With the Off The Derech community growing at such a rapid pace, the Rabbonom who set community hashkafa have been unable to keep up. Splinter groups keep forming and I think they’ve reached a critical point, just last week, several…
Tag: Converts
Why I’m jealous of Baal Teshuvas
I’m jealous of Baalei Teshuva. There I said it, it’s not easy for me as a supposedly elitist, cynical, sarcastic, and sometimes angry FFB to admit that I’m terrified and jealous of BT’s. Their inspiration, passion, and willingness to submit…
The latest in frummy hocks: BT Insurance
by Chaya Miriam Fried I used to joke that every beis din should have insurance, kind of like errors & omissions, for cases in which they convert someone whose observance level goes south as soon as they come out of…
Frum Inconsistencies: Don’t Judge Judaism by the Jews
One of the toughest things I’ve had to do recently is to try and explain frum inconsistencies to people who couldn’t get a grip on reality. The reality that Orthodox Jews are not perfect and in fact they are inherently…
Marrying a convert has its pluses: Christmas with the in-laws!
Let’s face it, as an FFB I’ve been deprived of some pretty pivotal moments in life. My father never told me to use protection, I never got to go to prom (I still have no idea how to dance with…
Off the derech people are miserable
I don’t know anyone who’s happy and off the derech. If they were so happy, why would they keep having to tell us religious Jews how silly we are, couldn’t they just be happy with their decision and leave us…
The Baal Teshuva’s guide to shidduch dating
As much as we kiruv industry professionals like to think we have prepared the baal teshuva for the real (frum) world we really haven’t. So while the girls know how to to dress according to tznius social norms, the guys…
Converting can really be a gut wrenching process
By Eclectric Trixie I left town and spent the last days of Pesach with friends away from my community. I had a blast. I love Pesach. But as with all holidays, this one came with a twinge of sadness along…
I’m not done with my conversion, but I won’t be your shabbos goy!
Guest post by Eclectic Trixie I answered the phone Friday afternoon thinking it was going to be a shabbos dinner invite. It was my neighbor down the street calling who puts together some of the tastiest shabbos dinners in the…
Stop screwing with the converts already!
It’s hard to find an orthodox convert who only converted once, usually they had to do it once or twice before they even discovered orthodoxy. Almost every convert I have ever met has at least 2 conversions under their belt,…
Are you hot for frummies?
Once in a while when I ask for ideas on facebook I actually get a good idea, the other night this girl who’s in the process of converting to Judaism told her that she is hot for frummies, she just…
Want to complete your conversion? Then move out of your community!
I’ve been hanging with quite a few folks in the process of converting to Judaism lately and all of them have told me their dismay when having learned that they would have to pick up their lives and move to…
I used to be a frum Christian and now I want to convert to Judaism
Heshy, Although I’m not Jewish I’ve been keeping track of your blog for a while now and it’s helped me map out the orthodox landscape. You seem to be a guy who’s conversant with the world of ideas so I…
If converts are on such a high level why won’t you marry one?
If gerim are on such a high madreiga, why doesn’t anyone want to marry them? It’s a pretty good question. I myself am very fond of converts. I think they must have some loose screws for wanting to join our…
Conversion Chronicles: Chaim Potok books are not kosher
Part of my friend’s conversion process requires that a Rabbi from the beis din he is working with to come over and meet with the family and take a look at their house. So he put away all of the…
26 Stuff Gerim Like, 17 Items Gerim Don’t Like
I was chilling with my buddy in the East Bay who is converting when I thought of this post. We were talking about the taking of the blood and I thought that Gerim must cringe when they hear about metzitzas…
Woman quits conversion due to racism at shabbos table
A woman was eating at her local orthodox Rabbis house this past week when the rabbi announced that they were going to sing a niggun because his shvigger liked when the boys sang at the meal. She stood up at…
Go for the Ger
I have always been attracted to the other. I am a baal teshuva coming from a secular family, a white alum from a mostly minority college in a black neighborhood, an Ashkenazi living in a Bukharian neighborhood, a youngster in…
When I told my family I wanted to be Jewish
Coming out to my family was difficult. Especially since I wasn’t telling them I was gay, I was just telling them I wanted to be Jewish. I was 14 the first time I told my mother I wanted to be…
Britney Spears is converting to Judaism – who cares?
I think this is the most tznius picture of Britney I could find, but fear not – she’s wearing a black hat. After dozens of emails, facebook and twitter messages asking me to write about this – I am doing…
Shomer Negiah in the workplace from a converts point of view
Sent to me via email from an anonymous convert – in response to Awkward Shomer Negiah Moments I should explain that I am a convert to Judaism for reasons of my own. I am not married, engaged, date, or in…
Jew In The City: Making Orthodox Judaism look normal
A long time ago when I first going on You Tube, I saw a video about sheitles and what exactly the point of them are, it was done by this girl who calls herself Jew In The City. I recently…
Guest Poster: Am I still considered a goy?
I figured all the converts or prospective converts who read this site would be interested in this – I found it on Jewcy and the writer gave me permission to post it. For those of you new to this site…
Guest Poster: Funny thoughts about my conversion to Judaism
Received via email from Kay Ariella McKown, who is one of the first people who actually wrote something good when I asked if she wanted to be a guest poster. I know that everyone will enjoy what she has to…