Hi, and thanks for all the hardy welcomes. I'm studying Reform Judaism. It's a 12 week class, and I'm only on week 3, so I'm REALLY new! However, I've been researching Reform for months now, and I'm totally committed to converting. I've been receiving the temple's bulletin and when I read it, I'm so lost. I see words like Tashlich, Sukkah, Simchat, etc. and it feels like I'm on a different planet. The others in my class seem so advanced, I've always been a fast learner but I feel so behind! I know it's just a matter of time (and study), but I feel like I'll never really fit in with people who have been raised Jewish and have a lifetime of Jewish culture behind them. Okay, enough about my obsessive worries! I do have some beginning questions, and I went to the Reform part of this site, but in my limited computer understanding, it seemed that no one uses it. Please let me know if I'm mistaken, and redirect my questions if I'm in the wrong place! Last week we talked in class about the little item Jews attach to their doors, I'm so sorry, I forget what it's called, and I asked if I had to wait until after conversion to hang one up--the Rabbi said I should wait, It's kinda wrong to do it before I'm "officially" a Jew. Any thoughts on this? Also, is it wrong to celebrate Jewish holidays before I convert (not that I really know how anyway, but I'd like to try)? Here are some other concerns: My family isn't supportive, (household is, extended isn't); people say Conservative and Orthodox is OK, Reform is wrong--even though I've chosen Reform very carefully. I do have lots more concerns, but ugh! this post is long enough already! Thanks for any help you all can provide!
