#jew convert

[kippah-for-lemon]

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,

a neighborhood science teacher asked if I believed that the Genesis account of creation was true. I answered, yes. Great, he said. Would I like to speak to his class about my understanding of creation? This modern-day John Scopes thought he was inviting a modern-day William Jennings Bryan to reenact the classic duel.

However, I told the class that while I believed the Genesis account of creation to be true, I also believed the scientific theory of evolution to be true. My response was greeted by puzzlement on the part of twenty-five eighth graders and disappointment on the part of their teacher. I went on to explain that science is one of humanity's great truth traditions, and religion is another. The two have threatened each other since well before the theories of Charles Darwin were formulated. But they needn't be engaged in such a heated rivalry because their goals are so different.

Science can help us understand how the world was created, but it can't tell us why it was created. And religion has no business telling us how the world was created, but we desperately need it to help us under- stand why we're here.

Genesis doesn't discuss the survival of the fittest, but, as you well know, Darwin's scientific creation story does. That story's operativeprinciple of the survival of the fittest became known as Social Darwinism, which taught that only the truly gifted deserve to survive. It is unfortunate that this teaching has become an axiom of modern life. In contrast, our Jewish tradition has always taught that we are responsible for the survival of the least fit: the orphan, the poor, the lonely, and the stranger, to name just a few. And in Genesis 1:27 we are told that every single human being is divinely gifted and deserving of dignity. The opening of Genesis tells about the creation by God of a universe of harmony, balance, and beauty, formed from soupy chaos, tohu vavohu. It is the most profound story we know, and it reminds us why we are here. It sets forth our work, and our challenge. But is the story true?

Regretfully I must admit that the story is not true, or at least not yet. When will it be true? When we accept our responsibility as God's partners in creating the world described in Genesis.

-Rabbi Rick Jacobs (b. 1955)

An excerpt from my Temple's Rosh Hashanah prayer book. Under the cut is just a testimony from me but feel free to reblog for the quote alone.

It really stuck with me because I was raised Protestant. I even attended a private Christian (nondenominational) school for three years. Sixth through 8th grade (for non-Americans, I was the ages of 11-14 give or take).

I was taught that evolution wasn't real. I wrote an 8 page essay on why Charles Darwin was wrong and that The Bible was correct. Little did I know I actually did believe in evolution, and so did most of my peers as I reasoned that over a long time of adaptations maybe there could be a different species

I was shell shocked when I switched to a public high school (14 years old) and flat out told evolution was true (or well as true as a scientific theory can get). I lost my trust for authority, and I realized how damaging my education had been.

I'm AFAB, and so I was taught my responsibility was to be quiet and to please my husband. I often asked far too many questions, especially when it came to the teachings of the Bible, to the extent my own teachers, men and women who were supposed to nurture my curiosity and be my guide into the world, shunned me.

Starting my Jewish journey, I sobbed. I sobbed after the first service I went to. It's so different from what I had been through before. I'm so glad I'm allowed to ask questions and it's even encouraged. I'm glad the Torah is scrutinized and we are encouraged to study the book and even admit when G-d has done wrong.

My partner, knowing my past, pointed this specific excerpt out to me. I had to fight back tears. I feel so loved and welcomed in Judaism.

"...Jewish tradition has always taught that we are responsible for the survival of the least fit: the orphan, the poor, the lonely, and the stranger, to name just a few. And in Genesis 1:27 we are told that every single human being is divinely gifted and deserving of dignity."

#jumblr #jew #jewish #rosh hashanah #Rabbi Rick Jacobs #jewish tumblr #jew convert #jewish convert #jewish pride #jewish joy

[hilacopter]

JEWISH CONVERTS (YES THOSE IN PROGRESS ALSO) AREN'T "racefaking jewish" YOU STUPID FUCKING ASSHOLES

#keep shitting on converts and i will convert to violence #saw a post that really got on my nerves #people here drool over their token jews so much #they'll use any chance they have to call a jew they can't tokenize not a real jew #jvp mostly aren't really jews and you sure love them don't you #leftist antisemitism #antisemitism #jumblr #lukas rants #hila has spoken

[fromgoy2joy]

I forgot the name of Maimonides-

So I searched up "Jewish philosopher with opinions" and he was the first result.

#jumblr #fromgoy2joy thoughts #jewish #jewish convert #jewblr #jewish tumblr #jewish conversion #jewish humor #Maimonides #jewishness #Judaism #tw antisemtism #jewish history #judiasm #jew

[the-catboy-minyan]

due to a certain asshole spewing bullshit in spacelazarwolf's notes, I wanna emphasize something:

YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW HEBREW TO BE JEWISH

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEARN HEBREW TO BE JEWISH

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WANT TO LEARN HEBREW TO BE JEWISH

the only thing you need to be Jewish is to be Jewish. a Jew is a Jew.

(this message does not include messianic jews)

#jumblr #judaism #jewish #jewish positivity #diaspora jews #jewish converts #patrilineal jews #reform judaism #conservative judaism #orthodox judaism #secular jews #all of them are fucking Jews regardless of what languages they speak #I can't believe I have to say this in 5784 #gatekeepers are not welcome on my blog ☺️

[my-jewish-life]

We all need to take a break from social media with everything going on atm, stay safe everyone✨️

Credit to sefiracreative ✨️

#converting to judaism #ftm jewish #reform judaism #judaism #transguy #queer jews #trans jews #stay safe everyone #jewish

[tikkunolamresistance]

Anti-Zionist Jews! Use this post to find mutuals, friends, comrades!

I know a lot of us have been alienated from, or unfortunately lost our communities either within families, temples or online, so I hope we can find one another and make friends!

— Leave a comment or reblog with a bit about yourself! Let’s create a community!

— Those converting/looking into converting, use this space to! Find someone to share your journey with!

— Goyim and everyone else please just reblog <3

Community is at the core of our being, let’s carry oneanother ❤️

#anti zionist jews #anti zionism #jews for palestine #jews against facism #jews against israel #jews for liberty #jumblr #jewblr #jewish community #jew friends #converts too #L

[soxiyy]

Every Jewish person is ethically jewish weather they are born from the waters of a womb or the waters of a mikvah

#jumblr #actually jewish #jewish conversion #jewish culture #jewish convert #jewblr #jew by choice #jewish #jewish joy #jewish positivity

[nesyanast]

A young man studying for conversion turned to his teacher and said, "But, Rabbi Kushner, Fitzpatrick isn't a Jewish name." To which Kushner replied, "It will be."

-Choosing a Jewish Life by Anita Diamant

#jumblr #jewish #judaism #jews #nesyapost #jewish conversion #jewish reading #jewish books #jewish quotes #jewish convert #rabbi #gonna look through this book again and look at quotes i like! lol #jew by choice #jewblr

[shinekocreator]

Yo, shoutout to Jewish converts! Y'all are badass!

#judaism #jews #jewish #jewish converts #jumblr

[kippah-for-lemon]

Uh hi! Figured I'd make an intro post since the one I wrote is starting to circulate.

So Shalom! My name is Ruth, I recently turned 20 I use he/she/bun pronouns! and I've been slowly dipping my toes into judaism. In fact my partner just completed their conversion and I was so happy to witness their mik vah in a natural body of water!!!

Also I'd like to explain my @ (I'm considering changing it though). I used to have a pet bearded dragon and me and my partner joked she was jewish. Her name was Lemon and while she's sadly passed, we both adored her. I once photoshopped a kippah on her. I've just never shared the image as I realized how it could come off as antisemitic.

She still means a lot to me, and in a way she kinda started my curiosity because my partner and I used to do little thought experiments (3 Jews 5 opinions) on things such as could she keep kosher with her diet (answer is no) and so on and so forth.

I've long since lost the photo of her with her kippah, but here's the darling herself. May her memory be a blessing.

#9.17.23 #jumblr #jewish #jew #rosh hashanah #Sukkot #hannukah #channakah #yom kippur #jew convert #jewish conversion #lizard tw

[hindahoney]

Wild and revolutionary concept: maybe don't treat converts like trash just because they're converts? And also don't ask someone if they're a convert in a public setting?

#having lunch before shabbat and had to remind my friend not to do this to people #like i get it might be a hard concept for some born jews to understand but one thing jumblr has taught me #is that its a sensitive and private topic #you dont just.bring it up. especially not in front of people? #because i have seen other born jews get all Different when they find out someone is a convert #and its crazy disrespectful #side note you can disagree w a convert about their opinions on certain things #and still not go after them for being a convert #thats a dif topic though #anyway unless the convert is openly inviting that convo #dont fucking bring it up???? #jumblr #judaism #jewish #jewish conversion #like it prob feels like how i do when someone treats me dif for being baal teshuva #its just a shitty thing to do in general #dont bring it up? #if you have to ask they prob havent told you for a reason #yes even if its from a movement you don't think is vaid #like what do you expect them to go back to their rabbi and be like 'is like to return this conversion and exchange it for orthodoxy' #thats not how it works they already converted to that movement what is the point of you trying to make them feel bad about it #like what do you change or affect by doing that #same w being baal teshuva #you want me to get in a time machine and tell my parents to move to a jewish community? #whats the point of saying anything just shut up

[germiyahu]

Actually don't listen to me. I'm an impulse buyer with credit cards. You want a nice looking pitcher and basin to perform the hand washing mitzvot? That's an excellent opportunity to go thrifting! You might even find Judaica there, like a Chanukkiyya perhaps?

You don't want to wait 8 years for Shabbat candles to arrive from Israel? Ask your rabbi! When I asked her if you can reuse a Havdalah candle, she sensed I was worried about the cost of buying all these candles and said her shul has tons of extras.

You absolutely do need a Chumash, a Tanakh, and probably a study Bible too... but Sefaria has all that and more! Especially the Talmud and other Rabbinic sources! It literally blows my mind that this site exists and is free.

But what about all the books on Jewish history and philosophy? What about textbooks for Modern and Biblical Hebrew? See if there are scanned versions online, or go to your local library. Invest in notecards, you're going to want to write down prayers and such, this will especially help if you don't own the books you're studying from.

It's a good idea to have a Siddur, but your shul will most definitely have their own, and as others have told me, you can ask your Rabbi if you can borrow one to take home (make sure to treat it with reverence).

If you want to start baking Challah and are living on your own, or maybe in a dorm room, see if there are community cooking spaces so you don't have to buy your own materials, or just ask your parents if they can gift you some kitchenware because "You want to get into baking."

You literally don't need anything other than a cup that you think is pretty and has meaning to you for the Kiddush. And don't splurge, I've seen hundreds of very attractive Kiddush sets and candle holders and all that for modest prices.

And take it slowly! Don't buy everything at once. We're nowhere near close to Chanukka right now, so don't even put that in your mind. If you want to acquire holiday items, focus on Pesach and worry about other festivals in their due time, let your wallet recover a little. This also goes for Shabbat! You don't need a pristine set of everything all at once, I'm just an idiot. You can slowly build up your perfect beautiful intricate table as the months go by.

#conversion obviously costs more money when it requires study and all the materials therein #but you can do it on the cheap #jewish convert #jew by choice #gerim #jewish #jumblr

[dykefaggotry]

man the other thing that drives me crazy abt the whole "claiming judaism is an ethnicity and religion is race science just like the NAZIS" is that like....

what the nazis believed in was a mythical race of white europeans who were stronger and better than everyone else. they had 0 scientific, historic, or archeological proof of this. it was just a crackpot theory proposed to explain why white europeans were "better" than everyone else and provided an ideal for them to strive back to bc they thought that "pure" race had been tainted by racial "interbreeding"

jews saying judaism is an ethnicity is not bc it's in the fucking tanakh that they came from judea. it's bc there's MOUNTAINS of historical and archeological proof that jews came from that area. there's historical proof of people encountering jews in the middle east. there's firsthand accounts from jews themselves that survived diaspora that lived in that area. jewish DNA, regardless of other race, has a great deal of similarity w arabic DNA. there's MOUNTAINS of historical and archeological evidence that traces the movement of jews OUT of the area and into the rest of the world and the subsequent movement of jews for the next few thousand years as they kept getting kicked out or murdered

does any of that mean that israel should have displaced the people already living there and subjected them to decades of inequality and atrocity? fucking obviously not. but 1) denying historical and archeological fact to throw around your pet antisemitic conspiracy theory makes you sound like a qanon fuckass and 2) comparing that to white supremacists making up a mythical pure white race is just fucking insane and incredibly deeply antisemitic

like you don't have to make shit up to condemn what israel is doing, I promise you. you can acknowledge the nuance and hardship of history without condoning what israel does. israel doesn't need to be made up of pure europeans for you to criticize it. bc believe it or not, europeans are not the only people on earth capable of committing atrocities or having enough autonomy to do so.

#antisemitism #genuinely boils my blood lmao #like yes race is absolutely a social construct #that doesn't mean the very real history of judaism does not exist #also wild to compare it to racial purist ideas when outside of orthodox (as far as I'm aware) #most jews completely see converts as jewish in every way #& it's very easy to see where converts having children w ppl raised jewish gets a whole mix of dna #which is very much the antithesis of nazi racial purity

[fromgoy2joy]

I recently learnt that the 39 things not permitted on Shabbat are exactly the tasks the Israelites performed as they were building the tabernacle at the base of Mount Sinai. Which, to me? Hilarious.

I’m getting the visual of the Israelites being really hype enthusiastic overachievers who are chewing on the time accurate equivalent of coffee beans to get their project in. They're getting the curtains ready, their gold, their dolphin skins (or ancient middle eastern marine mammal equivalent of )- they're going haywire with the preparations-

and G-D putting his hands up.

“Timeout! Timeout!”

everyone freezes-

"Hey- I really appreciate it. I do. Super grateful for the hard work. But I think I’m going to mandate a rest day for you from all this stuff. You know how you haven't been eating or sleeping? Okay here's 25 hours where that's all you can do. Don't even think about picking up that hammer, Mendel!"

One brave Israelite raises his hand from the crowd. "Can we still.. argue?"

"Yes."

then a moment of consideration.

"But only if snacks are provided."

(inspired by a conversation with @daughterofstories )

#fromgoy2joy thoughts #jumblr #jewish #jewblr #jewish convert #jewish tumblr #jewish humor #jewish conversion #judaism #mount sinai #mount sinai convos #jewishness #jewish history #judaism stuff #judiasm #jew

[is-the-fire-real]

Me when they bring up Haman

#jumblr #judaism #purim #jew by choice #jew in progress #jewish convert #jewish positivity #all my shalomies hate haman #somebody asked for more joy and humor for purim so here you go

[your-soul-stood-at-sinai]

Your conversion story is fascinating, unique, precious, and holy. When you become a member of the Jewish people, your story enriches the heritage of the Jewish people [...] which will be forever changed by your presence.

 —Anita Diamant, Choosing a Jewish Life

#jew by choice #jumblr #judaism #jewish conversion #jewish convert #jewish