Abstract
What leads people to leave behind the communities that they grew up in and pursue a new lifestyle and Jewish observance? How is that discussed, and how do those who have been situated in their community for 10+ years talk about it versus those who are just beginning the process of finding new community? This paper examines how individuals talk about that moment in their lives and their experiences in the midst of going through the process. It further examines how they become members of their new, chosen communities through the frameworks of situated learning, legitimate peripheral participation, and communities of practice. These frameworks help to understand the effort that must be put in by individuals as they enter new spaces and seek to become legitimate members within their confines.