This is my (continuing) story about my journey of Jewish conversion.
So this first entry is about catching up so we can go forward together into the light, or the darkness, or the half light, or whatever is out there.
Why does a nice middle age man like me decide to convert to Judaism?
I would have been happy staying unaffiliated all my life but that our son decided on Judaism, and in order for him to convert, I decided that I would convert.
First of all, my wife and I made very sure our son (Ian) was serious. We were very liberal in his religious upbringing, engaging in respectful religious tourism with him for several years. We (the three of us) attended services with Hare Krishna's, Hindus, Buddhists (Mahayana and Theravada) (and Zen), Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Episcopal, Pentecostal, Messianic, Congregationalists, and Jews (Reformed); probably others. After he went to the Reformed service there was no going back, he found his worship home.
Why, then, at 18 doesn't he just convert? Why do I "have to" convert? Well, no one is making me other than me, but know that Ian is disabled, intellectually and emotionally. So I attend the weekly classes and do the readings and take notes, and explain to him on the weekends what he can understand.
Friday nights Ian and I go to Shabbat service, sometimes, and / or to Saturday morning Minyan. If we don't go to evening service we celebrate Shabbat at home, light our candles, say Kiddish over Challah and wine.
