How to Bring Judaism into your life

Bring Judaism into your life can be time taking with many sacrifices, but this ehow article will show how to make it alot easier without stress

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Judaism as your faith
• Jewish items listed in the article
• Motivation

1. 
   You have to be Jeiwhs first before bringing Judaism to your life.

   To bring Judaism into your life, you should obviously be a Jew first. If you are a non-Jew, i recommend reading Conversion to Judaism articles around the site or stay tuned to my profile where it may end up sometime soon!

2. 
   Mezuzah's are on the doorposts of every or a majority of Jewish homes.

   After you made sure you were a Jew. Then its best to get a few religious items that may be quite important to coming back to Judaism. The first thing i recommend doing is having a Jewish home. All of or a majority of Jewish life is at home. The first thing i recommend getting is a Mezuzah. Mezuzah cases are about $25 - $30. Mezuzah Parchment is about $40. Its a little pricey but you will only need to buy it once and only one is required.

3. 
   I recommend krazy glue for affixing a Mezuzah

   To affix the Mezuzah. You must roll the parchment upsideup from the beginning(Shema). Slide it in the casing and use glue,tape or nails. I find krazy clue to be best on wooded doorpost. Double sided tape is recommended if you do a tape option. Nails is best at the last resort, especially with those who live in apartments. After you have a Mezuzah, I recommend getting holiday items.

4. 
   Tefillin is an expensive investment of $400 the least so it should not be taken lightly

   Some holiday items i recommend are:
   -Chanukkah Menorahs
   -Seder plate and Haggadah(Passover prayerbook)
   -Honey dish(Rosh Hashana)
   -Candleholders and Challah Board for Challah bread
   These are minimal requirements for Holidays and the Jewish Sabbath(Shabbat). After this, Other items can be brought:
   -Tallit(Prayer Shall)
   -Tefillin(Phylacteries)
   -Kippah
   -Siddur(Prayerbook) and Chumash(Torah in book form)

5. 
   Picking a Synagogue is an important thing to do.

   After you have all the items, now its time for an important act thats as hard to do as finding a home. Finding a Synagogue you will attend!!! Oh no i don't want to look the Rabbi i havent seen since my Bnai Mitzvah in the face again after so long, what will he think. That may be something running though your mind. If you have gone to a Synagogue as a child and wish to attend again, out of respect, that would be nice to do. But if your family never went to a Synagogue, then this step 6 is for you. You don't have to be a member to worship though so saying your synagogue is so and so and your not a member is just as valid as if you were.

6. 
   Orthodox Judaism is a good starting point for the traditional route but Conservative or Reform is great for beginners.

   First decide which Synagogue you may want to attend. If you are thinking Orthodox, then slow down ranger. You may need to go a little lower before going to Orthodox. Conservative Judaism is a great starting point which is more of the center than Orthodox and Reform. The United Synagogues of America is a Conservative site that lists about the Conservative movement and their Synagogues. If you are set that Orthodox is for you, then the OU site is best. Reform??? Then the Union of Reform Judaism site is best. Not a good web searcher? I'm not either so i provided the links at the bottom so don't worry!

7. 
   Making a Kosher home is important and difficult. Consulting a Chabad Rabbi is recommended.

   So you are sure your a Jew? You have all the items? You have picked your Synagogue? So what else is there to do? Finish it off by doing the finishing touches to your new lifestyle. Make a Kosher home if you wish to follow the laws of Kosher. I recommend calling a local Chabad if you wish to have a professional Rabbi make your home a Kosher home. Kosher is a Jewish dietary law to forbids pork,dairy with meats and gelatin. Orthodox and Conservative Judaism requires this. After you have a Kosher home, i recommend observing the laws of Shabbat which i will explain more on Step 8.

8. 
   Shabbat is moderate at first but really easy after a while.

   Bringing Shabbat into your daily life is a big change. Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest. Shabbat includes cleaning the home on friday afternoon. On Friday evening at sunset, You would light the candles of Shabbat. This is followed by either a service at your Synagogue of choice for services or doing the blessing of Challah. Challah is a braided bread that is blessed over. The blessing is avaliable in your prayerbook. This is followed by the meal that is cooked. On Sabbath morning, This is when services are a Synagogue. Then a second meal is eaten. The rest of the day is to you, you can enjoy the day with family and friends. A third meal is eaten that afternoon that is smaller. All meals must be prepared or planned before the candles are lit.

9. 
   Mazel Tov

   Mission 1 is complete. Now is time for Mission 2, Acually going though with your plans and making Judaism apart of your life.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a serious step to do. So take this seriously but have fun doing it.
• Bringing Judaism into your life can be expensive without the right advice. I recommmend vising a local Synagogue that may help you with becoming more Observant. They may give you items like Prayerbooks or Kippahs. Ebay is also good but with books or menorahs not with Tefillin or a Torah for example
• Don't do this alone. Judaism is about communiy and family. Go to Synagogue often or bring your family into the mix
• Anti-Semetism is still active but form a small minorty. So be aware and you are protected under the constitution to practice religion freely

Resources

• Beit Midrash Yeshiva Site
• OU website
• Chabad Website
• Union of Reform Judaism
• United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism
• Resource to get Jewish items
• Ebay Website

[AbbyNormal]

on 11/15/2008 Interesting approach in how to be Jewish. You really don't have to spend money to be a Jew. It comes from your heart.

[Wasatch]

on 11/15/2008 I love your article. I appreciate people who live their religion or religious principals. I am Mormon but have Jewish relatives and Jewish friends. A few years ago we were invited to celebrate the Passover with our Jewish friend and learned a lot and gave our kids some understanding of another culture as well. 5*

[smilesatme1]

on 11/14/2008 Very well written!