tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166038.post2572466269220432866..comments2023-09-16T08:43:25.401-04:00Comments on Ima Shalom: Why I Dread Simchat TorahIma Shalomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09061606719970415577noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166038.post-37922617521246186952008-10-21T07:14:00.000-04:002008-10-21T07:14:00.000-04:00We are told that converts are to be honored. I am ...We are told that converts are to be honored. I am another convert who doesn't feel honored to be one though..I don't feel I've ever been anything other than Jewish (when Gd made me born a gentile, he was teasing :) ) -- but my pain is less from the process itself than from the constant questioning of its validity by those more observant than we are. We are caught between conservative and observant, with the observant not accepting 4/5 of us as Jews, so we cannot be a full part of that community...and yet our less observant friends already don't understand us (a Jewish boss chewed me out for reminding her I can't work on Rosh Hashanah - she was outraged, "even though it's the second day?!!") - and when I cover my hair (working on it...so far part time :) ) a good friend of mine tells me how much I look like a 'cute yente'. I think she's trying to be kind, but the look she gives me when she says that is kind of odd. I also don't think using the names Sarah and Abraham will necessarily 'out' you as a convert and I know that even just for you the reminder is unpleasant, but be thankful if your conversion is one that is accepted by your rabbi and the rest of your community. It is no small something in this world of divided Jewry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166038.post-20868035609017868832008-10-16T15:35:00.000-04:002008-10-16T15:35:00.000-04:00I grew up Jewish in a reform synoguage, now I atte...I grew up Jewish in a reform synoguage, now I attend more religious services and I feel a similar lack of... what is it I feel... I guess the feeling is lack of belonging. So I think I understand, but at the same time I hope that you and I will feel more comfortable with each year.Debbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07443460833111697991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166038.post-68763684482519578032008-10-15T21:57:00.000-04:002008-10-15T21:57:00.000-04:00Thanks everyone.Thanks everyone.Marcela Sulakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232403389788282812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166038.post-90110743299987241572008-10-14T10:59:00.000-04:002008-10-14T10:59:00.000-04:00I may not believe in everything Judaism teaches, b...I may not believe in everything Judaism teaches, but I firmly and unequivocally believe that every Jewish soul was at Sinai. You may not have knowingly been born Jewish, but your soul knew it. <BR/><BR/>It's sad to hear of your negative experiences as a Jew by choice. I know my life has been touched many times by people who converted - from the age of 5 when my family sort of adopted another family as they went through the conversion process - to the Sukkot dinner I attended last night. <BR/><BR/>All I can say is to keep your faith and don't let the insecurities and narrow definitions of others make you feel bad.Shtetl Fabuloushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17376962203771583936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166038.post-83682590665752434172008-10-14T09:12:00.000-04:002008-10-14T09:12:00.000-04:00My husband only uses his father's name - maybe you...My husband only uses his father's name - maybe you could choose to only use Avraham...<BR/><BR/>As my Rabbi said on Kol Nidre, we nned to choose to live unambiguously Jewish. Many do not make this choice... Since you do, you should embrace it fully.The Calico Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06319271181930512880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166038.post-37278213147404666902008-10-13T22:35:00.000-04:002008-10-13T22:35:00.000-04:00Dear Maya bat Avraham v'Sarah...I have tremendous ...Dear Maya bat Avraham v'Sarah...<BR/><BR/>I have tremendous admiration for your journey. As a Jewish educator, I have found that ALL of us who choose to live Jewish lives are Jews by choice. In this day and age (did I really say that? I sound OLD) it is easy enough not to choose to live in deep connection and relation to your Judaism. You sought this out, you worked for it, you made it yours; personally, I was just born into it, and so you are much stronger for your choice.<BR/><BR/>Find a shul with a communal aliyah where they call up a bunch of people at a time. Then you won't have to say it...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166038.post-22713502493440526952008-10-13T15:54:00.000-04:002008-10-13T15:54:00.000-04:00In the two out-of-NYC communities in which I've li...In the two out-of-NYC communities in which I've lived so far, being a convert is nothing too out of the ordinary, and most people accept it lovingly and with open arms. Even if people are listening to the names of your parents, you can choose to just name Abraham, since a mishaberach is technically said with the father's name (though many women choose to name both parents); like you said, there are plenty of Jews-from-birth who's fathers are named Abraham. <BR/><BR/>Don't dread it; embrace it. I know it's easier said than done, especially since I have not walked in your shoes, but I understand parts of what you're going thru- I wasn't raised in an Orthodox home, and there were many times in my life when I felt (and sometimes still feel) like I was a baby at something that others were more experienced at, simply because they were born into it. <BR/><BR/>Embrace it, if only because it makes your life more beautifully complex, multifaceted, and appealing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166038.post-82588139487941388172008-10-13T14:01:00.000-04:002008-10-13T14:01:00.000-04:00You are being sensitive, but we are all allowed to...You are being sensitive, but we are all allowed to be sensitve at times. If it bothers you I would suggest getting your story ready. You could say you were estranged from your parents or your mother was called Sarah but you were never told the name of your father, or that you were adopted from a jewish family. You are making the big assumption that people actually listen to hear what your parents names are, I doubt that anyone really does. It would be a shame to miss out because you want to avoid the issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com