Three years later...

Yes, it's been three years since my last post.  Although the conversion process has been completed, the learning never stops.

A few months after becoming Jewish, I ,along with another member of the class of 5770, was invited to join the Synagogue board. That in itself is an education, seeing the internal workings of everything from the endowment funds to the mold in the corner of the downstairs closet.  I'm now the vice-president, web master, and de-facto handyman.  More joys of a small congregation.

One of the great joys is welcoming new members.  Two new members converted this spring.  They'll have their own stories to tell.

It's official.

I made the cut, took the plunge and was adopted into the Tribe.  My name in Israel is Shmuel Yochanan ben Avraham v'Sarah.  That was back on May 14 (1 Sivan, 5770).

I don't know when the last time was anyone's actually converted locally.  There's no rabbi here, so the last person from here to convert went to Minneapolis to get it done, and that was close to 4 years ago.  But, in a very unusual occurrence for this synagogue, 7 people converted the same day. This made it worthwhile to import a Rabbi from Cincinnati --  none other than Rabbi Steve Mills, the Lead Union Rabbi for the URJ.  (He was the student rabbi here back about 1992.)

The nearest regulation mikveh is in Winnipeg and run by the Chabad, making it impractical for Reform converts from Grand Forks.  But one of the things that has allowed the Jewish people to survive through the millennia is the ability to adapt.  So it was that the 7 of us, plus the rabbi, the student rabbi, and our chosen witnesses gathered at the motel mikveh (swimming pool).

A beit din consisting of all the above convened in a conference room, and we basically had a group discussion about how we came to Judaism, how it fit into our lives, etc.  Then it was off to the pool.  Baggies of blessing were handed out (needed to be waterproof, of course) but I had them memorized and wouldn't be able to read them without my glasses anyway.  Considering the venue, we weren't nekkid, and we immersed en-masse. 

After our dip, I went home and hung a mezuzah.  That evening at services there was a brief ceremony where we were welcomed into the congregation.  We each held the Torah and recited the Shemah. I admit my voice broke a  bit.  We were then given the opportunity to address the congregation.  I mentioned something about my 40 year search in a spiritual wilderness as a wandering Gentile, but most of that is a blur. Eacjh of us was presented with a book chosen by the student rabbi.  She picked Jewish Living for me, because I'm always digging to find the source of things.

Next morning was a brother/sister B'nai Mitzvah.  Before the service, the kids' dad took me aside and said "You're one of us now, you can wear a tallit if you want." Wearing that made it feel really real.

Then, last night at Erev Shabbat service, I was called up for an aliyah.  Made it through without resorting to the transliteration, and only stumbled once.  I guess now it really *is* real.

Had lunch with the student rabbi today to discuss making my conversion official.  I thought I was ready.  But when she came right out and asked if I was ready, I couldn't answer.  That wasn't the reaction I'd expected.

Time for more introspection.

Busy week.

Sunday when I came home for lunch the Jehovah's Witnesses were lying in wait for me.  One of them is a floor re-finisher by trade, and I mentioned the distressed hardwood in the living room.  He asked if I was generally home Friday afternoons, and I innocently thought it was for him to take a look at the floor.  As soon as I confirmed my schedule, I realized his proselytizing motive.  Now I suppose I'll need something to get me out of the house.

Did a trial run of yeast-raised hamantaschen for the office pot-luck Tuesday.  They were mighty tasty, and were well received by the entirely non-Jewish staff, but they didn't look anything like Hamantaschen is supposed to. Going to give it another try today , but will only roll out once instead of doing the foldy thing.  Last time the gluten got so strong that I couldn't keep the dough flat.  I'd cut out a 3.5" disc and it would retract into a golf ball.  (HE HE  My spell-check doesn't recognize "hamantaschen."  It suggests "Phantasmagoria" and "Schenectady.")

Still haven't decided what to wear for Purim.  My first Purim party was 2 years ago.  I wore my maroon Anglo-Saxon tunic, hoping it wold be biblical enough.  Got there and the first person I met was the student rabbi dressed as Minnie Mouse.  Maybe this year I'll go with the Japanese. Haven't had that out of the closet for a while.

Tomorrow I get up early enough to bake the hamantaschen (dough has to chill overnight).  Then lunch with the student rabbi to discuss making my conversion official.  Then after lunch the Judaism class, followed by Torah study followed by the Purim party. 

How am I going to break it to the Jehovah's Witnesses?

Next step

In an earlier post (March 10, 2009), I'd expressed doubts about joining the synagogue. Then a couple weeks ago I realized that I felt at home there. I've attended functions for over 2 years (even the latke frying brigade), and actually look forward to the services. Figured it's time to pay for my share of the light bill. So now it's official, announced in both the newsletter and at Friday night services. I'm the newest member of B'nai Israel Synagogue.

Not only that, but actual conversion may be more likely. There are enough people interested in it that the student rabbi will be leading a class directed toward conversion (as opposed to the previous 'intro' classes) and will arrange for a 'real' rabbi to make the several-hundred mile trip to take care of the formalities.

Now I know that the Reform movement doesn't require immersion, although it has become more popular in the past couple decades, but I feel I'd be missing something if I didn't take a dip. There are a couple mikvahs 300 miles away in Minneapolis, and Chabad has one in Winnipeg, but I don't know how open they'd be to Reform conversions. Of course, it the weather cooperates, we maybe could find an acceptable (and modestly secluded) body of natural water. Oh well. I guess we can jump off that bridge when we come to it.

Why am I still doing this?

By "this" I mean doing Jewish stuff. I don't know. But whenever I attend services, I always feel better afterward.

Still here

My writing here, as well as on by other bogs/journals, has been curtailed the pat several months because, frankly, typing is not easy for me. I never learned to type properly, using only 4 of the available digits, have to look at the keys, and wear bifocals. Plus, the keyboard with the new computer has the keys inconveniently placed. Still getting the hang of voice recognition.

When we left off, Pesach was approaching. The social hall at the synagogue was bursting with attendees for the community seder. Several of the people there live quite a distance away (60+ miles) so don't get to regular services.

The food was amazing. I admit to some trepidatiion abut the gefilte fish, not being much of a seafood person, but I actually had seconds. I was intrigued by the horseradish of a different color. The person who prepared the main courses converted 4 years ago after catering a dinner at the synagogue and finding she liked being around these folks.

Even with close to 70 people in the hall (did I mention it's a small building) everyone got a chance to read a passage from the Haggadah.

Attending a seder is something I've wanted to do for years, and I'm glad to have finally taken the opportunity.

Since then, I haven't had a chance to get to any services. They've only had maybe 3 or 4 this summer, one during a tornado. (The congregatin for that one consisted of the leader, 6 members of one family, and 2 Lutherans who just stopped in out of curiosity. )

I've been able to get to some of the basic Hebrew reading classes. They happen sporadically depending on who's free that evening. We take a section of the Bible, and take turns reading a verse in Hebrew, then in English, then we have cake.

This fall we get a new student rabbi, but this time it will be the old one - the one who was there when I first took that class 2 years ago. Aparently she didn't get enough of North Dakota winters the first time, and needs a reason to get out of Cincinnatti for a few days each month. Looking forward to visiting with her again.

Yes, this post has been pretty superficial. I do have deeper thoughts, but not what I can organize into print at the moment. That will have to wait for a later post.