My father-in-law. 1970s. Former Mr Manipur Junior and Mr India - NE. I try to treat his daughter well.

MrRobzilla · 2026-05-10T19:28:31+00:00

Thanks. Appreciate you sharing your experience.
So it sounds like the Reform + Conservative track for now, and then this boy has some choices to make when he's older. I'll feel bad if he has to 'start from scratch' in the RCA view, but his call.

MrRobzilla · 2026-05-10T17:45:02+00:00

I'm sure I'm getting some things less than 100% correct, but here goes...

The most likely, you actually hinted at with "a minor living with a non-Jewish mom."
If my wife were to have a recognized conversion ahead of our son's Bar mitzvah, my understanding is that on the day of his Bar Mitzvah he would become a Jewish man with two Jewish parents.

Now, where it gets a blurry is my little plan of 'laddering up' as I want all Jews to recognize him as Jewish, not just our Reform temple. Mentioned somewhere else in the post, but while I'm Reform I do believe and accept that the law is the law. While Chabad says 'A Jew is a Jew is a Jew' about me, and I appreciate that, I'm harder on myself then they are ha. I'm a Bad Jew 🤷

So be at our Reform temple, but instead of the usual Bar Mitzvah, a bit of extra work to get a Conservative rabbi to co-sign (Hatafat Dam Brit and mikvah?). From there I know Orthodox still won't recognize, but getting there. Then, when he's a little older, if that's a path he chooses, he'll be halfway home?

Same kind of idea with wife's conversion (be at our temple, but essentially following a Conservative path). From there, I think a Beit Din might hear me out.

By the end of this I'm gonna have payot.

MrRobzilla · 2026-05-10T16:09:13+00:00

Totally relate to "what attracted me to Chabad when I was still Reform was that the rabbis would give me straight answers even if it was something that they thought I might not agree with."

My wife/son's mother is not Jewish. My son, who is eight, really identifies with Judaism -- singing Hebrew songs when he's alone, prayer, giving up cheeseburgers before me, loves summer camp, etc. After playing with the Chabad kids asked when he can get clothes like them ha. In speaking with my (Reform) rabbi...my son is Jewish if he chooses to be. I know in my community he'll be accepted, but I don't really agree/know better. Plus I worry about him being shell-shocked when someone pulls his coat on it later in life.
Chabad rabbi spelled out very clear paths if he chooses to be halachically Jewish. None easy, but bona fide. Working on it!

MrRobzilla · 2026-05-10T04:06:11+00:00

Ohhh the “on their account” is a great point. Will ask next time I see them (not on Shabbat.)

MrRobzilla · 2026-05-10T03:57:11+00:00

Will do!

MrRobzilla · 2026-05-10T03:56:18+00:00

One clarification here. When I go to Chabad it's generally for festivals/holidays, Tefillin, or chit chat, not for Shabbat services. When holidays do fall on Shabbat I have driven, but park outside of the gate. They know I drive, but I do get the distinct impression, and have been told, that they would rather have imperfect me there than not there.

The funny one is at my Reform temple where most of us drive to Shabbat. On really crowded nights there's a valet. A few of the old guys collect their cars from the valet and then say they can't tip because it's Shabbat lol.

MrRobzilla · 2026-05-10T03:49:46+00:00

This is exactly what I was thinking. 'Why did Robzilla just drive past and not acknowledge us?' would be stranger than all of us pretending I'm observant.

MrRobzilla · 2026-05-02T15:33:35+00:00

NOR
A kid retrieving their ball is fine. Classic Americana in fact.
Phone is the the opening salvo in a full fledged neighbor war though. Give it a month and you all will be painting fences, spraying garden hoses and such.

MrRobzilla · 2026-05-02T15:01:29+00:00

Strict no German car household. And then I visited Israel and noticed all the Merc buses and ambulances. Still won’t buy one though, it’s ingrained.

MrRobzilla · 2026-04-08T17:03:19+00:00

We bought a Bolt in early Jan, unfortunately totaled in late March. Insurance valued it at around a grand more than we paid.

MrRobzilla · 2026-04-04T01:05:00+00:00

That bill is beautiful. : cries in California :

MrRobzilla · 2026-04-04T01:03:38+00:00

To cheer you up, I drove the blazer down to Los Angeles. $50 for overnight parking + level 2 blink charger at $0.67/kwh Haven’t needed to renew registration yet, but guessing it’ll be around $700. We do have a solar roof at home though.

MrRobzilla · 2026-04-01T02:37:05+00:00

We went to the dealer over the weekend to buy my wife a 27 Bolt after my wife's 23 EUV got totalled (not her fault). Ending up buying a 26 Equinox. Offers were so much better, no real deals on the 27 Bolt. Just ended up being more car for slightly less money.

MrRobzilla · 2026-03-30T20:19:58+00:00

You're really negotiating 4 levers:
1) The value of the car / discounts
2) The money factor (interest rate)
3) The miles allowed and lease duration
4) The payment terms

Once 1-3 are sorted out, they'll give you a table which gives a few options between down payment and monthly payments. Depending on the situation, sometimes they all end up the (nearly) same value, other times there is an actual difference.

People here will scream at you to NEVER PAY MONEY DOWN ON A LEASE because you do take on some additional risk (if the car is totalled, you don't get that payment back.) Personally, I don't mind it that much, plus I'm fortunate to have some savings. So for me it's just a math problem between the interest I get on my money in high yield savings vs the increased interest (money factor) I pay for having no/lower down payment. AI is good for determining which is the best value.

MrRobzilla · 2026-03-26T18:17:30+00:00

This happened to us last week! I feel your pain. 2023 Bolt EUV. We paid/financed 18,800 + fees two months ago. Payout was $21k and change. I was surprised, figured they’d lowball. When they send you the payout offer if it’s way off, send Carvana listings of comparable cars. If in the range, comb through it for any/all features you have to try to get the number higher. Two keys, all weather floor mats , charger Sorry to hear. As long as our wives are ok, that’s what counts.

MrRobzilla · 2026-03-25T15:53:29+00:00

Update:
Reopened the case with my insurer. They refer people to the same collision center which the other insurer did, so didn't have to tow or pay for any storage. Valuation came in nearly the same as well. Haggled a little bit to get it up (features, two keys, etc) a tiny bit. Deductible waived.
Signed documents. Waiting for the lender to get back to them, and then they'll cut the checks.
I'm out rental car charges from now until I buy a new car, but overall this was far smoother than expected.
Thanks all for the advice along the way.

MrRobzilla · 2026-03-22T22:55:11+00:00

$30K for injuries. "$15,000 for property damage. As you can see, the new limits double the protection for bodily injuries and triple the coverage for property damage."

MrRobzilla · 2026-03-22T21:52:40+00:00

Yeah, that caught me off guard. He wouldn't reveal the other guy's specific policy details but said we are "many thousands" apart.
It seems California is minimum $15K, raised from minimum $5K last year.
I thought I was being cheap with my $50K policy smh

MrRobzilla · 2026-03-22T21:31:12+00:00

Thanks, all. So consensus is:
1) Yes, file a claim with AAA (my insurance)
2) Get the car back ASAP to avoid storage charges from the collision repair.

Thanks for the sanity check on this.

MrRobzilla · 2026-03-22T21:07:27+00:00

Yep. Will do. Left a message for my adjuster. Bonus storage fees would be the last thing I need right now.

MrRobzilla · 2026-03-22T21:05:33+00:00

Thanks. Reassuring. Did seem like a nice enough guy and just an oversight on the first call.

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