Well this morning was the final aspect of my conversion, the mikvah. It is not a requirement for a reform conversion so technically I was Jewish but it is a requirement of my sponsoring Rabbi. Today was really not a big deal from one aspect it was just finishing up.
The mikvah is used for ritual purity. I wish that the mikvah was open when I had my conversion because I think it would have had more meaning for me after the beit den and being declared a Jew to then finish in the mikvah. Things don't always work out that way but it is all good.
I can say now that except for three entries I still have to write for my rabbi the actual process of conversion is finished for me. Now to just enjoy the new aspect of my life, live like a Jew and never stop learning and helping. I think that is the best blessing anyone could ever want. Now my blog will turn from my process of conversion to what i am doing in my life to live like a Jew and then onto my aliyah process for my move to Israel. It is going to be busy and stressful few years winding everything down here and preparing to get on a plane and start a completely new life. It will be wonderful to fulfill my life long dream of moving to Israel even though I didnt know it was my dream until my first visit there in 2011.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Lifecycle
To gain a better understanding I can not think of a better way than to start at birth and go to death in the life of a Jew, looking at all the major things that happen. Lets start with me as if I was born Jewish.
I was born September 26, 1967. On that day my birth certificate would have been filled out leaving my name blank until my brit milah. My brit milah or bris would take place on the eighth day after my birth or October 4, 1967. Medical issues are the only reason that a bris may be put off. There would be a meal after my bris and my name would be announced.
I would start Hebrew school depending on the community that I lived in. Either at a day school or at a synagogue religious school.
I would have my bar mitzvah when I turned thirteen years old, after September 26, 1980. At this point I would be considered an adult and be responsible for my actions and for following the 613 laws of the Torah. I would be able to read from the Torah, be part of a minion, and testify in Jewish court. I was thirty-one years past my bar mitzvah but it was truly a very powerful day for me and as I talk about it with friends I highly recommend that anyone that has not had a bar or bat mitzvah they should talk with their Rabbi and get one scheduled on the books. It was the most amazing experience of working and learning and then to be able to go up and read from the Torah.
Marriage would be performed by my rabbi under the chuppa. There would be a ketubah, or the written contract for the marriage. There are differing thoughts on inter faith marriages that would have to be dealt with. Orthodox would not even entertain the thought of one. While conservative would want the non Jew welcomed into the home and hopefully prompting conversion and reform would in theory be alright with the marriage, depending on the rabbi. There would be insistence that children would be raised Jewish.
Children would obviously be raised Jewish. The cycle would then start for them with a bris and naming for a boy or naming for a girl on their eighth day.
Death is not sugar coated in Judaism. Death is part of the life cycle and there are important rituals that go along with it. There is the cleaning of the body, the funeral and shoveling dirt on the coffin which is considered a very important mitzvah and then Shiva. Seven days of mourning to reflect back on the dead. There are many aspects of death that I wish I had known about when my mother died. Personally Shiva would have been such a good process for me but instead I kept my pain bottled up and although I dealt with the emotions it was a much longer journey than I think it would have been.
I was born September 26, 1967. On that day my birth certificate would have been filled out leaving my name blank until my brit milah. My brit milah or bris would take place on the eighth day after my birth or October 4, 1967. Medical issues are the only reason that a bris may be put off. There would be a meal after my bris and my name would be announced.
I would start Hebrew school depending on the community that I lived in. Either at a day school or at a synagogue religious school.
I would have my bar mitzvah when I turned thirteen years old, after September 26, 1980. At this point I would be considered an adult and be responsible for my actions and for following the 613 laws of the Torah. I would be able to read from the Torah, be part of a minion, and testify in Jewish court. I was thirty-one years past my bar mitzvah but it was truly a very powerful day for me and as I talk about it with friends I highly recommend that anyone that has not had a bar or bat mitzvah they should talk with their Rabbi and get one scheduled on the books. It was the most amazing experience of working and learning and then to be able to go up and read from the Torah.
Marriage would be performed by my rabbi under the chuppa. There would be a ketubah, or the written contract for the marriage. There are differing thoughts on inter faith marriages that would have to be dealt with. Orthodox would not even entertain the thought of one. While conservative would want the non Jew welcomed into the home and hopefully prompting conversion and reform would in theory be alright with the marriage, depending on the rabbi. There would be insistence that children would be raised Jewish.
Children would obviously be raised Jewish. The cycle would then start for them with a bris and naming for a boy or naming for a girl on their eighth day.
Death is not sugar coated in Judaism. Death is part of the life cycle and there are important rituals that go along with it. There is the cleaning of the body, the funeral and shoveling dirt on the coffin which is considered a very important mitzvah and then Shiva. Seven days of mourning to reflect back on the dead. There are many aspects of death that I wish I had known about when my mother died. Personally Shiva would have been such a good process for me but instead I kept my pain bottled up and although I dealt with the emotions it was a much longer journey than I think it would have been.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Goodbyes
Goodbyes are just horrible. This past Friday night we had a service to honor one of our Rabbi's that is leaving. It was such a moving service and I do not think there was a dry eye in the house. She will be missed, she has done so much for the congregation and for me.
There are never going to be enough thank yous that I can give her. Except for my partner, she was the first friendly face for me at synagogue. She supported me when I hit bumps in the road and she was there celebrating with me on the successes. I know that conversion would have happened for me with or without her as my sponsor but I do not think I would have become the Jew I am and am going to be without her. I also do not think that without her as my sponsor I would have done my bar mitzvah.
She has also inspired me to keep learning, to keep growing, to keep giving back and that is what I am going to do in the next part of my journey.
So Rabbi Harris mazel tov to you! I know that great things are ahead for you but I will miss you and our chats but only the best for you in the next step of your journey. Keep checking my blog as I finish my assignments and update the world on my journey and like we discussed share it with anyone you want and let me know if I can help anyone so I can pay your kindness toward me forward.
There are never going to be enough thank yous that I can give her. Except for my partner, she was the first friendly face for me at synagogue. She supported me when I hit bumps in the road and she was there celebrating with me on the successes. I know that conversion would have happened for me with or without her as my sponsor but I do not think I would have become the Jew I am and am going to be without her. I also do not think that without her as my sponsor I would have done my bar mitzvah.
She has also inspired me to keep learning, to keep growing, to keep giving back and that is what I am going to do in the next part of my journey.
So Rabbi Harris mazel tov to you! I know that great things are ahead for you but I will miss you and our chats but only the best for you in the next step of your journey. Keep checking my blog as I finish my assignments and update the world on my journey and like we discussed share it with anyone you want and let me know if I can help anyone so I can pay your kindness toward me forward.
The bar mitzvah
I can not even begin to describe how I felt the day of my bar mitzvah. My nerves were on high alert but I was as ready as I was going to be. I had been practicing so I was very comfortable with my parts and my Torah portion so it was up to me with the help of G-D.
I was honored that I got to lead the congregation, and did I mention it was a full house for us, in the Shema and "And You Shall Love". Those are two of my favorite prayers and then I read my speech. I had read it so many times out loud and practiced but now I was reading it for the first time in front of the whole congregation and the people that it was about. Yes, I was fighting back tears and had to pause a couple times to catch my breath but I did it. I spoke of my journey and more importantly I spoke from my heart. When I was finished and I walked of the bima I did not think I could be any more elated and I was wrong.
As a class we marched with the Torah around the sanctuary and so many people hugged me or thanked me for my speech. I was amazed that I had touched so many people and was honored they were there for my big day. Then came my turn to read from the Torah and I was ready. It was the most amazing thing to know that nine months ago I could not read Hebrew and now I am honored with reading from the Torah, not just a copy, I am reading from an actual Torah scroll. It was such a humbling and amazing honor and I am a better person for doing it.
The amazing part is that it was Erev Shavuoat so I was reading from the Torah the day before the holiday that celebrates the Jewish people receiving the Torah. I was at Sinai and that day I was receiving Torah. I am truly very lucky to have all the love and support that I do and for that I will be a better Jew.
I was honored that I got to lead the congregation, and did I mention it was a full house for us, in the Shema and "And You Shall Love". Those are two of my favorite prayers and then I read my speech. I had read it so many times out loud and practiced but now I was reading it for the first time in front of the whole congregation and the people that it was about. Yes, I was fighting back tears and had to pause a couple times to catch my breath but I did it. I spoke of my journey and more importantly I spoke from my heart. When I was finished and I walked of the bima I did not think I could be any more elated and I was wrong.
As a class we marched with the Torah around the sanctuary and so many people hugged me or thanked me for my speech. I was amazed that I had touched so many people and was honored they were there for my big day. Then came my turn to read from the Torah and I was ready. It was the most amazing thing to know that nine months ago I could not read Hebrew and now I am honored with reading from the Torah, not just a copy, I am reading from an actual Torah scroll. It was such a humbling and amazing honor and I am a better person for doing it.
The amazing part is that it was Erev Shavuoat so I was reading from the Torah the day before the holiday that celebrates the Jewish people receiving the Torah. I was at Sinai and that day I was receiving Torah. I am truly very lucky to have all the love and support that I do and for that I will be a better Jew.
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