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Okay, so the guy in Miami is a ripoff and his conversions aren't recognized by the majority of the Jewish community. I'm glad I found that out before I paid any money. HOWEVER, I met the most charming Israeli rabbi online who has agreed to help me convert -- for free! We had our first lesson last night. I didn't learn anything I didn't already know, but it was a good basis for our classes. We're doing them over Skype.

The rabbi -- Hillel -- is Masorti, which is the Israeli (and other countries that aren't the US and Canada) equivalent of the Conservative movement.

He told me to save the money I would have paid the other rabbi and save up for a trip to Israel. Which is scary and exciting.

We are not just talking about Jewish stuff, either. He's funny and absolutely charming. He's gotten pretty much my whole life story out of me and I've learned a lot about him, too. He's originally from Canada and made aliyah when he was 19. Like me, he's divorced and has three children. His kids live in Jerusalem. Hillel lives in Netanya and is a full-time pulpit rabbi to a large congregation.

Now that I've completely bored you...

Something is wrong with my cat's leg. She's dragging it and it appears to be broken or out of joint. We're taking her to the vet today. :(

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Yay! I'm glad you found out before confirming anything and, yikes, paying! Masorti is good as a basis, actually, it's what I was raised in (although ridiculously lax forms of it). I like it offers a really good foundation of how to live your life as a jewish woman, while being a little more flexible with modern day pracitices and sensibilities.

Not that it doesn't have it's own insanities, too :)

Saving up money for aliyah makes me think this guy is legit from the get-go. While there are some monies associated in conversion and I wouldn't be surprised if some rabbis/synagogs charged because there are stupid greedy people everywhere, even my old rabbi who charged for everything didn't actually ask that much. Conversion is all about will and offering yourself not only to G-d but to the community. Not about how much you can pay.

*hugs* I'm glad you're pursuing this, love.

I told him about my financial circumstances and he said he would even try to scan materials for me so I don't have to buy books! He is really awesome like that.

*hugs you tight* Thank you.

You need to do the conversion in connection with the Jewish community you want to join. The Reform and Conservative movements each have relatively systematic approaches to conversion, though I don't think Conservative Jews recognize Reform conversions (and Orthodox Jews don't recognize either, though both are valid from the perspective of the Israeli Law of Return and I can explain that paradox if you really want to know!) Both the Reform and Conservative movements have guides to conversion--books they want you to read, how many hours of instruction you should have and what you should know, stuff they want you to commit to, and a ritual involving a religious court of three observant Jews (usually rabbis, though not always) from their movement and a ritual bath or mikveh.

The only way to become a Jew is in relation to a community of people who recognize the authority of the beit din (religious court) who does the ritual with you and who believe that you do X,Y,Z to join the Jewish people. There will always be someone who doesn't approve of the way you did it, because that's the craziness you get into when you pursue Judaism.

I don't think that not asking for money makes the rabbi more legit, necessarily. Where would you do the beit din and mikveh? In Israel? Does this rabbi have a congregation? This post made me realize what a vulnerable situation you're in, so far away from a Jewish community.

I definitely want to convert Conservative. I've thought about it a lot. I have a friend who converted Conservative and is now in the process of converting Orthodox, so more options are open to him.

I would do the official stuff in Israel, yes. He has a congregation of about 150 in Netanya.

It's been very hard to find my fit, especially when my Jewish community is online. I mean, I think of you as part of my 'community' and I am so grateful for that. I will move eventually to a place with a large Jewish community (where, I don't know yet, neither do I know when) and that will help me a lot. Right now I can't do it, though.

The main reason I'm not encouraging you to convert Orthodox now is that they won't allow you to convert if you can't easily live a Jewish life. It seems like you have figured out a way to keep kosher--you've shown a lot of ingenuity and committment. I hope the closest Jewish community will reach out to you and support you. In some ways it might make sense to convert through a rabbi who is closer who is a respected member of a more local community.

Not completely kosher - I need new dishes/utensils and pots and pans, and my home needs to be kashered, but I'm doing what I can. Going vegetarian is a big part of that.

The closest Conservative congregation is lay-led. I've tried to get in touch with the rabbi at the closest chabad, but I haven't heard back yet.

Aw, poor kitty! I'm thinking good thoughts for her. And yay for you!!!

*hugs* Thank you.

Also, if you need books and I have them, I'll send them. I have extra copies of Strassfeld's The Jewish Holidays and some others, just hanging around my house.

Do you have Jewish Literacy by Joseph Telushkin? I've been recommended that book by several people.

I don't own that one, but it might be bumping around my office, let me take a look.

Thank you! *hugs*

Oh man, I'm so glad you figured that out before you paid him any money! D: The new guy sounds great and I'm glad he's willing to be flexible and work with you on things like books (ohmygod so expensive). I'm a big fan of Masorti, too.

I'm glad I found out, too! Mostly, I want the opportunity to make aliyah if I want to. I don't know if that's in my future or not, but the option is very important to me. I feel like it's an important part of Jewish identity.

What do you like about Masorti, and why are you converting Reform?

I like the idea that the law is evolving and we have to pay attention to it and grow it, and how they handle things like women's and gay rights, but Masorti is not radical enough for me! I like Reform because it emphasizes individual practice more, and is also, like, "LET'S BLOW THIS HALAKHA WIDE OPEN!" and very open to wide (if firmly-argued) reimaginings. It is less directed by tradition, which I like because "tradition" usually means "dudes".

*nodnod* I was just wondering. I thought it would be something like that. Reform is too untraditional for me, but that's just me, of course. I'm so glad you've found something that makes you happy and I've been following along with you gleefully.

Holy cow, it's a good thing you found out about the ripoff before it was too late!

It's also fantastic news you found Hillel. Sounds like a good person.

He really is! *hugs* Thank you.

it's a good thing you found out about the other guy before you gave him any money. i admit i don't know anything about the conversion process but the fact you had to pay for so much of it seemed kind of hinky. i mean, i imagine some money has to change hands somewhere at some point, but it seemed like he was asking for kind of a lot.

anyway! sounds like you found an honest rabbi to help you. which is cool. and i second his idea about saving up to visit israel someday - it's an amazing experience and i think it would help you feel really connected to your faith.

Thank you! I'm really looking forward to going when I can afford it.

*llicks*

I'm so glad you've found an awesome rabbi, and one who'll work for free, at that! I follow these updates even if I don't comment. ;)

Hope your kitty is gonna be okay, and also not cost you a fortune. D:

Thank you!

Jasmine didn't have any breaks, so we're thinking it's a sprain. She's confined for a little while so she can heal.

Oh, I hope your cat gets better.

Me too. The vet seems to think it will heal on its own, though, so that's good news at least.

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