conversion essays from Esynagogue program long distance and chicago conversion

future essays go to http://rabbireflects.blogspot.com/p/conversion-essays.html

2010-04-10T12:10:00.001-07:00

SS Ohio

2010-04-04T05:35:00.001-07:00

1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

Initially, it was from the stories I heard while growing up and what the implication was. I had heard for years that the spelling of my last name had changed to protect "us" from persecution. I heard this multiple times over the years as a child. I never thought anything about it until I got older and began doing family research. I had been told by relatives that we had family members that were in the concentration camps, but I have never been able to verify this. These things were what started me down the road to Judaism. While researching Judaism and the history of it, it begins to stand out that Judaism is the "focal point" for what the majority of the population believes in current society. Judaism makes everything an event. Where else do you find where someone has said, and it has been passed down for thousands of years, that one should say a blessing because he saw something new or amazing? Judaism seems to focus on worship in all of our daily activities. No one is perfect but Judaism seems to make an attempt at helping one keep their focus and strive to be the best we can possibly be.
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2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

I find that a lot of the aspects of prayer are very appealing. I think that a lot of people, without understanding, would frown upon the way we pray. I like it because of the fact that you are somewhat “forced” into the proper mindset (kavanah) before beginning prayer. (the same way in which the sofer speaks his intentions at the beginning of writing the Torah scroll, etc)
The prayers can also help in searching yourself. They may cause one to think of something that they feel should be addressed that they otherwise may have overlooked.

As for being persuasive, please refer to the answer to question 3.
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3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?

Judaism began with the covenant between G-d and Abraham. From that point until now, it has been in existence. The Torah was given to Moses with all of the Israelites present. It wasn't delivered to one person (in secret) and handed down from them. It was given to all and it was made clear who it came from. There was no room for miscommunication. Judaism and the Torah laid the foundation for how life was to be lived. The rules set forth are as applicable now as they were thousands of years ago.
(Some more applicable than others since there is no Temple)
Judaism, for me, offers more of a sense of direction. An ordered process in a world of disorder. Observance forces one to take the time to rest and reflect.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to G-d.

My relationship is direct. G-d stated that there is He and no other. I need no intermediary. I don't have to go to a priest to confess. i don't have to go to someone who may feel they are above me because of their religious title or position. I can pray and address G-d directly. G-d gave the Torah. He has already told me what is expected of me and how I should proceed with my life.
He has provided everything in which I would need for reference in case of questions.

5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

I am more focused on the rituals of Shabbat. Making time to relax and reflect instead of going constantly. My personal life has altered in relation to prayer and keeping shabbat. I certainly admit that there are times when I have not kept shabbat. I also recognize that change is a process and not instant. I cork at it everyday and make a conscious effort to remain aware of all Judaism “opens up”.

More jewish study. I am currently going through the crash course for learning hebrew. While I have slacked a little due to school work, I still recognize that learning hebrew is a major step in the progress of my growth as a jew. Also incorporating all of the other aspects that solidify a jewish life.
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6. Describe your sense of identification with the Jewish people in relation to Israel , world Jewry, the local Jewish community and your synagogue.



World jewry – I feel for the jews of the world. Everyone is not in the same situation but there are many, worldwide, that still suffer persecution and fear being victims of terroristic activities. I had never experienced any type of discrimination or discriminatory actions (speech, etc) until I began this process and began to identify (and make public this identification) as a jew.



Local jewish community/synagogue-
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(the closest synagogue is a reform synagogue)
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I have frequented the reform synagogue on a few occasions. I have wanted to avoid becoming accustomed to the service structure so I have limited my visits there. I also understand that jewish study and learning is a communal process. As such I frequent online sessions in an attempt to maintain the needed connection. The potential of relocation is a possibility in the near future and , as such, one of the foremost items that will assist in area selection will be a conservative synagogue. (Most probably the greater Pittsburgh area)



7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

While it was hard for me to pray, it is becoming easier
(I was worried about formalities, as I wanted to make sure I prayed the prescribed prayers correctly)
It also makes it a little easier to pray. By reading the prayers offered, it makes me address and look at other things that I may not have addressed before. Shabbat is something that I enjoy as "down time" and enjoy not having to worry about if this or that is done. It makes me focus on there are other days to get things accomplished. I don't have to do it constantly. I can and should rest.
I am very picky about what I eat to start so the switch to eating kosher has been easier than I thought. While I initially thought I would complain very much about eating a cheeseburger, at the same time I have lowered my intake of red meat. As a result, this has also lowered, and almost removed completely, the instances where I would mix meat and dairy. I now make a intentional effort to look at what I purchase and eat.
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8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

I love to study and learn. I intend to continue my learning by devoting more time to Torah study and to begin studying the Talmud. There is more to being jewish than just words and actions. It is the emphasis on study that has helped Judaism stay relevant and in existence. By instilling in the knowledge of the past in future generations, it can be assured that Jews and Judaism will continue to grow and remain a driving and living people and faith.

FD

2010-04-01T15:20:00.001-07:00

• Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

I was an Evangelical Christian. When I was about 30 yrs old, I decided to understand more who Jesus was, but not in the traditional way, I wanted to know more about him as a person. I wanted to understand what he thought, his cultural environment, his historical reality, because I felt that, without these information, something of essential was lacking.
Of course I had to start to study Israel, and here something of strange happened, which I cannot really explain. From the first moment I approached the subject, I had both a psychological and physical reaction. I know it sounds strange, but it is true. I was happy. I had something like a flame in my heart. I did not understand why but the more I learned, the more I loved Israel.
I became a Christian Zionist but at the time I did not even know that something like that existed. But I was one, unaware of that, but I was, absolutely.
I became more active in the defense of Israel on the web. I created the first Christian Zionist website in Italy, it was absolutely the first one. It was called A Heart for Israel, and it still exists, even if I do not manage it anymore. I published all the info I found to create a better image of Israel, and I translated from many magazines such as The Jerusalem Post, Ha’Aretz etc. But when my marriage collapsed I had to try to rebuild a life in ruins so I left the website to two dear friends of mine who are still managing it.
I had to face the pain of my divorce and it was not an easy task. It took a long time. During these years I went to Israel for the first time. I remember two things. First, the strange but so intense physical sensation I had in front of the Wall, like a blow on my face, a flood of energy and an instant attraction, I HAD TO touch those stones and I never wanted to leave them.
Second, the strange healing power that Israel had on me. My broken heart was cured there, in ways which once again I find difficult to describe.
I have come back to Israel several times. I also volunteered in the Israeli army through the Sar El and it was an amazing experience which I plan to repeat.
Then, all I can say is that for many years, nearly 14, I have studied and researched about Israel and Judaism. It took a long time to reflect well about me and to understand who I really was, to find also the strength to stand for what I believed and to understand that I was able to live MY life. There has been many obstacled to overcome but now I can say that what has drawn me to Judaism , essentially, was myself. I was drawn to Judaism because I am made in a certain way, because of the things that I love, because of the dreams that I dream, because of the books I read and because of many others cicumstances. I could tell thousands of anecdotes but it would be really long and boring. I hope I have been able to explain at least partially what I feel.

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

Bechirah Chofshit -- freedom of choice / the Jewish philosophical assumption that all human beings have the ability to freely choose actions, and are responsible for those choices.

I find that this is particularly important and fascinating, as it constitutes the basis of all the modern values such as democracy. But it is appealing because it gives both freedom and responsibility for it. It is a burden of an immense value and personally I could not live without it.

Chesed, Rachamin - compassion, especially for those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.
"Thus has the Lord of hosts spoken, saying: Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother," Zech. 7

This is so important, in every single circumstance. And it is not a Christian invention.

Hocheach Tocheach – “you shall rebuke” / the obligation to be a social critic when you see that society or individuals are making terrible mistakes; social criticism is an expression of care for others.

This choice is connected with my personal story and my country story. I owe to Israel also my interest for politics and this is why I became involved nad I was elected in the last elections in my small town to be a meber of the city council. We are trying our best to try to save my country from what it sounds like one of the darkest moments of its history.

Tikkun Olam

This is for me the value of all values. It is comforting to think that no act, even if minimal, is so small for not contributing to put things right. This value gives me energy in pursueing what is right.

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

It is difficult to explain also, but Judaism represents, for me, my growth. No vicarious. No excuses. Me. My choices. My responsibilities. Me and G-d. Me and Him in a dialogue where I am myself, with my shortcomings, and His ways to run, once again, in His arms. No excuses. Me and His law, me and His words. He has been clear. I will be, too.

• Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

I know that I had a relationship with G-d also when I was a Christian. A relationship is a relationship, a mutual exchange. But the relationship with G-d, like any other relationship, like a friendship, it has its rules. If I care for my relationship, I will try my best to follow the rules, and if sometimes I am not able to, well I will apologize and try my best to start again in the best way I can.
The relationship with G-d is for me different from the others in this respect: He is essential for me. It is basic for my life. How many times I was alone, but He never left me. He was always there for me. He is more essential for me than anyone else.
I am going to get married again, but I have been single for a long time. I was a single mother. I did everything alone and I could count only on myself. I have learned to live without anybody-but I cannot imagine to lose Him. It would be unbelievable and also, impossible because even when I do not speak He is there with me.

• How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do you see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

Of course I had to do all the necessary adjustments. I became vegetarian because in this way it has been more simple for me to follow the rules of kasherut, and also because I think it is a healthier lifestyle. My son and I started to do Shabbath and actually it was pleasant to enjoy those peaceful moments. Everything was quiet and we did a lot of things together that before we never were able to find time for. My family-I mean my mother and brothers who are not living with me- were not so surprised ans they saw it arriving.
I plan to do a mitzvath at a time, step by step. I plan to learn better Hebrew and to sudy and read more Torah. And when I will get married again I will pray with my whole family and attend the synagogue and be active there, it will be a bliss and another bond which I never experienced before.

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

I have already described at the beginning of this essay what are my feelings for Israel and fr Jews. I can tell it in a few words: I love them. I can’t help it. I have demonstrated it. I have created my website-and I got tons of threatening emails after that. I have always done my hasbarà on the web. And I have tried my best to defend Israel even in its army. I could not be a regular member but I could do something. And I did it. I was not afraid, I was proud, I was happy and I found it a privilege to help that country and its wonderful people.
A detail. My best friends happen to be Jewish: Letizia hava Lehmann and Franca Spizzichino. And also the man who I want near me for my life.

I identificate with Jewish people because I love them. I cannot explain in other ways my identification.

• What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

I tell my prayers when I wake upa, when I go to sleep and sometimes during the day. About Kasherut, as I said I became vegetarian and in this way it is simple to keep kosher, I do it without thinking too much about it. Shabbat is more difficult, sometimes it is a struggle to put aside all the things that need to be done, nad the job worries etc. I will try my best to improve this part.

• How do you plan to continue your jewish study?

I am setting up a Jewish library and I want to continue to read and study as much as possible. The next time I go to Israel I will study with my friend who lives in Hebron, he is a kazan and he studies there near the Abraham’s grave. I plan to stay and study with him a bit because he is very deep in Jewish studies. He is also very Orthodox and maybe we do not agree on many things but I can learn a lot from him. I want to study more Isaiah because it is my preferred book.

LG

2010-04-01T09:44:00.001-07:00

CONVERSION ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

My early years as a child involved no religious training, only moral and ethical values (which ARE actually ‘religious’). Then in my early teen years a friend introduced me to the Christian religion. Over the next 20+ years I embraced the theology of this faith without question. Then my life went through extreme crisis of divorce and child drug involvement and all the ‘perfect and goodness’ of family life fell apart. I was shocked to find all but one friend began to shun me and speak to me as though some dreadful ‘sin’ on my part had led to my ‘Godly punishment’. There was no encouragement and absolutely no room for ‘such actions’ in a good Christian home. Somehow I must have failed. This left me feeling empty and I fell away from all religion for several years.

Then as my life situation continued to spiral downward, I had no where to turn, I began to search scriptures diligently. All during my years in the church I had never really ventured into what they termed the Old Testament. Now I found myself drawn to these writings in a new way. Every year I would find another translation to read and go through a year’s cycle of rereading this ‘old’ scripture. The more I read the more I came to see the error of much I had previously been taught. My first eye-opener was the second commandment, ‘have no other gods before Me’. It was a ‘wow’ moment…for I had been taught that Jesus ‘was’ God…and how could that be? It would contradict what God Himself had commanded! Then the fourth commandment became a very strong issue. Why did we now make the 1st day more holy than the 7th day as God commanded?

So I approached a former pastor and asked about these obvious contradictions to God’s Word. I was told this is the way people like it. And it really didn’t matter, it was more a matter of heart anyway. For me, this admission that he ‘knew truth’ and felt it ‘unimportant’ to teach it, left me shaking my head at the lies that I and so many others had spoken unintentionally—while some knew truth and withheld it from us.

Some time later I met a couple of people who encouraged me to come to their small gathering and study Torah. They introduced me to the Chumash and sage commentaries and the Sabbath and feast days. I began to uncover ‘jewels’ of Torah I had never known before. I became so thrilled with the Word and finally God seemed ‘near’ to me. So over the next 9 years I met with this small community and kept Shabbat and feast days and studied Torah.

Then in 2004 I made my first trip to Israel on a ‘work trip’ to help in renovating a house in Tiberias. I could not breathe in enough of the air. In 2007 as I was considering where God would have me build my succah for Sukkot, I suddenly knew I was to go to Israel. I wasn’t sure why, but I rented an apartment in Jerusalem and spent the days from Yom Kippur to after Sukkot in the city. I build a succah on my balcony. I stayed overnight in the Negev. I sat quietly at the Western Wall. And I knew that this was where God’s Presence resided. I met and made a few friends in Israel. Then in May of 2008 again I just had to return. And I spent time in Afula and Yavniel and Tiberias Illit and Jerusalem. I rode the bus from Afula to Jerusalem and sat side by side with the IDF soldiers. I felt ‘at home’ and I was saddened at the day I had to leave. Here I finally was at peace in myself.

Also, during this time I had been trying to research my own lineage. Who was I? Where did my people come from? I found part of my search led me to Strausbourg Germany (1600-1700CE, Auman-Orman’s/Steed/ Naegel’s) and Champagne FR in the 1500’s (Michaux/Rochett), when family fled by night to Holland before immigrating to America (where we evidently intermarried with English and Native American heritage (Haughton/Godwin/Spencer/Comegys/Coats/Fenford/Green/Smith/Kinge/

Ratcliffe’s/Pilgreen/Weatherby’s/Avery). I still could not prove I was Jewish by blood. But my heart now knew it didn’t matter. I CHOOSE to be a Jew. I believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I desire to obey the commands given to all Israel at Mt Sinai. I look for the hope of the coming Messiah when the Temple will be rebuilt and all Jews will be regathered to the Promised Land of Israel. I am like Ruth, ‘your people shall be my people, where you go, I will go’. I finally have peace in what I believe. My journey for truth has led me to Israel and Judaism. My joy is Torah, my eyes are toward Jerusalem, my heart is JEWISH. I have found fellowship in my local synagogue and am bonding with them there in community. I find my rabbi (Rabbi Dror) to be a leader that seeks to know me and challenges me to learn more and also welcomes me, as do all the people at Temple. Though I travel a great deal and am away from home for weeks at a time, this conversion class has taught me so much and enabled me to come to a place where I feel ‘at one’ with the people as well as Adonai. And I look forward to the time’s when I am home and can join with Temple Rodef Shalom synagogue to be involved in their community events/outreach.

2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

Shabbat is my favorite value, ‘honoring the day Elohim set aside for us’. And it is no easy value to incorporate into your life. For all the world (except Israel) seems determined to make it as busy or busier than all the other days of the week. Even when you set out to ‘keep Shabbat’ it takes a long time before those about you come to ‘accept’ your decision, even when they don’t understand it. Now it is my time to totally REST and enjoy the day, No tackling of business, worries, chores. Stepping back from the chaos of the world. I look forward to every Friday evening. And it is my time to invite Adonai to be my guest.

Additionally, I love the belief that all Jews can study and that their understanding of Torah is not made to fit only in some ‘theology’ of man, but is one that is evolving and meant to be continually sought for new and deeper understanding. That at whatever level of spirituality you find yourself, you are accepted/welcomed by your fellow Jews, as part of their community. There is no judgmental attitude, only encouragement to continue in your walk with God. For we are forever learning all through life.

There are so many aspects of Judaism that appeal to me. It is not a life of ‘ritual restriction’ but I’ve found it to be one that has freed me through all the traditions and rituals to finally have a faith in God that is alive and affects my entire life—not just one hour once a week encounter.

3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview?

My life has journeyed through many situations where I would seek comfort in my faith. My only comfort came from the words of the TORAH. The words and actions of Christianity did not address nor help me in walking through those moments. Rather, I felt often met with a harsh judging and separation. Always every situation was the result of some ‘sin’. I found this troubling and in error. For sometimes bad things happen to good people.

In Judaism, I’ve found my peace with this. Our faith is not and should not be founded on good/bad actions, but on the very essence of the One True God. Life is not without its chaos and unfairness. Sometimes we do ‘miss the mark’ and need to teshuvah. But sometimes we must walk through valleys not of our making and still be strong. It encourages me to know that God is always there and always ready to accept me whenever I ‘turn’ to Him and obey His commands to the fullest of my understanding. I have found a place now where God is revered and His Word respected, not casually cast about as man sees fit at the moment. No longer is His Word twisted to fit the agenda of a people, but it is thoughtfully studied and all aspects considered as a whole. And most importantly Judaism affects every day and moment of my life, not just a one hour-one day a week ‘religious’ moment. The very traditions and rituals of daily prayer, study, community interaction, deliberate actions of good to others, and Shabbat—these have brought my understanding of God into my life, my home, in a more intimate way. I have truly found ‘new life’ within the world of Judaism.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

Previously I was taught to ‘speak’ some special prayer and believe in a ‘man/god diety’ for salvation and forever I would be ‘saved’ and secure. That no more would I ever experience the sinfulness of this world. That proved to be wrong! I never had peace, I continually questioned my salvation, and I certainly was not spared the evils of this world.

But I KNEW that there was a God. A Supreme Being that created all the wondrous things in our world, in humanity, in all their unique and intricacy.

I knew that there was ONE who knew exactly how all things fit together and how even our very bodies worked, because that Being had formed it. I also knew that I could not truly fathom or understand the vastness of such a God. For God is too big for my full understanding. But in TORAH I found truth. And a firm and secure peace when I read that I Adonai am your salvation, none other, And this Adonai is the Being that the patriarchs knew and obeyed. The very ONE that covenanted with His People Israel.

I’ve studied Torah and commentaries. I’ve read the mysteries of the mystics. And for the first time, I found that there was a Truth within these very teachings of the sages and Torah, that no longer contradicted the obvious or logical. They confirmed God, while acknowledging their quest to continually understand and obey the commands of God. I have found such a peace in myself, knowing that God desires to ‘hear’ my voice each day, and that His eye is on me. That I do not have to go through any ‘person’ to find intimacy with Him. YET, I now have a new respect in approaching God in a manner of purity and humility. Ritual and tradition gives me a way to approach Adonai, my Abba, in a way that pleases Him.

I was never comfortable trying to ‘bring about’ some emotional moment such other religions espouse. Now, He knows my mind, I try to know His. He moves within my heart and I can awaken to hear His Voice at moments He decides to come near to me. I find it difficult to explain, but I know Adonai Echad and I know He is the God of Israel.

5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do you see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

I now spend my hours (since I’m retired) in study of Torah and the commentaries of great Jewish minds. (love to read and study) And whereas, religious study use to be a ‘have to’, now it is my joy. Shabbat has become a weekly ritual for me, whether in my home, or the home of friends. My life has been altered within the family relationships. My husband does not embrace Judaism and has said he wants no part of my faith, and I should move on. So perhaps the future holds other changes for me. But I am okay with that, if life leads in that direction. God is important to me. And I desire to obey Him and to finally build a home where one can enter and know that you are in a place that honors God. I have placed a mezzuzah on all the doors of my home. My children now grown, are accepting though not totally understanding of it all. But as I accept them where they are, they accept me, and even join in Shabbat with me at times. Some of my grandchildren find my faith intriguing and often ask me questions. So perhaps I can still have a positive affect on the lives of my children, grandchildren. I use to grieve because I taught my sons a way of life that I now cannot embrace, and wished I had known then the truth of Judaism. But one cannot go back, only forward. So I trust Adonai to guide them as He has me, to a place of peace in Adonai.

Shabbat is now a part of me. So I am currently trying to learn all the daily prayers and make them also a ritual of my life. I am learning Hebrew, and though very slow, I look forward to the day when I can join the others in my synagogue and recite the prayers in Hebrew (instead of just a few phrases). I have been building my Jewish library over the years, but now I have more of a focus. I know look for writings of those that will advance my understanding in Torah and Jewish life. And I’m looking forward to being active in the Sisterhood of my synagogue and broadening my scope of outreach to the community.

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

It is amazing how I use to feel like the ‘foreigner’ and outside the world of Jewry. Today, I know I too am a Jew. When I go to Israel (as often as possible), I get an apartment and walk to the store and shop for food to prepare, and enter the Old City and talk with friends I’ve met there. I sometimes shop and converse in some Hebrew and get to know the people. I find joy in introducing myself to my neighbors and sharing our life stories.

Someday I hope to live in Israel. I love the quietness of a Negev morning. I must say the town of Tiberias overlooking the sea is intriguing (since I love to have a waterview), yet I am energized in the city of Jerusalem.

As for world Jewry, I feel I am now part of that encompassing phrase. I am a Jew no matter where I am.

Finally, in my own local community and synagogue, I am finding a new place to settle. A synagogue, with a people that are welcoming and exciting. We gather for lifecyle studies and get to interact on personal levels that help us forge relationships. I always enjoy the oneg after Shabbat, where we sit and fellowship of lunch and get acquainted with each other. I’ve met many of the Sisterhood and as soon as my conversion is complete, I plan to apply to join the synagogue and begin an active participation. Though retired, I know I have skills and talents that can be useful and become a help to the community.

7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

I have always prayed daily. Now I’m in process of learning the morning prayers, and evening prayers. Trying to learn the Hebrew, so the ritual will become as ingrained in my life as Shabbat. I now have learned some of the Shema and the arising prayer in Hebrew, which I say each morning. Now I’m trying to make the Shacharit a ‘ritual’ for me.

I keep Shabbat and light the Sabbath candles each Friday night and break bread and bless the wine. When I have friends over, it is quite an enhancement to the beginning of my day of rest. Sometimes, I celebrate the Shabbat at synagogue services, when I have no guests coming for dinner.

I desire to have a quiet home, with no tv, on Shabbat. Currently my husband does not follow that request, So in the future I hope to have a home that completely ‘rests’ in Shabbat. But whether I meet all that is required at this time, I have Shabbat in ‘me’ as best as I can. And I relish in the few moments of Friday night (which my husband does respect). I find a quiet place to get away on Shabbat and read and rest after attending Shabbat service at the synagogue and a lunch fellowship afterward. Sometimes the late afternoon is spent with close friends who also honor Shabbat.

I keep kosher in that I eat ‘kosher’ foods. I have not incorporated the full kashrut as followed by the Orthodox. Should I have a place in the future where that would be possible, I would like to set up a Kashrut kitchen. It is obviously much easier to follow kosher rules in Israel. But I find that for me, I agree with the need to eat only Kosher meat (though I eat very little meat myself), I also agree with the need to separate meat and dairy and hope to have such a kitchen separation in the future.

8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?
I have a new Hebrew Primer to begin as soon as I complete the conversion course, to assist me in learning to speak and read fluently. I also am slowly working through a course in ‘modern conversational Hebrew’ which is useful when in Israel. I attended some of the lifecycle courses at my synagogue this past year (while I was in town). I believe a new course is scheduled for the fall and I plan to attend weekly. And of course continual personal reading

A.B. From Soviet imposed atheism

2010-03-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

Initially, my attraction to Judaism may have been rooted in a family narrative about my maternal grandmother being Jewish. Unfortunately, after the Nazi occupation and under Stalinism, anti-Semitism produced pressure for Jews to assimilate and take great steps to erase their Jewish ties. No documents survived and I have no verifiable documentation of her Jewishness. Still, I went on to study more about Judaism and to attend the only Jewish synagogue in Odessa. Eventually I was introduced to my future Israeli husband by some Jewish friends. After the chupah, my imperative to convert became more pressing, so that I could participate in my husband’s Jewish life, and to continue our legacy into the next generation.

More than just a religion, Judaism is grounded in a hereditary covenant that is passed and renewed from generation to generation. Let the chain not end with us. Please allow me to join with Israel so that our children may inherit their birthright and responsibility. They have already been raised into Judaism and know no other way.

2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

Education. The value I esteem most is the Jewish emphasis on study and self improvement. It seems to embody all that the Jewish people have become. It is so appealing to me because of my own journey to self identity. Also, the Jewish emphasis on family. Also, truth and justice.

3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview / lifestyle?

It is certainly more appropriate than the Soviet atheism that was imposed upon us in my earliest years. For three generations we knew no religion at all. I was raised in a religious vacuum. As I grew up, I began to feel a spiritual hunger to know more about God, and I became increasingly attracted to my grandmother’s vanished Judaism. Now, whether my own ancestry is verifiable or not, as the wife of a verifiably practicing Jewish man, and the mother of his children, becoming Jewish is not only appropriate, but imperative.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

I understand, and believe in, the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as one G-d, creator of all, but in unique covenant with Israel (Jews) through giving of Torah. God has other covenants with other people, but for Jews, (I include myself if accepted), our unique covenant is in Torah. Torah, along with our traditions, is the basis of our relationship to God. It is our Kettubah. I would be honored to be included in this covenant relationship. I (with my family) walk Torah to the best of our ability and understanding, striving to be in harmony with the traditions and Halacha of our people.

5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do you see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

As I said, I was raised in Soviet atheism. My life now is a big change from that in almost every way you can imagine. However, by the age of 17, I was already engaged in the study and practice of Judaism. Then after marrying my husband, who is a traditional (but not orthodox) Jew, my home life has been centered on Judaism for over 8 years. But we are always progressing.

Our focus for now and the near future is on participating in our Havurah community and on educating our children. We are teaching them Hebrew and make sure our Havurah has children’s activities at all our functions. Our boys are both fluent in the home b’rachot for Shabbat, and we are teaching them the sidur for Shabbat services. We are always learning more so that we can teach our sons. As we are in a small community with only visiting Rabbis, so we must teach them ourselves. But we very much enjoy learning so that we can share more with our community. Eventually we will have a permanent synagogue with a Rabbi.

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

As my own identification with Jews and Judaism precedes my marriage to my husband, I am very comfortable with being part of our community. I never feel ‘outside’ or apart. It is very difficult for me to think of the Jewish community as ‘them’ or anything other than ‘us’. As we are quite honestly, one of the more knowledgeable and committed Jewish families in our local Havurah, there is no sense of not belonging.

My identification with Israel is also very strong. When we were first married, we lived in Israel, and my husband and both children have Israeli citizenship already.

7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

Our community only has monthly Shabbat services, but we observe Shabbat every week in our home. We often have members of our Havurah as guests. We observe the Erev Shabbat service, and read the Torah portion in the morning. We do no work on Shabbat, but must drive when our community has services. We light no fire after the Shabbat candles, but do use electricity. We keep kosher, but we are not glat kosher. We are traditional, but not Orthodox. We observe, but are not perfect.

8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

I love to read about Jewish history, especially historical novels. Also I read a lot of Jewish and Yiddish fiction (translated of course), especially when it’s about the old country (Shalom Aleichem, Isaac Babel, etc.). I am also learning some Yiddish. I am surprised how much I recognize from my Bubeleh. I am learning about Kosher cooking. Much East European Jewish cooking is very similar to what I was raised with in Ukraine. Borscht, Blinchki, and Bagles, and not past the ‘B’s.

Our Havurah is good about ongoing education. We just finished a session on ‘Death and Dying in Judaism’ (our Havurah has a Jewish Cemetery.) More Jewish education is in the works. I’d like to learn more about Talmud and Halacha. Learning never ends for the People of the Book.

BR Chicago

2010-02-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

Essay
Judaism was not an unfamiliar religion to me. I had taken an intro to religion class while attending the College of Dupage and was introduced to several new religions, but Judaism really caught my eye. An aspect that drew me to Judaism was that there is only one God and is no one else before him. I was always intrigued by Judaism and it wasn’t until I met my fiancé Jerry who is Jewish that I wanted to explore Judaism more in depth. What I‘ve learned is that being Jewish is not just believing in one God and the mitzvot, but also is about being a part of a community. The community does not just extend to the synagogue that I belong to, but the community is all around the world.
Being Jewish also means looking for ways to perfect the world, showing kindness, giving tzedakah, and having a love of learning. These are values that I believe in whole heartily. By trying to make the world a better place and living in the now we have an opportunity to make the world a better place now and for future generations. Giving tzedakah, has become an important part of my life. Not only giving to the synagogue but to worthy causes. After the earthquake in Haiti both myself and my fiancé donated through our synagogue which was donated to JNF to help in the recovery. Helping others has always been a part of my life and do so unselfishly and with all I can. Whether it be helping my brothers or sisters or my friends, or a worthy cause. I also believe in learning and try to learn something new everyday. Judaism is life long learning and I will continue to educate myself throughout my life.
When my grandparents were alive my mother and our family were practicing Catholics but after they passed away we ventured off to study Jehovah’s Witness. I believe this is why I am feeling as though a big piece of me has been missing, not only because of my religion growing up but because neither one was the right place for me. Judaism is much more appropriate for me because I’ve always believed there is only one God and one God only. I believe in the ten commandments and I also believe the messiah has not yet arrived yet. As a Latina I was baptized and raised as a Catholic and was taught Jesus Christ was the son of God and was worshipped as a human form of God. I never quite understood how a person could be a God because I believed God to be a higher being. I know that in the Torah it says that God is not a man, and I believe in this. I believe God to be a higher being and there is no one before him. I also believe that the messiah hasn’t come yet. In Judaism the messiah will come when the world is perfect and there is no sin and hatred and there is peace on earth. As mentioned this is one of the values that I find most appealing is perfecting the world so that one day we can all live in peace and harmony and so the messiah can come. Why would and how could the messiah come when the world isn’t perfect, when there are crimes committed against each other and acts of hate against one another in more than one way.
My relationship to God is very important and special to me. My understanding of God is that there is only one Lord our God and that you don’t put anyone before God. I believe that God wouldn’t take any type of human form nor would he be seen to anyone. I have been searching for a relationship to God my whole life and feel as though I have found it. I feel as though my connection has grown stronger with my studies of Judaism. I was concerned that because of my conversion I would not rekindle my relationship with my grandparents but I’ve learned that that is not the case. Being a Jew means to live in the now and try to make the world a better place! My grandparents would want me to be happy and they would be proud of me in trying to make the world better. Just like in Judaism my grandparents were very big on family and I feel as though my connection to God has grown because my fiancé and I practice Shabbat on Friday nights.
My personal and home life has changed tremendously. I finally feel as though I’m living the life I’ve been searching for. I have traditions now that have taken place by Jews since the beginning. I am very excited to pass these traditions on to my children when we have them. I feel as though having traditions will give my children and myself a sense of stability which was something I lacked growing up. Being a Jew is something to be proud of and I believe there is no need to search elsewhere for answers. We celebrate Shabbat on Friday nights, I have attended Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, while keeping the fast on Yom Kippur. We have had a traditional Seder dinner at our house and have attended Seder dinners at our friends houses. I also feel a more close relationship to God now than ever before in my life. I feel as though a part of me that has been missing has been found. I have never been this excited before and am constantly looking for different objects to make our home more Jewish. I have added more Jewish books to our library.
I identify myself as Jew when I speak to people. I get the occasional are you serious you are converting and I keep my head up and say, “Yes I am, and it was the best decision I ever made.” I identify with Israel because it is the Homeland. I believe that Israel is an important part of Judaism because it is a place we can call Home. I am looking forward to the day we can visit. I feel it is very important I learn the history of Israel and have decided to start saving up for our future children Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s that we hope to have in Israel. My fiancé unfortunately has never been to the homeland which is why we decided to do this for our children if we can. I think this will only make our family stronger and even more proud to be Jewish. As I mentioned before I find myself researching other parts of the world and Jewish synagogues. It is very important to me to see where other Jewish communities are located and have been located around the world both in the past and the present. I believe it is important to understand where our communities have been and are currently are to help understand more about ourselves. In doing research I found that there is a strong Jewish population in Mexico City, which I was never aware of. One day I would like to visit there and the Temple which dates back hundreds of years. In the mean time Jerry and I have been active in our synagogue but again there is always room for improvement in anything we do. We do plan to volunteer more in our synagogue and become more active in events to not only become more involved but to meet more people in our local community. I identify with the synagogue and understand the importance of it in modern Jewish Life. It allows us to congregate in a public setting, in a sense of prayer and community and study. Bringing everything together all in one. I feel as though it is vital to keep our synagogue strong not only for current members but for future members. I am very proud to be a part of our synagogue and looking forward to contributing more.
My commitment to prayer is very important to me but again with anything in life there is always room for improvement. I try to pray as much as I can and feel that by praying my relationship to God has become stronger. In Judaism we pray directly to God with no one in between. This is one of the aspects that drew me to Judaism as well and I feel closer to God because of this. I would like to also learn all of the holiday prayers to the point where they just roll off my tongue. As a new Jew I know this will come with time and I know I have to practice which I’m proud to do. Keeping kosher has been a little tougher but again I’m still learning to cope without pork. Growing up Latin, pork is in several recipes that have been past down from generation to generation. We in our house do not mix meat and dairy, and we do not eat pork especially. Also I know certain types of fish aren’t kosher, but that won’t be an issue for me since fish is one thing I have never enjoyed. Our up and coming wedding has allowed us to register and look for new cookware and silverware that will allow us to keep Kosher that way. Friday nights will consist of separate dishes which will have an impact on us and our future family.
My plan to continue Jewish studies will be lifelong. I am fortunate because our temple has Torah study every Saturday morning. I plan on reading more books about Judaism, attend classes at our temple and as mentioned above continue to attend Torah Study on Saturday morning. I would also like to take a Hebrew class so I can have a more knowledgeable base of the language. Being Jewish is life long learning and I plan to continue to learn every day. I feel that is important so that when we have children not only can I help them with their studies but can expand their own knowledge while still learning myself. I am very proud to be here today and feel as though I have found myself.

KUDOS

2009-11-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

The course overseen by Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is living waters to your mind and heart.

The course along with the Video’s; touches on all aspects of the Jewish faith. My family and I not only

took the course but also became “long distance members!” of Ezra-Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation.

What a joy knowing we are members and support such a wonderful loving congregation. The Cantor Benjamin Warschawski

brings such a spiritual and inspirational blessing to the services.

His CD provides such an inspiration as his voice fills your home or car. My family and I would encourage everyone to pick

up a copy of this inspirational CD as a gift.

Shalom and practicing the Three L’s (find out what a life changer they are).

Clarence, Jane, Samantha and Stephanie; the Jackson Family

ONLINE conversion course plus Sunday am conversion course for Chicago area

2009-11-14T13:12:00.000-08:00

www.converttojudaism.net

CB

2009-09-08T21:00:00.001-07:00

ESSAY FOR CONVERSION CANDIDACY

*1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

I have been drawn to Judaism by so many facets; it is hard to define them all. There is a core in me that has identified as Jewish for so many years, and I have practiced Judaism for so many years now that that it is one of the ways I identify myself, as well as part of who I feel I am (one of the reason I’m also so excited about the conversion process!). I love the part of belonging to Hashem and being committed to Hashem and having a direct connection to Hashem at all times, with no intermediary. I feel a draw to being a part of something, so far greater than myself and my time, yet so present at all times too, being a part of the Jewish people. I am drawn to the guidance and structure that Judaism offers, and the free will that we have to choose to honor and follow a covenant with Hashem. Raising my children with Jewish values and a sense of Jewish identity also strikes a chord deep within me. Belonging is another big piece of the puzzle, as my father and only sibling both observe and practice Orthodox Judaism, and my father’s entire side of the family is deeply rooted in their Jewish heritage and traditions; I am drawn to being a part of this family experience. Keeping and guarding Shabbat is also a facet of observance of Judaism that I love, the family and togetherness that Shabbat fosters, while keeping the role and blessings of Hashem in the forefront, has drawn me to Judaism. As time goes by, I continue to find facets of the faith and observance that draw me deeper into my beliefs and convictions that I am a Jew at heart, as my children may be also. Conversion will solidify these feelings and, I believe, allow me and the girls to continue our lives as observant and practicing Jews.

*2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

I have found that there are many core Jewish values which I find very appealing and persuasive, that reach me in the core. Most of which include the values and beliefs for how we treat others and how we relate to Hashem. For instance, I find very appealing the idea that all persons are inherently equal in our creation and that we are all inherently valuable. We all have divine aspects and that creates a form of human dignity is very important; as a practicing licensed clinical social worker and as a young woman rearing children, these are very important core values and basic Jewish ideas that I hold and I really find very appealing. The basic idea of free will, and the ability to exercise my will and choose to recognize and honor the Jewish covenant with Hashem, is also very appealing to me. For instance, realizing that I educate my children to have loving kindness towards others, I realize that they are developing and exercising their free will. Developmentally my girls will test boundaries and learn to define their own limits, but that I may educate them and help them to choose to live a righteous life, of showing loving kindness and respect to others (other Jewish values for how to treat others that I hold dear). Especially in our Christian dominated society, it is very important for me that my children understand that Hashem is God, who loves them and protects them but also commands them to follow the commandments as set forth for Jews and to live lives of decency and to treat others well. Along these lines, it is so critical for me that my children learn how dearly held is the one God that we believe in: Hashem is One. We pray directly to Hashem, Hashem is and will always be. This basic tenant of Jewish belief and core value of Judaism is so firmly held and offers me such a sense of relief and security in my live, that I hope too that I may pass on this core Jewish value to my children.

*3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?

I have identified myself as Jewish for over 10 years now. When I began to be aware of my own sense of spirituality and religious observance, since my late teens and early 20’s, I have checked the box as “Jewish” in any demographic poll. I have identified myself as Jewish, as recognized by Reform standards and patrilineal descent, since age 16 or 17 when I started college. At that time, I think that there was very little thought put into my religious affiliation, as I just needed a box to check. However, as I have done more exploration into my own beliefs and have deepened my understanding of my father’s heritage and the rituals and observance of my father’s side of the family, I have become more and more drawn to the Jewish faith.

I feel pulled to Judaism as if it is where I belong in the world; it’s hard to even put it into words. For instance, when my father took me to Israel when I finished college, I felt “at home.” People say that about Israel, but I never really understood it until I experienced it: like sleeping in your own bed after you’ve been on vacation in hotels for a month. After this trip, I really began to explore what I wanted from my self-proclaimed Jewish affiliation. I began attending, with more regularity, all of the extended family events over the Jewish holidays. I began reading the Torah. I began lighting candles on Friday nights and I began reading about Judaism. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn.

During this time of my own self exploration, my sister converted to Orthodox Judaism and married the son of an Orthodox Rabbi and had her first child. Watching her faith in her marriage and in her identity caused me to want to explore my own beliefs even further. I was drawn to the way in which my sister had a faith which not only guided her spiritual beliefs, but the routines of her life to include keeping Shabbat and raising her children in a Jewish home and giving them more of an experience and education that she and I were afforded. I loved the tradition, the belonging, the sense of purpose. So much so that when I married, my husband and I did agree to marry in a Jewish/interfaith ceremony (as he is of the Episcopal faith by upbringing) and to raise our children as Jewish children in a Jewish home.

As our own level of observance has grown and changed, it has become more and more important to me to instill upon our children the beliefs I hold and the belief in one God and in the ritual observances of Shabbat and the holidays that my children may gain a sense of their own culture and family traditions. The festivals, the synagogue affiliation, the Jewish education, all are areas of the Jewish faith that I now hold dear and hope to pass on to my girls.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

Hashem is one. There is no other. Hashem has always been and will always be. I feel such security in these assertions, and also such responsibility, to hold this dear and to actively work to teach my children how blessed we are to know Hashem, to love Hashem and to obey Hashem. I find the belief in Jewish people, as the chosen people to honor and obey Hashem’s commandments as very vital. Still, I recognize that those who are not Jews need not follow the same commandments, as certain commandments are both the gifts and the burdens to the Jews. This is a gift from Hashem, to live as persons chosen to live a life of example and to both fear and love Hashem. I know that I can talk to Hashem, with no intermediary. When I seek guidance and direction, I have tradition, literature and rabbis that I may turn to and seek guidance, but Hashem remains accessible to me, to each of us.

*5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

When I began college I found that I became more involved with Jewish life, as I became involved with Hillel on campus and with my father’s extended family to participate in Jewish rituals and traditions, mainly the High Holidays and the festival holidays. However, as time went on, I began to become more interested in Jewish traditions such as keeping Shabbat and reading Torah. Over the past four years, since I have married and began creating a family with my spouse, our observance as a couple and as a family has increased, tenfold, as my husband and I are committed to raising our girls in a Jewish home, observing Jewish tradition and culture. Not only has this increased my own personal level of observance but it has helped me gain a sense of identity and unity as a group of people. In brining Jewish tradition into our homes on a daily basis, I have felt that our home has been rich and warm with peace and love. As trite as this sounds, here are two examples. For instance, keeping Shabbat, not only do we light candles, and say blessings over challah, but we create the opportunity for each of us to connect with Hashem. I really love how this time allows my eldest (almost three) to identify what she is thankful for and how Hashem has enriched her life as well. Another example is how my children both know to “blow kisses” to the mezuzah on their bedroom door (it’s at the lowest point of the third top of the door, but they still can’t reach it). It tickles me to no avail how my girls find such joy and pleasure in these daily activities of Jewish living. As for how our Jewish life will progress, I expect it to continue to grow, exponentially, as our children get older. For instance, we are currently attending Sunday school with our eldest, and after my conversion ceremony, I would like to sit on the planning committee of the synagogue religious school and work with the toddler classes to find more ways to bring Jewish tradition to the toddler level (the program is only two years old at our small synagogue and I’d really love to help and see it grow for our children and for others years down the road). I’m also currently a member of our synagogue’s fellowship, where we plan social activities for the shul, and we are always seeking ways for our congregation to bring Jewish traditions into weekly activities.

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

Identifying as a Jew, I feel that Israel is a homeland, for myself and my children. One of the reasons a conservative conversion was so important to me was so that my children and myself (and spouse included) would have Right of Return and recognition as Jews in Israel and around the world. While neither myself nor my children will be recognized by my sister and her extended family as Jews (as they are of the Orthodox persuasion), Conservative Judaism is recognized worldwide. Not only are my children and I welcome as Jews in our small synagogue in Leesburg FL, but we are also joining a group of Jews who both locally and nationally affiliate with Conservative Judaism. Conservative Judaism is also recognized and growing; there are Conservative Jews in Israel and in Diaspora worldwide. We are becoming a part of!

*7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

Regarding prayer, I have committed to attending services with my children and spouse, so that my children and I may continue to develop familiarity with prayer and using Hebrew prayers and understanding their translation. Right now, we pray to thank Hashem for our food, we thank Hashem each night before sleep (my eldest can say the entire prayer in Hebrew . . . I’m so proud) and we pray for Shabbat and as we light the candles we ask the girls what they would like to say to Hashem and what they would like to thank Hashem for. We also pray each Friday over the challah bread I bake. That leads to my commitment to keep Shabbat. Right now, at our current level of observance, we celebrate Shabbat each Friday night by kindling the lights together and saying prayers over the Shabbat candles. We then have a homemade meal with a real table cloth (as opposed to the vinyl we often use for easy clean up with the kids) and say blessings over the challah bread I bake on Fridays; the girls come home and they know its Shabbat just by the smell of the home, I love that I can do this for them. As for keeping kosher, we do not. My husband is not of the Jewish faith, and while he is committed to having a Jewish home and raise our children in the Jewish faith, he hold firm to cheeseburgers and pepperoni pizza. For the most part, he is very accepting about us not cooking pork products in the home and not offering them to our girls as food of choice, but for all my husband is doing, I do not push that matter at this time. Additionally, as my girls attend a private, non Jewish, daycare (as there are no Jewish day schools within an hour drive of our home), it is not feasible at this time to keep a kosher home. Who knows though, what the future will bring . . . as my father’s home and my sister’s homes are kosher, and the girls do know what that means, time will tell how this will develop and change in our own home and for our level of observance.

*8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

The more I am learning, the more I learn that I still need to explore and study. As my eldest is now in Sunday School, I plan to study with her as her class meets each Sunday. I also plan to continue my readings of the Parsha of the week and the Jewish books that I find address issues of concern or questions for me, for instance I’m really going to be looking to explore what I may find on views of death and life after death and what happens at time of death according to various Jewish thoughts. I also plan to continue the study as our synagogue offers during adult education classes and as our Rabbi teaches new topics each week as they relate to the Parsha of the week. There is also a free online course that is currently being offered by the OU that my sister has told me about that I’d like to explore. So, there are many ways that I plan to continue to study; I hope it may continue to be a lifelong journey!

from Vegas

2009-09-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.
> >
> > Monotheism is the main factor that led me to Judaism. This is something I’ve believed for as long as I can remember, but couldn’t get past Christianity’s assertion that God was the whole of several parts or that there are 3 separate forms of God.
> > I regarded Christianity as well-meaning, but naïve and politely removed myself from its influence.
> > I sat in a kind of limbo, feeling a spiritual hunger, more or less reconciling myself to spiritual frustration.
> > It took a reading of the book Exodus to start me on the road to discovering Judaism. The thinking, the logic, the beauty, the heroism, the values, are all factors which drew me to this splendid way of life. The more I read, the more fascinated I became and the greater the sense of “this is right and good” became.
> > Since my initial discovery of Judaism, all that I have read and learned have increased my resolve to become a Jew and have served to foment a love for it.
> >
> > 2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?
> >
> > The ethical morality Judaism champions provides an effective base for study of more specific value-driven behaviors. This is the single most significant value for me.
> > The values that the various mitzvot represent are important to me. The value of reverence for all life, something I have always felt, speaks a great deal to me.
> > The value of life-long learning appeals to me.
> > The value of tzedakah is meaningful and important to me, and appeals to my naturally generous nature.
> > To chose only a few of those values I feel strongly about certainly does not diminish all the other values of Judaism. Those I have listed are those I have an especial feeling for.
> >
> > 3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?
> >
> > Judaism has realistic grasp of life and what it means to be alive on the Earth and how mankind must conduct itself during the time allotted it here.
> > Judaism is concerned more with our present lives and happiness than whatever may be awaiting us after death. These make sense to me, are things that I have felt, and that I am completely comfortable aligning myself with.
> > I find it offensive and repulsive to be asked to subscribe to a philosophy that regards “life after death” as man’s primary goal and the basic feeling that man is just treading water during his short time on Earth, or, in addition, one that allows any validity to the “original sin” nonsense.
> > The precepts of Judaism are much, much more appropriate for me. Its philosophy and sense of life are completely compatible with mine as well as the attitude that life is proactive rather than reactive.
> >
> > 4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.
> >
> > My concept and understanding of God is that He is a supreme, vast intelligence; a being without physical form who is the master creator.
> > I like to think that I have a basic relationship with God that will be ever-increasing, and as I grow in my adopted religion, so will my devotion and appreciation of God. As it is right now, I stand wide-eyed and open-mouthed in awe of Him and the amazing reality He has created; at the enormity of the universe and at the tiniest particle of matter. That will never change, but as I become more comfortable, my relationship with God will deepen and become even more meaningful and valuable, not just for me, but hopefully for Him as well.
> >
> > 5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do see your Jewish life progressing in the future?
> >
> > I find myself centering much more on Judaism. I can say confidently that I have fallen in love with it, and that I am excited at the prospect of redefining myself and my life.
> > So far, my personal life hasn’t really changed as far as my relationships with others. As for myself, I am thinking more Jewishly in that I am connecting and applying what I think, what I eat, and how I behave with what I’ve learned.
> > I will be moving soon, and I plan to make my new home a Jewish home, and
> > I am actively shopping for those things that will help me to achieve that end.
> > My children are supportive of my decision, which I appreciate, though I’d proceed even if they felt differently.
> > As I look to the future, my Jewish life will grow more solid as I become more confident and knowledgeable about Judaism. I must confess to having a lot of fun and I am thoroughly enjoying my studies.
> >
> > 6. Describe your sense of identification with the Jewish people in relation to Israel, world Jewry, the local Jewish community and your synagogue.
> >
> > My sense of identification with the Jewish people, be it in relation to Israel, locally or with a synagogue is a work-in-progress.
> > I am actively developing a personal Jewish identity and expect identification with the Jewish people will evolve and proceed from that.
> > I can say that so far, I can identify with Jewry insofar as being in agreement with Jewish philosophical values and religious precepts.
> > I wish to become a part of the struggle of the Jews in Israel and have plans to participate in activities designed to further Israeli efforts.
> > There are organizations locally that I will be a part of in order to do my part for the less fortunate, and I look forward to becoming a member of a local synagogue.
> > In short, I guess you could say that my life will revolve around Judaism, and I’ve begun to make the transition from my previous life to my new-found life.
> > These are all things I can do that will help to concretize my identification with the Jewish people.
> >
> > 7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?
> >
> > Among others, one thing I am studying is Hebrew. To me, prayer is more meaningful if done in Hebrew. I enjoy learning the language and when I become able to really pray in Hebrew, I‘ll have realized one of my goals in my commitment to prayer.
> > My ability to recite prayers in Hebrew right now is limited, but my resolve to improve is not. I have very strong commitments to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher.
> > A goal of mine is to be able to attend Shabbat services weekly. As it is, I’m able to view online services, though there’s nothing like being there.
> > I have been keeping kosher now for many weeks and as I learn more, I am able to fine-tune my observance of Kashrut. Keeping kosher is a challenge, but I’m equal to the task.
> >
> >
> > 8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?
> >
> > Over the last 9 or 10 months that I have been studying Judaism, my enthusiasm for it has grown. My Jewish library has also grown. I am a strong and devoted book lover, and as I progress in my studies of Judaism, the subject matter of most of my books is evolving and my collection of Judaica is growing and will continue to do so.
> > There is much to learn, but there are many resources to use. The internet is a wonderful tool. For some time now I have had many Jewish-learning websites bookmarked for current and future learning. I am receiving several web-based newsletters and emails from several of these sites.
> > Since there is such a vast amount of information, I look forward to many years of study.
> >
> >
>

4 essays

2009-08-07T12:11:00.001-07:00

4 ESSAYs FOR CONVERSION CANDIDACY

Ari daughter

1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

I was aware of the fact that I had Jewish family, but I didn't want to walk into something blindly. I spent two years of my life researching different religions. I did reading, went to services, and asked questions. The more I studied up on Judaism, the more I realized that it almost exactly fits my belief structure. The more I learn as I continue to study, the more I want to continue my education for the rest of my life. Judaism has inspired me to strive to live a better life, to be the best person that I can be. It has brought me closer to my family, and caused me to look at the world and its people in a much different light.

2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

I find the feeling that Jewish people have towards one another, their family, and G*d to be completely appealing. The sense of tradition is truly inspiring. Knowing that you can place all of the love in your heart in G*d's hands, and having faith that he will lead you on the path that He means for you to follow. The path made for me led straight to the Jewish faith, and I could not be more grateful.

3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?

Judaism, as I stated before, is a perfect fit for my life. I relish the feeling of love that I now feel from G*d. I love that I was led to a religion that I believe whole heartedly in. My belief in one G*d, the sense of tradition, the love of one's family and people. It has changed my life in such a positive way.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

G*d is all knowing and awe inspiring. The more that I learn, the more respectful of G*d that I am and will continue to be. I try, every day, to show reverence, and to keep the lines of communication open. I pray often, not just to be blessed, but to also let G*d know that I am constantly aware of His divine presence and wisdom.

5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

I enjoy having Shabbat dinner with my family every Friday. At a point we were all too busy to get together. Now I find that, because of our love of G*d, we make sure to MAKE the time to get together, out of respect for each other and G*d. Friday services are another enjoyable step in the right direction. We are also observing Holidays, and learning the history behind them. I am still in the process of learning, but am certain that the more that I learn, the more fulfilled my life will become.

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

There is a sense of belonging that I can't explain. The feeling of emptiness that used to consume me is now absent. It's amazing. I find myself paying closer attention to current events, and what is currently happening to the state of Israel, and the world's attitude toward the Jewish people. I do believe that Israel is the Promised Land, and that it is sacred. I do fear for Israel's well being and the Jewish people in the state of unrest that is currently prominent, both in the Middle East and in the rest of the world. Fortunately, the Jewish people have each other to lean on during hard times.

7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

Prayer is something that I've learned to appreciate. I make sure that I pray at least twice a day, in the morning and again in the evenings. I also have made a conscious effort to keep kosher. I've found the longer that I've been kosher, the easier it has become and will continue to be. Shabbat dinners have also become very important to me and my family. We have accomplished something together, and have grown very close in the process.

8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

I feel like being fluent in Hebrew is imperative, so I'm going to continue learning the language. I will also continue to study and learn our blessings and prayers. I am excited about learning more about Jewish holidays and traditions. The Jewish faith is one that can't be learned or taught over a short period of time. It's a life long process of learning, practicing, and respect for our people and G*d. I am going to dedicate my life to doing just that.
ESSAY FOR CONVERSION CANDIDACY

Miri

1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

I've always had the feeling that something was missing in my life, around 2 years ago I went to a Shabbat service for the first time, and for the first time in as long as i can remember I felt whole. Everything about Judaism gives me a whole peaceful feeling and brings me closer to my family as i believe the same feeling

2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

The values that all Jewish people have towards G-D and their family. Knowing there is one G-D and placing all of your faith and love in him and knowing whole heartedly that G-D gives you all of the love you give him back ten fold. Judaism also brings me closer to my family, we share a bond now that we never had before.

3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?

Judaism fits into everything I believe to be true. I believe the Torah is the truth. Judaism feels very natural to me it fits into my lifestyle very easily and freely it allows me to express my love for G-D, Israel, and my family very openly and honestly.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

G-D is everything to me he feels my heart and soul with a pure love I had never felt before. G-D expects us to love him and to follow and believe in the Torah, Talmud and the Mitzvahs.

5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

I now go to Shabbat service every Friday, Saturday morning services and I have Shabbat dinner with my family on Fridays. I have started celebrating the Jewish holidays and I'm learning more and more about them. My life has changed only for the better and I know the more I learn and understand about my faith the better it will get.

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

I feel a sense of belonging when I am at the synagogue, I feel closer to G-D, my Jewish faith, and other Jewish people. I feel connected to all Jews across the world. I think all Jews feel connected and share a special bond with one another and with Israel, it is the promise land G-D gave the Jewish people when he lead them out of Egypt and it saddens me to think there people out there that think it should be taken away.

7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

Prayer and G-D are the biggest commitments I have, prayer brings me closer to

G-D, and G-D is everything, G-D inspires and helps me to keep kosher and Shabbat has become the highlight of my week. I feel so close to G-D and everyone during Shabbat service and my family grows closer every shabbat meal we share together

8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

I plan to continue learning Hebrew and our prayers, attending Shabbat service and having Shabbat dinner with my family. I also look forward to learning more about our holidays and celebrating them and my new relationship to G-D.

Hannah

1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

My husband has been going to the Synagogue on and off since 1990. My daughter for the past 2 years, I can see the different way they say and do things. I can see the joy and happiness in both of them. I wanted to learn more about Judaism so I took the introductory course through Rabbi Ginsburg. I can feel the difference now, by studding and learning the prayers. What I didn't understand, my husband explained to me. Even though I have a problem with the Hebrew words meaning, I feel if I keep going over again and again, I will pick it up.

2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

The love I feel for G-D and the love that is returned . The love and joy for my family. The way G-D can forgive us, teaches us we can be no different.

3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?

I find Judaism fits my life style of love and kindness more than anything else.

I can see the different ways it has changed my way of thinking and learning the Torah, and about Jewish Traditions. Judaism has brought joy and peace in our family lives.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

G-D wants us to love him with all our heart and might. We must put G-D first in our lives before all others to be a light for the world to see.

Learning more about Judaism, G-D, and the Mitzvots allows us to prove our love to G-d

and ourselves.

5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

The change in our home because of Tradition is many. I'm learning more about the holidays and observing them. Having Shabbat and Havdalah each week and making Challah bread for the first time. The love for my husband and children grows more and more each every day.

The love and respect for my family and return the love and respect I receive back. I can only foresee more of Jewish living and loving in our home for the future.

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

I plan on becoming a more active member in activates like the Jewish Sisterhood. I intend on becoming more active in Jewish affairs in politics and my local Synagogue. I plan on supporting Israel by buying goods produced there and help those Jews abroad with charitable donations to make Aliyah.

7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

Prayer is done daily to keep G-D love alive in us. I feel at peace and have such joy after praying. Prayer is done daily to keep G-D love alive in us. I feel at peace and have such joy after praying. The Shabbat is the cornerstone in Jewish families; it brings families together for the love of G-D.

At this time we have purchase more dishes, Pots, utensils and we shop for non-kosher food items.

To me eating non-kosher food is a lot different, than the rest of our family. I don't eat meat of any kind, but It does make it a little bit harder to cook for all of us.

8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

By learning the Hebrew language and prayers.

Studding the Torah and trying to keep everything straight in my mind.

Not growing up Jewish or knowing anyone that is Jewish to me makes it hard to understand. Its like starting over at the age of one, and growing up all over again

e Samuel

1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

The factors that drew me to Judaism are many. My Great Grand Parents were Jewish and my father was born a Jew. My Father married a Christian that would not convert and later

divorced my father. My father never got to raise us as my mother got custody. I thank

G-D that I got to tell my father about my first experience in a Jewish Synagogue. When I walked through the doors a feeling came over me as if telling me "This is where you belong". I started going to the Synagogue in the spring of 1990. The love of G-d caused me to make a lot of changes in my life freely. I tried to live Judaism as best I could. My Wife and children were not Jewish nor belong to any Christian faith. When I announced to my wife and family I was going to start going to the Synagogue my wife said okay dear. My whole family is now ready to convert and we have been observing the Sabbath together, holidays and festivals. I feel a deep feeling of Joy now being allowed to convert with my family and fully participate with them the love of G-d , Torah, festivals, deep discussions of the Law and the closeness of a Jewish family. The closeness of G-d, Torah, living Jewish and Loving Jewish are the most important factors. We now Observe Shabbat, havdalah, festivals and holidays as a Jewish family.

2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

The Jewish values are Loving G-d directly and feeling the love of G-d in return. The Jewish values are of closeness of family at Shabbat observant at home. Taking a break from all

the hectic things of the world to calmly thank G-d by performing the Shabbat observances and sharing a meal with family where the spirit of love, G-d and family are present. Learning something new daily about Jewish life or a Mitzvah and sharing it with family members. Judaism is the one way to bring a family closer to G-d and each other.

One of the most important Values I learned is doing things, not because I wanted to but because G-d wanted the Mitzvah carried out. There is Joy in doing Good Deeds but we have to also realize that there will be times when we do not feel like doing a Mitzvah

but we as Jewish people do them for the sake of humanity and because it is Tradition.

3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?

Judaism fits our lifestyle of love of G-d, Israel, family and our neighbors. The world religions are harsh and very materialist. The world religions speak of a reward system of a place you gain access to. They promote a place that no one has been or return to verify untold riches. They also set other G-d's before G-d and that is clearly breaking a Ten commandment. Judaism is One on one with G-d and the ability to live a life of doing for others without being asked. We love G-d enough to embrace the truth in the Tanach. Judaism fits into my lifestyle as the tradition has been the same for thousands of years.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

G-d expects us to love him with all our hearts and being a light unto the World. Living a life different from the world. G-d gives us the Torah, Talmud, and the Tradition as our inspiration to love all humanity and through G-D's love we learn how to weave it into our daily lives. Learning more about Judaism throughout our lifetime as we perform the Mitzvots. G-D understand as converts we start walking in his ways we can not perform all the Mitzvahs on our path but we can tell someone of the Mitzvah or in later years return and perform that Mitzvah ourselves. G-D expects us to try our best to learn and live Jewish daily. Being a Convert I realize that there are many things I must willing learn but by the help of G-d and the Jewish people, I will grow daily in the love of G-D and knowledge.

5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

I have felt better love towards each other in my family. The respect of my children grows with each passing Shabbat. The love between my wife and I grows stronger daily and the respect of G-d in our lives. Judaism really does cause Shalom in the home and life. Through the

Traditions we learn why we do things in their proper time and place. The values of Love, Life, Torah, Israel and family gather new meaning. We as a family have a better awareness of Jewish activities in our community. We see our future as one of learning Hebrew, getting involved in our Jewish community, becoming more aware of World Events that involve Israel and the Jewish people. We intend to continue our synagogue and participate with the congregation.

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

As a convert I realize the commitment to G_d, Torah study, Jewish life, Israel and all Jews. Israel is the land G-D promised to Abraham and delivered Jewish Egyptian Slaves to. Israel being a homeland that G-d gave the Jewish people and its importance to us as Jews is one of rebirth of regeneration of the Jewish people to flourish and be as the sands of the sea as he told Abraham. All Jews even those in Diaspora have an obligation to love, the Torah the origins of our faith and protect our homeland. Israel and its history identify us as Jews, no matter where we are Israel remains a focal point of Judaism. Where G-D lead the Jewish people out of Egyptian slavery and all the Holy places strengthen the Jewish people's solidarity in times of great diversity and the Tradition as they bare witness. We as American Jews also must gather at our synagogues to learn, love and calibrate Jewish rites of passage among the congregations family.

7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

My commitment to prayer is one of Jewish necessity. We must pray daily to keep the love of G-D in us alive. We find repentance and peace when we communicate through prayer. Shabbat is a vital corner stone of all Jewish families. My wife and I have purchased 4 different seats of dishes and cookware and removed non-Kosher items from our diet. We shop smarter now looking for the Kosher seals on the items we do buy. The cost is secondary to the feeling of joy in your being knowing your obeying G-D's laws.

8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

As a convert I plan on continuing learning of the Hebrew language and prayers.

We as a family will continue our involvement in Jewish activities at the Synagogue

and support the congregational activities. I plan learn something new daily.

From LL

2009-07-28T07:17:00.001-07:00

Esynagogue.org

ESSAY FOR CONVERSION CANDIDACY

1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

All my life I had asked myself the questions: Why am I here; what’s my reason for living? Judaism gave me the answers. I grew up in a secular family that never pushed any religion upon me. I had visited churches but never felt at ease or at home in them and it wasn’t until I met my husband that I started to take my faith seriously and wanted to draw closer to my Creator. We tried a couple churches but always had questions that the minister couldn’t answer and we were just told to believe what they said and be quiet. I wanted the truth, the real thing. I wanted to know my Creator spiritually and intellectually and understand the truth of Hashem’s words of instruction and wisdom. After years of study showed us that what we had been taught was full of contradictions and lies, I still felt like I didn’t have my answers. But what also was happening over the years of study was that my husband and I were being drawn in our spirits to start observing Jewish practices like keeping the Sabbath, eating kosher and keeping the High Holidays. I couldn’t understand why I was being drawn more and more towards Judaism. After one of our friends gave us some material which proved to us how Christianity was a lie and pointed us in the direction of Judaism, I was scared, sad and angry for being lied to all my life. But the last emotion was joy; joy for seeing the life, hope and promise in Judiasm. My soul felt like it had been reborn. I began getting answers to all my hard questions. Judaism is not a religion – it is a way of life, Hashem’s wisdom teachings coming to life for me! And I wanted more and began becoming more and more observant. Then I was contacted by distant cousin on my Mother’s side who got me looking into my family heritage on both sides where I found out I was Jewish, but the assimilations happened 3-4 generations back. I couldn’t get any paperwork for proof and my families had been living secular lives and had converted to another religion or left Judaism altogether. So the only step I can do to proudly admit I am Jewish and identify with my people and have proof that I am part of the covenant between Hashem and His chosen nation was to go through a formal conversion process.

Judaism’s strong commitment to community and humility are only a few of the reasons which have drawn me to it. I love the honesty of the Torah and the mitzvoth and I have never felt so right in my spirit or soul until I began to follow Judaism. Judaism has answers for those living thousands of years ago and still is very relevant to today’s society. It didn’t matter to me that some of my family or friends may not understand or turn away. I pray for Jews around the world and love the land of Israel and hold the Torah the most precious item in my home. Judaism changed my life and the Torah’s wisdom guides my life and I could no more walk away from Judaism than I could walk away from the Almighty.

2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

The fact that the Torah is intellectually based – not emotionally based - was one of the most persuasive aspects for me. The way the Jewish people are dedicated to prayer and study and your love of family, community and acts of kindness and charity is very appealing to me. The sanctity of marriage and the loving care of the deceased is awesome. The focusing on how to live a proper and good life and not dwelling on the after life like so many religions do is one of the most appealing values to me also. Judaism is such a simple, loving no-nonsense way of life and yet there is so many layers of wisdom in the Torah that one never reaches the limits of learning and growing.

3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?

I pretty much was involved in Christianity for a few years which focused mainly on the New Testament. Since studying Torah and seeing where Christianity has manipulated and changed the Torah, I have renounced any
Christian beliefs. Christians say the Torah or law is done away with and that their New Testament overrides the Torah, both which are complete lies. Knowing that I am Jewish, I cannot have anything to do with idol worship. One cannot be Jewish and believe that Jesus is the Messiah, god in the flesh or that the Messiah has come. Judaism/Torah is the true communication from Hashem and I want to stand before Him in truth and righteousness. Judaism has brought me closer to Hashem than any other point in my life and my lover for Hashem is a very serious part of my life.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

God is the creator of everything and His spark in is all things. He is the Ein Sof and humans can not fully understand Him but we are given His direction in the words of Torah. God loves His creation and wants to bless us if we will just live by His wisdom morally and justly. My ancestors stood at Mt. Sinai and entered into a covenant with Him.

My relationship to God means I am to study Torah, continue to learn and gain wisdom, follow His commandments and try to be a light unto the nations. By being committed to prayer I can affect Tikkun Olam and help to hasten the coming of Messiah. I am to support my husband, keep a Jewish household, love Hashem with all my heart, mind and strength and be kind to my fellow man.

5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do you see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

My home is filled with Jewish items and we observe all the High Holidays. I listen to Jewish audio teachings every day for 1-3 hours and read Torah or Jewish related articles every day also. I follow many rituals to the best of my abilities. My husband and I have opened our home to Torah study on Sabbath and have held several holiday gatherings in our home also. I have started learning how to read Hebrew and can say several prayers and blessings in Hebrew. I now help an elderly blind widowed lady every week by washing her clothes, running errands for her and spending time talking as friends.

I see my Jewish progression to include becoming even more observant, more kosher, continuing to learn Hebrew until I am proficient in it and planning on some day living in a Jewish community and/or making Aliyah to Israel.

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

I feel a strong affiliation with Israel and the Jewish nation and am proud to be Jewish. We send donations when we can to Jewish causes. Whenever I watch documentaries on the Holocaust I have such a sense of empathy and sadness that I can’t help but cry for all the Jewish souls that were lost. I pray for peace in Israel.

I feel a sense of peace like I am with family whenever I am with Jewish people. I am uncomfortable being around my old friends now and do not like the way the gentiles or the world act. I don’t feel like I can be myself or talk about the most important thing to me (Judaism/Hashem) out in today’s world. I cannot condone the world’s values and they certainly don’t line up with Jewish values.

I feel a kinship with the few Jewish people we have in our area and would love to have a bigger community. It breaks my heart that our synagogue has been sold to the gentiles and is only used on High Holidays. We do all we can to donate our time and personal items to assist the President of our Synagogue. Our hope is that some day soon we will be able to move to a Jewish community where we can learn through example too.

It is very sad that the birth rate of the Jewish nation is falling and that so many Jews in America are assimilating and becoming secular. I read all I can on Israel and the Jewish communities around the world and rejoice when many Jews make Aliyah.

7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

Every morning I pray the Modeh Ani prayer, the Netilat Yadayim hand washing prayer, the blessing when putting on my Talit and the Shacharit prayers. I recite the Shema every morning and evening with my husband. I say the food blessings after each meal. I say the Sabbath candle blessing every Sabbath. I say special prayers for blessings, healings or thanksgiving from my Women’s Siddur as needed. I plan on adding the Minchah prayers and memorizing more prayers in Hebrew.

We light Sabbath candles and have Kiddush on Friday evening and perform Havdalah on Saturday evening. We do no work or commerce on the Sabbath. We study, read or listen to teachings all day and try to make it a delight unto Hashem.

I eat kosher and try to buy and cook kosher but it is a challenge living in an area that does not have any kosher groceries or restaurants. We bought all new pots and pans but don’t have a mikvah to immerse them in. I have several kosher cook books and plan to start using them more if I can find the kosher ingredients at the store.

8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

I will continue to study the Torah every day and on Sabbath, continue reading other Jewish materials, continue and increase my prayer observance, keep listening to audio teachings and devote more time in reading the rest of the Tanach. I would like to get a women’s study group going once a month, possibly on Rosh Chodesh. I am praying diligently for a Rabbi to move to our area!

positive story

2009-07-26T06:50:00.001-07:00

Hello, Rabbi Jonathan.

I once again have to say "todah!" to you for our conversion. It continues to enrich our lives.

My in-laws are selling their home, and had a garage sale today. We assisted them. Our kids decided to help by building and running a lemonade stand, where they sold lemonade, water, pop, and even some brownies. This attracted a great many folks to my in-laws' garage.

Robbie/Rafael wore his kipah the entire time, of course. :)

The best part is that our kids decided from the very start that all of the proceeds from their sales would go to charity. They decided that the charity should help orphans. They even put on their sign "all sales go to charity." This they decided all on their own, but the idea sprang from their tzedakah efforts.

Our kids have been generous in the past, but never more so as they've been since our conversion. Another great gift of Judaism is our ability to convey to them tikkun olam. They readily understand it when presented in a Jewish context, where before it seemed baseless and thus unnecessary.

The sense of duty our children have adopted - again, without dictate from us - gives me great hope for the future of the world, and the future of the Klal Israel.

Thank you again for a gift that will reverberate for generations to come.

JC

2009-05-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

I was born into a Roman Catholic family, I was baptized, had my first communion and then went to church on occasion. It was something that I did as a child and as I got older I didn’t feel the need or connection to want to go to church. Upon meeting my fiancé, religion was discussed briefly and sort of set to the side. I knew where he came from (Israel) and the fact that he was Jewish was an interesting side note for me. He wasn’t raised in an outwardly religious family, he attended community events and celebrated holidays but it wasn’t a huge part of our relationship. As time went on, we had more and more discussions about religion and the topic of my conversion came up. I had never been to a synagogue before so we decided the best way for me to make a decision about converting was to immerse myself in the Jewish way of life. My first time at the synagogue was an eye opener. My fiancé and I came in and were immediately greeted at the entrance by a wonderful couple that wanted to know all about us. Never having been there before, it was a little bit confusing. I wasn’t sure of what was being said, how to follow along and I didn’t want to be disrespectful in any way. It just so happened the topic of discussion that day was conversion, how appropriate. It was a wonderful and enlightening discussion that opened my eyes to the value Judaism sees in converts. I was asked to stand up and introduce myself and the warmth I felt from everyone was overwhelming. After the service was over everyone made their way into another room for food and it was then that I felt apart of this loving community. People were so encouraging of my endeavor to convert, recent converts told me their story, people took me aside to offer their assistance. What a great feeling! Since then, we have been attending services and joining in on community events around town. It’s been a little over a year since this first experience at the synagogue and I’ve had a chance to experience the whole year of High Holidays. Ultimately my reason for converting to Judaism was that it would allow me to share the faith with my fiancé and it allows me to unite my family religiously. In the end I feel that it will be easier for our children because I will be giving them a clear religious identity. But with those outwardly obvious reasons, I didn’t realize the sense of community and loving feeling I would gain from this experience. It’s been so much more then I could have imagined.

Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

The entire Jewish value system emphasizes honesty, justice and compassion above all else. When the great sage Hillel was asked to recite, while standing on one foot, what the essence of Judaism is, he replied, “Do not do unto others that which is hateful to you.” And he added, “All the rest is commentary. Now go and study…” This is a magnificent cornerstone of civilization and compassionate behavior. Judaism also connects belief with action. Maimonides suggested that we consider the world evenly balanced between good and evil. When we perform good deeds, we tip the balance of the world towards good, and if we do evil, it goes the other way. This leads me to believe that our acts can tip the balance of the world, what an amazing thought. It’s a great way to envision how powerful each of us is to affect the world and those around us. There is no act in Judaism considered higher than giving “tzedakah”. It’s one of the many brilliant Jewish laws and values that help make the world a better place for all to live in.

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

One of the most important reasons that I feel Judaism is more appropriate for me than Catholicism is the belief in individual freedom that is woven into the fabric of Judaism. It also is a religion of positive thinking. Every thought, every lesson, every ideal is positive, from love of God to insisting on standards of justice, from saying a blessing before we eat to refusing to rejoice at the death of our enemies and not to mention, thanking God for the rainbow when we see it. The Torah says: Choose Life, so that you may live life, that is, thrive and prosper! It’s an uplifting religion and that reason alone provides comfort. Catholicism requires you to go to confession and confess your sins. I could never feel totally comfortable with that idea. I spoke with God everyday, yet in order to be forgiven, I had to go to confession. That never made any sense to me.

Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

Judaism is based on a great theological idea, that there is one God, infinite, all-knowing and eternal, unseeable and unknowable, there is none else. There are not different gods for every people, region but only one God for all on earth. Judaism offers a way to connect with God through prayer, to pray for strength and guidance when dealing with difficulties, to be grateful for all that has been given to me and to recognize what is important and holy in life. My relationship with God involves attending synagogue as well as saying prayers in my home, I have always felt a responsibility to honor God and keep him in mind with anything that I do.

How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do you see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

My personal and home life has definitely changed for the better. Obviously with all of the studying I have been doing, there is Jewish literature all throughout my home. I find myself drawn to reading this material before anything else, and actually coming back to it when questions come to mind. With my future plans to eventually move to Israel, I only see my life changing for the better and it will further my feeling of identity with the Jewish people. The most obvious change to my personal/home life my observance of Shabbat. Admittedly I am still learning and try to observe Shabbat every week. As time goes on, I see my personal/home life becoming more involved with Jewish traditions.

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

Judaism to me is a community religion. We pray as a community, we observe as a community and we’re set up to always form a community. Even the basic concept of prayer that requires a Minyan to take place, requires community. It’s a wonderful concept, everyone counts. Attending services at the local Synagogue on a regular basis has been the best way for me to identify with the Jewish people. After the service every week, everyone gets together to share and to stay connected. They have been an endless source of information as well as encouragement during my conversion. Being that my fiancé is from Israel and also that we live in Hawaii, it seems as though because they are such a small group of people, they have all managed to find each other and it’s been a real pleasure to have them as friends. I have been able to learn so much from them, from their experiences in Israel alone.

What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

Shabbat has become a special time for me, not about prohibitions, but about creating a very special time, a time for not only rest but holiness, connection with God and connection with family. When family and friends come together at the end of the week to share the festive meal in celebration of Shabbat, it truly feels as if I am a part of a beautiful ancient ritual that to me is one of the great treasures of Judaism. My commitment to prayer has always existed, it is a very natural thing to me and it always has made me feel closer to God. My commitment to keeping kosher is a totally new concept to me. It is something that I will continue to strive to do. It’s been a bit of a slow change for me, but I the end I do intend to keep kosher and plan to keep a kosher home for my family.

How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

Learning for me is a lifetime endeavor. There is so much knowledge to gain and I could probably study for 24 hours a day and still barely make a dent in the material that’s available. And that to me is a wonderful challenge. For me, learning from others is such a valuable tool. I could sit down and read a thousand books but studying under the guidance of someone who has more knowledge then me is the ultimate study guide. That allows me the ability to study, discuss, debate, even argue my ideas and also allows me to rethink my ideas. My fiancé and I plan to visit Israel which will be a great source of information for me and at some point plan to move there. Seeing the places where events in Jewish history took place may give me a greater sense of connection. Immersing myself in the Jewish community will be a great way to continue on with my education. Learning Hebrew is the thing that I am currently working on and I’ll tell you, learning a new language at this age isn’t that easy. The thing that has been so helpful for me are all the people that make a point to keep me in the loop when they are speaking Hebrew to each other. People going out of their way to explain what they said, that is the best way to learn. I realize I couldn’t do any of this alone, and luckily with such a close Jewish community, I don’t have to!

New jew

2009-04-26T07:12:00.001-07:00

Shalom Rabbi

Just a very quick line to say, I appeared before the Reform Movement Beth Din on Thursday in London, and today I had the great honour of making my first ever Aliyah to the Torah. Yes, today I am a Jew.

This journey, which is only just beginning, is in no small part inspired by your videos on YouTube and the encouraging e-mails you took the time to send me.

As we end the week in which we remembered the six million Jews who perished in the Shoah, and the week the Prime Minister of Iran launched the latest attack against the most peace loving (and persecuted) race on earth, I feel honoured to have joined their number.

Thank you for the work do. Long may you continue.

G-D bless you.

CW

2009-04-22T14:51:00.001-07:00

It is hard to believe I am where I am today. 20 years ago, I was considering Catholic priesthood. Today, I’m preparing to become a Jew-yes, a Jew.

The human journey to God is fortuitous, circuitous, and full of serendipity. These ideas are nothing new. I can remember reading Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain in high school and being amazed at how Merton ended up where he was and what a real part of his life God was. I wanted that sort of journey with God. It is a journey I have nurtured. It is the journey that has brought me to this important decision.

Friends ask me why. It is funny; I grew up in a non-religious home. My parents divorced when I was four, weren’t anti-religious, but they just weren’t particularly religious either. To some extent, they were ambivalent about religion. My grandmother began taking me to a Baptist church with her when I was 9 or 10. I eventually joined the church and was baptized. Later, I joined the Catholic Church. My journey to God continued as a Franciscan friar for a period of time.

After getting married, my wife and I practiced Catholicism. There was a huge gap for us. The gap was especially huge for me. We essentially stopped attending church. I had begun questioning the faith of my upbringing. At some point I decided it wasn’t worth the effort.

There are moments in one’s life that challenge and provoke. There have been many of those in my life. God has called more often than I have been willing to answer. The rumblings in my soul toward Judaism have not been contented to placation. I have slowly learned about Judaism and with each passing day and each new piece of knowledge, I have realized that I cannot ignore the rumbling. I began the online conversion course in 2008; it took me about 16 months to complete. I have taken my time by looking at the faith of my upbringing under the lens of Torah.

Much of my life has been driven by a sense of justice and rightness. The Jewish values of Chesed, Rachamin and Tzedakah are ones I find both appealing and persuasive. Some place I heard Tzedakah described as “righteous charity” which spoke to me at a deep level. It is easy to give money, which I do. It is much more difficult to give time, energy, support. The idea that charity is an expected part of one’s life is important to me. Taking care of the less fortunate, having compassion for the vulnerable are important.

Trying to describe how one religion is a better fit than another is difficult. Judaism feels right on multiple levels. In fact, the word feel doesn’t adequately describe why Judaism is right for me. Judaism is more than a religion; it is being a Jew. I remember a rabbi describing to me one time the concept of mishpokche, a Yiddish word which literally means extended family. The meaning, though, is more significant than that.
The word connotes a profound connectedness and refers to the interconnectedness of the Jewish people. Judaism challenges the Jew on all levels. It is right for me to be challenged intellectually and emotionally. Judaism integrates the human experience in a way that other traditions don’t.

Friday nights and Saturdays have become less hectic. While I live a good distance from a synagogue, I try as often as possible to attend Shabbat morning services. While they are not well attended, I have enjoyed the informal, almost conversational nature, of the service. The rabbi engages the congregants in a dialogue. I am moving toward a kosher diet, which is easy since I don’t eat meat. I am paying more attention to what I eat and to what I am purchasing. I imagine my home life will continue to change. Holidays and festivals will become a bigger part of my life.

I think one of the most important parts of being a Jew is in being a Jew. What I mean by that is that a Jew should identify with the larger Jewish community. I find myself being engaged in synagogue activities. Sometimes it is merely emailing the rabbi or other members I have gotten to know. Other times, I participate in synagogue activities. On a larger scale, I find I am redefining how I view Israel. I have never been anti-Israel but I also know I haven’t really thought about the issues in Israel and the Middle East. I am grappling with those issues and what it means to be in solidarity with the people of Israel.

Tzedakah is one of the most important values to me. I intend on fulfilling this mitzvah in a number of ways. I will donate my time and money to worthy causes. I will also be involved in the synagogue in some tangible way.

I am committed to prayer. I have been reciting the shema in English. I am memorizing the Hebrew. I am observing Shabbat candle lighting. I attend Shabbat services. I am spending Shabbat in reflection and study rather than using the day for errands, shopping, and busyness.

I would like to continue my studies in Judaism by continuing to read and journal. I would like to learn Hebrew and be able to read Hebrew. Eventually, I would like to travel to Israel. I have looked at classes offered by the Jewish Community Center in Atlanta. While Atlanta is a good distance away, with some planning I may be able to participate in some learning opportunities. Finally, I want to experience other forms of Jewish life. I would like to visit an Orthodox synagogue, for example. The more I learn, the more people I meet and get to know, I will become a better member of the Jewish community and people.

sf

2009-04-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

Essay for Conversion Candidacy
I was drawn to Judaism initially by the long and significant history of the Jewish People. I was attracted to the strength Jews had exhibited throughout the years and the covenant that God had with them. Perhaps some of the attraction has to do with the fact that I’m a middle child. I remember longing for the responsibilities my big sister had been given and complaining about the smooth road that my little sisters had in comparison. Regardless of what caused this attraction, I knew that the covenant between God and the Jewish people was both a responsibility and a blessing, and I desired to be a part of it.
While there are many Jewish values that caught my attention early in my learning, the few that I found most appealing was ‘bakesh shalom ve-rodfehu’ and ‘chesed/rachamin’.
Bakesh shalom ve-rodfehu, or to seek peace and pursue it, touched me personally as soon as I read it. While my life has certainly been a mild one in comparison to most people, I must admit that I have been faced with my share of experiences that left me wondering if peace even existed. In my childhood, I witnessed ongoing discord between my parents, only to walk directly into a similar situation with my first husband. I married at 22 and found myself separated at 28. While my negative view on divorce and single–parenting was my purpose for staying so long in an abusive marriage, it wasn’t until I mustered up the courage to leave, start over with almost nothing, that I finally experienced the wealth of peace for the first time in my life. It was a feeling I find hard to describe, but a feeling I never want to live without again. Bakesh shalom ve-rodfehu appeals to me because throughout my entire life I have been a seeker of peace. From mediating conflicts between students in high school, to being in tears watching the news report of an innocent child being tortured, I have always found violence to be horrendous. This value is special to be because of my love for people and living peacefully. I can finally say that I know peace and never plan to live without it again.
Because of my compassion for the most vulnerable of world, children, the elderly, the downtrodden, I found the Jewish value of chesid/rachamin, or compassion for those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable, particularly persuasive. It felt good to know that a body of people as vast as the Jewish People felt the same way I did – but felt it enough to record it as a value that all Jews should attain. I went on to read that according to the Talmud, “if anyone has compassion on created beings, then it is certain evidence that he or she is from the seed of Abraham…”(Bezah 32b) For the first time I felt vindicated for always “getting emotional” after hearing of stories of babies abandoned, children molested, or animals being abused. I also felt an overwhelming sense of joy knowing that the great minds behind the Talmud and the Jewish People could view me as being from the seed of Abraham. Slowly, any feelings of being out of place in my Jewish learning began to pass.
Religion, in the western world at least, is a topic that most avoid at the dinner table. For me, the sensitivity is due to the high level of energy I’ve put into my search, the emotion related to my discovery, and the fact that my entire life is intertwined with facets and elements of said religion. My journey in religion started as a young girl following the paths of my Jehovah’s Witness parents. I never felt welcome, at one with, or comfortable with the people or the process of the religion. As a young adult, feeling guilty for searching for “truth” when I had been told that the only truth was what I had already rejected, I found myself, as many Black people, seeking resolve in the Christian church. This left me feeling hypocritical and at odds with those worshipping beside me and those leading the congregants.
I began to read more about Rastafarianism after listening to Bob Marley, etc. I spoke to others born in, and living Rastafarian. The concept of living “ital” – a vegetarian diet and peaceful life, attracted me. Hearing about King David, King Solomon, Israel, etc, and then reading the scriptures, I was looking for something more. Unfortunately, my growth stopped here. I couldn’t understand how a group of people could call on a deceased man, Haile Selassie as God. Strike one. But, I didn’t give up here, I began searching for something, anything, concrete that could offer me a better understanding. There was nothing. Just as I was giving up – feeling foolish for starting a journey based on some words I heard in a few songs, I met Amrahm, and my real journey began. Four-thousand years of history, a proven covenant with the God of Creation, the Old Testament, millions of people around the world, concrete answers to my questions – all things that provide me with what I’ve been looking for my entire life.
I believe that God is one. He is unique, indivisible and the Creator of all things. He has given us the free will to follow his commandments or to transgress. There is no original sin that we’re born into that we can refer to as an excuse for our bad decisions; we are responsible for our actions or inactions. I have always thought that my relationship to God should be greater than just going into a building every Sunday, singing, dancing and then going home and living without a practical day-to-day application of a relationship to God. Judaism has been the vessel to my discovering a true relationship to God. To pray daily, live according to the mitzvot and values in all of my actions, and to build relationships with a body of people who do as I do and think as I think, is the “active” relationship to God I’ve always sought.
My family and I have begun implementing Jewish traditions starting with the observation of Shabbat. In the past, Friday nights were a time to go out to dinner, meet up with friends, listen to music, and maybe even go dancing. Now, we prepare for the Shabbat in advance by cleaning our home, preparing a delicious meal, rest, read and reflect before bed. Saturday’s were filled with cleaning the house, running errands, shopping, and going to and fro to catch up with friends and family. Now, we start our days at the synagogue for Shabbat Seder where we spend time with our new friends in the congregation. We make it a point to drive directly home, with the radio off as we reflect on what we’ve learned or felt about the service, or what our thoughts or meditations are for this Shabbat. Once we arrive at home we either grab a snack, continue to talk leisurely, or take a nap. It’s clear to me based on this one observation above, that as I progress in my Jewish studies my Jewish life will continue to be progressive in Jewish Tradition.
I am blessed to be living in an era of Judaism where through the works and sacrifice of countless others, we have a home for Jews in the State of Israel. I’m happy to belong to Ezra-Habonim and the active and established Jewish community here and look forward to contributing to the collective support of Israel. I understand the blessed opportunity that lies before me. Through this mikvah I am solidifying my vows and entering in to a family of world Jewry.
Prayer has always been important to me, even though at times I have felt that I was praying to an unknown God… or, at least I was unknown to Him. In my Jewish studies, I have observed that prayer is very significant and should be implemented into our daily life. Keeping the Shabbat is important to me because it is the core of Jewish life – it is not only our weekly reminder of God’s creation of the universe and of humankind, but of our covenant with God. I remember hearing Rabbi say: “it is not how much the Jewish people have kept the Shabbat, but how the Shabbat has kept the Jewish people.” I find that as I grow within Judaism, keeping the Shabbat has been my first priority. As far as keeping kosher is concerned, I’ve noticed that I pay more attention the items that I purchase, and whether or not their kosher. Even though I’m vegetarian, and I neither eat meat or animal’s milk, I still try to practice the laws of what’s tref. We don’t eat veggie burgers with cheese for this purpose. If I’m cooking with any meat substitute, I’m sure not to use milk in the recipe remembering the verse repeated several times in the Torah instructing us not to “seethe (boil) a kid in its mother’s milk”.
Continuing my Jewish studies is very important to me. For starters, I plan to continue attending the bi-weekly Learner’s Minyon at my synagogue, weekly Shabbat services and Hebrew classes. My fiancé is now converting, so this is a great opportunity for me to review the material from my conversion class as we study as a family. He and I are expecting a new addition to the family, along with our 9-year-old, we find it particularly important to advance in our studies so that we can live Jewishly and teach our children from an early age what we’ve just now been blessed to discover.

BB

2009-03-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Essay for Conversion Candidacy
1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.
The factors that drew me to Judaism developed over several years. I tried to figure exactly how many, but am not sure. Even prior to thinking of conversion my home had a serigraph of Miriam with a tambourine after crossing the Sea of Reeds, a print of the Jewish holidays, and, probably most importantly, many books on Jewish beliefs and history. My father was Jewish and there was some observance of some of the holidays (mainly Seders), events, and a small amount of discussion on Judaism. Judaism feels comfortable and compatible with my beliefs.
My Aunt always considered me Jewish and until fairly recently, I did not know that I was not. Aunt sent me a book called, The History of the Jews, and when I visited her we made matzo soup.
At least seven years ago, I started studying why there is hate in the world. This took me to many texts. Because of its long history, I began to focus on antisemetism and started studying the history of the Jews from in the present and worked back. My studies included Holocaust studies at Temple Beth El in Rockford, the Belfer program at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and as part of the international summer seminar for teachers at Yad Vashem.
One cannot study a people, without looking at the basic beliefs and theology of the people being studied. Theologically, as I continued to study the spirituality and beliefs of the Jews, a cognitive disconnect developed between what I professed and what I believed.
2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?
The Jewish values that I find most appealing are the values of living a life worth living with generosity and kindness. For my evening before bed study, I have been using Rabbi Telushkin’s book, The Book of Jewish Values. I seem to learn something more about life and relationship each time I read it. The value of Shabbat and that it is a day of rest and a gift from G-d. That life is to be enjoyed with beauty is quite different than life is to be endured for the glory of the afterlife.
3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion?
The realization that my former spirituality and theology no longer fit my belief system was difficult to accept. Acceptance of this fact requires action to live honestly with oneself and G-d. Not believing in transubstantiation and that Jesus was the divine son of G-d ends true participation on my previous faith.
After years of study of various books, texts, discussion, it became apparent my values and beliefs feel/are Jewish. Judaism was the direction to which I was being drawn.
4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.
This is a very difficult question for me - the most difficult of these eight. I do not think of G-d as two men and a bird and have not for ages. The Supreme Being is a being without corporal body who loves all his creations totally even when things we do not understand why events that can happen happen. G-d gave humans the free will to choose him. G-d is more interested in ethical, loving lives than denominations.
My relationship is one of wanting to know more, of being drawn to understand G-d’s desires, and to try to live the life we are asked to do. My comfort and faith is in G-d. The hope and happiness for the world is in living the commandments and in relationship.
This is so incredibly difficult for me to explain. All life that we live is to be as a prayer. Our movements are to bring G-d into the world in the tangible ways that if G-d wanted and has shown that G-d can, but we are asked to.
My relationship has changed as I have changed and will continue to change as I change. No relationship stays the same. No relationship is truly stagnant.
5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do you see your Jewish life progressing in the future?
I do not attend Mass nor practice any catholic specific requirements anymore.
I often think about what I have studied before speaking and when interacting with others. Instead of using examples from my previous faith during discussions, I look to my studies to garner ideas from them. I eat Kosher as closely as possible. I make mistakes and sometimes forget about a meat and milk if I am out with friends. This is getting better. I do light the candles on Friday. I am more likely to arrange to meet a friend to go out on Sunday. I attend Synagogue. My home is looking more Jewish.
On the spiritual side, I have as long as I can remember prayed during the day for big and little things. At the end of the day, I have done an examination of conscience for most of my adult life. There are differences, but they are more in feeling and awareness behind actions.
I am trying to learn Hebrew. It is slow, but I keep thinking about the tortoise and the hare.
In the future, I would like to be better at keeping Kosher. I would love to be able to attend the services and understand without needing the English. I will ask G-d to guide me to live a better Jewish life through study and prayer.
6. Describe your sense of identification with the Jewish people in relations to Israel, world Jewry, the local Jewish community and your synagogue.
Because of my family, I have always identified with the Jewish people. In Israel, I fear if all Jews cannot unite, there will always be trouble. Our lives are not to sit in judgment, but to live our lives in the law and love. There will always be Judaism, but if the current Israel is the final homeland, I do not know. I have some concerns because my cousin’s children and grand children live there. I would like to go for an extended stay after retirement.
The local Jewish community in Rockford is a great group of people. Before studying with Rabbis Ginsburg, I took the introduction to Judaism course at the reformed temple. The rabbi had trouble understanding why I would want to convert Conservative. For me, and I cannot speak for any one else and how they are called, Conservative Judaism had more substance, meaning, and depth.
7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?
Prayer has always been my life blood. Everything is gift. Not always easy to say. Prayer is communication with G-d in a thoughtful consistent way. For years daily study, daily prayer and feel that prayer has been part of the rhythm life.
I will work to keeping Shabbat better. There is room for improvement. I light the candles and recite the prayers - not quite right yet. But Shabbat is important to me. I like the separation from the week of work and the day of rest. I have figured out how to make smaller challah loaves. The Havdalah is my favorite ceremony of the week though I am not sure why.
I am trying to keep Kosher. I do keep the separation of milk and meat and order from a kosher meat market. I plan to kashier my kitchen before Pasach. Everything is ready. I just need a few days to do the proper cleaning and to be able to wait the 24 hours. I think it is very important because it helps me remember to be thoughtful, that I “am” Jewish, and to keep Jewish values. I look at food differently. I think of the animals and their gift.
8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?
My daily study of the Tanakh and other texts will continue. I will continue to attend the activities . I have joined Hadassah.
My real hope is to be able to study at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. While, I was studying at Yad Vashem, I attended services and some of the programs. It would be wonderful to go for a year, but I would be ecstatic to be able to attend the summer program.

a.z.

2009-03-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

ESSAY FOR CONVERSION CANDIDACY

Describe the factors that have drawn you to Judaism.
I am the product of an interfaith marriage. My mother is Catholic and my father is Jewish. My parents sought to expose my older sister and me to both Catholic and Jewish traditions. As a child and young adult I took part in Jewish holidays and attended synagogue for the High Holy Days with my father’s family. I felt like an outsider to Judaism. I was, and still am, considered a Jew by my family, friends and co-workers. However, when I attended my family’s conservative synagogue to worship as a Jew, I was not considered a Jew.
While a myriad of factors have drawn me to Judaism, the impetus of my identifying myself as Jewish was the passing of my paternal grandmother while I was in college. In addition to the loss of my grandmother, I also felt a loss of connection to my family’s past. Being a practicing Jew brings me closer to my grandmother, grandfather, and other relatives who are no longer with me physically. I can carry on their memory through my commitment to Judaism.
My parents did their best to guide my sister and I spiritually. They always communicated that we could choose our own religion, whether it be Catholicism, Judaism, or another religion. When my sister was twelve years old, and I eight, she chose to be baptized and make her first communion in the Catholic Church. At this time my parents asked me if I wanted to explore a religion and I recall telling them I wanted to be both Catholic and Jewish. As a young girl I felt connected to Judaism but I also wanted to emulate my older sister. Instead, I put off my exploration of Judaism. This is not to say I did not participate in Jewish holidays and traditions.
Another factor that has drawn me to Judaism is the fact that my best friend and neighbor growing up was Jewish. I stood by her side and cheered her on as she prepared for her Bat Mitzvah. I spent a lot of time celebrating Shabbat at her house, as well as life cycle events. In fact, my first Shabbat experience was with her family. I vividly recall watching her mom light the candles and say the prayers. Afterwards, we shared relaxing family meal. I remember having the desire to observe Shabbat after that.
Between 2001 and 2003 I attended Shabbat services somewhat regularly at Makom Shalom, a Jewish Renewal Synagogue in Printer’s Row. This was certainly a warm and welcoming community. At this synagogue I was finally able to worship as a Jew. I felt a great connection to the rabbi. However, when he retired, I found that I sought a more traditional synagogue.

Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?
The Jewish value that I find most appealing and persuasive if Tikkun Olam. I feel a strong sense of responsibility toward social justice in both my professional and personal life. As a second grade I teacher I have the massive responsibility for preparing young people to be productive members of society. In teaching seven and eight year olds reading, writing, math, science and social studies I practice Tikkun Olam daily. I take my commitment a step further in modeling and teaching Tikkun Olam to my students. Whether they offer a hug to an upset friend, donate a can of food to a food drive or write a letter to our president advocating for education and social service programs, they are learning the practice of leaving the world around them a little bit better than they found it.

How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?
I do not see my conversion to Judaism as replacing another religion, given my background. I am strengthening and extending my commitment to Judaism by converting. Simply put, it is legitimizing what I have always known to be true in my heart: I am a Jew.

Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.
As a preschooler, I recall having an image of God as King Friday from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. This is obviously no longer my image of God. God has no body, shape or form. God is incorporeal. I understand God to be Creator of the Universe. I believe that God is one. My relationship with God gives me guidance and order in my life.

How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do you see your Jewish life progressing in the future?
My personal and home lives have not changed significantly because of Jewish tradition. I continue to observe holidays with family, light Yartzeit candles for family members who have passed on, and attend synagogue for the High Holy Days. I certainly see my Jewish life progressing in the future. I want to observe Shabbat on a more regular basis. My extended family and I are beginning to do this with a Shabbat gathering on March 27th in celebration of my conversion. I also have a desire to attend services throughout the year instead of just the High Holy Days. I enjoyed doing so when I was a member of Makom Shalom. Now it is just a matter of finding a synagogue where I feel comfortable worshipping. I plan to attend services at West Suburban Temple Har Zion, which is not far from where I live.

Describe your sense of identification with the Jewish people in relation to Israel, world Jewry, the local Jewish community and your synagogue.
I have always identified with the Jewish people. Israel and the Jewish people are an extension of my family’s Eastern European background and a continuation of those who were lost in the Holocaust.

What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?
I see prayer as an ongoing personal conversation with God. Observance of Shabbat is an opportunity to devote more time to that conversation.

How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?
I am committed to learning Hebrew. I also want to broaden by knowledge of Judaism by enrolling in adult education courses.

From Alex

2009-03-04T06:32:00.000-08:00

Esynagogue.org

ESSAY FOR CONVERSION CANDIDACY

1. Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

I am supposed to come from a catholic background. My parents never believed in God and didn’t give me a religious education (instead of it I went to catechism). Despite that, I had always believed in God. At the age of 14, I realized that Catholicism was not my religion and decided to turn myself to Judaism. I had read, learnt, tried as much as I could to understand the Jewish law, faith and History.

2. Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

There are a lot of Jewish values that are most appealing and persuasive. First of all, concerning the Messiah; the Messiah has nothing divine and it will come only if Jews act well. I really don t believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Then, God is all powerful and unique. He created us as his image and gave us the free will. So a human being can act and this free will drives us every day. God forgives us if we know how to repair our mistakes. The mitzvoth are very important and are positive. The 13 articles of faith are also an important part of the Jewish faith.

3. How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion or worldview/lifestyle?

Contrary to Catholicism, in Judaism God is unique and not a God and Jehovah. Moreover, in Judaism, salvation is known as forgiveness and not predestination and hell like in Catholicism. For Jews, death is not the end of life and not a question of heaven/hell like in my former religion. Despite of those things, Judaism is not only a religion it is a language, a history and the community has a large power. Sharing things and time with your pairs are very important. You can have a second family with your pairs.

4. Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.
When I was younger, talking about God was not something common in my family. Since an early age, I had always believed in him. I don t blame him, don t insult him and everything there is an obstacle in my life, I turn myself to him and ask him to send me a sign. When things are easy, I just know that I still can pray and serve him. Since I started to convert and recited many prayers, my relation to God became different. I know learn how to really serve him, to understand.

5. How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

My home became a Jewish home. I put a mezuzah on my door step. Bought candles sticks to light up the candles of Shabbat and also have a tzedakah on my desk. I don t bring non kosher food at home and even started to cook for Shabbat. I also try to keep my house clean and not messy like before as a sign of respect toward God. In the future, my Jewish life will progress with a husband and kids I guess and will raise them as Jews with the values and beliefs. I also want to help some people who want to convert because it is a very rich experience.

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

I ve never been to Israel but want to make Aliya. I guess it is such an honor to go to them motherland where everything started. The world Jewry is unfortunately menaced all the time but we are a community and need to protect each other. The Jewish community share values and the synagogue is the place where you can meet people, pray, share time. It is a sacred place, and as the place of God you feel safe and comfortable.

7. What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

I recited the holidays prayers, light up the candles of Shabbat and keep kosher, also don t bring non kosher food at home and ask my guests to do the same. I try to do many things during the week, so Shabbat is a rest day.

8. How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

I would like to have an Israel trip and planning to take classes about the whole Judaism. I also want to learn Aramean.

Spain

2009-03-03T17:47:00.000-08:00

ESSAY FOR CONVERSION
CANDIDACY.

1.- Describe the factors which have drawn you to Judaism.

The first factor which intervened in my approach to Judaism was a long-standing personal search of the “right path” for me; a set of beliefs and practices that agreed with me and made me make right choices. One day, I came across Judaism through a friend and since then, I have not stopped reading, learning and putting Judaism into practice.

2.-Which Jewish values do you find most appealing and persuasive?

I believe that all Jewish values are intended to make us better, but I especially like all the values that highlight kindness, charity and compassion to all our fellow creatures. I also like the values that emphasize the importance of a peaceful home and community.

3.- How is Judaism more appropriate for you than your former religion ?

In the first place, I have to start by saying that I always had serious problems in accepting some of the basic principles of my former religion, as for example the acceptance of Jesus as a Messiah. This made me uncomfortable and completely out of place. In contrast, Judaism is more appropriate for me in every way; first of all, because I accept the basic principles of the Jewish Conservative movement without reservations In addition to this, I feel that Judaism encourages me to think, ask questions, make my own choices, and most importantly: act “here” and “now”.

4.- Describe your understanding of and relationship to God.

I believe God is One and ultimately unknowable. I also believe that I connect with God through the fulfilment of mitzvot and that only God can forgive my sins against God.
5.- How has your personal and home life changed because of Jewish tradition? How do you see your Jewish life progressing in the future?

Firstly, and on a personal level, my life has changed for the better because I feel that I am doing what is right for me.. Secondly, my home life has improved greatly because by sharing Jewish values and traditions with my family, I give the best of myself to them; consequently, this has had a very positive impact on our lives, not only individually, but also as a family. Thirdly, I see my Jewish life growing through continuous study, consistency of ideas and acts.

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

From now on, I want to share my destiny with the Jewish People. Israel, and the Jewish community are as important to me as to any other Jew in the world.
I feel fortunate to have Jewish friends who share their Jewish lifestyle with me, and to have met Rabbi Gail Ginsburg and Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg, who have supported and guided me during the whole process.

7.- What is your commitment to prayer, Shabbat and keeping kosher?

Prayer is an important aspect of my daily life. I pray every day (Shema and other private prayers), I also say my daily blessings and read the Torah every week. I also follow the rules of “kashrut” when I go shopping, when I store, cook or eat food. Finally, I prepare and celebrate Shabbat with my family every week, which is a source of joy and fulfilment for all of us.

8.- How do you plan to continue your Jewish study?

After my conversion I plan to continue my study as I have been doing until now, by reading and learning as much as I can. I already have a small “library” of Jewish books that I plan to enlarge . I would also like to improve my Hebrew by taking classes whenever I can, and participate in Torah and Talmud discussions and lessons.

From Jehova Witness

2009-03-03T09:03:00.001-08:00

Essay for Conversion Candidacy

I was raised in a family that strongly affiliated with the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a separatist Christian denomination. While I was naturally quite happy with the religion in early childhood, especially tales of our “spiritual ancestors” the Israelites, as I grew older I grew increasingly disaffected. This disaffection began as I became close to classmates outside the religion, who turned out not to be the awful people that they were so often portrayed to be. As time continued, I grew less and less comfortable with the apocalyptic nature of the religion and the future deemed to be in store for outsiders. I took my first major steps outside the religion by gradually decreasing attendance at their meetings and, later, entering college.
After entering the university from which I would receive my bachelor’s degrees, I happened to be visiting the local public library during the summer. As I was passing a bookshelf, I was struck on the foot by a copy of Chaim Potok’s The Chosen. A little startled, I checked the book out as I’d never bothered to read it. I found the depiction of the living Jewish culture fascinating, and continued reading through the night and finished early the next morning. Several days later, I found that my schedule for the following semester was in error, and needed to pick up a different class. I registered for a Jewish history class to fill the slot based on my interest in The Chosen.
Although I’d known nothing about the class or professor going into it, the class quickly became my favorite. I had been raised to believe that Jewish history had effectively ground to a halt with the destruction of the Second Temple, and I had never investigated further on my own despite being hyperaware of events like the holocaust through repeated talks at the kingdom hall on the suffering of the Witnesses at the hands of the Germans and watching the occasional documentary on WWII. Intrigued and surprised that the Witnesses could not be the “new Israel” as the “old” one had never disappeared, I took the second half of the history survey and picked up a minor in Judaic Studies. At the same time, I began reading intensely outside of class, and was shocked to learn that conversion to Judaism was possible. The next year, I took courses concurrently on the nevi’im and Biblical Hebrew. Midway through the course on the nevi’im the professor undertook to explain Isaiah 53 from a Jewish perspective. That lecture resolved my last doubts about abandoning Christianity in favor of Judaism. My coursework in Biblical Hebrew further impressed upon me the importance of the continuity, sense of community and peoplehood of the Jewish people.
As my personal and formal studies continued, I began to adopt certain hitherto unknown values as my own. While my birth religion had insisted that only certain few, the “faithful” Witnesses, were on the side of God and would survive the imminent apocalypse, I found myself adopting the opposite view, that it was possible that others could find meaning and fulfillment in other religions even as I agreed with and began to adopt a new religion that I believed was correct. Any remaining impulse to proselytize to those of other beliefs or non-belief disappeared as I found myself agreeing with the Jewish sources that I was reading that the righteous of all nations have a place in the world to come, not just the followers of certain select religions. I found myself taking up other beliefs as well that had no place in my old religion. While the Witnesses believed that they should “be no part of the world” and that there was no point in trying to undertake projects to improve it, I grew more interested in the engaging more fully with the outside world. I particularly enjoyed the new sanction given to scholarship and study, and the ability to critically analyze texts and concepts. I also engaged with the sense of community and shared history among the Jewish people, and over time came to identify more and more strongly with the Jewish people as a whole.
My conception of and relationship to God changed as well. While I had been raised to believe that God was incorporeal and indivisible, I had come to conceive of God as somewhat capricious for the bait-and-switch that I’d been taught occurred in the 1st century. Instead, a different image of God emerged, one that showed a God that was steadfast in his love and care for the Jewish people, who ensured that the Jewish people as a whole survived through the ages against all odds.
As my studies progressed, my lifestyle began to change. I began to undertake to study the weekly parsha, on my own and with the assistance of various aids. I obtained a Siddur and began to daven more and more regularly. I paid close attention to the Jewish calendar and holiday cycle, learning as much as I could about the holidays and taking on key practices. I began inspecting the labels of the food products I was purchasing for a hechsher, and began to notice and respond instinctively to the laws of kashrut. I also began to look forward to Shabbat as a time of rest and study.
What surprised me most as I continued to progress was my increasing sense of identification with the State of Israel, world Jewry, and the local community. I had previously been indifferent to the State of Israel, but now found myself very concerned with events there and passionately defending the actions of the Israeli people where appropriate and necessary. I began to keep up on the news out of Israel as I was able, and even to donate to Jewish and Israeli causes in times of particular trouble. Similarly, I came to feel a strong sense of connection to Klan Yisrael, and found myself feeling and expressing heightened concern where Jews were targeted. Closer to home, I began to carefully investigate local synagogues and other Jewish institutions, in preparation for the day that I would settle into a community permanently.
Given the above, I plan to continue to grow if accepted as a suitable candidate for conversion. I plan to continue to daven regularly, as well as take on the mitzvot of tallit and tefillin. I greatly look forward to celebrating my first Shabbat as a Jew, which will be qualitatively different than adopting Jewish practices as a non-Jew. As it would be quite difficult to maintain separate milchig and fleischig utensils and preparation areas in my home, I plan to demonstrate my commitment to kashrut by only preparing milchig and pareve products at home. It is my intent to continue to keep, and grow in keeping, Shabbat and the laws of kashrut to the best of my ability, and to continue to grow in prayer.
I look forward to continuing my Jewish study. I will continue the parsha reading cycle, and plan to also pick up the Daf Yomi cycle in May. I will continue my exploration of Jewish literature, and look forward to being able to begin taking formal classes again at the synagogue with which I affiliate.