Most people ask: Did I convert for Todd?
That answer is No. I had been lapsed in my previous faith years before I met him.
After joining and attending our Synagogue in MA, I decided to learn more by attending a Taste of Judiasm year long course offered in our area. After that course, I decided to convert, I attended another years worth of conversion courses, along with meeting with our Rabbi.

I converted in 2002, by then most of our congregation members thought I already was Jewish.
(Note we were attending a Reform synagogue and our Rabbi was Reform as well)
For more on Reform Judaism, Go to the URJ.

We moved to FL in 2004, We first attended the Reform Congregation. Unfortunately it was too large for us. We then found another synagogue, but that did not work as well. Last year we joined a Conservative congregation that is local to us.

There are differences between the Reform and Conservative movements. If you want to learn more go to http://www.jewfaq.org/movement.htm

For me it is the Hebrew and Prayers that are the hardest, unlike the reform prayer book, the conservative prayer book has less transliterlation. Luckily I can follow Friday night services easily, Saturday services are a bit harder but I make do.

The hardest time of year is the High Holy days, again there are different prayer books used. The Conservative High Holy day prayer book is very hard for me to follow.

Instead of the High Holy Days being introspective, they are frustrating and I only look forward to them passing, sometimes I wish I had the money to travel back to MA. In fact one year we did go back. It was great.

This year I actually did something, I asked for help. Originally I was told yes, now I’m being told no. I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet. I’ll report back with how things went.

-Cheryl