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Convert to Judaism Online with Reform, Jewish Renewal and Humanistic Rabbis

September 25, 2015 by Patrick Beaulier

conversion rabbis

Our sister website Darshan Yeshiva has Reform, Jewish Renewal, Humanistic and Post-Denominational rabbis ready to help you convert to Judaism at your own pace. Our program takes ten months and includes online learning, one-on-one mentorship with your rabbi, bet din and mikvah. Our rabbis passed a rigorous vetting process (so you know they’re legitimate), and they live all around the world, so you may even find someone close by you.

To get started, just go to Darshan Yeshiva and learn more about the program. Make sure it’s right for you! Then choose your program, your rabbi, and apply.

Need help? Email support@darshanyeshiva.org and we’ll do everything we can for you.

Filed Under: Converting To Judaism Tagged With: conversion to jewish, conversion to judaism, convert to conservative judaism, convert to judaism, convert to judaism cost, convert to judaism online, convert to reform judaism, online conversion rabbi

Meet Channah Chaya, Our Newest Writer, On Her Two Month “Conversionsary”

June 17, 2015 by Channah Chaya

moleskine

Recently I reached out to a young woman on Facebook who is about to go through the process of the beit den to finish her conversion to Judaism. Although I am a Jew-by-Choice (a term I will be using to describe myself but I do not apply the same phrase to others who have converted unless they chose to identify as such), it is hard to believe that less than two months ago today, I was in the same position myself.

I decided to reach out to her because she was expressing some of the same fears and anxieties that I had both leading up to the date as well as the actual day itself.

In my opinion, Judaism is one of the most intimidating religions to convert to as well as one of the most challenging, and one could certainly argue, with good reason.

Unlike other religions, you take on a legacy and a history quite unlike any other. Along with all of the richness and beauty that comes with the religion, also comes along the ugliness of persecution and discrimination.

It is not something that converts to other religions usually have to be so consciously aware of. Yes, their newfound faith certainly had its dark side but it is not something in many cases (in mainstream religion at least),that threatens its survival. That is a huge burden to chose to take on.

When I began studying Judaism I was so intimidated to mess up, to do something disrespectful, to say a bracha (blessing) wrong. I was in awe of anyone that could speak Hebrew fluently and who could perform rituals without a second thought.

I felt like an outsider for the longest time and was subconsciously expecting someone to call me out because I was not officially “Jewish” yet.

Then something changed in me after I started getting more and more involved with the community. I craved finishing my studies so I could officially join the Tribe. The more I learned about Judaism, the more I fell in love. Then my mentality changed and all I could think was “how can I not be Jewish”.

I could not help it. I was in love with Judaism, and I had found it all on my own. I wanted to share this beautiful belief system with everyone but I definitely overloaded some of my both Jewish and non-Jewish friends with constantly talking their ear off on anything and everything Jewish. I could not be satiated.

The day of my conversion, I was on the verge of having both a panic attach and a complete meltdown because my emotions were running so high. It was hard to believe that all of my learning and studying had boiled down to this very moment. What would happen if the beit den wanted me to wait to convert? Part of me felt like I would never be ready and the other part of me felt like I had to be ready because why wait any longer.

I will say I am now drawing a blank on what I actually said during the beit den because I was so nervous but I do know that I was crying happy tears both in the mikvah and afterwards. I have never felt so happy in my life and proud of myself.

Its amusing to me sometimes when born-Jews don’t seem to understand why I, or anyone else for that matter, would choose to convert to Judaism. I think that, for me atleast, the beauty of the religion is worth the risk for the potential ugliness that can come along with it. Yes, I do worry about anti-Semitism daily and my heart drops every time I hear a new report in the news about it. Nevertheless, there is so much beauty to this religion, that how could I not be a part of it. To share the joy that Judaism has brought to me is why I have chosen to start blogging about it starting right here and right now.

Channah C. is a newly converted Jew-by-Choice who enjoys reading, writing, volunteering within her local Jewish community, and learning everything she can about Jewish living. She converted through Darshan Yeshiva and is currently studying to be a Darshan through their training program. Follow her on Twitter @JewishlyNew

Filed Under: Converting To Judaism, LGBTQ & Women Tagged With: channah chayah, conversion to judaism, conversion to judaism women, Jew By Choice

#ThowbackThursday: Converts, Cheesecake, and Other Reasons To Like Shavuot

May 21, 2015 by Patrick Beaulier

My Letterman-style Top Ten Reason To Love Shavuot:

10. Cheesecake Brownies. It’s like shooting heroine and cocaine at the same time..only a lot healthier and legal. Dairy and Shavuot go hand-in-hand, and since I seldom eat meat this holiday glorifies everything I love that makes me fat.

9. You get to remember who Ruth is. Ruth is the national symbol of Jewish feminists. I kinda wish we read her megillah instead of Esther’s: instead of booing Hamen, we’d be applauding the Moabite.

8. Everyone stays up late studying Torah. Or just rockin’ the kiddush. If you’re an early to bed, early to rise type, just read our backlog of Shavuot articles.

7. Converts get some respect…for about six hours. On Shavuot, you’re the most Jewish person in the room…even if you were born with the name Christopher Jesusman. And converts are generally the only people who know what Shavuot is in liberal circles, so you get to feel like some kind of tzadik for your intense knowledge.

6. Work restriction. This year is the best because it falls middle of the week, then it’s over, then it’s Shabbat. It’s like taking a week off, since you mentally check out from work a day before any holiday anyway.

5. It has that kinda made-up feeling. Shavuot is a fairly minhag heavy holiday, in the sense that Ruth, studying and milchig is pretty much all there is to it and the rest is just customs to fill in the time. I like that because you never have to worry about doing the wrong thing on Shavuot. Hanukkah is like that, too.

4. Weird conversations. I like Shavuot chavrutah with eccentric people, because the combo of staying up late and heavy religious discussion always goes in strange directions: people passing out, talking in their sleep, stoner-like debates about whether or not Boaz’s foot was actually a foot or a euphemism for…ya know…the male part.

3. Energy drinks. When I was in the rockabilly punk band The Love Drunks, I used to slam energy drinks laced with vodka. I found the combination helped me stay up really late, and mellow out at the same time. I’m not into that kinda thing anymore, but Shavuot is my one time a year where I gorge myself on Red Bull.

2. The diversity of Jewish events. If you really want to pull an all day and all nighter, find a small child and force them to chaperone you to a Chabad family event. The ice cream sundaes are always incredible. In the afternoons you can generally find some JCC-type of place doing a late afternoon event catching after school/before dinner crowd, and then you can party with the grown ups all night.

1. The Torah!!!!!!!!!!! Come on, forget all that cultural junk. It’s all about the Torah, people.

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Random (Feelin' Lucky?), Shabbat & Holidays Tagged With: book of ruth, Chabad, cheesecake brownies, conversion to judaism, convert to judaism, darshan yeshiva, energy drinks, minhagim, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, shavuos, shavuot, ten commandments, the love drunks

40% off all classes at Darshan Yeshiva #HanukkahGift

December 15, 2014 by Patrick Beaulier

Darshan Yeshiva Cover copy

Our sister website Darshan Yeshiva is giving an awesome 40% off discount on Torah Study, Intro to Judaism and Darshan Training as a Hanukkah gift to the PunkTorah community. This is on top of the 14 day free trial that you already get just for signing up.

Just use discount code GELT2014 today through December 25th to receive the discount.

While you’re there, check out Darshan Yeshiva’s new conversion to Judaism program and new rabbis.

Happy Hanukkah!

Filed Under: Rants Tagged With: conversion to judaism, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, darshan yeshiva discount, intro to judaism, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, torah study

Online Conversion To Judaism Expanding at Darshan Yeshiva!

October 8, 2014 by Patrick Beaulier

Darshan Yeshiva Cover copy

Darshan Yeshiva’s online conversion program is growing, and you need to know about it.

We have increased the size and scope of our program in the following ways:

Reform, Orthodox, Post-Denominational…More Ways To Convert

Students are able to choose a conversion guided by Reform or Post-Denominational rabbis. Eventually this will expand to Reconstructionist, Conservative and Orthodox rabbis as well. And that means…

Hiring More Rabbis

We are on the lookout for rabbis who are interested in part time work, helping new Jews come home to Judaism, as well as supporting the growth of a dynamic, pluralistic rabbinate. Interested in becoming a conversion rabbi with us? Email support@darshanyeshiva.org

More Conversion Locations

Our Atlanta location will still be available, but students will also be able to convert in other parts of the Southeast, as well as California, Virginia, New York and more. Our hope is to also begin finding rabbis and bet din in multiple countries as well

Get started at Darshan Yeshiva today!

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

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