Finally Met my Sponsoring Rabbi!

I’m just really excited and I don’t have many other places to share this!

I finally met with the Rabbi (conservative) who will be overseeing my conversion come next fall when classes start. She welcomed me with such warmth and kindness that I was honestly blown away. It was really easy to talk to her, so I was able to tell her my whole story–where I started, the research I’ve done on my family’s history, the various sparks I’ve felt and the emotions that come with them–without any sort of trepidation.

She was so genuine, responding with the idea that every Jew, by birth or by choice, has a soul that was present at Mount Sinai. She also said that there is no doubt that I have a “Jewish soul that is screaming” at me and that she can already tell that I am (or will be) a great asset to the Jewish people. I felt like crying by the end of of it she was so kind. Before I left she brought me over to her bookshelves and gave me a bunch of recommendations for what I can read while I’m travelling.

I still have a full year before I can attend the official classes at this synagogue, since I’ll be travelling around and missing a good chunk of the class this upcoming season, but we decided that there is nothing wrong with taking more time. Even though I’ll be away for awhile, we’re going to keep in contact, and I’m going to attend the synagogue I originally reached out to when I began this journey in the meantime. She had no problem with my timeline being unconventional.

I feel so at home and the welcome I received from her confirmed what I was questioning about myself. I’m also really glad to have found a female rabbi that isn’t all that much older than me.

This wasn’t the path I ever saw myself on, but I am so glad to have found it.

Thank you to everyone on this sub who has answered my questions or has read my rambles!