tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post8717365384323150026..comments2023-11-12T20:59:55.490-05:00Comments on Building a Jewish Life: Why Batei Din Are Opposed to You Living Long Distances from SynagogueKochavahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841373131402987905noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-48256678034151257632016-04-13T18:30:17.807-04:002016-04-13T18:30:17.807-04:00Yeah, I don't see a conversion fund, either. ...Yeah, I don't see a conversion fund, either. Largely because there is no shame in living as a non-Jew, and so converts, while accepted and loved, aren't necessarily encouraged, per se. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05983069056932485472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-51501973066564315522016-04-13T18:28:13.251-04:002016-04-13T18:28:13.251-04:00The rabbi I converted with would not convert candi...The rabbi I converted with would not convert candidates unless they lived within the eiruv. So I had to move. And I did, gladly. And even with staying home with young kids...we used to visit other Moms also staying at home and eat at each others' houses. So, I really don't see that changing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05983069056932485472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-60403096562509706952013-03-13T19:33:04.468-04:002013-03-13T19:33:04.468-04:00Originally posted: December 9, 2011 at 6:56 AM
Re...Originally posted: December 9, 2011 at 6:56 AM<br /><br />Re: fund for conversion candidates. I don't see it happening. Like ever. There is too much need within the community for people to want to fund Jewish life "outside" it. Sad but true. However, that doesn't foreclose the possibility of batei din and classes becoming more flexible with fees, payment plans, waivers, etc. AndKochavahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841373131402987905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-84161242313069921942013-03-13T19:32:01.691-04:002013-03-13T19:32:01.691-04:00Originally posted: December 9, 2011 at 7:11 AM
Lu...Originally posted: December 9, 2011 at 7:11 AM<br /><br />Lurking Noachide: You're right, it would be nice to transplant a community. It'd be even nicer to bulk up the small communities we already have. (I, for one, don't understand why people aren't moving to the San Francisco Bay area in droves.) But the communities with that 13 year yeshiva-style school aren't necessarily Kochavahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841373131402987905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-2322684474317806132013-03-13T19:31:03.085-04:002013-03-13T19:31:03.085-04:00Originally posted: December 9, 2011 at 6:52 AM
An...Originally posted: December 9, 2011 at 6:52 AM<br /><br />Anna: I'm not sure I understand the question properly. You've got a lot of variables going on there :P Feel free to email me about it if you'd still like to discuss it. My email is on the "About" page.Kochavahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841373131402987905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-56204038697764526502013-03-13T19:30:03.991-04:002013-03-13T19:30:03.991-04:00Posted originally: December 9, 2011 at 6:50 AM
Jo...Posted originally: December 9, 2011 at 6:50 AM<br /><br />Joe: I think that's being unrealistic. If you can't live in a community, you can't. That sucks, but it's life. There are other communities where it can work. No one makes you do anything, so there's no sense in getting angry about things that are out of your (and the Jewish community's) control. My guess would be Kochavahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841373131402987905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-82473031019778663192012-11-04T07:09:38.020-05:002012-11-04T07:09:38.020-05:00Hi, I have a question. I want to convert (probably...Hi, I have a question. I want to convert (probably Modern Orthodox) and I am finishing up my letter to the Beth Din requesting assistance with conversion (the Rabbis I spoke to referred me to the Beth Din). Before you moved close to the synagogue, did you drive or take public transportation to the shul or did you stay over at someone's house in order to walk to the shul for shabbat? If you Samhttp://unitarianchristians.co.zanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-55817689817588857422012-08-12T01:23:01.931-04:002012-08-12T01:23:01.931-04:00I heard an opinion from my converting Rav (in Bnei...I heard an opinion from my converting Rav (in Bnei Brak, no less) that once a person truly attaches himself to mitzvot but is not yet Jewish, that there is no turning back for his neshama. The Jewish community would be well inclined to help those who have the mesiras nefesh to become Jewish once they have shown their commitment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-19206224389468829852012-08-12T01:21:27.743-04:002012-08-12T01:21:27.743-04:00"The convert's aveirahs (and mitzvot) are..."The convert's aveirahs (and mitzvot) are on the head of his converting rabbis." <br /><br />Actually, Skylar, there are multiple opinions about this. Because you are writing this blog to educate people about geirut, I feel that I have a responsibility to let people know when an educational blog is not presenting all the facts. <br /><br />One opinion, as you pointed out, is that a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-73388599543555940332011-11-23T16:46:17.876-05:002011-11-23T16:46:17.876-05:00Unless these Rabbi's are claiming to have prop...Unless these Rabbi's are claiming to have prophetic visions, it is wrong of them to make assumptions about someones future willingness to walk. Where I live all the shuls are located in wealthy areas (minimum house values well over $1M and minimum condos $650K--and those condos are not big enough for families). Making one live in those areas means, in practical terms, that in order to become Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-76966655481608204592011-11-19T10:47:05.187-05:002011-11-19T10:47:05.187-05:00Elle,
I'm in the same boat as you. House in...Elle, <br /><br />I'm in the same boat as you. House in foreclosure, barely have food on the table, etc. (I've been out of work 3 years and my SO just ran out of his benefits) so we have $400 until one of us gets a job. Luckily only one of us is converting.<br /><br />I am very lucky that first of all, the conversion course is only $250 and I am on their payment plan available, but Melhttp://melsmarsh.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-56392641967494707382011-11-18T22:41:32.950-05:002011-11-18T22:41:32.950-05:00Lurking Noahide said:
In my research many of the ...Lurking Noahide said:<br /><br />In my research many of the communities where there are 13 year Jewish schools are fairly expensive places to live. <br /><br />I've also noticed often there are multiple schuls serving the same general area of the city not even serving separate 5 mile radii(the distance some websites say is the maximum distance for converstion).<br /><br />I don't Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-72597926813347596132011-11-18T18:23:38.875-05:002011-11-18T18:23:38.875-05:00One of the benefits of a liberal conversion (besid...One of the benefits of a liberal conversion (besides, y'know, it fitting with my outlook) is that I'm 'graded' on what I can do right now and the intent to continue to do so. Right now, I've been unemployed for a year and can't leave my current living situation (with a sister and roommate, across town from shul), and my health is in the crapper. So I don't get to shul Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-5118127101598846742011-11-18T14:04:09.541-05:002011-11-18T14:04:09.541-05:00P.s. I really like what Drew had to say. I agree!
...P.s. I really like what Drew had to say. I agree!<br /><br />We are converting our entire family so times every expense by 5... we are broke. Like REALLY broke, not the kinds were people think they are broke because they can't afford to buy new shoes this month. We're the kind that can't hardly pay rent. Conversion is financially breaking us, and it's hard not to let that Ellehttp://www.onbecomingdevoted.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-42970601582874850232011-11-18T13:59:25.037-05:002011-11-18T13:59:25.037-05:00I live on the 15th floor and it sucks. There is no...I live on the 15th floor and it sucks. There is no way around that. But we're not the only ones who have to walk down on Shabbos so that makes it better. I've never ever heard of anyone being unable to convert b/c they lived too high up or because they lived more than a mile. I have friends who walk well over a mile to get to shul every week. Another thing to consider is that women, once Ellehttp://www.onbecomingdevoted.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-242556231133530452011-11-18T13:37:26.807-05:002011-11-18T13:37:26.807-05:00One quick questions about this, for individuals wh...One quick questions about this, for individuals who have already begun or completed their Orthodox conversion:<br /><br />Did you have to move to the community of your sponsoring Rabbi? Or were you able to move into the "nearest eruv," within a mile of your nearest "approved" shul? There are at least 3 eruvs in my area, and I'm currently living reeeeeally close to 1, but Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-75368412529171151102011-11-18T10:57:14.017-05:002011-11-18T10:57:14.017-05:00You make me so, so glad I am not converting Orthod...You make me so, so glad I am not converting Orthodox.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292734369805726323.post-84500989482115211812011-11-18T10:23:55.808-05:002011-11-18T10:23:55.808-05:00My current apartment is 1.5 miles from shul but we...My current apartment is 1.5 miles from shul but well within our generous eruv. The walk isn't terrible on a regular basis but it makes getting up earlier on shabbat a requirement, not a whim. We would love to move closer but the rent in this area is astronomical (city prices in a suburb) and our building is one of the *only* pet friendly buildings in our town. <br /><br />Thankfully, everyoneDrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04138050246830502228noreply@blogger.com