(no subject)
first class. third conversion course. maybe this time will be the last?
9 books are required, as is mandatory concurrent hebrew study. for me, that works because i've been through conversion courses enough that the material isn't exactly new. but if i were starting from scratch, i would be completely overwhelmed. i'm wondering why they don't do two separate classes, one for the "content" and one for the "language".
that said, if last night's tone and pace represents the rest of the course... then i really think the general distaste for reform judaism, and especially its conversions, found among the conservative movement for being a "cop-out" needs to go. it's not that different at all.
i like it a lot so far. there are probably 15 "candidates," but with jewish significant others that probably puts us at just between 20 and 25 in the class. i'm (obviously) not the only single person-- off the top of my head, there are four other women and one man. and i am not the only person under 40--imagine that. in fact i think all but one couple (i remember 7...) is under 45. it's nice not being around older people all the time. it's nice not being in a class with jewish adults always asking "WHY on EARTH would you want to do that?!" it's nice having this content geared specifically towards conversion candidates.
there are two older black ladies that hit it off right away. D., the older of the two, has 8 kids, 4 sons and 4 daughters. she is really very shy, won't even ask the rabbis any questions she has one on one. it makes me wonder how she ever mustered the courage to go approach one. i hope she gains some confidence soon and begins to speak up a bit more. no one is there to judge her. M. has been studying with a friend's father for a good chunk of time. her hebrew letter identification is a lot stronger than most of us thanks to said friend's father. i don't know how to say this without sounding racist. which means it probably is to some degree. but it was very interesting talking to her before the class started and listening to her questions during. it sounds like she was raised in a traditional southern black church and that type of spirituality is very much a part of her faith. very call and answer responsive, very music-based. i like seeing how we all bring our own cultures to enrich the tradition we seek to join.
i'll shut up now. happy new year all!
9 books are required, as is mandatory concurrent hebrew study. for me, that works because i've been through conversion courses enough that the material isn't exactly new. but if i were starting from scratch, i would be completely overwhelmed. i'm wondering why they don't do two separate classes, one for the "content" and one for the "language".
that said, if last night's tone and pace represents the rest of the course... then i really think the general distaste for reform judaism, and especially its conversions, found among the conservative movement for being a "cop-out" needs to go. it's not that different at all.
i like it a lot so far. there are probably 15 "candidates," but with jewish significant others that probably puts us at just between 20 and 25 in the class. i'm (obviously) not the only single person-- off the top of my head, there are four other women and one man. and i am not the only person under 40--imagine that. in fact i think all but one couple (i remember 7...) is under 45. it's nice not being around older people all the time. it's nice not being in a class with jewish adults always asking "WHY on EARTH would you want to do that?!" it's nice having this content geared specifically towards conversion candidates.
there are two older black ladies that hit it off right away. D., the older of the two, has 8 kids, 4 sons and 4 daughters. she is really very shy, won't even ask the rabbis any questions she has one on one. it makes me wonder how she ever mustered the courage to go approach one. i hope she gains some confidence soon and begins to speak up a bit more. no one is there to judge her. M. has been studying with a friend's father for a good chunk of time. her hebrew letter identification is a lot stronger than most of us thanks to said friend's father. i don't know how to say this without sounding racist. which means it probably is to some degree. but it was very interesting talking to her before the class started and listening to her questions during. it sounds like she was raised in a traditional southern black church and that type of spirituality is very much a part of her faith. very call and answer responsive, very music-based. i like seeing how we all bring our own cultures to enrich the tradition we seek to join.
i'll shut up now. happy new year all!