My Conversion Story Journal

October 22, 2024

Starting Wednesday night is the last of the high holidays. My students missed me and were happy that I was back today. Unfortunately, it is only for two days because of the next holiday. I did assure them that I wouldn't miss again until March. They seemed happy about that. They were afraid that I had gotten another job and moved away.

There was an email sent of Friday that there is a "Scare" event on Wednesday night and all salary staff were expected to be there. I didn't get the email until Monday because I didn't have technology until then. I had to send an email saying that due to a religious holiday, I could not work the event. I offered to work during my prep and after school today to make up the hours. I forwarded the email to my dean and he said that it was fine. I stayed after work today working until 7. I'm hoping that is enough to appease them. I'm hoping that there will not be an issue with Shabbat in the future. Especially after taking off 4 days this month for the high holidays.

I've been studying a lot around working and the holidays. My friend AB from another state calls me and read and discuss the Laws of Brachos. I study Shulchan Aruch with a friend that I met at shul over a year ago and got close to. She and I meet once a week, or at least we try to. I study twice a week (again after the high holidays) with one of the Rabbis at my shul. He is funny and makes me laugh a lot. He's started defining the Yiddish words when we come across them without me having to ask. I appreciate that. I meet with GZ multiple days a week to study Hebrew. We also go over the Hebrew part of the Shulchan Aruch to make sure I'm not missing anything in the translation. He also has classes on Psalms and Isaiah which I love.

My favorite thing that I've learned over the past couple of weeks is in the Shulchan Aruch. There is a section on Mezuzahs. There is a line (Siman 11 section 23) that just makes me say, "Wow!" It is powerful and highlights the entire reason that I started this journey in the first place, to get closer to Hashem.

Before the weekend of rejoicing over the Torah, I just want to say how thankful I am to Hashem for bringing me here to this point of my life. I love you with all that I am.