My Conversion Story Journal

October 22, 2023

What led an old lady to hug me and ask if I really wanted to do this while attending a prayer meeting? Read the blog today and you will find out.

Friday night I attended a women's dinner. I admit that I barely made it on time, and stressed about running late. I dodged crazy drivers and only cried once. I immediately prayed and felt comforted. Then my music (set to shuffle) became more uplifting and upbeat. My near accident (still not sure how I avoided that one) began to feel less important. I made it to the shul just before we started (literally like a minute if I'm being generous). My friends saved a place at the table for me and then we sat in chairs in a large circle. We sang together and watched children dance around the table full of Shabbat candles. Every woman that was there (over 50, I believe) lit a candle for themselves and one for their husband if they were married. If you've read any of my other entries, you know how I feel about Shabbat candles. A table full of them was a beautiful sight and filled my spirit with wonder and joy.

I met some wonderful women and heard some inspiring stories.

During the meeting we played some interesting games, but we also learned that on the back of our name tag was the name of one of the hostages taken by HAMAS. The name on the back of my name card is on the list found here https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/6140595/jewish/Names-of-the-Hosta...

Saturday started off like any other Shabbat. I got up, got ready for shul (had spent the night at a couple's house from shul whom I had stayed with before). I attended shul. I had lunch with the family whose house I had spent the night at, (More on that lunch tomorrow) and took a short but wonderful nap.

I walked with a group of women to attend a prayer meeting. On the way (we were walking because there is no driving on Shabbat), a car stopped in front of us and a man jumped out moving quite quickly. We were a bit on guard when he greeted us with, "Shabbat Shalom" which is a common greeting among Jews (remember the man was driving). His voice was shaky when he spoke. He said that we needed to be careful when we went to shul because Jews were being targeted. That morning a rabbi was stabbed and murdered in front of her synagogue in downtown Detroit. We told him that we were on our way to a prayer service to pray for the soldiers Israel. He got back into his car and drove away, turned around and drove back by us very slowly. It was weird and a bit scary.

On edge, we finished walking to the prayer service. We sat with a group of women (about 20) reading through Tehillim praying for the soldiers and the hostages. The ladies started telling about the guy that stopped and gave the news of the rabbi that was stabbed in front of the synagogue. One of the old women (whom I was walking with to prayer service) asked me if I was sure I still wanted this. I have no doubt that this is what I want, even in the scary moments. We walked back to the house where we started watching every car and still a bit on edge.

I left the ladies at the house and began my walk back to shul to get my car. It was getting dark and I could not see in the windows of the cars. Every car that drove slowly by made me nervous. I made it shul and to my car.

There is so much more to say, but it is late tonight (Technically tomorrow). I will write some more tomorrow since there is still so much more to say.