....Hi

Hello there, I'm Libby. Really happy to be here.

My journey started about 7 years ago when I was a teen. My family is very deeply rooted in Christianity, but I was experiencing a spiritual disconnect. I began studying Judaism and from an early stage it clicked. Its deep observance and tradition resonated with me. In addition, it answered so many of the questions that I had with Christianity.

Recently, I began attending a local Reform temple. I haven't talked to the rabbi yet, but I really would like to convert into this movement.

Dear skyeryder, welcome!

I'm looking forward to read about your journey! Judaism is a vast body of knowledge and tradition, so just follow your path and learn, learn, learn! Through studying, but also through practically living Jewish life you can learn the most!

Tell us about your experiences with synagogue attendance! When I went for the first time, it felt so extraordinary! It was at once familiar (as I was already acquainted with the services in theory - I've read about it a lot before I even came to the synagogue) and surprisingly new and enlightening! The concentration and understanding that I developed amazed me and gathered my thoughts every time more, though I've always had something new to learn - and I still am learning.  

...but coming to the Kabbalat Shabbat and, especially, Shacharit Shabbat for the first time stayed in my mind forever like an amazing experience.  

...So welcome again and be free to ask any question you have!  

Hi Skyeryder, welcome!!!

I hope you will enjoy your time here and I'm looking forward to read more from you!

 Salvia

Hello Skyeryder and welcome to the forum!

I'm glad to hear that your studies in Judaism resonated with you. There is truly something unique about Judaism if you really want to "absorb" it.

Hope to see lots more of your posts!

Thanks! I appreciate the welcome.  

@sarit  
The first time I attended temple I was pretty nervous. I'd brought two friends with me (one who was interested in Judaism, another who was just interested in having the experience). It was so different than what I thought it would be. There were so many people. They sang in Hebrew so much and the songs were beautiful but hard to follow. It was so peaceful and reverent. The rabbi's message was much shorter than I thought it would be. There was so much to absorb.  One of my friends (the one who just wanted to observe) walked up to the rabbi and introduced us. My friend went on to tell the rabbi that my other friend and I were interested in conversion. I nearly had a heart attack, lol.  I just wanted to observe for the first attendance and not really talk to anyone, let alone mention conversion to the rabbi.

After that I just kept going back...I did some reading online and found out that people at temple aren't usually overly...welcoming. They weren't rude, it was just their way. After about a month of going, a woman introduced herself. A week later, another woman...and it's snowballed a bit from there. It's been interesting, and I've loved every learning experience

I have a ton of questions, so I'll be around posting :p

Thanks again for the welcome

Welcome to the site, skyeryder!

Hi, Libby! Just a note, you don't convert into a movement, you really don't convert into anything. More properly, you join the Jewish people, which includes the Jewish religion and Jewish peoplehood. There are differences among different denominations regarding what constitutes a kosher conversion process, and some would argue that only conversions within their own denominational family are valid. But most would not. Thorny topic, but being Jewish isn't supposed to be easy.