tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post3826525980497948528..comments2023-11-12T20:59:55.490-05:00Comments on Building a Jewish Life: Why Being an Orthodox Jew Is ExpensiveKochavahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841373131402987905noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-59124578359066043402018-06-29T17:02:54.607-04:002018-06-29T17:02:54.607-04:00This is honestly the main reason I never took the ...This is honestly the main reason I never took the jump to become an Orthodox Jew. I am on disability and can barely afford to get my basic essentials. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16472333933361048445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-83716590328136631472015-08-30T07:46:43.830-04:002015-08-30T07:46:43.830-04:00Whoa! part of the completion of the marriage is t...Whoa! part of the completion of the marriage is the marital relations. It's like completing a contract. So in a sense it is like a business transaction. I think it might be, LeChatcheelah, (sorry regarding the spelling) not necessarily desirable to conclude a business transaction on Shabbos.but what do I know. I am Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-50703008192304367652015-08-03T11:15:34.833-04:002015-08-03T11:15:34.833-04:00Just found out about this place, http://kosherbrid...Just found out about this place, http://kosherbridal.com, that offers couture or bespoke wedding gowns that won't kill one's wedding budget and everything there is kosher mehadrin!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-33209664455260030852013-07-26T18:04:01.582-04:002013-07-26T18:04:01.582-04:00The sacrifices both financially and otherwise may ...The sacrifices both financially and otherwise may be great, but the rewards are well worth it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09671165998122995116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-41489820260056084912013-05-29T16:08:29.105-04:002013-05-29T16:08:29.105-04:00Wow, im a new graduate and pretty broke and my fir...Wow, im a new graduate and pretty broke and my first meeting with the Rabbi is tomorrow. Bleh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-50821306187595856052012-11-18T11:18:27.228-05:002012-11-18T11:18:27.228-05:00Anonymous September 10, 2012 2:31 AM
I find it ha...Anonymous September 10, 2012 2:31 AM<br /><br />I find it hard to believe that you'd be spending that much on your wedding in Sydney.<br /><br />Considering how small the frum community is within Sydney. Spending that much on the wedding is a down payment for a flat in Dover Heights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-47846118814670943322012-09-10T02:31:53.752-04:002012-09-10T02:31:53.752-04:00I'm getting married in Sydney, Australia early...I'm getting married in Sydney, Australia early next year and the cost is working out to about AUD$100,000. I've told my fiance that I really don't want a huge wedding with a lot of people that I don't know and he is sympathetic. However, his parents (mother in particular) are trying to be huge "machers"... help!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-4064351484182614362012-08-09T13:46:11.800-04:002012-08-09T13:46:11.800-04:00A. Day school tuition is unnecessary to give your ...A. Day school tuition is unnecessary to give your kids a proper Jewish education. Forcing future children to go to day school as a condition for conversion is a form of extortion.<br /><br />B. Incidentally, so is meat. And dairy, for that matter. Produce is cheap. Even cheaper than having two sets of dishes/pots/utensils!<br /><br />The most I have ever paid for is tefillin, and it wasn't B.BarNavihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07860632239759681393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-28362974595676097592012-01-29T08:41:10.197-05:002012-01-29T08:41:10.197-05:00See Magadocious rex is a reform convert and keeps ...See Magadocious rex is a reform convert and keeps Kosher. I really think we need just one body for all conversions across the board and drop all the mishagoss between the movements. It causes undue hardship and too much emotional damage for all. Just because somebody goes to a conservative shul out of necessity does not mean they are not orthodox in observance.Arinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-55287177402406776812012-01-26T13:37:00.486-05:002012-01-26T13:37:00.486-05:00Yeah, in the Northeast parents seem to provide for...Yeah, in the Northeast parents seem to provide for thier children FOREVER. Like, until 35 or so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-13004988508707046862012-01-24T17:24:37.088-05:002012-01-24T17:24:37.088-05:00Ha! If you don't eat meat you get to skip thre...Ha! If you don't eat meat you get to skip three of these!<br />Also, re: cheese, I buy the Cabot brand. It has a K on it.<br />These are the moments when I consider being vegan...seriously, when fish is $15/lb. and soy milk is a dollar less and keeps for a year, it's an easy decision!<br /><br />I also like how "keeping up with the Steins" is actually a thing. Good thing about Laurahttp://crystaldecadenz.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-73497252987255090012012-01-24T13:48:32.450-05:002012-01-24T13:48:32.450-05:00Skylar [what happened to Chavi? I liked her... ;...Skylar [what happened to Chavi? I liked her... ;-) ], whereas I certainly agree with the gist of your post; I think some of this is nonetheless the result of our falling prey to the general conspicuous consumption of affluent American society (and its influence on other places). I recall how my grandmother kept a perfectly kosher kitchen with far less of the *stuff* that we have in our kitchenMordechai Y. Scherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06774262478551329181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-19953409487052219062012-01-24T13:41:38.650-05:002012-01-24T13:41:38.650-05:00Shira, you're correct that the accepted norm i...Shira, you're correct that the accepted norm is to NOT use the same cover for chametz and matzah. Yet, in terms of strict halachic practice, if I run that cover through the washing machine with soap, there is nothing to forbid it's dual use. No different than table cloths, napkins, etc.Mordechai Y. Scherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06774262478551329181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-70984130340598274892012-01-23T21:51:44.345-05:002012-01-23T21:51:44.345-05:00Its not just converting Orthodox that's expens...Its not just converting Orthodox that's expensive. Even as a Reform convert, I've had to come up with some expenses that are like "WOAH!". Synagogue membership was a shock for someone who grew up Catholic tossing $10 in the collection plate weekly.<br /><br /> I'm also planning a VERY small, dessert only Jewish Sunday afternoon wedding in about 4 months and even for only magadociousrexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10234296868706929815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-37755169049877277402012-01-23T16:57:04.085-05:002012-01-23T16:57:04.085-05:00As someone who has been to a bunch of gemachs at t...As someone who has been to a bunch of gemachs at this point, don't expect to just get the same as everyone else for free, especially with wedding gemachs. I've been to a few of the biggest gemachs on the east coast for wedding dresses and have spent hours digging through piles of yellowed lace, torn sleeves, irreparable damage, stains that have set in for years... There are some decent Lilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12346629911135742919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-10556503605033891922012-01-23T13:37:49.408-05:002012-01-23T13:37:49.408-05:00". . . a fancy challah/matzah cover . . . &qu...". . . a fancy challah/matzah cover . . . "<br /><br />Just to avoid confusion (or worse), it may be worth mentioning that it's absolutely *not* permissible to use the same cover for both challah (chametz) and matzah!<br /><br />Housing expenses can certainly be a major challenge. My husband are seriously considering moving to a more Jewish neighborhood. I'm sorry to say that Shira Salamonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15989302669175887512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-11943663311615128262012-01-23T12:44:36.066-05:002012-01-23T12:44:36.066-05:00@Skylar - I think it is REALLY important for someo...@Skylar - I think it is REALLY important for someone to be upfront about the real, material costs. All too often, I see or hear of conversion candidates who can't afford kosher chicken thinking that they will be able to somehow afford all the other expenses that come along with being orthodox. A few off the top of my head, that are unavoidable, big-ticket items:<br /><br />1. Synagogue Redactedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09472100109027120712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-82164265476015877602012-01-23T11:48:10.468-05:002012-01-23T11:48:10.468-05:00Caroline: I wasn't aware that I have a positio...Caroline: I wasn't aware that I have a position :P Even making those changes, I think being an orthodox Jew is still significantly more expensive than not being one. These are just possible costs (and I can't believe I forgot synagogue-related ones!), and not all are negotiable. I also think that most people prioritize within these costs and probably end up spending the same. For instanceCrazyJewishConverthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219720130466040423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-75518621411468500262012-01-23T11:35:17.960-05:002012-01-23T11:35:17.960-05:00Redacted is right (and then some). There are plent...Redacted is right (and then some). There are plenty of places where kosher meat and other foodstuffs are readily available outside of NY and LA, and those places tend to be less expensive. <br /><br />Forget about keeping up with the Steins and be true to yourself. If this means using a napkin instead of a fancy challah cover, fine. If it means eating vegetarian most of the week because meat (or Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06713194747315482988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-59817681645995850912012-01-23T10:56:56.374-05:002012-01-23T10:56:56.374-05:00Gemachs and resisting the urge to "keep up wi...Gemachs and resisting the urge to "keep up with the steins" is a big help. For us, it helps that we do not live in one of the major orthodox communities, so rent and houses are cheap even within a mile of a Shul. The trade off is basically no kosher restaurants and few amenities. We get meat as part of a co-op and most of the "women talk" is about where to find what kosher Redactedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09472100109027120712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-58864755029823183072012-01-23T10:56:44.587-05:002012-01-23T10:56:44.587-05:00Mel: Thanks for the hint! And I send about 1/3 of ...Mel: Thanks for the hint! And I send about 1/3 of the books back into circulation, so I'm only stealing them temporarily :D<br /><br />Anonymous: Funny you should mention that! Gemachs are my intended topic for tomorrow!<br /><br />Mike: You are the only person to ever report Blogger eating your comments, and this happens pretty often, LOL... I blame operator error at this point. (And no CrazyJewishConverthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219720130466040423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-88337836316921440492012-01-23T10:17:01.936-05:002012-01-23T10:17:01.936-05:00Moving to Israel will solve all your educational e...Moving to Israel will solve all your educational expense problems.<br /><br />And all it costs is a bit of sanity! ;) <br /><br />[pretty sure blogger ate my earlier comment; if it showed up the queue somewhere, feel free to delete this one. Or that one. Or both. It's your blog, after all...]Mikeagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15827275300296295639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-37662967683401370642012-01-23T10:11:29.612-05:002012-01-23T10:11:29.612-05:00There are gemachs for weddings for a kallah who ma...There are gemachs for weddings for a kallah who may not be able to afford one, There are also gemachs for baby supplies and anything else you can think of, just gotta ask around or read the jewish press.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-87816266823898221892012-01-23T10:08:07.685-05:002012-01-23T10:08:07.685-05:00Ah so you are the person I am competing with on Pa...Ah so you are the person I am competing with on Paperbackswap for my Jewish books!<br /><br />I think 9 out of 12 books that I needed for my conversion course (Reconstructionist) came from PBS. Also check out bookmooch.com a few other books I needed to build up my library came from there too. I went from 5 Jewish books to 50+ in 6 months primarily using those two sites plus amazon.Melhttp://melsmarsh.comnoreply@blogger.com