PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality

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5 Myths and Facts about the Darshan Yeshiva Online Conversion to Judaism Program

June 16, 2014 By punktorah

I’d like to address the myths and facts about the Darshan Yeshiva online conversion to Judaism program.

This video was taken while I was on my recent trip to Florida and was staying in a lavish extended stay hotel, so enjoy the aesthetically pleasing background.

So here we go…

MYTH: Our online conversions take away people who would otherwise convert locally

FACT: We connect people with local Jewish communities first

Our definition of success is not driven by the number of people who sign up for our conversion program, but by the number of lives we impact. If there are good, local Jewish communities and rabbis, we want people to become part of those communities. If there are no options in their area, or the options they have simply do not work, then we are here to assist in their conversion.

MYTH: Our program is expensive because converts are “bearing the burden” of running our websites, administrative costs, etc.

FACT: It’s the opposite. Tuition from our Intro to Judaism program (and others) as well as donations helps pay for scholarships

Because the majority of our conversion students are on scholarships, we rely on the support of our Intro to Judaism, Torah Study and Darshan Training Program students to help ease the cost of conversion for people who are on limited incomes. When you take a class at Darshan Yeshiva, you are literally helping people convert to Judaism (while gaining a great Jewish education).

Additionally, students who have more comfortable financial lives have the opportunity to pay more for their conversion classes, in order to help keep the cost of our scholarships as low as possible. We hope one day to be able to provide the scholarship program at zero cost.

Last but not least, donations given to PunkTorah’s general fund are sometimes used to help pay for overhead costs we otherwise don’t recoup from charging for classes.

MYTH: This program is outside the “normal” Jewish community, so it’s validity is questionable

FACT: We work with the rabbis of Reform and Conservative communities

To date, our program has three rabbis with bet din that include Conservative, Reform, Renewal and Reconstructionist rabbis. Our educational program was developed through the consultation of a rabbi serving a Conservative synagogue as well as college professor. For our students seeking a mikvah, our conversions take place in Conservative synagogues using their mikvahs, and the certificates of our students’ conversions are filed with their administration.

MYTH: This conversion program is just a “power grab” that keeps people away from working with other rabbis

FACT: We’re hiring rabbis to do this work, not us.

Rabbis are often too overwhelmed to create their own conversion programs. Alternatively, there are many retired and part-time rabbis who are looking for opportunities to work with students. Darshan Yeshiva bridges the gap between students and rabbis by hiring the best rabbis we can find to serve all different kinds of students.

MYTH: Darshan Yeshiva is just an educational website. There’s no community attached to it

FACT: Darshan Yeshiva is a school and a community

Darshan Yeshiva has a super-secret Facebook group for students of our program. Students are added once a month and can chat about anything they want to in a (relatively) unmoderated environment.

Interested in converting to Judaism? Want to learn more about Judaism in general? Check out our website!

Written by Rabbi Patrick Aleph

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Converting To Judaism Tagged With: conversion to judaism, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, online conversion, online conversion to judaism, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, punktorah video, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

Seeing The Light: 20-Something’s Share Their Stories of Conversion

May 19, 2014 By punktorah

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For many women as you reach your 20’s you begin the process of creating the building blocks and choosing your path in life. Questions emerge and hopefully are answered – which career will you choose? Will you marry and have children? Where will you live? What is truly important to you? This may also be the time you reflect on what it means to have a higher power in your life and what tools does religion provide you in having a relationship with God? More specifically have you chosen a religious path that is different from the way you were raised?

What does it mean to “become” Jewish? Many people in the religion were born into it; but if you chose Judaism – what are the core beliefs of Judaism that matched your own? What was the driving force that called you to Judaism? How has this choice impacted your life? And how has converting or thinking about converting changed your relationship with God?

A new docu-series pilot is delving into these questions and is looking for women who have chosen Judaism. If you are in the process of converting or have recently converted then they are looking for you!

If interested in sharing your conversion story please email contact below.

Patti Karnes
Watercooler Casting
[email protected]
267-221-7313

Written by Patti Karnes. Edited by Rabbi Patrick.

Filed Under: Converting To Judaism, Jewish Media Reviews, LGBTQ & Women Tagged With: conversion to judaism, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, converting to judaism, darshan yeshiva, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

Intro To Judaism Classes Now Available @ DarshanYeshiva.org

September 23, 2013 By punktorah

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By popular demand, we have started a terrific online course series for people who are interested in converting to Judaism, are new to Jewish practice, or simply want to become better educated in Judaism without the expense of going to a formal school or synagogue.

Our Intro To Judaism course is self paced and self guided. With over thirty classes available (and five new classes every week) you will never get bored with all the Jewish learning we have available.

Best of all, the Intro To Judaism course has all the same content as our Ordination Track, but for 80% off the price!

Join today and start your Jewish journey at Darshan Yeshiva

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Rants Tagged With: conversion to judaism, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, jewish classes, online conversion, online jewish classes, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

The New Girl at PunkTorah

January 14, 2013 By punktorah

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I’m stupid new to Judaism. Stupid new. Like I’m still getting around to telling some random people I’m converting, baby-stepping my way into Kosher living, and met my first Rabbi yesterday kind of new. And unlike most people I’m reading about on the interwebs, I’m more than super proud of this. I’m beyond happy to tell someone that I’m converting, and I’m pretty excited that you know too.

Why? Well mostly because like I just told you. I’m new. I’m just about to start conversion classes, and I’m learning everything without any family or close friend-like help. I know all of two Jewish people in my whole life, and though I’ve already come to them with some pretty dumb questions, I’m mostly reading and re-reading things in my room at night.

So when I tell someone, hey I’m converting, I’m mostly saying HEY SLOW DOWN BRO, I’M NEW AT THIS. I’m not one [Read more…]

Filed Under: Converting To Judaism Tagged With: conversion to judaism, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, mother morpher, mothermorpher.com, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

Taste & See Conversion Comic: In College, One Year Later

December 1, 2011 By punktorah

Laura’s comic based on her conversion to Judaism continues with The College Years…

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Media Reviews Tagged With: conversion to judaism, jewish comic, jewish comics, laura cooper, taste & see

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