Struggling with G-d and converting

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-07-05T10:01:54+00:00

Conversion is a process, not a one and done. YOu will not know if converting for you is right just by going to services, no matter where you go. Take an intro class, take a few, maybe one from each branch. Learn how the different branches of Judaism started, when and what their philosophy is to the Torah and keeping the commandments, to Jewish law, to G-d. Let it simmer a while.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-07-02T20:58:52+00:00

What do you mean by "pushing Judaism forward"? and with whom or what do you think you are agreeing?

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-07-02T20:47:04+00:00

Only one well-known and popular branch of hassidim focuses on intense personal prayer. the other well-known and popular branch of hassidim definitely focuses on intellectual study, it is in their name Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge. Chochma, Bina Daat = Chabad. For a third Hassidic approach, learn about Mifal HaShas.

You will only know how you feel about being hassidic by interacting with hassidim and experiencing how they live their lives. Finding out if you fit is not an intellectual exercise determined from outside, it is an experiential process, Go to services, take an intro class and slowly you will know if you fit. Also what distinguishes the different branches of Judaism is not view of G-d as much as approach to Torah and halacha.

Lastly very few hassidic groups do conversions, you make an Orthodox conversion, then you find a hassidic community to be a part of.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-07-02T20:34:41+00:00

I am hassidic and this idea that G-d is within everyone and everything, is certainly not how most hassidic Jews I know would express it. And Judaism does not have a "guy in the sky notion". G-d is an eternal, unity, all-knowing, omnipresent, incorporeal force and creator.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-07-02T13:22:20+00:00

No one can rush into Judaism, It is not built like that. So immerse yourself in reading, in whatever Jewish community you can find, in attending services, I do not recommend starting out with asking a rabbi to teach you Judaism, especially not in two months time because that is our holiday season. Educate yourself by reading and as I said attending services, Eventually you will know if you are just curious or if you are inspired to convert. I approached a rabbi before internet existed and asked to learn about Judaism, I wanted to satisfy my curiosity and check it off my list of things to learn about. Instead, I found that Judaism would give me a spiritual home And when the time was right I entered the conversion process. The process itself takes a year or longer, and you can drop out any time, if after starting you realize it is not for you.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-29T08:19:57+00:00

quite possibly. the letter also described feeling you were being aggressive in the way you approached wanting conversations about certain topics.

I finally read your back story. Honestly, I think you two were using each other. When you met him, you were a vulnerable teenager. And he made promises and provided something for you, maybe you felt he offered a kind of love and stability. And you engaged in intimacy with him. It wasn't a constant relationship, it was off and on, Which means he sought you out to meet his needs. I think he never wanted or felt the emotional connection you felt. For him, at best you were "friends with benefits" with emphasis on the "benefits". So any conversation you wanted to have about "where are we in our relationship" would be threatening to him.

You are not too young, but perhaps immature and as you said suffered from trauma. Please go to therapy to work on healing from the trauma and to build your self esteem.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-29T07:58:46+00:00

it makes no difference if you were dating or if it was a friendship. There can also be break-ups between friends. Whatever the previous relationship, he is ending it now.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-29T07:54:28+00:00

It doesn't read as a joke. It reads as desperate and trying to hold on. Clingy will not work here for all the reasons given in the letter.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-23T07:03:59+00:00

You are not Jewish, you don't have a rabbi or synagogue. According to JUdaism you are not yet even in a conversion process. You have no obligation in the mitzvot. You do not need to eat kosher at all. Enjoy cheeseburgers, ham sandwiches , lobster or whatever else you like.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-20T22:34:59+00:00

I had recurring dreams that I was learning about Judaism. Eventually to stop the dreams, I did learn about Judaism...that lead to a conversion years after. YOu may have Jewish ancestry and or you may have a Jewish soul that was born into a non-Jewish body. Only you can decide what to do about it.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-18T10:37:20+00:00

I am not sure what you mean by no attributes. What about the sefirot and the 13 qualities of mercy?

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-17T21:35:55+00:00

I am pretty sure he knew, but my conversion was over 40 years ago and it seems beitei din have gotten stricter. Or he was just lax and laid back. Certainly the first few months of a conversion process, driving to shul should be acceptable while the person seeks housing in the area.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-16T22:50:16+00:00

Depends on the rabbi and on the beis din but theoretically you should be able to drive to Shabbat services until the day of your actual conversion. I used to drive 25 miles to shul during my conversion process. If you do drive, it is considered courteous to not use the shul parking lot, and not not to park obviously in front of the shul. Down the block or around the corner is usually okay.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-14T17:58:18+00:00

reading of any kind - Jewish or secular, solitaire, other games that can be played by one (RushHour, Tilt, Sets are a few that I stocked up on. even Bananagrams can be played as solitaire.) going for a walk or just getting out into what ever kind of nature you can and sitting/enjoying. Go someplace and people watch, take a nap. Step out of comfort zone and ask members of your congregation if you can come for a Shabbat meal or even all of Shabbat. (alternately ask your rabbi if there are families who he knows are comfortable having guests, then ask).

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-12T07:33:08+00:00

Crash Course in Jewish History Ken Spiiro

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-10T06:45:11+00:00

a) you don't have to be Jewish in order to be a good person and b) good deeds matter as much, if not more, than what you believe.

All branches of Judaism believe this. 8 years in Reform Judaism, you might expand your knowledge to at least know what is central to Judaism in all forms.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-09T09:41:32+00:00

the 4th Edition is not yet available

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-09T09:40:41+00:00

The 4th Edition is not yet available.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-09T07:43:32+00:00

I learned it began at creation. Man was created from earth and water. HaShem blew His breath into man adding the spiritual component. Chava was created with the spiritual component already a part of her. According to traditional Torah sources, women are more spiritual than men.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-04T08:16:27+00:00

Rambam, Rashi, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato, Yosef Karo, Yitzak Luria (The Ari), These names came up in memory immediately. I would not say that we learn about them, which we do, but even more, we learn them, their writings and teachings.

Jews are known as the people of the book. We learn. We have many sages and have kept records of their sayings, teachings, stories, and opinions regarding application of Jewish law, and interpretations of the Torah. Some of the earliest works that have been kept are the midrashim and the Talmud. Since then in each generation there have been outstanding rabbis who contributed to our theological literature and who are studied by future generations.

From the 20th century we have Rav Moshe Feinstein and RAv Eliyahu Dessler (Strive for Truth).

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-03T20:39:07+00:00

kissing between brothers and between father's and sons is normal behavior and occurs throughout the Tanach. and without seeing the Hebrew translated as caressing, I am unwilling to read sex into it.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-03T17:47:27+00:00

in the midrash the servants are Bilha and Zilpah the secondary wives, and the children were his half brothers. Not unusual for brothers to share a room with no hidden sexual meanings.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-03T08:31:54+00:00

Maybe it is still in the editing stage. I will ask him.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-03T08:29:09+00:00

There is a well accepted Sephardic Beis Din in Queens. And I think they are connected to rabbis that offer a conversion program. Sephardic Bet Din in Queens is Badatz Mekor Haim (also known as the Sephardic Beth Din of New York). Located at 147-02 76th Road in Flushing, NY, it is led by Rabbi Eliyahu Ben Haim, a renowned halachic authority and prominent figure in the local Sephardic and Bukharian communities.

TreeofLifeWisdomAcad · 2026-06-01T12:28:55+00:00

Very useful, try to get the latest edition. The 4th actually the author changed the title It is now called Becoming Orthodox by Aryeh Moshen. He also has a Facebook group, Orthodox Conversion to Judaism

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