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My G-d, that incident with the Passover candy is atrocious!! You should say something to the teacher or administration if you feel comfortable doing so. Where I grew up, we had a significant Jewish population and we always had the first day of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur off. I am not certain how many students […]

I have had a great deal of firsthand experience with this, unfortunately and it absolutely strengthened my Jewish identity and pride to be Jewish. This was particularly so when I was in college, living with roommates who, unbenounced to me, harbored some antisemitic views. I am fairly conflict-averse and did not confront them as often as […]

When I was growing up, I’d hear people say, “Can I jew you down?” It was used to mean haggle. I didn’t even know it had anything to do with Jews. Nobody I knew ever said “Can I haggle you like a cheap Jewish person?” so I never made the connection. It wasn’t until I met a […]

@Mychal,”Debbie, I have heard that some rabbis insist that people tell their immediate family members BEFORE conversion. I don’t know if my rabbi(s) would require that, but I can understand the argument that not telling people holds you back, in a way.” Well, at age 46 when I finally converted, it seemed that it would not be […]

@Tara – Thanks for the welcome!     I’m liking it here.

My mother is Church of God–which is further to the right on the evengelical scale than Southern Baptist, LOL. I know, because I was raised S. Baptist and my grandmother was Church of God. Her church scared me as a kid. Kari Ann, maybe this is something you need to do for more than one reason. Twelve […]

@Karen,It is good that your kids are young enough that changes won’t be difficult. I guess that means that you do have an Orthodox day school in your area. RCA conversions do require a commitment to educate children in Orthodox day schools. The incident of the Passover candy is horrible! Any teacher who did that in our public […]

I have a conservative convert friend who is more Orthodox-leaning than Conservative (long story – she, like me, found the requirements here in California to be too stifling to convert under those auspices) and she covered her hair prior to being married. She said it just “felt right” to her. The tradition is married women, yes, […]

I am so grateful to have been raised in a more-forward thinking educational environment. I grew up playing dreidel along with the Christmas celebration things in school. Of course, we had a significant Jewish population, but to throw out the candy, goodness!

@Karen, precisely. I think all of the mitzvot practice is about being more mindful. When it becomes social pressure, the personal benefit becomes lost in keeping up with the Joneses and I HATE that.  Also, welcome to the board, I am excited to hear your perspective on things as someone who attempted an Orthodox conversion […]

My kids are 5 and 7 years old.  It is likely that the Beit Din that converts us will mandate that they attend an Orthodox Jewish day school, as my guy did as a kid.  I’m actually rather glad of that.  We’ve had several instances where our religious beliefs were not supported or even subverted in […]

@Karen,If you don’t mind my asking, how old are your children? Since that is a topic more properly discussed in the “Jewish Parenting” group, I’m starting a new thread there:Jewish Parenting > Effects of conversion on your kids

Sometimes it seems like all the major world religions are currently involved in a struggle to see which one can be more extreme and right-wing.  (Yes, this is coming from someone undergoing an Orthodox conversion.) For me, I can see the point of some of the customs regarding tznuis.  I’m actually looking forward to covering my hair.  […]

Part of the prevalence likely comes from where I live.  The Orthodox synagogue in town has to have security people there for Shul.  I’m not sure if the conservative or reform Shuls have the same problem, but they have suffered anti-semitic grafitti.  I work in a place where sexist and racist comments are, sadly, fairly normal. On […]

I have not been in a situation where people say antisemitic things in front of my face. Honestly, I don’t recall ever really hearing antisemitic things from my friends or family. Now, on the internet I’ve had a lot of really nasty, hateful things directed at me but I’m fairly certain that if these people were […]

@Mychal,You responded “I don’t have to worry about her talking me out of this” But I didn’t mean that your loved ones would actually change your mind, only that it is better to not have them trying to talk you out of it as the starting place for the conversation. I think it puts them in the […]

@Kari Ann – Ouch.  I was married to a Southern Baptist preacher’s son for 7 years.  I remember all too well the hatefulness and intolerance I experienced there.  My heart goes out to you and I’m struck by the strength you have in sticking to your faith even in such a hostile environment.  It really is […]