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In what respect were you rejected?

That's not a rejection, that's a challenge. There's a difference.

He wants you to be the best damn Jew you can in the next month. Observing custom and traditions while immersing yourself in the lifestyle. It's not an easy task, which is why most don't get back to him in a month.

If a month passes and you do your best and show him your true intentions, he will be more open towards you.

The reason he didn't want you to integrate into the community aspects is because he didn't want you to get a sense of... for lack of a better term... arrogance. He wants to remind you that you're still on the outside looking in, and didn't want you to get ahead of your self.

I think that it went well.

I agree with Neuf- conversion to Judaism, especially Orthodoxy, is incredibly difficult. He didn't flat-out tell you no, and if he said, "Most people..." that's all the more reason for you to prove him wrong! Don't be discouraged- it's exceptionally common for rabbis to try to discourage converts so people will show their true determination.

If this is what you want to do, don't let anybody or anything stop you.

>snaps fingers< oh well, there goes the wedding plans.

I'm sensing a great deal of confusion in your goals. You want to find acceptance and be part of the Jewish Community, but you don't want to be condemned for 'not being Jewish enough to be a Chassid.'

Would you believe that there are conservative temples that cater to the homosexual community?

Would you believe there are several of them, including a shul in Toronto?

Would you believe that you're just as Jewish being in a homosexual Jewish community shul then at being in a Chabad House?

and would you believe I changed my sig line?

Beis Din is 3 Jews who say "yeah you're jewish enough to be one of us."

a Mikveh is a purifying bath.

also

http://www.glbtjews.org/ <--- for resouces.

All Jews are Jews. Regardless of what sectarianism says.

Labels just get in the way of everything.

It did sound more like a challenge...
The lifestyle isn't an easy one to live, from what I've gathered. If you can do it, though, or at least do your best, maybe the next meeting he'll put away his Blackberry smile

Or try the Conservative/Reform route.

Sort of off sides question- How will being homosexual effect the process of conversion? Isn't it a pretty frowned upon situation in the Jewish faith?

I don't think Chassidim was the way to go on your first try.

The fact you are gay perhaps the conservative is a better option, but I refuse to believe that it'd really matter. (If you go chabad though I probably will)

anyways.
If you don't want to keep kosher, if you don't want to keep shabbos that's fine. We can't force you to do it.


I know this doesn't help at all, but he was rude because we can't just go around welcoming prospective converts with open arms. In the middle ages communities were erased because they accepted converts, and the christian society didn't like that. Also once you're jewish you are jewish, it doesn't matter if you become buddhist five months, years, or decades later, you will ALWAYS be jewish. And by becoming Jewish you will ALWAYS be commanded to observe the 613 mitzvot (which really is only like 83 ish and then like really 50 or so)


Anyways. If you want to be conservative you can. I can't say finding a shomer shabbos job is easy, because it's not. You get a lot of rejection, but if you do go into a modern othodox community you may run into people whom own businesses that , once they trust you, they will give you a helping hand.

Your mom won't like it, I went through this EXACT thing, too, she's against change. She doesn't want to loose her baby. All you can do is reaffirming how happy and fullfilled you are from being jewish. She will warm up to the idea, but it will take time.

::hugs::

The best part. The anti semitism, you will get it. All you can do is keep an upper lip and know you aren't alone. You have a 6 million+ plus family going through the exact same thing. Some less and some more, but the point is you will never be alone. You have this guild and you have your community and you will have a little jewish family. We all will be there to support you and to help you mend the wounds.


I know it's so hard right now because you just took that leap of faith and you jumped from being completely accepted to wanting to be unaccepted, and when you took that jump the jews on the otherside didn't exactly welcome you with open arms as you wanted and may have expected. Trust me, give it a month or two, maybe three and they will warm up to you. Don't get angry when they ask you why, and don't feel stupid when you don't exactly know why yourself. Just tell them every reason that has brought you to this point. The list of 'why' will grow and certain things will become less important, but none the less your list will be morphing for a while.

You may want to talk to a conservative shul, but if you want to have a frum (observant: kosher keeping, shabbos sitting) experience then I would suggest a modern synagogue. (but that isn't saying much)

Based on where you life the modern othodox shul may be even less open, I have been blessed with a very open and loving shul and they would, perhaps, be a good starting point.

I don't know exactly what to suggest to you, but I've said all I want to say.

Finally, I know that you are hurt, sad, and angry right now, I was the exact same way when I was rejected. All I can say in short is don't give up because I know it'll hurt more to give up than to not push at all.

As shakespear said (with my luck it won't be shakespear at all)

It is have better to have loved and lost to have never loved at all.

With converting it is the same, it is better to have looked been rejected, hurt, cried, and been heart broken and then to realize you don't want it. Than to simply not do anything. :hugs:

((That was long.. I'll add some smilies to make it more friendly!!!)) 4laugh 4laugh 4laugh 4laugh 4laugh 4laugh 4laugh 4laugh 4laugh emo emo emo emo emo ninja ninja ninja ninja wahmbulance wahmbulance wahmbulance wahmbulance dramallama dramallama dramallama dramallama dramallama dramallama



cheese_whine cheese_whine cheese_whine cheese_whine cheese_whine <-- Kiddush, Let's get wasted!!!!!