Torah Study Tips for Jews by Choice

In my world, which is packed with college business, appointments, and over-caffinated tiredness, it is hard for me to find the time to study Torah. However, after thinking of how serene studying the Torah and Hebrew Scriptures makes me feel, I have come to realize it is time for me to MAKE time in my daily schedule. For aspiring Jewish converts who have the same problem, this article is dedicated to you!

A LITTLE ABOUT ME….
At age 15, I decided I wanted to convert to Judaism because I felt it was the only religion that had ever made me truly happy and had filled that spiritual void I'd been feeling most of my life. Unfortunately, I live in the sticks, where there is no evident sign of Jewish life and the nearest Jewish community is about 2 hours away from me. Fortunately, I'm moving to UNC-Greensboro in August, where resources are abundant! I talked to the campus Hillel during Orientation and they are very friendly, open, and supportive, even though I wasn't born Jewish!
Okay, enough about me and more about study techniques…

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE STICKS:
Don’t I know all about this one! If there is a temple nearby try to see a rabbi. If not, at least get some books and read up on Judaism and its texts.
WARNING: People with think you're weird. True friends (KUDOS TO KEIKO! <3) will accept you for who you are; some people who you thought were your friends will ditch you–you don’t need them. I live in the "Bible-belt"… At my school, I experienced a lot of prejudice and bigotry…from the teachers! I was not allowed to draw Stars of David because the school insisted they were gang symbols. Once, in art class, we were told to draw Easter cards (totally against public school policy, but they don't care). I drew a Passover card because, you know, that's my thing….I got in big trouble for drawing Mogen Davids on my card, even when it was quite obviously not gang-related. I WAS SO MAD! My ma once thought about getting the ACLU on their behinds, but we decided the school wasn't worth our energy. (HA!)
I'm not going to sugar-coat it. The anti-Semitism at my school hurt me, especially when people I once admired turned out to be narrow-minded bigots. I got angry a lot. Sometimes, I became so full of anger that I didn’t feel worthy enough to study or pray! But when I did, I would feel SO much better. Tip: Don't be afraid to talk to God. No matter how angry you are, I personally don’t think He minds and is always willing to listen to what you have to say. Another tip: Never EVER stop finding ways to make yourself laugh.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE CITY:
Depending on where you are, you might have it better than in the sticks. Your high school might offer Judaism-related courses, and if you are lucky there will be a temple or synagogue nearby. If any Jewish kids go to your school, try to talk to them and see if they can help you out!

COLLEGE STUDENTS:
Join the Hillel (Campus Org for Jewish Life) and take as many Judaism-related classes as possible. (You can use these classes to fulfill some of your CORE Requirements and Elective hours.) For example, I'm taking Judaism this semester (fulfills GHP and GL marker). I hope to take more courses such as Hebrew Scriptures and Ancient Jewish Thought.
If you are a North Carolinian and you don't mind working your hiney off in school, UNC-Chapel Hill has a lot of Judaism courses, including Hebrew. Chapel Hill itself is also the center of Jewish life in North Carolina. If you aren't an overachiever, check out UNC-Greensboro–they also have a ton of scrumptious resources. <3
If you are like me and will be/are a full time student, there are still ways to set aside time for Torah in your schedule. College is very different from high school–you will have more freedom and time for yourself! Try picking times when you won't be in exhaustion mode from the day's work.

BOOKS:
For me, good books are a must-have for studying the Torah (and Judaism as a whole)….Amazon.com sells all of these books for reasonable prices.
JPS Jewish Study Bible: This is an EXCELLENT book for studying the Tanakh. It has tons of useful commentary/notes in the margins, lots of maps and charts (for me the maps are very useful), plus the book itself smells really good. X3 $45.00
The Beside Torah by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson: A warm, cozy, and easily understood commentary of the Torah. I've only been through the Introduction and I know this book is perfect for those of us trying to squeeze in daily Torah dedications. The cover art is gorgeous! $18.95
Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs, and Rituals by George Robinson: I checked this book out of my local library and fell in love with it. An essential read for those studying Judaism (hence the title!) It is affordable, understandable, and has everything from Synagogue Services to a complete list of the 613 mitzvot!!! Paperback $20 (who needs hardback?)
The Complete Artscroll Siddur: Not NECESSARILY a daily study material but it is nice to have. Contains prayers, etc. for all holidays and occasions. Comes in Ashkenaz and Sephardic versions. Has a gorgeous cover. I forget how much it cost me but it sure was worth it!
Talmud: If you are rich and can afford all umpteen volumes of the Talmud, go for it! If not, the paperback Everyman's Talmud is a good compact reference tool.

MUSIC:
Matisyahu–A Jewish reggae rapper. His music is very uplifting and makes good background music when you are studying. Check out some of his music videos and DVDs–he is absolutely adorable! I've also heard of a rapper name Jew da Maccabee but I don't know much about him.

LAST WORD:
I hope this article has been useful to whoever has read it! X)
Peace

–Sara