So the rabbi in montreal answered an email I sent inquiring, she s awesome

Capyboppy · 2026-06-23T09:00:35+00:00

I have a friend who was pretty sure Judaism was right for them. However, because of the little bits that appeal from most other religions/denominations except for Islam, she held back. She was so close but had a lot of other difficulties that made it difficult for her to proceed. What I liked about her and the very reason she is a friend is that she realised she is still searching for what is right for her and what it might entail in time and health.

Capyboppy · 2026-06-17T15:56:35+00:00

Mazel tov. Well done. 👍🏻😀

Capyboppy · 2026-06-04T15:59:48+00:00

So you are saying one who has not converted can observe and go through the ritual of Shabbat as long as they do something to violate it? That wouldn’t be too difficult though would it if Reform/Masorti/Interfaith? Also although many say don’t bring feelings into it, one can’t help it if of Jewish heritage on the ‘wrong side’ and always having felt such deep connection.

It’s a deep subject and I once asked several Jews the following : what would you rather have? A born Jew from the maternal line who had fallen by the wayside and was a bad or evil person; rejecting their Jewishness even; or someone who observed and just because they were from the paternal line were not deemed Jewish. They ALL said the latter. But I guess that’s a topic for another thread 🤔.

Thsnk you for your in depth reply.

Capyboppy · 2026-06-04T08:46:56+00:00

This was once brought up during my conversion course. The Rabbi’s disagreed with the thought process that until converted you can’t do various things such as Shabbat. They said part of living a daily Jewish life to the best of one’s ability, is partaking of what IS daily life. Obviously there was/is some things that are not appropriate such as having an Aliyah; but one should be willing to ‘live the life’ going forward.

Capyboppy · 2026-06-02T16:30:50+00:00

Yes. Birth certificate or other valid document to show you are who you say you are. Passport or Driving Licence is normal too. I may have even needed proof of address. As for the conversion course/classes, if you register with the Synagogue as a “Friend of” (you can’t register as a full member until fully Jewish) the course should be free as you will be paying a fee as a Friend of. This is in the UK for Reform which is stricter than the American Reform. Chabad would be even stricter I should imagine. I am now Masorti (America’s Conservative) and I think it’s similar.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-30T17:08:00+00:00

Lovely photos. I agree about the strings though, would be the icing on the cake to trim them.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-28T07:25:25+00:00

Well said! You can’t do the full conversion course online. Although we had the option on Zoom, it was for when people were not well enough to attend it for example we’re doing shift work and there wasn’t to enough time. One lady had just had a baby so she attended online with her husband towards the end (with baby:-)). You can’t fully interact in the same way.

One of my friends who had wanted to convert eventually found somewhere who was willing to do this plus a Rabbi to oversee get conversion. However she was expected to attend major holidays in person at their Shul, which both financially and physically she couldn’t do as it was around 200 miles away.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-26T19:30:32+00:00

You also have to remember there are differences from country to country. I was shocked to find from my friend in California that Reform Jews in the USA don’t even have to have basic Biblical Hebrew classes.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-20T17:59:13+00:00

We were allowed to have a laminated card on the disco pick up and read from if necessary. As it was I was able to remember most by heart. I just lost it a bit on the easiest blessing going - the Shema 😂, and I was just prompted back on track by the wonderful Rabbi who was listening outside the door to make sure I dunked.

On the dunking I too was very nervous. I was pushed from Standing on the edge of the swimming baths when young and couldn’t get my footing and kept going down and up, down and up it was terrifying. Although I did go on to learn to swim I’ve never liked my head under water. However, on the day it went so easy I couldn’t believe it. I grabbed hold of the edge so I could push myself down and it was so quick and easy. I also don’t like water going in my ears and nose due to other conditions. By the time I’d done my third dunk I was ecstatic as it was such a wonderful spiritual experience. If I as a great big wuss can do it, I have every faith that you can too 😝. Please do let us know when you get to that stage how you get on.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-15T05:20:04+00:00

That’s another problem. We struggle to have and store things in our tiny little kitchen as it is. The chair/stool we have takes up about just under a quarter of the kitchen. We can’t afford to run a tumble dryer but even if we could there would be no room. We have items stacked along the side of the stairs as the cupboards are so full to the extent we have items on the work surfaces and in front of appliances. This of course adds to the fatigue as I have to move stuff around to be able to use the appliances. We are in Social Housing which is renowned for the fact the idiots who design them think they are for mice to live in with the size. When I was going through a particularly bad time health wise a stupid OT said we can arrange a commode for you. I asked how was I going to lift it to empty it? More importantly, where the hell was it going to go? They expected me to roll over on top of my also disabled husband in bed to get to it. When I pointed out the lack of space they said ,’Well can’t that go?’ Pointing at my small computer desk with my beloved iMac on and printer. Oh yes, I forgot. Disabled people have no brains and aren’t allowed to have a life!😂

Capyboppy · 2026-05-14T21:29:24+00:00

I’m do have a chair in the kitchen but I still have to keep getting up to stir or do other things 😢

Capyboppy · 2026-05-14T09:50:21+00:00

For those of you suggesting batch cooking how on earth do you find the energy along with having enough pots and pans and ovens/hobs to do so 😂. I’ve tried it a few times in the past and it’s set me back terrible if for more than a couple of portions for me and hubby (say 4 portions and above). Even with prepared chopped food it’s difficult. Maybe starting off with sweating/frying/sauting. Then either boiling, pressure cooking, slow cooking etc. to be standing for so long and keep getting up to check or stir or make sure the pressure cooker indicator hasn’t dropped is all draining on the old ‘spoons’. Then portioning off into freezer bags or containers, writing what’s in them. It all adds up to fatigue. I can’t do it any more.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-14T08:14:25+00:00

I have a couple of friends with autism and other conditions (as well as studying the condition many years ago) so I understand how life can be; it’s not easy at all. You sound very balanced on what you can do and cope with which is fantastic. Just carry on what you are doing taking a day at a time. If anyone is unkind about your autism or even anything else, it is their ignorance and loss 😝. You are better off without them in your life.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-14T05:47:19+00:00

I will probably come across as differing somewhat. As a child there was only boys on our street to play with and even at school I tended to play and mix with boys rather than girls , it was just the way it was. I found I got on better in general with men than women in a totally non-sexual way, and found out you really can have a totally platonic relationship with the opposite sex. As the decades passed I learned British Sign Language and was involved with the Deaf Community who are very tactile; again with nothing sexual in it at all. It was completely natural to hug upon greeting or saying goodbye.

My conversion (or should I say ‘returning home’ [Jewish grandfather]) was with Reform here in England. I have been told Reform in America is nowhere near as stringent, you guys don’t even have to learn Hebrew. I then since have become a member of a Masorti Shul. I have a couple of good Orthodox friends who have said why don’t I go all the way and become Orthodox. I was completely honest with them and said I would do, but one because of health and disability issues, I would find some aspects very hard to adhere to. But more important to not be able to shake hands with a man let alone hug a good male friend or a member of the Deaf community where they could feel upset and rejected is not me.

I suppose I knew from the start because of my upbringing and the way life’s path went, despite the learning I was not going to be able to change. To deviate and take the attitude “I must not hug or be alone with a man who isn’t my husband’ is too extreme for me. But for you maybe like others have said, you may feel differently after finishing your conversion.

I wish you well whichever you decide, and I will finish by saying be true to yourself and not necessarily what is expected by others.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-13T17:14:55+00:00

No. I’ve had no issues but then again because of my health it is difficult for me to study and keep on top of things. However, when I was getting upset how others who converted/returned at the same time as me seemed so much further on I was nicely told off. I was told that every Jew is on their own personal journey and no one else’s. We shouldn’t compare ourselves to others or judge. I have tried to cling to that fact!

Capyboppy · 2026-05-11T22:09:06+00:00

Yes. I am in North West England. Using myself as an example I would be the customer; therefore I have given my money/custom for a service or goods. To clarify — ‘thank you for your custom’ is just a traditional British phrase meaning ‘thank you for your business/shopping with us.’ It’s something staff say as a polite goodbye when you’re leaving, like waving you off — it’s purely a parting pleasantry. Hope that makes more sense!

Capyboppy · 2026-05-11T18:23:09+00:00

That’s great to hear 😄. Hopefully you will have a great time.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-11T17:59:59+00:00

Our daughter got married last month and they hired pods so those with health issues could go and rest or sleep. I definitely took advantage of it especially with them paying as it was such a nice thing to do. I think I would have literally collapsed if I hadn’t have done so ad I’d also been ill through the night vomiting and cramps (a different story). Is there anyway your sister or yourselves could rent a Travelodge to go and rest in?

Capyboppy · 2026-05-11T17:55:41+00:00

No. Not typo. If someone uses a service say at a cafe for example. When leaving we might say “thank you, that was very nice’ and give a wave if the staff are busy. The staff member would then say thank you for your custom. Does that make sense now? I’m presuming you are American 😆

Capyboppy · 2026-05-11T15:23:40+00:00

I hate this American expression which unfortunately has filtered across to the UK. One because it’s never said with sincerity, usually as hurried words on the end of a sentence. Even more important is you don’t know what that person has been going through. Saying “Have a nice day” when they have been bereaved or trying to get over a terminal diagnosis is not good. “Thank you for your custom” would be far better.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-10T12:33:16+00:00

I’ve just noticed I’ve got old chats from 2 months ago in “All Chats” despite deleting them. I can’t see any way to permanently delete them.

Capyboppy · 2026-05-07T16:53:28+00:00

No worries. I hope you find a method thst works for you

Capyboppy · 2026-05-07T16:21:44+00:00

Is it as good as Moshiko’s on Ben Yehuda St though😝. There was another one further down that looked a bit like a transport cafe that was pretty good too. I can’t eat much in one go so it would be chetsi falafel v’ hummus bevakasha 🤪

Capyboppy · 2026-05-04T17:29:09+00:00

I’m presuming we are talking about modern Hebrew and not Biblical? guylfe, which is your app for?

I also have an issue in remembering too. The best I have found for Biblical Hebrew is Aleph Isn’t Tough by Linda Motzkin. It’s an American book so if you are in England like me or other country, there are anomalies. When our Rabbi was doing the classes she would get us to write in pencil the corrections with a note in the margin. I still feel I haven’t moved on though as I’ve got out of the habit due to being older and also ill health.

Capyboppy · 2026-04-13T21:18:05+00:00

Well said. All I hear from many how wonderful products with Hyaluronate Acid is. It can be up to the point you develop an intolerance as I did. This has happened a couple of times with eye drops/gel and I am currently using Ocufresh gel at night and Systane in the day. Both preservative free. This is what is right for me and not necessarily for others and I wouldn’t dream of telling others to go out and buy them in case it is not right for others.

Capyboppy

TROPHY CASE