HELP! Need advice on how to deal with family and my Jewish conversion!?

You should not have to "deal with the family."

The family has to "deal with the issue."

If they can not do that, it's their problem -- not yours.

If your family is going to be openly hostile, just don't freely offer yourself as a target.

In matters of faith one often has to choose between faith and family (I did when I converted to Eastern Orthodoxy.) Once the family sees that you will stand firm in your convictions, hopefully they will soften their hearts.

If they don't, you may have to choose one or the other!

Hopefully... They will accept the fact.

Second best... They may not LIKE it -- but you are still FAMILY!

You need to remind them that the fundamentals, and building blocks, and, well, the Old Testament, is in fact very Jewish in itself.

Mother's a very strict christian woman herself, but she told me she "understands". Which is utter BULL, because the woman is a flipping Nazi. No joke either, she used to have a Hitler portrait in her living room when I was about 10-12ish.

EDIT: Me too on the Rabbi thingy. I consider my Rabbi, "a father I never had." But then I feel bad saying that, because it's a catholic reference too! lol.

Hey, Mazel Tov on it all!

remember this: Don't let the big scary Christians get to your head, you've chosen what you believe is the truth, and nothing less. Just don't gloat, because as there are fewer and fewer Jews every year...

When you speak for your views, you speak for all of Judaisms views.

Because apparently the stereotype: "Money lover, and having a Chicago accent, no-matter where you live, and being either a Comedian, Accountant, or Lawyer, with your name ending in berg, man, or stein." is how most view us, when obviously it isn't true, even if the occasional one shows this.

Unfortunately there is no easy answer to this question. You don't say what form of Judaism you are converting to- but if it is Orthodox, then you are going to find many more conflicts in the future when it comes to keeping Kosher, not driving on Shabbos, not answering the phone on shabbos etc. (A friend of mine who converted said that one of the boggest issues he ahd with his mother was that she got upset when he wouldn't answer the phone when she phoned him on a Friday night!)

Essentially you are left with a choice on how confrontational you want to be: if you confront them, demand they show some respect for your choice and stop with the anti-semitic remarks you may be succesful, but at the cost of harming your relationship with them. On the other hand, you can jsut accept their behaviour, ignore th epain it causes you and hope it improves in the future. You can try to find a middle way that calls for respect on one hand while maintaining the relationship- but that is going to be very hard to find, and carry out if found!

Your best bet at this time ios to find a few good friends that are prepared to accept your decision and support you through the opposition of your family.

Good luck- and I hope thta it will improve and resolve itself for the best.

G'mar chatimah Tovah

I totally see where you're coming from! Good luck with that and may God be with you!

I converted from sikhism to Christianity and my family doesnt support me one bit! But you have to tell them that Jesus Christ was on earth as a JEW and when He returns (according to our Christian faith - He will return as a Jew to be king over our world). ANd Jews and Christians worship the same God, so you arent doing anything wrong, and Im a Christian. I happen to love the Jewish religion, in fact Jesus quoted Deuteronomy and other OT books over 80 times! Jesus alone!

SO Good lUCK!

EDIT: You also have to remember that God puts challenges in front of us to see our faith, as was with Abraham and Isaac. God wants really you to know that you can do it. He believes in you, He wants you to believe in you too!

Here is what helped me: Rebuke everything they say. Just rebuke it, and ask God for help. I did that and now i just let it bounce off of me, so hopefully it will work for you too!

just tell them because Jesus came and had mercy on us, we also have to show mercy to the Jewish people, as christianity is rooted in Judaism. It was God's plan for Israel to reject Christ so that salvation could also come to the gentiles. Even the apostles were Jewish like Peter, John, Mark, Matthew and James. God bless

I agree with David N. Let your family deal with it themselves. Do not discuss it with them!!! It didn't take long for me to learn that "discussions" always end up as "fights." When someone does bring up the subject, I try to change the subject before it ends up in a battle.

Remember, only YOU can control your reaction -- do NOT let them control you!

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If you are 100% sure that you do believe what you believe (in a religious sense), then you will have to somehow get that across to them. Tell them that regardless, you absolutely will respect their beliefs, but it would mean the world to them if they would respect yours.

Hope this helps!

Did you ever think they may have a point in wondering why anyone would want to convert to Judaism?

Well, you are in effect rejecting your upbringing. They are going to deeply resent that no matter what you do.