Why I Wrote This Memoir

Isle of Mann, 2021

There were a few reasons I began writing this memoir.

When the 2020 pandemic hit, I found myself rethinking how I was spending my days—cooped up in a small apartment in a new city and country we had just moved to. I needed a project to keep both my hands and my mind busy.

Cooking didn’t interest me, cleaning and decluttering only got me so far, social networks felt too passive, and honestly: how many movies or series can one watch in a day? Writing seemed like the easiest option. In general words came easily to me. Grammar, somewhat; punctuation, never. That was not enough to stop me, but what to write was the question.

They say watching the sea rewires our brains. I agree.

One night, during a short seaside escape between lockdowns, I couldn’t sleep. I ended up spending most of the night watching the gentle waves roll in under the moonlit sky after the stormy weather of the previous days. Somewhere in that peaceful state, a thought surfaced: maybe it was time to tell the story of why I decided to convert to Judaism so my in-laws would accept me, even though I’m actually an atheist.

The conversion was never really about religion. It was always about the people—being accepted above all else, and not being the reason things got tense at home. I was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen.

If you’d like to follow along as I query this memoir—or are simply curious about what I’ve learned in the process, or even have questions—you’re very welcome here. I’ll be sharing reflections and updates as I go, so feel free to tag along and be in touch.