I've written a lot about the good sides of having a long Orthodox Jewish conversion process and I think there are some obvious downsides, but there is one downside that became readily apparent recently that I hadn't really stopped to think about and has come up for us. You can become TOO comfortable with being … Continue reading The Downside of a Long Conversion Process
A little over 2 years ago, Mr. Safek and I bought our dream house and it was everything I had ever wanted in a home. It is bright, airy, with plenty of room. It has a nice, fenced in backyard with lots of sunlight and decks. It has room to garden and room for a … Continue reading Our Last Shabbos in Our Dream House
I came across a great quote today that stuck in my head. My manager at work is one of those people who is naturally intellectually curious about life in general, not just his specialty and he finds my observance fascinating. I enjoy our conversations because his questions challenge me to better define and articulate portions … Continue reading Hashem as a Life Coach
Over a year ago, we sat in our Rabbi's office and he promised, honestly and earnestly, that our conversion journey would finally end in the mikvah the coming April. This April slipped by with little fanfare and drama, peacefully but busily, as we prepared for our move. At this point, there is no more timeline … Continue reading Preparing for Shavuos and the Conversion that Wasn’t
Why not pick up an old hobby while in the midst of moving chaos? Now, most normal people would probably think that now, our last dwindling month in the Greatland, is probably the least logical time for me to try to start running again after a 7-8 hiatus. Yet, somehow, it just felt right. So, … Continue reading Running in the Rush
It's a question I get asked often, particularly when non-Orthodox Jewish friends and family learn just how long our conversion has been taking. I've even had Orthodox friends on the more left side of the Orthodox spectrum question our dedication to Orthodox Judaism. My answer usually depends on how much time we have to talk. … Continue reading Why Orthodox Judaism? Why Not Another Type?
An interesting discussion wandered across my social media feed this week. It began with a post suggesting "Comebacks For Converts," basically a list of ideas for dealing with nosey questions that converts often encounter. The post itself is pretty good and has some good ideas. The discussion that ensued, however, made me think for a … Continue reading Converts, BT’s…Heck Everyone – You Can’t Control What Others Will Think Of You
No, it's not THAT big news, but it is BIG! A cousin of mine has a son with a genetic illness. As part of working through his treatment, she and her parents recently had to have genetic testing. She knew that her mother is part Ashkenazi, but the surprising news...is that her father is too. … Continue reading BIG NEWS!!!
So much change is happening, that it's hard to keep you updated on it all. We have an offer on our house and our flights to our new home. We're selling furniture and packing boxes, making difficult choices on what to bring and what to leave. Our conversion timeline may be moving up as well. … Continue reading Becoming Whole…with a Chanukah Cactus
Our house...isn't selling. We had two couples THIS close to making offers this week. One couple couldn't get financing enough and the other chose another house because we have a dog. The realtors did reassure them that we would be taking our dog with us, but the fact a dog had lived here was enough … Continue reading Faith vs. Trust, Thinking About the Difference between Emunah and Bitachon
I had just put a huge brisket for Passover in the oven, the kind that you have to cut just to fit in the pans. Two glorious full sheet pans where covered and ready to go and the oven was heated. My cell phone announced a text. It was from our realtor. "Can you do … Continue reading House Showings and Passover Cooking
One of the things my son was looking forward to most about 8th grade was the Advanced Orchestra trip to Hawaii that the 8th graders in his school take every year. He had been thrilled when he'd first heard of it during his Junior High orientation and he'd fundraised last year to help send the … Continue reading My Son and His Passover Sacrifice
