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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Tell us, do you feel that have you been accepted?
I would love to know if your conversion was related to marriage?
Or if you divorced and carried on with the religion, was that awkward?
Anyone ever convert and not marry?[/quote]
Yes, I feel like I've been accepted. Partially, that takes time. I felt self-conscious for the first few years. There is a prohibition in Judaism against oppressing or mistreating the convert, which includes reminding them they converted. I'd love to say all Jews follow it, but they don't. I've found that born-Jews find the idea of conversion a little mystifying. Many born -Jews have said they would never CHOOSE Judaism, because it's too hard, even though they are happy to BE Jewish. So there can be a lot of uncomfortable interest in your conversion that can feel unaccepting. That said, there is the occasional person who is just skeptical of converts and feels it's their duty to gatekeep. It's best to learn how to ignore those people.

It also helps that I can "pass" as born Jewish. Converts of color may have a different experience. Even Jews of Color who were born Jewish struggle with people assuming they are converts. It's a problem.

I am married to a Jew and we were dating when I started my conversion process. I didn't convert FOR him and would remain Jewish if anything happened to us. This is my family and my community, independent from him. That said, it's certainly easier to be Jewish when you have a supportive Jewish home life, someone to light Shabbat candles with and sing songs, family to spend holidays with, etc. It's doable on your own, but harder. I know people who have converted without a Jewish connection, and they often find it lonely until they are able to integrate more fully into a community.[/quote]

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