zealofzebra
in
jbcs
Update
About two weeks ago I posted here about being apprehensive and uncomfortable with being "found out" as a convert. I spoke with my rabbi last night.
First of all, how many of you out there are doing "long distance" conversions? When I first started this process, I studied with a student rabbi twice a week. I loved it. Not only did we get to know each other, but because it was just the two of us going through a Judaism 101 book, we could go off on tangents and explore other related things that I wouldn't necessarily be able to do in a classroom situation.
I don't have that connection with my "long distance" work with the rabbi that will actually manage my conversion. Anyway, when I spoke with him last night, I mentioned my self-conciousness in regards to the camp I've applied for (and speaking of phone conversations, my interview went very well!), and when I tried to explain why I felt that way about my name, his only response was to ask me when camp started. The next thing I know, he's using those gong-like words "you're ready" and telling me to read three chapters in Honey from the Rock and call him back.
I was taken aback, really. This was the Orthodox rabbi who wouldn't take any contact information for the student rabbi that I started studying with (and I have no idea if it was because he was a student or Reform) and who, when I first called him, said that we would have to "finish up" sometime this summer. Now he's talking like it's going to happen before the end of May.
So...well, I know I'm ready, but it just all seems so sudden. How did your rabbis tell you when you were ready?
First of all, how many of you out there are doing "long distance" conversions? When I first started this process, I studied with a student rabbi twice a week. I loved it. Not only did we get to know each other, but because it was just the two of us going through a Judaism 101 book, we could go off on tangents and explore other related things that I wouldn't necessarily be able to do in a classroom situation.
I don't have that connection with my "long distance" work with the rabbi that will actually manage my conversion. Anyway, when I spoke with him last night, I mentioned my self-conciousness in regards to the camp I've applied for (and speaking of phone conversations, my interview went very well!), and when I tried to explain why I felt that way about my name, his only response was to ask me when camp started. The next thing I know, he's using those gong-like words "you're ready" and telling me to read three chapters in Honey from the Rock and call him back.
I was taken aback, really. This was the Orthodox rabbi who wouldn't take any contact information for the student rabbi that I started studying with (and I have no idea if it was because he was a student or Reform) and who, when I first called him, said that we would have to "finish up" sometime this summer. Now he's talking like it's going to happen before the end of May.
So...well, I know I'm ready, but it just all seems so sudden. How did your rabbis tell you when you were ready?