Post Conversion: Feeling more connected now than ever before.

​I actually feel more connected now than when I was going through the
process. 

I have a really solid group of East Bay friends and another group
in SF. I am involved in non-profit work, attend services all over the bay
area and still keep in contact with the first couple of people I met at the
very beginning of all this (thanks again for setting me up with them Dawn!).


I didn't know anyone Jewish at the start. For the bulk of it, I wasn't
dating anyone. The congregation where my Rabbi was affiliated was much, much
older. I combated it by going to everything. I joined every email list I
could find and just started attending events. All different kinds - learning,
volunteering, purely social. You name it, and I was likely there.

It wasn't long before I had created real relationships with people and I feel really
connected to the community. It helped me determine where I fit, where I
wasn't as comfortable, and I feel more connected to Judaism today than when
I was studying for conversion. It was the most uncomfortable situation I had
put myself in (walking into a room where I don't know anyone is terrifying
to me), but it was the best. Not only did it help cultivate my community and
identity, it actually helped me get over that fear of not knowing people and
doing things alone.