Related Blog Posts on Advocacy, Conversion, and What is Reform Judaism?

Sitting Shiva in the Sand

Kim Phillips

Originally posted on November 10, 2010 at Kim's Little Blog.

My mother died, and she wasn’t Jewish.  I am, and sometime after I converted, it occurred to me to wonder, “Will I sit shivashivaשִׁבְעָהSeven-day mourning period that begins on the day of burial. when my mom passes away?" The word shiva comes from the Hebrew word for

Judaism: Fresh is Best

Rabbi Thomas Gardner

I once read an autobiography called Turbulent Souls, written by a man who grew up Catholic. It was only after he had become an adult that he learned that both of his parents had been born Jewish.

Embracing a Jewish Life and Values

Kenneth David Shoji

At my Bet Din, one of three Rabbis who interviewed me told me that Judaism has been described as a faith of "Pots and Pans." She further explained that Judaism was about doing and acting in everyday life, not just having a belief but carrying out actions and

Public Affirmation

Janine Preston

Anyone who really, really knows me was not surprised to receive the announcement of my conversion to Judaism. When I very seriously told my two best friends from college about my decision last fall, they started to laugh.

Feeling Jewish

Stephanie Seiberg

When I decided to convert I wondered often, "Would I ever really feel Jewish?" I never could have anticipated that the death of my father, who was neither religious nor Jewish, would be the event that would take me there.

I had married a Jewish man several

Conversion: Who is the Gate Keeper

Rabbi Peter Knobel

I just had the privilege of representing the Reform movement on a panel "Conversion: Who Is the Gate Keeper of the Jewish Nation" at the Israeli President's Conference in Jerusalem, Facing Tomorrow.  These are my opening remarks:

The time has come to finally