on the outside, and a little connected all at the same time. And I mourn. (read more...)

Weaving Between the Debates... As a Woman

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:53:14 GMT

Weaving Between the Debates... As a Woman - I read a simple blog post discussing the first woman ordained as an Orthodox Rabbi, then several articles that debated the issues, then had to spend time on Google looking up some of the vocabulary. In the end, I've concluded that (a) there's certainly a lot left for me to learn about all the different debates in general, (b) I'm definitely at home in the synagogue I attend. (read more...)

My First "I'm disappointed in you" email

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:51:22 GMT

So I received an interesting email.

It's not even the "I'm disappointed" you're becoming Jewish, it was a Facebook email that said "I'm disappointed in some of the public things you're saying on Facebook" email.

I'm supportive of gay rights. I'm supportive of gay marriage. I was when I was Christian. I still am now that I'm Jewish.

I've been starting to be more publically supportive on Facebook, and yesterday posted a link to an article, and expressed my disagreement with a right-wing fundie who was not only against gay marriage or homosexuality in general, but thought so many of "the problems" with homosexuality today would be solved if it were just still a Felony and Illegal. The man in question (from AFA) wrote in his own blog things like, "Think for a moment of the current social controversies that could potentially be avoided if homosexual conduct was still against the law.... Gay marriage: problem solved. We should never legalize unions between any two people when the union is forged specifically to engage in felony behavior. Would we sanction, for instance, the formation of a corporation whose stated purpose was to import illegal drugs? ...Hate crimes laws: problem solved. We wouldn't throw a pastor in jail for saying that illegal behavior is not only illegal but also immoral. For instance, he's free to say that murder is not only contrary to man's law but also to God's law. End of the threat to freedom of religion and speech...

I stood up against this on my Facebook page, although I did modify my opening comments from "For Shame! For Shame!" to "In matters of faith, there are variations from individual to individual, and from denomination to denomination. Sometimes I'm appalled at certain variations, and AFA's Bryan Fischer opinion and assertation in this instance appalls me. You might be appalled, you might agree with him. Or ...you might never have heard of him at all. I just thought I'd share this link."

In reply, I got the following email: "I'm concerned about some of the opinions you are espousing. I know you know that as a Christian the final opinion is what the Bible says on a matter.Of course there is mercy and compassion for the individual, but that is very different from a public stance :("

Oh noes.

I've put off making my Facebook profile say "Religion=Jewish" because I haven't completed my conversion process. I don't want to be misleading anyone, for claiming something I might not have the right to claim, according to officials or technicalities. I know I *FEEL* Jewish, I *THINK* Jewish, and I *ACT* Jewish, but I also am very careful not to tread on toes yet, because of the technicalities. I don't count for a Minyan yet, as far as I know, and that's not even counting the fact that I'm female. Currently, I have my Facebook Profile set to say, "Religious Views: matter to me, significantly."

Once again, I'm feeling like I need to step up my studies and wrapping up the loose ends, almost just so that I can set my Facebook Profile for "Religious Views = Jewish."

That's an odd goal, isn't it? *le sigh*

Selichot - A Moving Passage

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:26:16 GMT

Selichot - A Moving Passage - One section of our services tonight (the Selichot services to start the reflections before Rosh Hashanah, the High Holy Days, also considered the New Year) touched me very poignantly, close to home, in my heart. I felt compelled to write it down and share it with you. (read more...)

The Balm of Music, Ceremonies, and Epiphanies

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:06:57 GMT

The Balm of Music, Ceremonies, and Epiphanies - I had a nightmare, and conquered it with music--with Hebrew! *giggle* There's a couple of ceremonies coming up, in my friends' lives. And I ponder the nature of what matters to me, in relationships, and have an epiphany about one of my "non-negotiables." (read more...)

Returning Home Again

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:00:09 GMT

Returning Home Again - A little about food at Pennsic, how the itchies are lately, and looking forward to traveling to FL this weekend. (read more...)

Kosher, Weddings, and Things

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:27:13 GMT

Kosher, Weddings, and Things - So, hi. I'm still here. *waves* Let's see, some updates on relaxing the rules for myself about what is "kosher enough," based on health concerns. Three of the four weddings this summer had Jewish elements to them. And I've plans to be in another Hebrew class next month, and visit services with a friend in FL in 2+ weeks. (read more...)

The Yanov Torah, and Some New Found Security

Mon, 04 May 2009 06:55:18 GMT

The Yanov Torah, and Some New Found Security - I got to hold a Torah scroll that had been smuggled into a Nazi camp in Poland, smuggled out into Soviet-occupied Poland, and then smuggled into America. And then, I found that some things are either more invisible or actually easier to incorporate with some friends and family than I thought they were... which just means I'm feeling more secure about my Jewish identity than I'd previously been feeling. (read more...)

Thinking About Integration

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:16:42 GMT

Thinking About Integration - It's time to head into a new phase: Finishing this conversion process. Yup, I wanna see the light at the end of the tunnel someday. (read more...)

Retreats, Food, and "Caught Between Dialects"

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:48:10 GMT

Retreats, Food, and "Caught Between Dialects" - I spend a weekend retreat with my synagogue in December, have a small struggle with food and health (but I'm well now), read several good books and one annoying one, listen to lots of music, and ponder the nature of figuring out where I fit in this language acquistion. Oh, and my family rocks. (read more...)

More Music, Family, and Friends

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:43:57 GMT

More Music, Family, and Friends - The Really Good: I'm finding a ton of leads for more music (some I love, some I don't, but I won't exhaust the material for a while now). The Mostly Fantastic: All the Family and Friends I've admitted to that I'm converting have been supportive so far. The Unknown: My nerves are stretching, waiting for the shoe to drop (so to speak). Not everyone is going to be supportive, hence, I'm nervous. The Extremely Nerve-Wracking: I'm starting to reconnect with old college friends from a Christian student fellowship... Reconnecting on Facebook. The transparency for this process is increasing, as is my nervousness. (read more...)

Matchmaking

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:04:12 GMT

Matchmaking - Some thoughts that came to me as I noticed a guy in a Starbucks reading and studying his Bible. The idea that I'm going to accidentally meet someone to date seems more and more far-fetched, and some days that's hard to take. (read more...)

The Bicycle Chain

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:41:06 GMT

The Bicycle Chain - In the course of listening to music this evening, I noticed some things about my relationship to music and language and life. And I think I have an elegant metaphor for what it feels like to have found Judaism for myself. (read more...)

Impulsive Music Hunches

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:55:01 GMT

Impulsive Music Hunches - Every now and then I hear a single song, and impulsively buy massive quantities of music by that artist. It's probably just a well-honed hunch, but often in a single song I can find that spark that says "wow, I LOVE this music." Recently, I'm *very* pleased to say that my hunch worked again. (read more...)

Unusual Assumptions

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:35:55 GMT

Unusual Assumptions - A lady at work suggested singing with me. Her suggestion? Let's walk around singing Christmas carols. Um, really? (read more...)

Updates and Updates

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:00:30 GMT

Updates and Updates - How I spent my High Holy days, and the family members I've actually told recently about my conversion process. Yup. I've started telling family. And it's been a good experience! (read more...)

Food, Philosophy, Language, and Dilemmas

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:15:42 GMT

Food, Philosophy, Language, and Dilemmas - Some thoughts on food (and increasingly observing kosher), the religion of hospitality philosophy, my Hebrew language course, meeting with my Rabbi again, and thoughts about telling family (someday) about my conversion process. (read more...)

Musical interlude, and Future Plans

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:36:21 GMT

Musical interlude, and Future Plans - A link to a wonderful music video with a boys choir (song in Hebrew), and some thoughts about process, experience, and Israel someday. (read more...)

Summarizing Lately, and Recent Ponderings

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:10:09 GMT

Summarizing Lately, and Recent Ponderings - I tally where I am in my classes lately, and then share some recent ponderings which are building the foundation to my answer to "why are you Jewish?" which I anticipate having to discuss for the rest of my life. (read more...)

Passover and other chatting

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:52:59 GMT

Passover and other chatting - My class had an early (practice) Seder together, then I hosted Seder both Saturday and Sunday, then my SCA group had a Seder together at the end of the week. I also noticed some diversity in my work environment and toured the Skirball Center over the weekend. (read more...)

Two Different Tales

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:05:13 GMT

Two Different Tales - First, (in my opinion) a student crosses a line in class in offensiveness, and I'm the one who was given the chance to stand up to him and speak my mind, calmly yet firm. Second, I find some wonderful podcasts that excite my love of learning. (read more...)