r/ReformJews

I am a Polish-American non practicing guy and my partner was born in Tel Aviv and moved to the US when she was 4 (she's a Reform Jew). We recently just moved in together and our relationship has gotten serious.

When it comes to faith, as I mentioned I'm not super religious at all and my girlfriend is more culturally Jewish (her background especially Israeli background is important to her). The holidays were celebrate is the Jewish holidays (christmas and easter is just another day for both of us) and whenever we spoke about marriage and kids (something we both want) my girlfriend said she would want her kids to be raised Jewish and I said it would be an obligation (and she smiled at that).

We're planning to visit Israel this September (my first time) and I'm curious how to interfaith couples view in Israel? I know my girlfriend's family are very friendly towards me and likes that I stand/support them but generally speaking how are interfaith couples perceived in Israel?

Thank you all for your attention and I wish you all the best, happiness and safety!

עם ישראל חי

I’m in the process of becoming Jewish (through the Reform movement), I did this circumcision to be recognized by the Conservative movement. (I also did it for the cultural value of being a future Jewish man) since I know it’s not required by the American reform movement.

I was uncircumcised until I recently underwent medical circumcision (not by a mohel).

I actually need it for medical reasons (phimosis) - due to my phimosis - the doctor told me he might leave some skin on, but he couldn’t give me a definitive answer until he was under the operating table.

I told him if he was going to perform a full circumcision and he reassured me that my cut would be considered a full one. I think he has confused as to what I meant by “excess foreskin.”

What cut/technique would constitute a complete kosher adult circumcision performed by a medical doctor? I have bandages right now, with the swelling I can’t tell, I’m afraid I’ll need a revision. Head looks pretty much exposed. Just some skin under it. Maybe I’m overthinking.

A mohel was not really a reality for me given my location and insurance. A revision seems far off, but then again conservative opinion does matter.

How long does it usually take to convert to Judaism? And are there much Christians converting to Judaism?

I am very upset with this religion, started studying the Torah about a year ago, which led to my idea of converting to Judaism(It's a long long story why I'm getting upset with Chritianity...)

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My future wife is not Jewish, and my family tried to pressure her into converting because, according to them, I am destroying a tradition that has existed for generations. She is currently almost 10 weeks pregnant with my child. We got into a huge argument because it really upsets me that, according to them, my child won’t be Jewish, even though he carries my blood. I don’t want my partner to convert just to satisfy their traditions.

I’m thinking about going to a Reform synagogue so that my child can learn to respect his Jewish heritage and know that he is part of the tribe regardless. It just frustrates me that some parts of Judaism are so stuck in such strict and rigid rules that they are basically destroying any chance they have of seeing the child. My partner and I have actually reached the point where we are seriously considering not letting them see the child because we’re afraid they will treat him differently because, in their eyes, he isn’t considered Jewish.

So I'm feeling a bit of a crisis of Faith right now with this decision, and I wanted to see people's reactions. We are about to have a baby boy, and my wife is ethnically Jewish but was not raised religiously Jewish. While she agrees that we should raise our son Jewish, one thing she feels very strongly about is not circumcising our son, in part due to family trauma.

I'm not completely against the idea, there is a part of me that does appreciate giving him the option to fully and brace the Jewish community by choosing circumcision. But I also feel like Brit Shalom is not enough and too hokey. I have talked to my local Rabbi, and we've thought about basically doing the pinprick as a middle ground, but unsurprisingly we can't find a mohel who would be involved and I increasingly feel this is just a Brit Shalom with window dressing.

I wanted to reach out to the community to get thoughts on this, if that does sound like a potential good idea or if I'm kidding myself. I am friends with people who are more religious than me who have not circumcised their kids, and it has worked out in that they are at peace with the choice and their child is not alienated from being Jewish and is even considering being circumcised. But I'm still worried that I'm being a hypocrite as a Jew not going through with it. But at the same time, as the one in the relationship not giving birth, I of course don't want to dismiss my wife's concerns.

Hey all good evening. I am a recent person that just moved to Austin and is starting his masters at UT Austin. I grew up Christian but have recently found myself disconnected from that version of faith. I’ve always been curious about Judaism and am thinking about trying out a synagogue. I’m just worried about intruding. From I’ve seen Judaism seem unique in how it’s both a religion and a people. I am Nigerian American not Jewish. I guess I’m nervous about being what I am and coming into some else’s environment. I come with nothing but love and curiosity but you never know how you’ll be accepted. I welp going back and forward between just try one and see how it is but my nerves get me haha. Any advice would be nice.

EDIT
Sheesh can’t respond to everyone but this is the most love I’ve ever gotten on a post. I already feel so welcomed. For sure gonna reach out before attending and see what happens from there. Thank you all.

Hi Everyone,

I've recently converted and Rabbi asked if I'd be interested in being a lay leader - I was wondering is this too soon? I would love to but not that confident - can do very basic/slow Hebrew reading. I've read haftarah (in English!) - also have read blessings for studying Torah, have also done Hagbah quite a few times...I'm happy to go up

For people who have been lay leaders:

- how did you learn to do this - I think there are formal courses

- anything you would recommend me focus on

- do I need to learn to Layn?

(reform/progressive in UK - fairly conservative though)

(apologies I should have added I'm asking here as Rabbi away for a few weeks, I wanted to 'gen up' on requirements if any formal ones before they come back)

Thanks!

Hey guys,

It's evening for me now and when I wake up, I would like to say a blessing or something like that hoping my day tomorrow will be great. But unfortunately, I got no idea what could I say.

Does anybody know a bracha or something?

Thank you.

Well… first of all, I apologize if I am bothering or something. I don’t know if it’s the right place or the right flair to what I’m gonna say, but I’d like to say hi to the Jewish community and share some of my personal journey.

I was born on a Catholic family, descended of Sephardic Jews which has converted to Catholicism and came from Portugal to Brazil hundred years ago. I was born and raised in the Catholic Church, but I also always had this Jewish ancestry background.

Through my personal religious journey, I have found comfort on Jewish communities in both ethnically or religiously way. I don’t actually feel angry or have something against Catholicism, nothing personal at all… I just did fit better on Judaism.

It’s not even due to theological disagreements or something. Judaism just feels right to me, and now it gets personal somehow. It just feels like it has to be that way – not like an obligation, but just like something right, and right for me.

So I’d like to convert. I’m 21 years old now, but I’m studying Judaism since I was 17.

This is my story. Hope I did not disrespect in any way. If I’m telling it on the wrong place, I apologize twice - also… I’m autistic, so be patient and kind, please. Anyway, have a nice day. ❤️

Israel are nice and friendly. r/Israel r/jews

Hi Everyone!

I am currently running the social media for a local Reform Synagogue in my area, and we're going to be posting some educational content on our instagram.

We're starting with a series called "Questions With The Rabbi", and I wanted to come on here and share it with you all. If you're thinking about converting to Reform Judaism, and have questions, or just have any questions you'd like answered by a Rabbi in general, we'd love if you could drop them in our inbox, or even under this post and we'll be creating videos answering them.

Our goal is to shine light on and bring awareness to the beauty of the Reform denomination. These are purely educational, and supportive videos, there's nothing we're trying to sell you I promise, we just want to help people who are looking to learn, or want to be a part of the community. Thank you, and hope to see you on the page!