Maybe the lazy, suffocating Florida heat is taking its toll on me, but I literally cannot find the strength to make a video these days. I wanted to do them every Tuesday, as a rule, especially as I'm featured on PunkTorah (or supposed to be... I'll probably lose that venue if I keep having little to no inspiration for a decent video!).
Just wanted to do an update on my conversion news, however, so here goes: Last Friday I spoke with a rabbi who gave me some of the info I was looking for. First things first, I was reluctant to say specifically where I live (paranoia?) but, for the sake of being less confusing, I now live in Orlando. For the past year and a half I was near Ft. Lauderdale/Miami. So, speaking to the rabbi, he informed me that the only place to do an Israeli-accepted conversion is down in the Miami area. I'm currently trying to see the good it did in putting it off instead of just doing it when I lived there... grrr!!! "Everything happens for a reason"? We'll see.
Anyway, the rabbi told me that the process will take 2-3 years, which was really terrifying to hear. The wife of my husband's friend completed her conversion (same synagogue I'm supposed to go through) in 7 months, so we'll see what happens. The rabbi also seemed really impressed will the level of "observance" I am at already, but was a little disappointed in my husbands. Oops! The difficulty here is that my husband grew up, for most of his life, in Israel and I think he's jaded by some of the religious hypocrisy he's seen. And, let's all admit, wherever there is organized religion, hypocrisy does exist in at least SOME people. Sad but true.
Well, I think the hardest part will be pushing my husband to become Orthodox with me. For me, as soon as I reabsorb myself in Jewish literature, websites, modest clothes, etc., the more excited I become and the more at-home I feel. For him, I am not sure what it feels like. It makes me sad that my husband doesn't feel the same joy and love for Judaism that I do, but I'm sure that if the tables were turned, I wouldn't understand him either.
Right now, I'm spending a lot of time kind of mentally preparing myself for the process. I know a lot of what it entails (I think), but my studying needs to really improve. I'd say my weak spot are the Jewish holidays. I don't understand them as much as I should, which isn't a good thing. Most of my focus has always been on how to "live" Jewishly - my attitude, how I treat other people, my dress, how I run my house. Those aspects have always concerned me the most. Is that a problem for the future?
The rabbi told me that the bein din will be meeting in Miami at the end of next month (August), and that he'll be emailing me a syllabus of the things they expect from me, should I be accepted as a potential convert. I intend to knock their socks off!
Quick apology - lately I have been seeing SO MANY AWESOME Jewish blogs by women, and I must apologize that I'm technologically challenged and cannot make a gorgeous, visually-interesting blog like them. But thank you, to you ladies, for giving me something fun to read! :)
Note: Stop, step back, and rethink your phrase "pushing my husband to become Orthodox." You can't force him. You can't even really nudge him. He has to do it on his own. You lay down where you are, he lays down where he is, but you can't push him. No pushing! It's hard not to, but no pushing! However, be warned that his observance will stunt you (of course, you already mentioned knowing this), but it will frustrate the bjeezus out of you, but no pushing. You just have to outshine yourself in their eyes and talk about the importance of personal journeys and growing in tandem, helping each other along the way!
ReplyDeleteThey often suggest more time than it takes to really complete it, and depending on your level of observance and knowledge, you might zip through the process :)
I re-read that sentence and realized I phrased it too harshly. I wrote this while watching TV, and in a moment of frustration...hence the word "push". Oops :)
ReplyDeleteThat's refreshing and VERY reassuring about the possibility of me being able to go faster through the process than they told me. I won't get my hopes up, but it's still good to know :)
I spent a great amount of time tonight reading your blogs, and I must say, bravo! They are so well-written, and I connected with so much of what you said, it was almost as if I was reading something out of my own diary.
I need your opinion: Granted, this may be just paranoia, but tomorrow will be one week since I spoke with the rabbi on the phone. He said he'd email me the syllabus but hasn't yet. Should I wait, or email him as a reminder (assuming he was busy and my email got lost in the shuffle)?
I wish I had seen this ... but you don't have an easy-to-subscribe option in your comments and I *just* saw this now! Ach!
ReplyDelete