My Conversion Story Journal

January 7, 2024

I was in class the other day with the Rabbi who laughs. He has said repeatedly that he thinks that I am crazy for wanting to convert. He was talking about a Jewish comedian, Modi. He had a skit on converting to Judaism. I've heard of the comedian and seen a few of his skits on YouTube. Today, a few days later, it comes up on my YouTube suggested videos. It was very funny, but also very true. When he talked about converting to different religions and then going to a Rabbi and saying you want to convert, I said the punchline before he did. "No you don't." It is true that they try to talk you out of it. It is true that I get discouraged at times. But then I look at my Siddur, or pray a Tehillim, or say my morning blessings, say a brucha without thinking about it, or just spend even a small moment talking with Hashem, and then I get over my discouragement and turn back to praise.

Here is the link so you can laugh like I did. https://youtu.be/4GlgHlcFLF4?si=9gPBA2mZMhR1Ydo-

I don't know that I will ever fully understand why I pre-rip toilet paper for Shabbat. It doesn't matter how much it is explained to me. However, I do it during my Hebrew lessons because it is a reminder that every little thing and every big thing I do is for the same purpose, to serve Hashem.

How do I spend my person time outside of work and classes? I look at stoves with double ovens and try to think about how I can get out of buying a new stove and still have an oven that is parve. I haven't figured it out. Because my oven is dairy, I haven't baked challah since I've been at my new apartment. I can't bake it in a dairy oven and serve it with meat. However do I need two ovens? I've looked at countertop ovens, but the small one I have for meat (since I eat very little of it) still takes up so much space in my kitchen. I don't want another countertop oven. If it wasn't for chicken nuggets, I could almost be a vegetarian. Almost. It is a lot of money to get a stove with a double oven. I haven't figured out another way to be able bake challah though, and I miss baking challah.



Did I enter this journey ever thinking that buying a new stove so I can make my kitchen keep with up my level of observance would be an issue. Never, ever crossed my mind. I know that I can just keep buying challah here and the oven wouldn't be an issue, but I love baking. I really love it. I need a parve oven.

It's late already and I need to work tomorrow. I will tackle this problem again tomorrow. Have a great night.

And thank you everyone who lit candles this past Shabbat. It was an extra happy Shabbat thanks to you.