A single man asked me this recently:
Do you have any ideas from your work with people converting what kinds of classes and activities I can do to deepen my knowledge and understanding and spiritual connection to Judaism? Weirdly, I feel that since my mikvah and beit din, I’m left free floating. I really want to keep going in my learning and living a Jewish life, but not sure what direction to take. I am taking the Talmud Circle, which is fantastic (THANK YOU for that, by the way), but once a month is not quite enough.
Our readers gave us these answers to the question, How did YOU connect spiritually & educationally after your conversion?
Choir. It helped me learn the prayers and made High Holidays far more significant to me as I was part of the services. It also gave me an opportunity to meet more members of the congregation.
A spiritual trip to Israel with a temple will make him feel as if he is immersed in a Mikvah every day.
I need to improve my practice, and so I attend a meditation group held at a private home.
I also know about an interesting Torah study class for women.
I am planning to take two classes at Lehrhaus Judaica.
I asked my rabbi to suggest a committee to join. Study was good, too, but service was the best. I was on the Caring Committee for several years, met many people that way, and learned many practical lessons about Jewish living.
Early on we made it a point to always go to Friday night services and sit in the same spot every week. That helped us be recognized by others a little more easily.
Dawn's suggestions:
Have you checked out the classes your synagogue offers. Do they have something that interests you? What about Torah study?
You may want to deepen your home practice. A nice way to do that is to develop a chavura and have Shabbat and holidays together. A friend of mine has decided she is going to have a Shabbat afternoon every other week at her home - invite people over, nosh, chat, discuss the Torah portion and end with Havadalah.
Attend services regularly.
I strongly urge you to find a place where you can study with a really good teacher and thoughtful fellow students. Check out Lehrhaus, other synagogues near you, the JCCs.
Additionally you could look for friends who, like you, are interested in deepening their practice and spirituality. You may just need some more time to get to know people and expand your circle of like-minded Jews.
Do you have any ideas from your work with people converting what kinds of classes and activities I can do to deepen my knowledge and understanding and spiritual connection to Judaism? Weirdly, I feel that since my mikvah and beit din, I’m left free floating. I really want to keep going in my learning and living a Jewish life, but not sure what direction to take. I am taking the Talmud Circle, which is fantastic (THANK YOU for that, by the way), but once a month is not quite enough.
Our readers gave us these answers to the question, How did YOU connect spiritually & educationally after your conversion?
Choir. It helped me learn the prayers and made High Holidays far more significant to me as I was part of the services. It also gave me an opportunity to meet more members of the congregation.
A spiritual trip to Israel with a temple will make him feel as if he is immersed in a Mikvah every day.
I need to improve my practice, and so I attend a meditation group held at a private home.
I also know about an interesting Torah study class for women.
I am planning to take two classes at Lehrhaus Judaica.
I asked my rabbi to suggest a committee to join. Study was good, too, but service was the best. I was on the Caring Committee for several years, met many people that way, and learned many practical lessons about Jewish living.
Early on we made it a point to always go to Friday night services and sit in the same spot every week. That helped us be recognized by others a little more easily.
Dawn's suggestions:
Have you checked out the classes your synagogue offers. Do they have something that interests you? What about Torah study?
You may want to deepen your home practice. A nice way to do that is to develop a chavura and have Shabbat and holidays together. A friend of mine has decided she is going to have a Shabbat afternoon every other week at her home - invite people over, nosh, chat, discuss the Torah portion and end with Havadalah.
Attend services regularly.
I strongly urge you to find a place where you can study with a really good teacher and thoughtful fellow students. Check out Lehrhaus, other synagogues near you, the JCCs.
Additionally you could look for friends who, like you, are interested in deepening their practice and spirituality. You may just need some more time to get to know people and expand your circle of like-minded Jews.
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