Welcome to Gaia! ::

I think you should convert, and believe whatever you believe. My old Sunday school teacher was a conservative Jew who had converted into Judaism. While it is true that there are some people who might feel it is not right, the large majority of people will gladly welcome you to Judaism. Congratulations for rejecting the pork; the world will always be full of those anti-Semites. Don't forget, everyone in this world's ancestors were once Jewish and they had to convert away from it.

Hi! Im also converting, however, I am leaning more towards reform or reconstructionist judaism. I don't know as much about conservative and orthodox judaism.

(Throws his Yamakule into the ring)

Hi, I'm Neuf. I'm one of the few jews who regards himself as a soloist.

I have not found a congregation that suits me, so... I don't go to temple.

My synagogue is a small corner of my bedroom with my late grandfather's 6 point menorah from Israel, an old metal challah plate from my late grandmother, a set of shabbas candle sticks from my other late grandmother, A Talis and Tefillin from my parents, my other late grandfather's all hebrew prayer book, a Tanakh from my family for my bar mitzvah and my own modern siddur for the hebrew impared and a havdallah set that I procured. As well as 2 kaddish cups (one glass, one stainless) that my brother and sister got for me, and my ultra small compact shabbat candle holders that I take camping.

That's all.

Things like Seder Plates, Haggadas, Chanukah Menorahs (Chanukias), and other such things belong to my family, but what is on my altar (which technically is a buffet table that my grandfather built) I claim as my birthright and use in medatative solace.

I may be considered the odd duck, but I have a very interesting way of looking at Judaism as a personal religion.

So don't worry about talkin to a rabbi, what temple to belong too, or wondering if your a reformed or an orthodox or a conservodox or a reconservodox or whatever. You have to be comfortable with Judaism as a self identity, or else you might become overwhelmed by the culture shock of it all.

As for the whole gay lesbian thing, don't worry about that. I find most jews, including myself, understand that everyone has their own way of going about enjoying life. That and Judaism has a tenant of "Healing the World" which includes social issues and equality among people (at least in my humble opinion it does) And as history has shown, when the powers that be start focusing hatred upon the Jewish People, homosexuals aren't too far behind on the hit list.

So... any questions?

Our religion is extremely small, and, in a way, needs more people and it is a wonderful thing when a person finds it inside them self the will to convert; no matter what type of Jew they wish to become

I'm with Neuf in that I practice alone. There's a Reform group in the city I live in, but I haven't really clicked with them. I interpret the rules on my own, and practice in what I assume is a unique way. Like Neuf I have all my stuff set in a corner of my dorm room, on my dresser. Despite this, I have an incredibly strong feeling of brotherhood with other Jews. It is, indeed, possible to simply be a Jew without attaching Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, or any other label to yourself.

So... does that make us a congregation?

Hey, I like that idea. we couldnt share challah or do shabbat services together, but we could do torah study on the sabbath/saturday morning. razz