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Thank You For Helping Me Grow Up: A Confession By Rabbi Patrick

March 23, 2015 by Patrick Beaulier

matisyahu image history

Yesterday I had the honor of sitting on the bet din of Rabbi Mitch Cohen, one of the rabbis who provides conversion through our sister website Darshan Yeshiva. It’s a true blessing to sit on his bet din because Rabbi Mitch and I have become friends over the years. But it’s a double blessing because the synagogue whose mikvah we use is the same one I converted in so many years ago.

It got me thinking a lot about the PunkTorah community and how much we have grown. We started as a YouTube channel. Then we had this website. Then we had a few that failed to launch. Oh well…we tried. A bunch of ebooks. Podcasts. An online synagogue and now, our online school and online conversion to Judaism program.

This was made possible not by me, but by you.
I have said for a long time that I consider myself the Chief Helper Monkey, not the CEO. You’re the boss. It’s your job to tell me what you need, and it’s our collective responsibility to one another to make that happen, whether it’s through donating financially, through providing content, teaching a class or leading a service. It doesn’t always work out that way, unfortunately. But we all try our best and there are many victories along the way.

On a personal note, the greatest victory that has happened over the years is my own personal maturity.
To be honest, there are YouTube videos that I did many moons ago that just make me cringe. I look at who I was and think, “gee, what kind of poser is that??” I’ve read some of my oldest blog posts and seriously wondered what was going on in my mind.

DSC_5081You gave me a space to grow up.
And over time, we gave each other a space to mature. Now, we are giving others a space as well. Thank you for that.

I have many dreams for PunkTorah’s future. I hope that you do, too.

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

Convert with Conservative and Reform Rabbis at Darshan Yeshiva

February 16, 2015 by Patrick Beaulier

Darshan Yeshiva, a sister website of PunkTorah, provides distance-learning conversion to Judaism through Reform, Conservative and Post-Denominational rabbis (with Orthodox rabbis coming soon!)

romer headshotRabbi Ben Romer (Reform)

Our current Reform rabbi is Ben Romer, who has been a rabbi for over 30 years, both in congregations and as an Army Chaplain for 22 years. He has been in large and small Jewish communities and is now part of the creation of a new Emerging Jewish Community called Bonay Kodesh.

Why would Rabbi Ben choose to work with Darshan Yeshiva? As Rabbi Ben puts it:

“I am convinced that new ways and models are necessary for the flourishing of American Judaism. One model is to assure a welcoming community that intends to develop a lasting relationship with each person entering. When you make the decision to connect with the Jewish people and community I want to assure you know you will be embraced with care and affirmation.”

Rabbi Charni Flame Selch (Conservative)

Darshan Yeshiva students can now convert with a Conservative rabbi!

Rabbi Selch has been a congregational rabbi, community educator and chaplain, but all of her experience is about one thing: nurturing spiritual development for those who are seeking encounters with God and each other.

In addition to being our first Conservative rabbi, she is also our first rabbi in the Boston area.

Rabbi Charni says, “I have been a congregational rabbi and a community educator but mostly what I do is draw upon my experiences to nurture spiritual development for those who are seeking encounters with G-d and each other. I help individuals and families looking to engage in Jewish life and learning. I believe that Judaism shouldn’t be a spectator sport: It is meant to be approachable, personal, do-able and never to be simply watched from the sidelines.”

Rabbi Rachael Bregman (Reform)

RachaelBregmanWelcome Rabbi Bregman, our first female Reform rabbi and the newest addition to Darshan Yeshiva!

Rabbi Bregman is the rabbi for Beth Tefilloh, a historic synagogue in Brunswick, GA. She is both the first female to ever serve this community and the first resident rabbi in over 50 years.

Prior to her position at Beth Tefilloh, Rabbi Bregman served for three years as the rabbi for Open Jewish Project, a grant-funded endeavor under the umbrella of Synagogue 3000 and NextDor.

Learn more about our conversion program and apply to convert with Rabbi Romer, Bregman or Rabbi Selch 

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

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

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

June 16, 2014 by Patrick Beaulier

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

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