Would you become religious/Jewish?

“If I saw the right examples, probably. Judaism (Torah) itself is perfect, the problem is if its not represented the way its supposed to be.”

Suppose you saw the wrong examples, would you be drawn to the truth of Torah? Would you feel life w/o Judaism is empty or meaningless? Would another religion give you fulfillment? Would you even be looking for truth? Would life’s lessons make a difference?

I don’t know. Some people give me a very bad feeling about Judaism even now so if I was offered a life of (basically) doing as I pleased or being told I was headed to a big oven (c’v), well, which one would most people choose? But I will say this, I don’t know what my life would look like today without Yiddishkeit.

*kapusta*

Health,

Where do you take this this idea from, that it doesn’t matter if Yidden are transgressing Aveiros!?

To those who did make the decision, was it an intellectual discovery, or an inner feeling, or a deeper pull based on both or more?

All of the above. While xtianity isn’t based on (any) logic, logic was something that drew me to Judaism. But it was also an inner feeling/connectedness that I had when I was around the Jewish people. And it was also a “vow” that I made to G-d to follow the path of truth, wherever that path may lead.

I am always awed at Baalei Teshuva and their stories, I can only hope to reach their level

I always hear frum people say something like that. But I always hear BT/Gers say the same thing about FFBs. There are benefits that FFBs have that others don’t. Some things are big, but there are many small things that you would never have thought of that benefit FFBs.

After I wrote what I wrote, I watched a very secular Israeli making sure that he remembered to kiss a mezuza as he walked through a doorway…and Bernie Madoff may have done 1 severe thing wrong, but I am sure that if someone knew him as a neighbor, friend or aquintance that they would have good things to say about him.

You should write books. Can you tell us more? How did your families react? Are you well accepted?

Yes, I keep notes so that, G-d willing I can write a book, since so many people find it fascinating.

My parents don’t mind, since I am improving my middos. However, the xtians that are elsewhere in my family are soooo opposed to it that I had to cut off contact from most of them years ago.

Being accepted hasn’t been an issue (but it doesn’t mean that I don’t have to work hard at it or haven’t had to put up with uncomfortable situations, though). While I am not finished with my conversion, it doesn’t seem to bother even the ultra-orthodox from treating me with much respect. In fact, a few years ago I ate a Purim meal at my friends house in Mea Shearim & the family made me feel like I was a long-lost family member.

I hate to say this, but if my introduction to torah jewery was the yeshiva world coffee room, I would run the opposite way. The invective routinely directed towards others is horrible.

I think I’ve seen much worse in my introduction & it didn’t really stop me & the truth is that it only stops people looking for an excuse to turn away. What I mean is that if a person is focused on getting closer to G-d, then they aren’t going to let people stand in their way.

I believe that he who forgets that he was megayer and not a BT, is the one who succeeded….Besides, we’re all BTs in a way

Can you clarify this? I have been told that a ger is a BT…or maybe they are “like” a BT…but I’m confused as to how this is so. But maybe I am confused.

I don’t see myself as having done anything special, I just corrected something that went wrong at some point in history. It’s no big deal for me and personally

I really don’t see anything special about my story either. However, I came to the conclusion that at certain times, it’s good to tell, since many Jews have told me that they have gained much inspiration from my story. How? I don’t know.

I’ve also always wondered if the coincidence of me finding & appreciating Judaism may have been a tikkun of sorts for my ancestors that didn’t appreciate it & decide to walk away from it.

Wow, thanks Tikkun. BTW, why did you choose this SN?

Tikun, Baruch Habah to Klal Yisrael. May your conversion go smoothly.

I forgot to say “thank you. Thank you.

Wow, thanks Tikkun. BTW, why did you choose this SN?

What’s SN?

Probably not. I would believe in G-d but not follow any religion.

anon1m0us and adorable: Why not?

adorable…why do you dislike it so much?

Someone wanted to know how my parents reacted to my conversion and how it feels to be a Black and Jewish.

My parents at first believed that I was joining some kind of cult. They were angry and thought that I was being brainwashed. They had had the exact same response a few years earlier when I had become a more religious Christian as a teenager.This time, however I was an adult so they were mean and and hurtful, but couldn’t do anything about it. My father is the racist, anti semitic , blame everything on “the man” type which compounded the issue. Things really came to a head when I became engaged and was about to make aliyah. They were upset about “losing me” and had a fit at my vort. Things settled down a bit after I began to have children and they realized that it’s not a faze, that this is my life and that they have to work with me if they want a relationship. Things are better now, my mother has taken it upon herself to learn a bit about Yiddishkeit so that she can relate to us a little better. My father is being civil but there is still a lot of tension. Both are very resentful, but have toned it down a lot. Being Black really hasn’t been an issue. I see myself as a Jewish person who just happens to have dark skin. I haven’t really run into problems because of it. A couple of times I’ve heard kids say something, but that’s how kids are. Since I live in Israel a lot of people at first think I’m Ethiopian and are shocked when hear me speak English. Ethiopians don’t understand why I draw a blank when they speak to me in Amharic.

Health, like I said, speak to a Rov.

mdd – I’m not interested in speaking to my Rov -I have no Shailos, just opinions. If you want to prove me wrong -go to your Rov and post what he says here. Maybe I’ll agree, maybe I won’t.

I don’t belong to any FFB club anymore than you belong to a BT club. And just because I said there isn’t a great big mitzvah to make people frum, doesn’t mean I don’t want all Jews and Goyim to keep the Torah. As a matter of fact, some of my best friends are BT’s. I even married a BT and would still be married to her if not that someone convinced her to leave. Why couldn’t you be Dan L’caf Zecus? Do you have something against FFB’s?

Would you become Jewish if you were a non Jew? I think that is the question…

I say it depends on what you think your providence really is…

If you identify with the Jewish people and then spend your time reading their books etc, especially the Jewish Tanakh as well you have a firm G-d beleif, I say you give it a go.

If you learn about the universe and realize that the Jews are like a tree in a forest and the non jews are like the plants and weeds and you just want to do it to be like the Jews, I think your plan is going to be see-through. I don’t think you could genuinely become Jewish, but if you really found meaning in the Jewish religion, you might want to give it a go too.

As for being a Jew and wanting to become religious, I say who knows what our children of non-affiliated movements will do in their lifetimes. If you are non- affiliated, your priority in life is to your job and family. That said, it is not to your own religious background per se. If you suddenly become more frum, that is great. It is going to be a challenge, and G-d willing a learning process.

But I suspect that true Ba’al Tschuvahs are very rare indeed. Some modifications of the Jewish way of life do not seem to “jive” with some of the careers of these previously non-affiliated individuals. It also has a big family ramification. Imagine growing a full beard if you really wish. That does not immediately get approval by many of those who hate facial hair of any significant length.

But given a good G-d orientation, give it to Hashem to guide our people into their futures.

Health, it is not a matter of opinions, it is a matter of what the Torah says about it. And I do resent your (and of the like-minded individuals’) attitude. And you did imply that you wish many BTs remained non-frum and not be around to annoy others( re-read your original post).

mdd – “it is a matter of what the Torah says about it.”

Exactly; and I feel my opinions coincide with the Torahs’!

“And I do resent your (and of the like-minded individuals’) attitude. And you did imply that you wish many BTs remained non-frum and not be around to annoy others( re-read your original post).”

You resent my attitude because you aren’t being Dan L’caf Zecus and you have Sinas Chinum. Yes, I do believe some BT’s should have remained non-religious. Simply because they aren’t Ehrlich, not the ones whom are! People become BT’s for a myriad of reasons, not just because they have all “seen the light”! Some people have mental problems or family problems and become frum because of it -these type of people we don’t need in the frum community. If a Frei person is made aware of Hashem and his Torah and this is the reason he/she joins up, then by all means -the more- the merrier!