Jul 26, 2005 15:39
I just want to introduce myself. I've been looking for something like the JBC livejournal for some time, and a friend gave me the head's up on it today. I converted under the auspices of the Conservative movement several years ago, just before I met my Jewish by Birth husband. Now, I'm making the effort to make an O'dox conversion. I just want to say that I don't know if I understand why. In many ways, we're very religious. Certainly to most of my secular friends we appear to be religious nuts; won't eat out, don't answer the phone on Shabbat, don't drive on Shabbat, etc... It doesn't take much to single one's self out in a crowd of non-religious folk. Is that a word, non-religious? You get my meaning. To our orthodox friends, we probably appear, well, not orthodox. But we try, and we study, and we add observances as we go. Not to say I'm not cranky about some of them. If I'd been born Jewish, I would be comfortable taking things slowly, in terms of observance. But in order to get this conversion off the ground, I have to act as if I were an orthodox Jew. I love Judaism. And frankly, I already identify as a Jew, and felt that's what I was when I emerged from the mikvah four years ago. But I understand some of the complications. Anyway. It's really great to read about everyone else's journey . I feel less alone, and I can be a bit more brutally honest here about the process.
While I was posting this, the Bet Din called me to confirm my appointment for the beginning of September. I've met with a Rabbinic Administrator already, but this meeting will consist of my husband and I declaring we have no problem going forward, after having read some required texts. It's a family affair. Looking forward to being part of the community.