JewU Amiday first 2 prayers
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, Bend knees on "ba-ruch", bow on "a-tah", straighten at "A-do-nai".
E-lo-hei-nu, Vei-lo-hei a-vo-tei-nu,
E-lo-hei Av-ra-ham, E-lo-hei Yitz-chak, Vei-lo-hei Ya-a-kov,
Ha-eil Ha-Ga-dol Ha-Gi-bor v'Ha-No-rah Eil Eil-yon,
go-meil cha-sa-dim to-vim
v'ko-nei ha-kol
v'zo-cheir chas-dei a-vot
u'mei-vi go-eil liv-nei v'nei-hem
l'ma-an sh'mo b'a-ha-vah,
Me-lech o-zeir u'mo-shi-a u-ma-gein
Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, insert:
Zawch-rei-nu l'chai-yim, me-lech cha-feits ba-chai-yim,
v'chawt-vei-nu b'sei-fer ha-chai-yim, l'ma-an-cha E-lo-him chai-yim.
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, Bend knees on "ba-ruch", bow on "a-tah", straighten at "A-do-nai".
ma-gein Av-ra-ham.
2. GIVUROT
A-tah gi-bur l'o-lam, A-do-nai m'chai-yei mei-tim a-ta rav l'ho-shi-a,
Only between Sukkot and Pesach: ma-shiv ha-ru-ach u-mo-rid ha-ga-shem
[ At other times, Nusach Sfard congregations say: mo-rid ha-tal ]
m'chal-keil cha-yim b'che-sed
m'cha-yei mei-tim b'ra-cha-mim ra-bim
so-meich no-f'lim v'ro-fei cho-lim
u-ma-tir a-su-rim
u-m'kai-yeim e-mu-na-to li-shei-nei a-far
mi cha-mo-cha ba-al g'vu-rot
u-mi do-me lach
me-lech mei-mit u-m'chai-ye u-matz-mi-ach y'shu-a,
Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, insert:
Mi cha-mo-cha, Av Ha-Ra-cha-man, zo-cheir y'tsu-rav l'chai-yim b'ra-cha-mim.
v'ne-e-man a-tah l'ha-cha-yot mei-tim
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai,
m'cha-yei ha-mei-tim.
וֵאלהֵי יַעֲקב. הָאֵל הַגָּדול הַגִּבּור וְהַנּורָא אֵל עֶלְיון. גּומֵל חֲסָדִים טובִים. וְקונֵה הַכּל. וְזוכֵר חַסְדֵּי אָבות. וּמֵבִיא גואֵל לִבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם לְמַעַן שְׁמו בְּאַהֲבָה:
בעשי"ת זָכְרֵנוּ לְחַיִּים. מֶלֶךְ חָפֵץ בַּחַיִּים. וְכָתְבֵנוּ בְּסֵפֶר הַחַיִּים. לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלהִים חַיִּים:
מֶלֶךְ עוזֵר וּמושִׁיעַ וּמָגֵן:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם:
אַתָּה גִּבּור לְעולָם אֲדנָי. מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים אַתָּה רַב לְהושִׁיעַ:
בקיץ - מורִיד הַטָּל:
בחורף - מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ וּמורִיד הַגָּשֶּׁם:
מְכַלְכֵּל חַיִּים בְּחֶסֶד. מְחַיֶּה מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים. סומֵךְ נופְלִים. וְרופֵא חולִים וּמַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים. וּמְקַיֵּם אֱמוּנָתו לִישֵׁנֵי עָפָר. מִי כָמוךָ בַּעַל גְּבוּרות וּמִי דומֶה לָּךְ. מֶלֶךְ מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה וּמַצְמִיחַ יְשׁוּעָה:
בעשי"ת - מִי כָמוךָ אַב הָרַחֲמִים. זוכֵר יְצוּרָיו לְחַיִּים בְּרַחֲמִים:
וְנֶאֱמָן אַתָּה לְהַחֲיות מֵתִים:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים:
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Travelers Prayer text for video jewu 258
JewU 258 Video Traveler prayer
The Traveler's Prayer
Tefilat HaDerech
Ye-hi ra-tson mi-l'fa-ne-cha
A-do-nai e-lo-hei-nu vei-lo-hei a-vo-tei-nu
she-to-li-chei-nu l'sha-lom
v'ta-tsi-dei-nu l'sha-lom
v'tad-ri-chei-nu l'sha-lom,
v'ta-gi-ei-nu lim-choz chef-tsei-nu
l'cha-yim ul-sim-chah ul-sha-lom.
V'ta-tsi-lei-nu mi-kaf kawl o-yeiv
v'o-reiv v'lis-tim v'cha-yot ra-ot ba-de-rech,
u-mi-kawl mi-nei fur -a-ni-yot
ha-mit-ra-g'shot la-vo la-o-lam.
V'tish-lach b'ra-chah < b'chawl | b'- > ma-a-sei ya-dei-nu
v'ti-t'nei-nu l'chein ul-che-sed ul-ra-cha-mim b'ei-ne-cha
uv-ei-nei chawl ro-ei-nu.
V'tish-ma kol ta-cha-nu-nei-nu
ki Eil sho-mei-a t'fi-lah v'ta-cha-nun a-tah.
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai
sho-mei-a t'fi-lah.
לְשָלוֹם. וְתִסְמְכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתַדְרִיכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתַגִיעֵנוּ לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצֵנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשִמְחָה וּלְשָלוֹם (ואם דעתו לחזור מיד אומר וְתַחְזִירֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם) וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכַּף כָּל אוֹיֵב וְאוֹרֵב וְלִסְטִים וְחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת בַדֶּרֶךְ וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פּוּרְעָנִיּוֹת הַמִתְרַגְּשוֹת לָבוֹא לָעוֹלָם וְתִשְלַח בְּרָכָה בְּכל מַעֲשֵה יָדֵינוּ, וְתִתְּנֵנוּ לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים בְעֵינֶיךָ וּבְעֵינֵי כָל רוֹאֵינוּ וְתִשְמַע קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ. כִּי אֵל שוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּן אתה: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, שוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה:
The Traveler's Prayer
Tefilat HaDerech
Ye-hi ra-tson mi-l'fa-ne-cha
A-do-nai e-lo-hei-nu vei-lo-hei a-vo-tei-nu
she-to-li-chei-nu l'sha-lom
v'ta-tsi-dei-nu l'sha-lom
v'tad-ri-chei-nu l'sha-lom,
v'ta-gi-ei-nu lim-choz chef-tsei-nu
l'cha-yim ul-sim-chah ul-sha-lom.
V'ta-tsi-lei-nu mi-kaf kawl o-yeiv
v'o-reiv v'lis-tim v'cha-yot ra-ot ba-de-rech,
u-mi-kawl mi-nei fur -a-ni-yot
ha-mit-ra-g'shot la-vo la-o-lam.
V'tish-lach b'ra-chah < b'chawl | b'- > ma-a-sei ya-dei-nu
v'ti-t'nei-nu l'chein ul-che-sed ul-ra-cha-mim b'ei-ne-cha
uv-ei-nei chawl ro-ei-nu.
V'tish-ma kol ta-cha-nu-nei-nu
ki Eil sho-mei-a t'fi-lah v'ta-cha-nun a-tah.
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai
sho-mei-a t'fi-lah.
לְשָלוֹם. וְתִסְמְכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתַדְרִיכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתַגִיעֵנוּ לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצֵנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשִמְחָה וּלְשָלוֹם (ואם דעתו לחזור מיד אומר וְתַחְזִירֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם) וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכַּף כָּל אוֹיֵב וְאוֹרֵב וְלִסְטִים וְחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת בַדֶּרֶךְ וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פּוּרְעָנִיּוֹת הַמִתְרַגְּשוֹת לָבוֹא לָעוֹלָם וְתִשְלַח בְּרָכָה בְּכל מַעֲשֵה יָדֵינוּ, וְתִתְּנֵנוּ לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים בְעֵינֶיךָ וּבְעֵינֵי כָל רוֹאֵינוּ וְתִשְמַע קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ. כִּי אֵל שוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּן אתה: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, שוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה:
Text for Mourner's Kaddish for Jewu 139
FULL KADDISH
[The Full-Kaddish is omitted in the absence of a minyan.]
Stand.
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. אמן:
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא:
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. בריך הוא:
לְעֵלָּא (בעשי"ת לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל) מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
עושה שָׁלום (בעשי"ת הַשָּׁלום) בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Yit-ga-dal v'yit-ka-dash sh'mei ra-ba, (A-mein.)
b'al-ma di-v'ra chi-ru-tei, v'yam-lich mal-chu-tei
[ v'yats-mach pur-ka-nei, vi-ka-reiv m'shi-chei. (A-mein). ]
b'chai-yei-chon uv'yo-mei-chon
uv'chai-yei d'chawl^beit Yis-ra-eil,
ba-a-ga-la u-viz-man ka-riv, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Y'hei sh'mei ra-ba m'va-rach
l'a-lam ul'al-mei al-ma-ya. [ Yit-ba-rach ]
Yit-ba-rach v'yish-ta-bach,
v'yit-pa-ar v'yit-ro-mam v'yit-na-sei,
v'yit-ha-dar v'yit-a-leh v'yit-ha-lal, sh'mei d'ku-d'sha, b'rich hu,
(b'rich hu) [Some Chassidic and Sefardic congregations say "A-mein"]
l'ei-la min^kawl^bir-cha-ta v'shi-ra-ta,
tush-b'chata v'ne-che-mata, da-a-mi-ran b'al-ma, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Y'hei sh'la-ma ra-ba min sh'ma-ya,
v'chai-yim [ to-vim ], a-lei-nu v'al kawl^Yis-ra-eil, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
O-seh sha-lom bim-ro-mav,
hu ya-a-seh sha-lom a-lei-nu v'al kawl^Yis-ra-eil, v'im'ru: A-mein. (
[The Full-Kaddish is omitted in the absence of a minyan.]
Stand.
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. אמן:
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא:
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. בריך הוא:
לְעֵלָּא (בעשי"ת לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל) מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
עושה שָׁלום (בעשי"ת הַשָּׁלום) בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Yit-ga-dal v'yit-ka-dash sh'mei ra-ba, (A-mein.)
b'al-ma di-v'ra chi-ru-tei, v'yam-lich mal-chu-tei
[ v'yats-mach pur-ka-nei, vi-ka-reiv m'shi-chei. (A-mein). ]
b'chai-yei-chon uv'yo-mei-chon
uv'chai-yei d'chawl^beit Yis-ra-eil,
ba-a-ga-la u-viz-man ka-riv, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Y'hei sh'mei ra-ba m'va-rach
l'a-lam ul'al-mei al-ma-ya. [ Yit-ba-rach ]
Yit-ba-rach v'yish-ta-bach,
v'yit-pa-ar v'yit-ro-mam v'yit-na-sei,
v'yit-ha-dar v'yit-a-leh v'yit-ha-lal, sh'mei d'ku-d'sha, b'rich hu,
(b'rich hu) [Some Chassidic and Sefardic congregations say "A-mein"]
l'ei-la min^kawl^bir-cha-ta v'shi-ra-ta,
tush-b'chata v'ne-che-mata, da-a-mi-ran b'al-ma, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Y'hei sh'la-ma ra-ba min sh'ma-ya,
v'chai-yim [ to-vim ], a-lei-nu v'al kawl^Yis-ra-eil, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
O-seh sha-lom bim-ro-mav,
hu ya-a-seh sha-lom a-lei-nu v'al kawl^Yis-ra-eil, v'im'ru: A-mein. (
Words to Full Kaddish for Jewu video 237
FULL KADDISH
[The Full-Kaddish is omitted in the absence of a minyan.]
Stand.
Yit-ga-dal v'yit-ka-dash sh'mei ra-ba, (A-mein.)
b'al-ma di-v'ra chi-ru-tei, v'yam-lich mal-chu-tei
[ v'yats-mach pur-ka-nei, vi-ka-reiv m'shi-chei. (A-mein). ]
b'chai-yei-chon uv'yo-mei-chon
uv'chai-yei d'chawl^beit Yis-ra-eil,
ba-a-ga-la u-viz-man ka-riv, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Y'hei sh'mei ra-ba m'va-rach
l'a-lam ul'al-mei al-ma-ya. [ Yit-ba-rach ]
Yit-ba-rach v'yish-ta-bach,
v'yit-pa-ar v'yit-ro-mam v'yit-na-sei,
v'yit-ha-dar v'yit-a-leh v'yit-ha-lal, sh'mei d'ku-d'sha, b'rich hu,
(b'rich hu) [Some Chassidic and Sefardic congregations say "A-mein"]
l'ei-la min^kawl^bir-cha-ta v'shi-ra-ta,
tush-b'chata v'ne-che-mata, da-a-mi-ran b'al-ma, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Tit-ka-bal ts'lo-t'hon u-va-o-t'hon
d'chawl beit Yis-ra-eil
ka-dam a-vu-hon di vish-ma-ya,
v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Y'hei sh'la-ma ra-ba min sh'ma-ya,
v'chai-yim [ to-vim ], a-lei-nu v'al kawl^Yis-ra-eil, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
O-seh sha-lom bim-ro-mav,
hu ya-a-seh sha-lom a-lei-nu v'al kawl^Yis-ra-eil, v'im'ru: A-mein. (
[The Full-Kaddish is omitted in the absence of a minyan.]
Stand.
Yit-ga-dal v'yit-ka-dash sh'mei ra-ba, (A-mein.)
b'al-ma di-v'ra chi-ru-tei, v'yam-lich mal-chu-tei
[ v'yats-mach pur-ka-nei, vi-ka-reiv m'shi-chei. (A-mein). ]
b'chai-yei-chon uv'yo-mei-chon
uv'chai-yei d'chawl^beit Yis-ra-eil,
ba-a-ga-la u-viz-man ka-riv, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Y'hei sh'mei ra-ba m'va-rach
l'a-lam ul'al-mei al-ma-ya. [ Yit-ba-rach ]
Yit-ba-rach v'yish-ta-bach,
v'yit-pa-ar v'yit-ro-mam v'yit-na-sei,
v'yit-ha-dar v'yit-a-leh v'yit-ha-lal, sh'mei d'ku-d'sha, b'rich hu,
(b'rich hu) [Some Chassidic and Sefardic congregations say "A-mein"]
l'ei-la min^kawl^bir-cha-ta v'shi-ra-ta,
tush-b'chata v'ne-che-mata, da-a-mi-ran b'al-ma, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Tit-ka-bal ts'lo-t'hon u-va-o-t'hon
d'chawl beit Yis-ra-eil
ka-dam a-vu-hon di vish-ma-ya,
v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
Y'hei sh'la-ma ra-ba min sh'ma-ya,
v'chai-yim [ to-vim ], a-lei-nu v'al kawl^Yis-ra-eil, v'im'ru: A-mein. (A-mein.)
O-seh sha-lom bim-ro-mav,
hu ya-a-seh sha-lom a-lei-nu v'al kawl^Yis-ra-eil, v'im'ru: A-mein. (
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Cried when she found esynagogue.org
Question/comment: I just found your website today. I actually cried
when I found it, and still cannot believe such a thing exists. I've wanted
to convert to Judaism since 1997, but due to being married to a
non-Jew and having small children who have a very stable, loving father and
home, I did not ever feel that I had the right to uproot my children and
destroy their home and family like that. I did go to the Orthodox to
try, but this was the problem. So, what I have done for the past ten
years is learn on my own all that I can about Judaism from the Orthodox
point of view. Books, videos, lectures on the internet, joined the
community on paltalk that used to exist (but no longer) that founded the
Virtual Yeshiva from which I learned years and years of anti-missionary
material, along with lectures by so many Rabbis, you can go the the
Virtual Yeshiva website to see who I've learned from all these years. And
more, not just from there. I have bookcases full of Judaism books ran!
ging from the most basic to the kabbalistic, including many I saw on
your list as required reading for conversion.
My children are almost grown now, ages 15 and 16. My husband who was
raised Lutheran, when he found out that I wanted to convert to Judaism,
was extremely against this, and I found that he had many stereotypes of
Jews from his upbringing in a farm family in Nebraska. He did not think
too highly of Jews, in other words. This cut me to my core, as I just
KNOW that I am a Jew inside, my soul is a Jewish soul. Over many months
our household was almost torn apart as I insisted that I be allowed to
be who I am, and his fighting me all the way on it.
Finally his father stepped in, and told him to stop. To leave me alone
to be what I want to be, and that my husband had no right to deny my
desire for whatever religion my soul felt it belonged to.
At the same time he told me that I have an obligation to raise my
children with their father, who is a great dad and there is a wonderful love
between children and father. I knew this, and agreed to wait. It was
so hard to squelch my soul's desire to convert, to run and convert
immediately, but I couldn't do that because of what it would have meant for
my children and their father.
I have cried ENDLESS tears, asking God time and again, why? Why can't I
come home? I am in exile among the exiles. It is the hardest thing to
go through. I've known others whose Jewish soul "woke up" and we have
all seen that it just will not stop, it will not shut up, it will not be
quieted, until it can come home.
When I saw your website, it was like someone had reached down a ladder
or a rope to me, and I felt hope again for the first time in years.
I know that the Reform do accept people for conversion who are married
to non-Jews. I also know that these conversions are not accepted by the
Orthodox, nor by the State of Israel for aliyah, so that if I ever
want to make aliyah I will have to undergo an Orthodox conversion anyway
sometime in the future.
Anyway, if I could have someone there from your organization contact
me, I would appreciate it very much. I just need to make it to the
mikvah, that's all I'm asking, I just need to come HOME where I belong, at
least for my soul, even if my body cannot live in a Jewish community at
this time. I am willing and will very happily take any and all courses
and read any books, and learn anything that is needed, in order to be
able to do this.
Please get back to me when you can. Thank you.
when I found it, and still cannot believe such a thing exists. I've wanted
to convert to Judaism since 1997, but due to being married to a
non-Jew and having small children who have a very stable, loving father and
home, I did not ever feel that I had the right to uproot my children and
destroy their home and family like that. I did go to the Orthodox to
try, but this was the problem. So, what I have done for the past ten
years is learn on my own all that I can about Judaism from the Orthodox
point of view. Books, videos, lectures on the internet, joined the
community on paltalk that used to exist (but no longer) that founded the
Virtual Yeshiva from which I learned years and years of anti-missionary
material, along with lectures by so many Rabbis, you can go the the
Virtual Yeshiva website to see who I've learned from all these years. And
more, not just from there. I have bookcases full of Judaism books ran!
ging from the most basic to the kabbalistic, including many I saw on
your list as required reading for conversion.
My children are almost grown now, ages 15 and 16. My husband who was
raised Lutheran, when he found out that I wanted to convert to Judaism,
was extremely against this, and I found that he had many stereotypes of
Jews from his upbringing in a farm family in Nebraska. He did not think
too highly of Jews, in other words. This cut me to my core, as I just
KNOW that I am a Jew inside, my soul is a Jewish soul. Over many months
our household was almost torn apart as I insisted that I be allowed to
be who I am, and his fighting me all the way on it.
Finally his father stepped in, and told him to stop. To leave me alone
to be what I want to be, and that my husband had no right to deny my
desire for whatever religion my soul felt it belonged to.
At the same time he told me that I have an obligation to raise my
children with their father, who is a great dad and there is a wonderful love
between children and father. I knew this, and agreed to wait. It was
so hard to squelch my soul's desire to convert, to run and convert
immediately, but I couldn't do that because of what it would have meant for
my children and their father.
I have cried ENDLESS tears, asking God time and again, why? Why can't I
come home? I am in exile among the exiles. It is the hardest thing to
go through. I've known others whose Jewish soul "woke up" and we have
all seen that it just will not stop, it will not shut up, it will not be
quieted, until it can come home.
When I saw your website, it was like someone had reached down a ladder
or a rope to me, and I felt hope again for the first time in years.
I know that the Reform do accept people for conversion who are married
to non-Jews. I also know that these conversions are not accepted by the
Orthodox, nor by the State of Israel for aliyah, so that if I ever
want to make aliyah I will have to undergo an Orthodox conversion anyway
sometime in the future.
Anyway, if I could have someone there from your organization contact
me, I would appreciate it very much. I just need to make it to the
mikvah, that's all I'm asking, I just need to come HOME where I belong, at
least for my soul, even if my body cannot live in a Jewish community at
this time. I am willing and will very happily take any and all courses
and read any books, and learn anything that is needed, in order to be
able to do this.
Please get back to me when you can. Thank you.
Former Quaker exploring judaism Jewish identity #4
Dear Rabbi,
I am a former Quaker(Christian) who became discontent with the practice. I then began to search for orthodoxy in Christianity which is closet to the practices of Jesus. I eventually stopped going to church and only looked towards him. I felt lost for a long time because I always thought of him as a teacher, and not the literal Messiah. I had many doubts and always felt one step away from God. I had doubts about church practices as well. I also held the belief that ALL people have a place in the ‘good half’ of the next world if they are a basically good person. All of these things should have led me away from Christianity, but I always knew in my heart the answers were in the Bible. Something was there, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
Then one day it happened...An event I now know was not an accident! I was speaking with a neighbor of mine whose mother converted to Mormonism. We started to talk about things we know of the practice. Then I said it…”Mormonism does not believe in the Jesus of the Bible. They are Christian because they believe in Christ. However, it does not believe in one omnipotent and omniscient God. Therefore it may be Christianity but it is not an Abrahamic religion, which is its said basis. How can a person say they believe in a book of changes without knowing the original practice from the perspective of those believers?”
That night I reflected on what I said, and my life hasn’t been the same since. I thought about how arrogantly I made that statement. The arrogance was not in sharing my opinion, but in not applying the same thought process to my beliefs. So I began to learn about Judaism from the Jewish perspective.
The first thing I found was Maimonides’ 13 principles of faith. Then I listened to a 4 hour recording of an Orthodox Rabbi presenting the oral history. The next thing I learned about was Jewish dietary laws. I learned so much about Judaism through the reasoning behind the diet. It all felt natural to learn. In Christianity I searched for a fullness of the ‘old testament’. In Judaism I found that fullness. I was like a detective looking at the most basic concepts about the faith saying “I knew it! I’ve known it for years!”
I still can’t believe I’m writing this letter….but my main point is that I need to know more. I need a Rabbi to direct my study. I of course want to join the Jewish people, but right now my thirst is for Torah study and Hebrew language. I’ve been filled with an excitement I’ve never had, and I know this is the right choice. I know it because the best ideas I’ve had have come back to me. I’ve lost my way…left college….and took a job in banking. Now it’s all different. I want to enter my first choice of profession. I want to finish my degree and become a teacher of history. I also have realized my biggest dream in life again, which is to become a father. It all has new meaning when I think about raising a proud Jewish family. I can’t have this change happen to me and not pass it to the next generation.
I am requesting guidance in this matter. I don’t know where to start. Thank you for reading this long and horribly articulated letter. Any direction you can give, or advice I should hear is appreciated. I am trying to build my initial connections with the Jewish people, and find a community to move to in the future.
I am a former Quaker(Christian) who became discontent with the practice. I then began to search for orthodoxy in Christianity which is closet to the practices of Jesus. I eventually stopped going to church and only looked towards him. I felt lost for a long time because I always thought of him as a teacher, and not the literal Messiah. I had many doubts and always felt one step away from God. I had doubts about church practices as well. I also held the belief that ALL people have a place in the ‘good half’ of the next world if they are a basically good person. All of these things should have led me away from Christianity, but I always knew in my heart the answers were in the Bible. Something was there, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
Then one day it happened...An event I now know was not an accident! I was speaking with a neighbor of mine whose mother converted to Mormonism. We started to talk about things we know of the practice. Then I said it…”Mormonism does not believe in the Jesus of the Bible. They are Christian because they believe in Christ. However, it does not believe in one omnipotent and omniscient God. Therefore it may be Christianity but it is not an Abrahamic religion, which is its said basis. How can a person say they believe in a book of changes without knowing the original practice from the perspective of those believers?”
That night I reflected on what I said, and my life hasn’t been the same since. I thought about how arrogantly I made that statement. The arrogance was not in sharing my opinion, but in not applying the same thought process to my beliefs. So I began to learn about Judaism from the Jewish perspective.
The first thing I found was Maimonides’ 13 principles of faith. Then I listened to a 4 hour recording of an Orthodox Rabbi presenting the oral history. The next thing I learned about was Jewish dietary laws. I learned so much about Judaism through the reasoning behind the diet. It all felt natural to learn. In Christianity I searched for a fullness of the ‘old testament’. In Judaism I found that fullness. I was like a detective looking at the most basic concepts about the faith saying “I knew it! I’ve known it for years!”
I still can’t believe I’m writing this letter….but my main point is that I need to know more. I need a Rabbi to direct my study. I of course want to join the Jewish people, but right now my thirst is for Torah study and Hebrew language. I’ve been filled with an excitement I’ve never had, and I know this is the right choice. I know it because the best ideas I’ve had have come back to me. I’ve lost my way…left college….and took a job in banking. Now it’s all different. I want to enter my first choice of profession. I want to finish my degree and become a teacher of history. I also have realized my biggest dream in life again, which is to become a father. It all has new meaning when I think about raising a proud Jewish family. I can’t have this change happen to me and not pass it to the next generation.
I am requesting guidance in this matter. I don’t know where to start. Thank you for reading this long and horribly articulated letter. Any direction you can give, or advice I should hear is appreciated. I am trying to build my initial connections with the Jewish people, and find a community to move to in the future.
Muslim teen and Chabad #3
I think what you are doing is great! I think that when I convert, I will do it Orthodox just because I want all to recognize me since I am not likely going to say that I am any type of Jew just a Jew. My beliefs lead me closer to a medium between Chassidic and Conservative though. I believe in science, and I know that the whole Torah was not given all at one time. I also have fallen in love with the rich traditions of Chassidic thought. I like the philosophy of joy and happiness, but one (of many) reasons that I didn't like Catholicism was that it didn't take into account the Science of evolution. I like the garment of Chassidic people yet I don't like that women can't become Rabbi.
I may use the virtual synagogue since my parents don't know that I want to convert. (I am 16) Rabbi Blotner of the Chabad Lubavitcher center advised that I not tell them in case I don't end up converting.
I may use the virtual synagogue since my parents don't know that I want to convert. (I am 16) Rabbi Blotner of the Chabad Lubavitcher center advised that I not tell them in case I don't end up converting.
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