Are You Still A BT?

In common parlance, a BT is someone who became observant later in life. By that measurement, once a BT, always a BT. This usually means that we have to handle delicate situations with non-frum relatives, have lived a more secular life at some point, and we made a clear choice to become Torah Observant. Another [...]

Links for 5/2/2013 – Shuls and Baseball, Black Hatter Bias, Becoming Frum

10 Reasons Your Shul Should Participate in a Baseball League Accepting Our Own: The Bias Against Black-Hatters Becoming Frum: How Newcomers Learn the Language and Culture of Orthodox Judaism

Have You Ever Read or Recommended “This is My G-d” By Herman Wouk?

Although dated February 21, 2012, we just recently stumbled upon this article, Modern Times which describes the publication of Herman Wouk’s wildly popular This Is My G-d in 1959. Rabbi Yitzchak Kirzner zt”l recommended this book for a first exposure to Judaism and after giving it to a friend, he exclaimed that this was the [...]

How Do You Stop a Baal Teshuva Back Slide?

By Michael For a few months now I been having doubts, and I don’t know why, I think one of the main things that has really been bothering me is seeing so many orthodox sects, not get along with each other, like Satmar, Chabad, non-Chassidus. And so on. I always thought we were one family, [...]

Who’s Cracked the Code on Frum Finances?

After reading “Financial Realities in the Frum World”, “Introducing Your Children to the Financial Realities of Frum Life” and “Changing the Language of the Tuition Debate” – there were many questions, some answers and nothing really conclusive other than there needs to be a change in “the system”. The whole tuition debate brings to my [...]

Should Parents Make Potential Shidduch Lists for their Sons and Daughters?

It’s not uncommon for boys who are dating to have a list of girls who they are interested in. This is often because the boy’s parents get showered with resumes and a list is a good way of keeping control of the process. The list helps the boy and his parents organize the research of [...]

What Do You Do About Shiurim at Your Seder?

It’s Pesach time, and it’s time to start measuring the wine, matzah and maror. Here is the shiurim links for the Star-K , Kof-K and OU. Here’s a link to a halachic discussion of the shiurim with the opinion of Rav Moshe Feinstein. What do you do at your seder? a) give out the more [...]

What Do You Like About Frum Weddings?

Frum weddings are amazing. The energy, the joy, the dancing, the camaraderie, the segregation. What do you like about Frum Weddings?

What Changes in Kiruv Have You Seen Over the Years?

The Hamodia magazine ran an article titled “Whatever Happened to Kiruv? – Three Critical Changes in Today’s Outreach”. Here are the three changes they spelled out: 1) The character of potential Baalei Teshuva has changed from someone looking to find themselves to someone looking to learn more about Judaism. 2) Kiruv is no longer the [...]

Can We Commit to True Unity for Purim?

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato writes in “The Way of G-d”: …Purim involved Israel being saved from destruction during the Babylonian exile. As a result of this they reconfirmed their acceptance of the Torah, this time taking it upon themselves forever. Our Sages teach us that “they accepted the Torah once again in the days of [...]

Suggestions for a Study Program for a Well Educated Baalat Teshuva

Dear Beyond BT Readers, I am a 33 year old baalat teshuva. I am considering attending a study program in Israel next year, and am looking for advice about which are best suited for a women with a postgraduate education. I’d like a seminary that is Orthodox and were I’ll be exposed to different hashkafot. [...]

Are BTs Treated as Second Class Citizens?

A few weeks ago an article about BTs came to our attention. For a number of reasons we decided not to run it, but some of our favorite BT advocates such as Rabbi Adlerstein, Rabbi Maryles and Rabbi Horowitz decided to run with the article. Instead of us discussing what we didn’t like about the [...]

How Can We Get Beyond the Failure Narrative?

As Jews we want to improve ourselves, our communities and the world. That’s our calling. Perhaps that’s why some very fine people, including many articles and comments on Beyond BT, scrutinize our people and institutions in search of improvement. It’s a noble cause, but the downside is that we get caught in a failure narrative. [...]

How Do You Handle Socialization at Work?

The work environment can be difficult. Building and maintaining appropriate fences while at the same time being a team player is a challenge. How have you handled it? What social activities do you participate in at work? Do you go to holiday parties? What are the ideas that have worked best for you?

Should We Mainstream Baalei Teshuva and Their Support?

Many people have complained that there is not enough post-Teshuva support among Kiruv organizations. In fact, that was one of the driving forces of Beyond BT. Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky recently wrote: My formula is that for every dollar devoted to getting someone interested in Torah, ten dollars should be devoted to nurturing and developing that [...]

Have You Won the Chanukah War? How Have Your Prevented Integration from Becoming Assimilation?

As BTs, many of us pride ourselves on how well we have integrated the Chol (secular) and the Kodesh (holy) in our lives. Given that Chanukah was our fight against assimilation, it might make sense to examine our integration and assimilation. Where does integration end and assimilation begin? How do you draw the line? How [...]

What Does Your Chanukah Party Look Like?

Chanukah is a great time for family get-togethers. Since BTs have smaller observant extended families, it’s sometimes hard to fill the party list. Do you have a Chanukah Party? Is it mostly non-observant family? Do your kids miss not having a bigger party like some of their friends?

How Are You Preparing For The Shidduchim Search?

Helping our children find good spouses is one of the biggest issues BTs face. The main obstacles are that we don’t have the networks that our FFB co-religionists have, and we don’t understand the system that well. Of course the problem is much more difficult for girls than for boys due to the current demographics. [...]

Does Torah Observance Make You Happier?

Dear Beyond BT I’ve seen many people say that Torah Observance makes you happier, but I’m not sure whether it’s observable. It seems that there are many people in the Torah community who aren’t noticeably happier than their non-observant counterparts. Many Torah Jews also seem to have the same material strivings and keeping up with [...]

Do The Election Results Really Matter?

Do the elections results really matter? Isn’t achieving the task of achdus among Jews something in our hands? Do the politicians effect our Torah, Teshuva and Tefillah? Does our distraction by the externals take away from our needed work on the internals?

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