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

May 19, 2014 by Patrick Beaulier

orange-light-burst.jpeg

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
Casting.pkarnes@gmail.com
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

Cap or Keppel: Fear of a Jewish convert in a small town

July 17, 2013 by Patrick Beaulier

cap or keppel graphic

I practiced my Hebrew on Shabbat, as I waited with my yarmulke on the desk I was waiting for it to dry after I washed it carefully ready for synagogue next Friday.

As I learned intensely my mum took the Keppel away and put it on the washing line, at that moment a sudden fear gripped me as the patio door shut, alarm bells rang as my mind raced in panic thinking “WHAT IF THE NEIGHBOURS SEE?”

You see, being a convert in a non-Jewish family in a working class, blue collar non-Jewish town I was very fearful especially as my neighbours are for one nosey and two are very non diplomatic: not a good combination I think you’ll agree.

It is this fear that made me hide from everybody who knew me, way back when, even my parents didn’t know I was Jewish and I even had to sneak away to synagogue one week saying I had gone to a “study club”.
Fast forward to now and most of my family know and are incredibly kind and accepting, with my parents buying me vegetarian food (as kosher food is not available in my town). However the community at large does not know about my change in faith.

This is due to the negative attitudes of a considerable minority towards difference in my town. Even though there are some incredibly good, kind and friendly people, I believe it would not be wise and would be bringing trouble to me and my family’s door if people outside of my support network of friends and family members knew about this, hence why I type using my pseudonym on PunkTorah.

There is a Dutch film about the subject of hidden identity amongst young modern Jewry (Cap or Keppel) after which this article title is named, as I can speak Dutch I view a lot of Dutch TV and viewed it online. The story revolves around a young Jewish boy called Bram who lives in Amsterdam and feels he has to hides his Jewish identity because of his fear of discrimination from his classmates. However there is one place Bram feels he can express his identity: The Amsterdam Arena, home of real life football team Ajax, the Amsterdam football team is associated with Judaism much in the same way Tottenham is in England, fans chant “SuperJoden” or “Super Jews”.

Instead of his yarmulke or Keppel as it is known Bram wears his Ajax baseball cap outside of shul, the film ends with him finally accepting this Identity saying “Ik ben Bram, Ik ben wie ik ben” (I am Bram, I am what I am.)

In the film we see the character go full cycle from a fearful child hiding his identity to making a very brave choice to step out and show who he is. Thinking about this I silently meditate and pray for the day when I and other converts can be like Bram and not be afraid to be who we are, as I grow in confidence I go even further past caring what others think, but there are still time when fear grips me and the need to hide raises its ugly, ugly head.

P.S: That being said converts should bear in mind they should only tell others when they feel it is appropriate to do so, if you are struggling with identity issues please discuss this with a trusted friend, family member and/or contact Punktorah

Filed Under: Converting To Judaism, Random (Feelin' Lucky?), Rants Tagged With: convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, StuckInArk

Verbage: When Do You Consider Yourself Jewish?

February 11, 2013 by Patrick Beaulier

batman and purple hairs

I get weirded out by nouns. Specifically of the proper variety. I know I’m a blogger/writer or whatever and I should be in love with ALL THE GRAMMARS!! but dudes I’m just not. Well, not when I guess it comes to me, like about me? I don’t know. Let me just tell you the story.

Sometimes I speak in “we” and “us”. It’s one of those weird things people in relationships and with small babies do. We went to the park. We are hungry. We are cold. Some of those are legit, like we went to the park, obviously little man and I BOTH did go somewhere. Do I always know WE are hungry? No. I do not. Sometimes I’m wrong, sometimes I’m right, but you bet your bottom dollar I’ll say it again in a few minutes.

There are times when I say things like “they” and “them”. Usually involving my school, [Read more…]

Filed Under: Converting To Judaism Tagged With: am i jewish, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, converting to judaism, converts, darshan yeshiva, jewish converts, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, when am i jewish

The New Girl at PunkTorah

January 14, 2013 by Patrick Beaulier

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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: It’s Strange…

February 12, 2012 by Patrick Beaulier

The next installment in Laura Cooper’s Jewish conversion comic, Taste & See…

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Converting To Judaism, Jewish Media Reviews Tagged With: converting to judaism, jewish comic, jewish comic book, jewish conversion, laura cooper, taste & see

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