tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post6842098899451583468..comments2023-11-12T20:59:55.490-05:00Comments on Building a Jewish Life: Liberal Conversion: The Gateway DrugKochavahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841373131402987905noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-81339043618056847742015-10-25T12:21:50.210-04:002015-10-25T12:21:50.210-04:00Here is a link to my short story. It is also an in...Here is a link to my short story. It is also an interesting blog! <br /><br />https://yourphariseefriend.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/why-i-left-jesus-by-fred/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07869802318984481142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-42563297229026230082015-10-25T12:19:31.743-04:002015-10-25T12:19:31.743-04:00Oh, and I like this blog so far. You seem like an ...Oh, and I like this blog so far. You seem like an intelligent and funny lady. As one with a similar , but not exactly the same, story, this is interesting. I started the conversion process back in 2009 and got "stage fright" after losing most of my friends and isolating myself from my family ( and yes, the politics in the pulpit was a turn-off as well). I went back to my SDA church, Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07869802318984481142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-65251368882537368502015-10-25T12:15:06.869-04:002015-10-25T12:15:06.869-04:00 I find it hard to believe that Judaism was suppor... I find it hard to believe that Judaism was supportive of homosexual marriage and abortion on demand until the Christians brought their Victorian prudishness into the culture. The Torah speaks directly to these issues. Have a good day! Shalom!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07869802318984481142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-79779947149671283082015-10-25T10:29:18.393-04:002015-10-25T10:29:18.393-04:00I don't know if it'll make you feel any be...I don't know if it'll make you feel any better, but I think all shuls are pretty political. I'm in the opposite situation as you: while the liberal Jewish movements tend to be politically liberal or progressive, the orthodox community is overwhelmingly very conservative. Well, it seems overwhelming because liberals and progressives like myself don't speak openly because we've Kochavahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841373131402987905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-17291398392592513002015-10-25T02:38:28.930-04:002015-10-25T02:38:28.930-04:00I am in the process of conversion through a statew...I am in the process of conversion through a statewide "board of rabbis", which includes all movements ( you attend classes and then pick the movement you want to convert to). I currently attend a Conservative Shul, which I believe is a good starting point. The problem I have in my short time in Judaism is that the liberal movements are not just liberal theologically, but politically as Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-20829670439017784672015-02-01T18:47:28.775-05:002015-02-01T18:47:28.775-05:00Hi - I came to this site some time ago - such a go...Hi - I came to this site some time ago - such a good blog!<br /><br />I've also been writing about this issue as a liberal convert (I'm converting at the moment). I have many reservations about the validity of my conversion, not least the problem that knowing me, I will probably fall for an orthodox man... and then the problems of jewish status could be a problem.<br /><br />As you say, Clarissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06368093571011247421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-27732649743097005052011-12-04T23:09:37.126-05:002011-12-04T23:09:37.126-05:00Yeah i know i'm reading this a year after you ...Yeah i know i'm reading this a year after you wrote it. Your last paragraph is the exact reason why I'm probably going to remain a Reform Jew for life. I converted Reform, my husband is Reform and with 1 kid and another on the way, I highly doubt things are going to change theologically. <br /><br />Still, I find your perspective on Orthodox Judaism and your conversion fascinating which Megnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-83203696376675052542010-12-12T22:55:12.076-05:002010-12-12T22:55:12.076-05:00Ninufar, I understand your point, and I know it...Ninufar, I understand your point, and I know it's a very big deal for many of us women! I'm a little different from many converts since I started in an orthodox congregation, so that's my "default." <br /><br />I think it's very interesting that you noted counting towards the minyan rather than the mechitza! It seems that most women stop at the mechitza and never bring CrazyJewishConverthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219720130466040423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-63712592900791867412010-12-05T00:21:43.563-05:002010-12-05T00:21:43.563-05:00I'm enjoying reading some of your posts! (cam...I'm enjoying reading some of your posts! (came over via Aish's dating column)<br /><br />I bet you're on target with your "un-PC" hypothesis. There's another element, though, which I was surprised you didn't factor in. I hope to continue growing in observance every year. Even if I get to "orthoprax", though, I do not ever plan to join a congregation ninufarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-6954018643136041292010-12-02T21:15:49.342-05:002010-12-02T21:15:49.342-05:00Sara B, I *think* there is nonetheless a distincti...Sara B, I *think* there is nonetheless a distinction to be made about 'mitzvah'. When I violate a commandment, I truly believe that I have violated God's actual requirement of me and other Jews. And yes, I unfortunately do so. Of course, when I carry out such a commandment, I also believe that I am acting in the manner that God requires of me. Not up to me to decide if I like it, Mordechai Y. Scherhttp://www.kolberamah.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-34611733563939887662010-12-02T07:50:34.009-05:002010-12-02T07:50:34.009-05:00I've always wondered if a similar situation ap...I've always wondered if a similar situation applied here in the UK. I know of one girl who originally converted under the Masorti Beth Din, and is now a London Beth Din candidate.<br /><br />I haven't encountered anybody else who did the same thing. Perhaps it is because most synagogues here are Orthodox whether or not the people who fill them lead the lifestyle. Masorti are quite small Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-72038547604626277942010-12-01T16:56:47.626-05:002010-12-01T16:56:47.626-05:00Reform Jews do, indeed, possess an idea of a mitzv...Reform Jews do, indeed, possess an idea of a mitzvah as a commandment. Because, well, that's what the word mitzvah means.<br /><br />I'd also like to emphasize that we all "pick and choose" which commandments to follow, and when. I would say your average Orthodox person chooses to do more commandments more often and your average Reform person chooses to do fewer and less often, Susan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00840373234747823781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-1439794233427068822010-12-01T09:06:21.476-05:002010-12-01T09:06:21.476-05:00Interesting. I'm quite surprised by the idea ...Interesting. I'm quite surprised by the idea that so many halachic converts started out as non-halachic converts.<br /><br />One friend told me she started looking to 're-convert' about a year after a Conservative conversion, when she realized she believed in things that the rabbi clearly didn't. Like Torah was really given by God at Sinai, and is really obligatory. She was Mordechai Y. Scherhttp://www.kolberamah.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-70948749394601079802010-11-30T17:27:16.235-05:002010-11-30T17:27:16.235-05:00Elisheva, please disregard the first part of my co...Elisheva, please disregard the first part of my comment above. I realized what you meant, and I fixed it! Thank you!CrazyJewishConverthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219720130466040423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-53852130324344306392010-11-30T15:56:02.425-05:002010-11-30T15:56:02.425-05:00Hah, I say both batei din and bait dins. At least ...Hah, I say both batei din and bait dins. At least right now, most of my readership isn't Jewish, so I've been leaning towards using the more English-friendly one!<br /><br />As for the halacha point, you make a great point! Actually, I do include those people. But in this post, I'm referring more to the "official" positions of groups, rather than what individual people do.CrazyJewishConverthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219720130466040423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-64480571655011816582010-11-30T12:53:19.073-05:002010-11-30T12:53:19.073-05:00Great post! I'm an Orthodox convert like you, ...Great post! I'm an Orthodox convert like you, although I grew up in a Reform home with a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother. <br /><br />I totally agree with your characterizations of the Reform and Conservative movements, but I'm not sure I agree with your statement that "[Orthodox people] all agree that all the halacha is obligatory." If wishing made it so. There is a good Elishevanoreply@blogger.com