On top everything else, I finished my conversion. I am officially Jewish. It was a far more meaningful ritual than anything the JW baptism had to offer. There was a Jewish court of rabbis and a triple immersion in a kosher mikveh. It was very solemn, private and intimate. I really feel like a new person, not like when I had to get dipped (and groped) to keep peace with my mother. There were many people involved whose roles were well-defined in making it meaningful and keeping me focused. And I hardly cried at all (well, not too much, anyway). And since I'm coming out, my picture....Shoshana
Mazel Tov me
by La Capra 17 Replies latest jw friends
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Scully
Mazel Tov, Shoshana
I'm very happy for you! I explored Judaism for a couple of years after leaving the JWs. It is a very interesting culture and belief system. I still keep in touch with a couple of the Rabbis I befriended online.
L'Chaim!
Love, Scully
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SixofNine
Mazel Tov and cheers! Or is that redundant?
Did the elders make you answer in your own words?
ps. you're purdy.
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La Capra
6 o' 9...The elders that accomplished the grope in the pool? I didn't answer in my own words, I answered with my own knee, though....Oops, y'see I started to slide within seconds of getting baptised as a witness...I actually heard about it from one of my local boys the next week. Shoshana
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SixofNine
Now that you mention it again, the groping, wow! How did that that go down? And how did they frame the conversation with you later? I can't imagine the audacity. I thought I'd heard them all!
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La Capra
"how did that go down..." just like the elders always wanting all the details. I was great at asking questions in response to their questions..."Don't you think it was a lot less disruptive than screaming at the top of my lungs 'keep your hands to yourself you perv?'" He laughed, got the point and let it alone...
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Gordy
I felt exactly the same way when I was baptised as a Chirtian in January 2001.
This was done in front of the congregation, each candidate gives a testimony of how they came to Christ. I gave my testimony on how I came to Christ, which having been a JW for nearly 30 years, you can imagine I had a bit to say.
Incidently we had a baptism this weekend. On Saturday we held a separate youth baptism, 5 young people were baptised ages from 15 to 18. With about 200 in attendance, mainly young people. Each gave their testimony. So good to hear young ones making their own decision and not doing it because of pressure on them by parents etc. One young girl, her father came, he hadn't been in a church for about 20 years. Sunday 4 adults were baptised. We already have 4 people wanting to be baptised on the next date 28th December.
No one had to answer 100+ questions to qualify.
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outnfree
Mazel tov, Shoshana!!!
The world is new to us every morning--this is the Holy One's gift and every person should believe they are reborn each day.
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Euphemism
Congrats, La Capra! If I may ask, do you come from a Jewish background?
Three of my four grandparents were Jewish. While I no longer believe in the traditional Judeo-Christian idea of God, I would like to familiarize myself more with my heritage.
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Athanasius
Mazel Tov, Shoshana. You have been received into a wonderful religion. I attended Shabat services at Congregation Beth Ami (Conservative) in Santa Rosa for several years. I was engaged to a Jewish woman at the time and so I took the Jewish living class for non-Jewish spouses. The Rabbi was very helpful and my appreciation of Jewish culture and tradition was deepened. We occasionally attended Congregation Shomrei Torah which was Reform. As an Episcopalian, the Reform branch of Judaism had more appeal to me. However, my fiancee was Conservative and she viewed Reform as too liberal so we usually attended Congregation Beth Ami. She eventually became Orthodox, which is very strict in its traditions.