The questions seem pretty user-friendly. (See questions here.) They are similar to ones I wrote about in my essay and we discussed in the beit din.
The Rabbis touched upon the themes of my essay during my beit din. Since I had already thought a lot about what I wrote, I found the beit din pretty relaxed. I had a Reform rabbi, a Conservative rabbi and a Conservative Cantor present. It took place at an Orthodox temple. I had reflected on the passage below (from the Gates of Prayer) in my essay and we chatted some about this during the beit din. It was very conversational. We sat in a circle and had a conversation. I did not feel "on stage" or being "quizzed" at all. I would say, put a lot of energy into your essay and the beit din will flow easily from that.
From The Gates of Prayer
I am a Jew because the faith of Israel demands of me no abdication of the mind.
I am a Jew because the faith of Israel requires of me all the devotion of my heart.
I am a Jew because in every place where suffering weeps, the Jew weeps.
I am a Jew because at every time when despair cries out, the Jew hopes.
I am a Jew because the word of Israel is the oldest and the newest.
I am a Jew because the promise of Israel is the universal promise.
I am a Jew because, for Israel, the world is not completed; we are completing it.
I am a Jew because, for Israel, humanity is not created; we are creating it.
I am a Jew because Israel places humanity and its unity above the nations and above Israel itself.
I am a Jew because, above humanity, image of the divine Unity, Israel places the unity which is divine.
The Rabbis touched upon the themes of my essay during my beit din. Since I had already thought a lot about what I wrote, I found the beit din pretty relaxed. I had a Reform rabbi, a Conservative rabbi and a Conservative Cantor present. It took place at an Orthodox temple. I had reflected on the passage below (from the Gates of Prayer) in my essay and we chatted some about this during the beit din. It was very conversational. We sat in a circle and had a conversation. I did not feel "on stage" or being "quizzed" at all. I would say, put a lot of energy into your essay and the beit din will flow easily from that.
From The Gates of Prayer
I am a Jew because the faith of Israel demands of me no abdication of the mind.
I am a Jew because the faith of Israel requires of me all the devotion of my heart.
I am a Jew because in every place where suffering weeps, the Jew weeps.
I am a Jew because at every time when despair cries out, the Jew hopes.
I am a Jew because the word of Israel is the oldest and the newest.
I am a Jew because the promise of Israel is the universal promise.
I am a Jew because, for Israel, the world is not completed; we are completing it.
I am a Jew because, for Israel, humanity is not created; we are creating it.
I am a Jew because Israel places humanity and its unity above the nations and above Israel itself.
I am a Jew because, above humanity, image of the divine Unity, Israel places the unity which is divine.
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