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Jewish Joy - Blog Posts
judaism really popped off with its prayer tunes. sometimes a tune gets stuck in my head and i realize it’s not a song but a prayer. and then i feel happy
As a Jew, I love going to shul every week and smiling at everyone even if I don’t know their names and having them smile back. As a Jew, I love learning Jewish history from people who are passionate about preserving our culture and teaching Jewish history to people who haven’t had a chance to hear it. As a Jew, I love spending Friday nights after shul talking and giggling about life in the dark with my best friend because we forgot to leave a light on. As a Jew, I love playing Jewish geography. As a Jew, I love singing at Havdalah, whether it’s with my friends or my family or strangers.
As a Jew, more than anything, I love being a Jew. 💙
Why is it that the words “as a Jew…” are always followed by the most rancid, idiot takes possible?
i’m a little anxious to send this not on anon but i saw one of your posts where a comment mentioned jewish conversion and you seemed to support it. my boyfriend is jewish and i would like to convert to judaism but a lot of the research i’ve done says that you can’t convert, you have to be born into it since it’s an ethno-religion. i know everyone has different beliefs about this but i worry i won’t be accepted
Hello tyblackthornsheadphones, welcome!
"my boyfriend is jewish and i would like to convert to judaism"
Oooh! Mozel tov! I'm always so happy to meet new people who want to join the Jewish community! <3
"a lot of the research i’ve done says that you can’t convert, you have to be born into it since it’s an ethno-religion"
Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear that! D: There's so much misinformation being passed around online. :( Thankfully, I'm happy to report that those sources are incorrect: It IS possible to convert to Judaism. ^_^
Like any group, though, how friendly any given Jew is to potential Jewish converts depends on the individual and/or the group they belong in. Just as there's elitism and gatekeeping in every group of people ever (like high school cliques and video game circles--"you're not a REAL gamer unless X"), unfortunately you'll also find some snobbery, elitism, and gatekeeping in Judaism. :(
Though I think Rabbi Friedman has a very loving and accepting view of Jews by conversion. ^_^
The way I see it, the differing experiences of a "Jew-by-birth vs a Jew-by-conversion" can be comparable to an American citizen who was just born on American soil vs an American immigrant who had to go through a long and rigorous bureaucratic process to become an American citizen--they have to learn everything there is to know about American history, presidents, laws, customs, the legal system; spend a "probational period" living in America to become a naturalized citizen, etc.
(The Jewish religion used to be very conversion friendly, but that came to an end when Christianity and Islam became huge world powers who outlawed the Jewish community "tempting" good Christians or Muslims away from the One True Faith.
Jewish identity also used to be passed down from father to children in ancient times--as you'll see in the Torah--but that was changed by Hillel the Elder during the tyrannical reign of King Herod--yes, THAT King Herod! Hillel did this partly to give the children of Jewish mothers who were abandoned by their non-Jewish fathers a place in Jewish society, and he did this partly as a big old political "fuck you!" to King Herod, whose father was only nominally Jewish and his mother was a foreign gentile woman.)
Chabad is an Orthodox Jewish organization.
And here's a link from a Reform Judaism POV. ^_^
In my experience, Reform Jewish synagogues and organizations tend to be more accepting of and friendly to Jewish converts. (Though it's not universal! Sadly, there are snobs everywhere. D:)
So if I were you, I would just start with checking out some books on Judaism from your local library, attend Friday night or Saturday morning Shabbat services with your boyfriend (that's usually a time when non-Jewish guests attend).
If your local college has a Hillel or Chabad Jewish student organization, I would visit that too! They usually host fun events that are free and open to to all, especially students who're just interested in connecting with other Jewish students, and learning about Jewish identity. ^_^
In the meantime, I'd just take time to study and learn about Jewish history and culture just for fun.
I think Sam Aranow's "Jewish History" Youtube series is a very entertaining way to learn about Jewish history, from ancient to modern.
Unfortunately I have to go to work now, but if you have ANY other questions, please reach out to me! I LOVE sharing knowledge and resources about Judaism, especially to potential converts who show a genuine interest and curiosity.
(Jewish culture can be, in my opinion, not as accepting and welcoming of potential Jewish converts as they should be, and I want to make up the difference. ^_^ )