nerdinsomniac - Tumblr blog

[nerdinsomniac]

So if I remember correctly (and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) the abortion described in the Talmud is done during labor if the fetus gets stuck. Because we're talking about a time pre safe and reliable c- sections, this situation couldn't really end with both mother and baby surviving. Whats important here, in my eyes at least, is that there is no question here of who you save. It was clear to the rabbis of the Talmud that you abort the baby to save the mother. And if I'm not mistaken, you don't sit shiva for the baby either, just as you wouldn't sit shiva for a miscarried fetus.

Just to further emphasize the point that Judaim, while valuing life and the creation of future generations above all else, does not consider a fetus as equivilant to human life.

Fact check me if im misremembering (cuz I learned this 5 years ago) but for anyone (including goyim that are curious)

On abortion:

Talmud: iirc, the talmud does advocate for abortion if the mother is in pain, and even gives a detailed explanation on how to perform one (one that has since been used as a blood libel). THAT BEING SAID, i believe the situations in question specifically are referencing a type of still-birth that is extremely harmful to the mother. In these cases, usually the fetus is already dead and this is just a way to dispose of the body safely. There are also plenty more laws arounf this that I know I don't remember.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein: iirc this is where the idea of "if the mother so chooses at any time" for abortion in Judaism comes from. He answered this in a question/answer form where he said if the mother is caused even the slightest bit of pain for thinking that a fetus should be brought to term, emotionally or physically, then she may have an abortion at will.

Reb Feinstein is NOT the major posek for anyone who isn't Orthodox Ashkenazi or Modern Orthodox Ashke in general.

For example:

Rabbi Ovadiya Yosef (a huge orthodox sephardi posek): is much stricter, saying only if there is a medical reason for the abortion should one do it.

This is by no means comprehensive, and probably I'm mixing up a few things, but as this is mainly just for my followers who've never studied it, idrc honestly. Just something for yall to think about if you're curious.

[nerdinsomniac]

On Yom HaShoah I want to remind everyone that we aren't just mourning those killed by the nazis. Those seperated from their families, from their culture and heritage, never to know they were Jewish again.

I want to take a minute to talk about the other victims. The ones not killed by the nazis.

I want to talk about a small, Jewish cemetary somewhere in Poland. Unfortunately I have forgotten this town's name, and the name of the cemetary. There were a bunch of children killed in a mass grave by the nazis and they are memorialized there--but that's not what I'm going to speak about here.

What I'm going to speak about is a person, probably a man, who was killed after the war on his way home.

No one knew his name. No one knew his family, if they still existed. And now no one ever will.

He was sleeping in the JCC in that town. This was common after the war, as many Jews were going home or going somewhere new, and needed places to stay. He was just staying there for a little bit, before migrating on.

Somewhere else in the town, unbeknownst to him, a little Polish boy was picking cherries when he shouldn't have been. He got lost, and didn't come home that night, and understandably, his father freaked out. That's the understandable part of the story. The human part.

What happens next is not.

The boy reappeared, and, afraid of being punished, told his father that he had been kidnapped by some Jews. So the town took their torches and weapons, and killed everyone in that JCC and burned it to the ground.

There were many people killed that night, and this memorial remembers them all. And then there is this person. This one. Someone who was going home after years in a labor camp, perhaps even a death camp.

And I know all of this about him. I know so much, but there's one thing I don't know, I don't know his name. Because when his remains were buried, on the stone that marks his memorial, there is only a number. A four digit number starting with 2.

I'm sure many people reading this have heard the statistic that in a labor camp the average lifespan of a prisoner was three months. Multiply that by millions and you can get some very large numbers, and many, many deaths.

This man had a four digit number that started with a 2 tattooed onto his arm.

Historians guess that this man was sent to Auschwitz close to the beginning of the war, perhaps in '41 or '42. He survived probably three or four years there. He was going home.

Today we remember him too.

[nerdinsomniac]

Music Playlist tag

Rules: We’re snooping through your playlist. Put your entire music library on shuffle and list the first 20 songs and then choose 10 people.

Thanks @fandomsandmusic36 for tagging me! I almost never do these things, but here goes...

1. Antisocial - Ed Sheeran and Travis Scott

2. Capital Letters - Haley Scott and Bloodpop

3. Renegades - X Ambassadors

4. There You Are - Zayn

5. It Aint Me - Kygo and Selena Gomez

6. Family -  the Chainsmokers and Kygo

7.Closer to the Edge - Thirty Seconds to Mars

8. All is Found - Frozen II

9. Pegao - CNCO and Manuel Turizo

10. Who Do You Love - the Chainsmokers and 5SOS

11. So What - P!nk

12. Bad Guy - Billie Eilish

13. את באה אליי  - Natan Goshen

14. Stargazing - Kygo

15. הלב שלי - Ishay Ribo

16. Let Me Down Slowly - Alec Benjamin and Alessia Cara

17. Paris - the Chainsmokers

18. מאושרים - Doli and Penn, נועה קירל, לירן דנינו

19. Soldi - Mahmood

20. Babylon - 5SOS

I always feel weird tagging ppl....🤷‍♀️

just go for it!

[nerdinsomniac]

You are about to fist-fight God.

[nerdinsomniac]

[nerdinsomniac]

אני:למה אתם הורסים את כדור הארץ?

החייזרים: כי יש אנשים שחושבים שאנגלית היא השפה היחידה שהם צריכים לדבר

אני: אה סבבה הבנתי

me: why are you destroying earth!!!

aliens: because theres people who think that english is the only language they need to speak

me: thats fair i understand

[nerdinsomniac]

Reblog if you’d be okay if your friend came out as transgender

let’s see how many transphobics we can weed out

[nerdinsomniac]

Welcome to Judaism. Our most sacred of documents doesn’t ever really bring up the concept of an afterlife, but while you’re here, please enjoy this excerpt of the text which mentions pomegranates no less than six (6) times.

[nerdinsomniac]

^^^^^^^^^

And you can even see the change in how new jewish immigrants seeking asylum have been treated.

Immigrants get help through government funded organizations to find work and move out of the "immigrations centers" and even to big cities, unlike many in the 50s who were put in essentially tenant housing and left in a cycle of poverty, all the while attempting to reeducate them to be more ashkenazi.

None of my peers who's families immigrated in the 50s know their parent or grandparents native languages. None. When we were learning Arabic one of guys would talk with his (i want to say persian) dad on the phone so that he could help teach him, because they didnt speak it in the house. But if you look at later Ethiopian immigrants and Russian immigrants, the first generation and second generations born in Israel speak their parents native language fluently.

So here and there you'll see people in traditional dress, but why it's not more common place is really just due to the globalization of dress-- most children are uninterested in wearing traditional clothing, opting in favor of what they can kind in stores like Zara, H&M, ASOS, American Eagle....

Also, I'm sorry, there *is* more than that-- among religious Jewish women who cover their hair. The most popular form of hair covering is a wrapped headscarf (not ur "fiddler on the roof" Russian head covering), which sure isn't ashke, although many ashkenazi women wear it too. Wigs and various hats and berets are much less common (excluding in ultra orthodox circles)

In the army I've already had two "cultural appreciation evenings" where we all brought our cultural dishes, and talked about our different cultures, be it yemenite, Moroccan, Iranian, Tripolian, ashkenazi, or druze (which has nothing to do with Judaism but most of my commanders are druze)

Yes, David Ben Gurion and his contemporaries were extraordinarily racist towards their fellow Jews. And they're misguided actions have consequences to this day in terms of education and wealth of ashkenazi vs mizrahi vs Ethiopian communities. And there is still no lack of racism in Israel, but it's from the people, not (for the most part) institutionalized by the government. Heck, colleges here are encouraged by the govt to accept more and more mizrahi and Arab students. Meanwhile, my friend's Russian immigrant father told her not to bring home a mizrahi or Ethiopian boy. But still, even with attitudes like that among the oldest generations, inter cultural relationships and marriage have risen immensely.

Bottom line: Israel, like the US and many other countries, has a racism past, but unlike many other countries is actively moving past that dark spot in our history.

Hey I’d really appreciate it if goyim and even ashkenazi Jews would read and rb this

[nerdinsomniac]

So You Want to Celebrate Tu B’Shevat

This post is for people who are Jewish (including those who are ethnically so, but not raised Jewishly), converting to Judaism, seriously interested in Jewish conversion, or are Jewish-Adjacent (part of an interfaith family, etc.). It is not for gentiles who wish to “deepen their connection to Jesus” or any similar reason uninvolved with genuine interest in becoming a part of the tribe or participating with loved ones, as that is a form of cultural appropriation. Thank you for your understanding. Gentiles CAN, however, reblog! 

You’ve celebrated Rosh Hashanah. You observed the Days of Awe. You fasted on Yom Kippur. You’ve rejoiced in Sukkot. Sh’mini Atzeret & Simchat Torah filled you with extra joy. The beauty of Chanukah has given you what you need to get through the long winter. You’ve started marking each month with your own Rosh Chodesh rituals. And now, a new holiday has come - it’s a new year! A new year for… trees? 

Learn what Tu B’Shevat IS! 

Tu B’Shevat (also spelled Tu B’Shvat, Tu BiShevat, and Tu BiShvat just to mess with tumblr tags) is the most underrated Jewish holiday 

Okay, we’re done, time to celebrate 

Just kidding 

You might remember that I mentioned this holiday in my Rosh Hashanah post, because we Jews have four new years 

There’s the New Year for Seasons, the start of a new yearly calendar, Rosh Hashanah, in early autumn 

Then there’s the New Year for Kings, the start of a new liturgical year, Rosh Chodesh Nisan, in early spring 

This, Tu B’Shevat, is new year for trees, typically taking places in midwinter 

Then there’s Rosh Chodesh Elul, new year for animals, which occurs in late summer 

Tu B’Shevat is the only one that happens in the middle of a month, rather than the start of it

Tu B’Shevat as a holiday originated in the Talmud 

It marks the beginning of the agricultural cycle for tithing, aka, taxes! 

Yup, this is a tax holiday 

Essentially, it becomes mildly impossible to keep track of the birthdays of animals, never mind plants that don’t really have birthdays, and so you can’t really figure out the ages of trees and crops like we do people 

It’s like how naturalists just say every bird is a year older on January 5th, aka national bird day 

So, we mark the turning of a new year for a plant on Tu B’Shevat, and then it stays all neat and tidy 

This is important in halachically-minded agriculture, because there’s a prohibition in the Torah on eating the fruit of a tree for the first three years after they are planted. Then, on the fourth year, the fruit is given away as tzedakah/tithes/taxes. Finally, after that you can eat the fruit. So, if you plant a tree on the 14th of Shevat, it is two years old the next day; if you plant it on the 16th of Shevat, it’s not two years old until the next Tu B’Shevat 

Then there’s a tithing system based on a 7-year cycle 

On years one, two, four, and five; a tenth of your produce is to be separated out and eaten in Jerusalem - a tithe called Maaser Sheni

On years three and six, that tenth is given to the poor instead (Maaser Ani) 

On year seven, no tithes are separated, and all produce is free for anyone to take 

The calculation of these years for plants is all based upon Tu B’Shevat 

Why the 15th of Shevat? Well, it takes place approximately four months after Sukkot, around when the rainy season is ending in Israel, and as such, new plants are finally starting to produce fruit 

Now, of course, taxing and tzedakah requirements are not really necessarily a reason to have a whole holiday, worth an entire tumblr post 

Customs and traditions surrounding agriculture, trees, and eventually ecology and environmentalism grew up around the holiday 

It became traditional to eat produce, especially fruit (those structures of a flowering plant which bear the seeds) on this holiday, especially as the Diaspora continued and Jewish people were farther away from the land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael) where the agricultural practices relating to Tu B’Shevat were more relevant. Fruit that is especially abundant in Israel - the Seven Species - became especially relevant as a way to tie people back to the land they were removed from 

Trees are often tied to very spiritual things in the Torah and later Jewish writings, as well - the Torah itself is called a Tree of Life, there is the myth of the Garden of Eden with the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life, there are quotes everywhere comparing humans with trees, etc. Eventually, that spiritual connection turned into the Tu B’Shevat Seder 

Based on the Pesach Seder by Kabbalists (Jewish Mystics), this ordered meal highlights the turn of the seasons and the nature of our environment, connecting it to food and drink and human nature  

Being developed by the Kabbalists, it has always been more popular amongst Sephardic (sensu non-ashkenazic) communities; however, it has been gaining more popularity amongst Ashkenazim in recent years 

In the 20th Century, Tu B’Shevat gained renewed interest as Jewish people settled in the land of Israel (both before and after it became an independent country) 

It became an occasion to plant new trees, to help in the cultivation of the land 

And, of course, the agricultural features of it gained new interest as suddenly the seasons were as referenced in Jewish writings again 

In recent times, it has become an extremely environmentalist holiday 

Given, you know, we’re all going to die 

Taking care of trees, plants, and our general ecology is of vital importance 

Like American Arbor Day and Earth Day, Tu B’Shevat is an occasion to pay special attention to the crisis at hand, and work in any way we can to fix it 

So, Tu B’Shevat is a taxing holiday that has lead to a variety of spiritual, ecological, and agricultural traditions that makes it truly beautiful and outside the cycle of “they tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat!” holidays that mark the rest of the winter in Judaism 

We greet each other on Tu B’Shevat usually with Chag Sameach even though it isn’t a chag, Though, personally, I vote we start saying “Happy Birthday to the Trees!” instead 

Host or Attend a Tu B’Shevat Seder! 

Seders are probably the biggest ritual thing associated with Tu B’Shevat 

It is based on the Pesach Seder, so if you recognize similarities that’s why! 

The seder is organized around a Haggadah. a book that explains what to do when, what everything symbolizes, and provides passages from Jewish texts or things to think about 

You can find Haggadot (plural of Haggadah) for free on a lot of different websites. You can also buy one, but you know, if you can get it for free… 

Here is a Haggadah by the Reconstructionist Movement: https://www.ritualwell.org/ritual/seder-tu-bishevat. It emphasizes songs and the symbology of the different fruit  

This is a family-focused Haggadah: http://hazon.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/FamilySeder.pdf. It’s what you’d expect a family-focused one to be - lots of pictures, very easy to understand, and interactive 

Here is a very environmentally-focused Haggadah: https://hazon.org/jewish-food-movement/holidays/tu-bshvat/ 

This Haggadah focuses on community-sustainable agriculture: http://beta.hazon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Long-Island-CSA-Fair-Trade-Tu-bshvat-Seder-20071.pdf?_ga=2.105003523.1671689386.1504024470-1166144685.1502208503  

And here is the text of the first Haggadah published: http://opensiddur.org/haggadot/tu-bishvat-seder/pri-etz-hadar/ 

If this is your first time leading, though, I recommend using this article: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/a-tu-bishvat-seder/. It is an extremely simplistic seder outline that gets down the important points, without overwhelming you with choice 

I recommend attending a seder that someone else leads, but it’s still not the most common of Jewish practices, esp. in more Ashkie-centric communities. So, feel free to try it out on your own! It’s definitely more low-key than the Pesach seder. 

Read through the Haggadah you choose (or the one the host chose) before you host/attend the seder 

You need to be familiar with how the seder flows!

Also you need to know the fruits and beverages to get! 

Be sure to indicate your own dietary needs, or ask your guests if they have any allergies and so forth, so you can have alternatives (many fruits are common allergens, esp. pitted fruits, which are a main feature of the seder) 

The first fruit is usually one that’s hard on the outside and soft on the inside, like walnuts, coconuts, and almonds. The second is one that’s soft on the outside and hard on the inside - ie, they have a pit - so something like an olive, date, peach, or apricot. The third fruit is one that is soft throughout, like figs, grapes, and raisins. The fourth fruit is one has a tough skin but sweet fruit within like mangos, bananas, avocados, and sabra. 

Keep in mind it’s customary to eat not just the 7 species of Israel - 7 crops staple to ancient Israeli diets, Wheat Barley Figs Pomegranates Dates Olives and Grapes - but 15 kinds of fruit overall (because it’s the Fifteenth of Shevat). So feel free to add in more fruit to your seder than just the required symbolic four! 

There are four cups of wine too (like the Pesach seder) - All red, Mostly red with a little white, Mostly white with a little red, and All white. These symbolize the four seasons. Feel free to use grape juice if you don’t drink alcohol 

Finally, there is an actual meal towards the end of the seder. It’s traditional to eat a dairy (ie, vegetarian) meal, and feel free to go full vegan if that floats your boat 

Eat a new fruit 

It’s traditional to eat tons of fruit on Tu B’shevat, and some have taken the tradition of eating a new fruit on Rosh Hashanah and applied it to this holiday for semi-obvious reasons 

Here is my recommendation list. It includes the 7 species and other fruit that have held special importance for Jewish people, as well as fruits that fulfill the requirements of the seder meal 

Wheat (usually from a pastry) 

Barley 

Olive 

Date 

Grape

Fig

Pomegranate 

Citron (yes, you can eat the citron/etrog as preserves & sugar slices) 

Apple 

Walnut

Chestnuts

Almonds

Hazelnuts

Carobs

Pears

Medlar

Quince 

Hackberry

Jujube 

Pistachio

Cherry

Nishpolas

Lupine

Coconut 

Peach 

Apricot 

Raisin 

Mango 

Banana 

Avocado 

Orange 

Persimmon 

Strawberry

Blueberry

Blackberry 

Raspberry

Also consider buying produce that’s in season, or if nothing else local - be environmental about your Tu B’Shevat! 

That should give you tons of things - old and new - to choose from. And feel free to try any sort of fruit (plant that holds seeds - so some “vegetables” count too, like corn and tomatoes) you want! 

Plant a new tree 

This is a major custom in Israel, due to modern-day Israeli agriculture 

It’s a long story but basically Years of Israel not being cultivated well -> It’s a desert where it used to be the fertile crescent -> people live there and want to eat food they grow -> active efforts to recultivate the area 

Planting a tree in Israel helps in making the land much more habitable in general 

But planting a tree has spread as a custom outside Israel!  

It’s act that represents hope - hope for our personal future, and the future of our planet 

Even in ancient Israel, planting trees was about hope. When a boy was born, a cedar tree was planted; when a girl was born, a cypress was planted. These trees were then cut when they were adults and used for their wedding canopy (chuppah) 

It’s a way to give back to the future - the trees you plant today will be there for our loved ones tomorrow 

People often plant trees in their yards or in community gardens. Make sure the soil is soft enough for the seed to survive, though - look into tree planting in your area at this time of year 

Many also will start to grow houseplants - and you can do that inside! One common custom is to plant parsley so that it will sprout in time for Pesach, where it’s an important feature of the Pesach seder 

Feel free to also get that houseplant you’ve been putting off buying 

Participate in a community garden activity, or volunteer with a group to help prune trees to keep them healthy in your area 

There are a lot of ways to help trees grow! Be creative! 

Collect money for trees in Eretz Yisrael 

Lots of people, in lieu of planting their own tree, will donate tzedakah (… I’ll explain in a later post but basically jewish-charity-except-it-isn’t-optional) for the express purpose of planting trees in Israel 

Do research into an organization to give to, but traditionally the Jewish National Fund has been the main organization responsible for planting trees in the land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael): https://www.jnf.org/ 

You can also go around and collect more money yourself for trees in Israel - oftentimes individuals, especially kids, will take up collections and send them to various groups, to donate more money than they can do alone 

Feel free to do donation posts, collections with Tzedaka boxes/cardboard boxes/etc. at your school or neighborhood, or even try to get a larger thing going 

Donate to an environmentalist charity 

There are a lot of other opportunities for tzedakah besides getting trees planted in Israel 

You can donate to Hazon, a Jewish environmental organization: http://www.hazon.org/ 

There’s also the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life: http://www.coejl.org/ 

There is also the Jewish Fair Trade Project: https://equalexchange.coop/jewish 

And Aytzim, the Ecological Judaism Organization: http://aytzim.org/ 

Of course, you can donate to different non-Jewish groups as well, such as the EPA, the Defenders of Wildlife, Marine Conservation Institute, Union of Concerned Scientists, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Rainforest Alliance, Earthjustice, and more 

It’s good to do work and to take direct action, but oftentimes money is what it really takes to cause major change on wide levels - after all, we know in Judaism that tzedakah, or the giving of money to those who need it, is of vital importance, and can’t be replaced with acts of loving-kindness 

Go out into nature 

It might be cold (for most of us), it might be snowy, but that’s exactly why it’s good to take a walk in the woods 

Tu B’Shevat is mainly based on the climate and the resulting agriculture of Israel, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate trees in our own neighborhoods 

Remind yourself that they aren’t dead - just napping! - and soon it will be a new season, and growth will be returning around us 

You might even be able to see some of the earliest buds on the branches depending on where you are! 

Walking through a forest in winter is super eerie, too - take a buddy, and go exploring (safely!) 

Appreciate the nature we have around us - it’s just as beautiful in the winter, even though it’s not as green 

Study up on Environmentalism 

Our planet is in crisis!!!! 

There aren’t really traditional texts for Tu B’Shevat, but you can take the time to both study Jewish writings on Environmentalism, and the latest research on environmental crises on the planet 

There are a lot of resources out there - start slowly, and don’t overwhelm yourself 

It’s important to make sure to not get too bogged down, as this isn’t the most cheerful of subjects 

Here are some great Sefaria sheets on the environment to get you started: 

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/114041?lang=bi

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/114043?lang=bi 

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/114145?lang=bi

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/113878?lang=bi 

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/113918?lang=bi 

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/113843?lang=bi 

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/96524?lang=bi

We have a responsibility to take care of our home. Use this Jewish holiday, and our Jewish values, to dive in. 

You are not Alone!!!! 

A lot of Tu B’Shevat customs are new to everyone, not just converts/people reconnecting with their heritage/etc. Invite friends to partake with you!!! 

Host a Tu B’Shevat seder and invite friends over, or find one with you! Reach out to your local community! 

Feel free to talk to friends online about Jewish environmentalism, or share some texts you found inspiring or thought-provoking with them to discuss 

Spend the day with people, or just nature. A tree can be a good friend too 

Don’t just listen to me 

I am just a biologist sitting in the middle of apartment listings grumbling about people not being forthcoming in whether or not they allow pet birds  

I have one perspective and my own limited knowledge. Talk to other people! Get their input! 

Learn from all the movements, cultures, and customs of Judaism. They all have something to say about this holiday. 

Read, engage, and do NOT be afraid to ask questions! 

GOOD LUCK, and chag sameach!!! Happy birthday trees!!!! 

!!!!!!!!!!!חג שמח

Buy the author a coffee: http://ko-fi.com/kulindadromeus 

[nerdinsomniac]

Skhdjsjsd ur title 😂😂😂

If the shoe fits...

[nerdinsomniac]

Long ago the Courts of Prythian lived in relative harmony. Then, everything changed when Lord Hybern attacked.

Only a mortal girl, in love with High Lord Tamlin of the Spring Court, could stop them, but when all the scouts went out looking for one, none returned.

Fifty years passed and Andras and Lucien found one, a human named Feyre. And although she’s tough, she’ll need a lot oc character development before she’s ready to save anyone.

But I believe, Feyre can save the world

*cue theme music*

[nerdinsomniac]

im gonna teach y’all a little bit of jewish law today, folks

Basically a friend of mine asked me last night if it was true that rabbis check a woman’s underwear once a month after her period. SO y’all are gonna learn today.

*Disclaimer--I’m not a rabbi or a married woman (aka someone actively practicing the laws im about to talk abt). However I have several years of learning under my belt, plus parents who will talk about ANYTHING relating to Jewish law, and this happens to have been one of the things that have come up both in my schooling (thanks Jewish Day School) and subsequently me clarifying a few things with my parents (thanks mom and dad)

Also, all this info obvs only pertains to religious Jews, generally Orthodox or Conservative. If you or a friend is a not religious Jew don’t assume they follow (or even know about) any of what’s in store below.

Let’s start at the beginning (que sound of music soundtrack)

1. Jewish Law forbids period sex. Why? Good question. thats one of the laws that isnt really explained at all, but the Torah and Talmud are pretty adamant about it. Bottom line, jewish couples are not allowed to have sex from that start of a woman’s period until she goes to the mikvah (ritual bath) 7 days after the end of her period, called the 7 clean days or שבע נקיים (sheva neki-im) in hebrew.

Fun fact? This seems super archaic, but all the women i’ve talked to (including teachers, women I know in my community, and my own mother) are pretty supportive of the system. While i have no experience of my own (I’m turning 20 at the end of the month, give me some time folks), these women and that one rabbi at an NCSY shabbaton (thanks rabbi) say that the halacha (law) prohibiting sex for about a week and a half gives couples a semi scheduled time to connect verbally and emotionally which improves their relationship as a whole, and some of them (not including the rabbi--he was speaking to a large group so we’ll cut him some slack) even said that that in turn enhanced their sex lives.

2. The Seven Clean Days

The seven clean days are essentially a buffer zone between when a woman is actively bleeding and when she goes to the mikvah. And this gets to the heart of the “checking women’s underwear” misconception, so lets break that down.

Truth: Women check to see if they are actively bleeding during the 7 clean days: While technically only the first and last day are absolutely necessary (so if you miss a day in the middle it’s okay), most women check every day by inserting a piece of white “bedika” (checking) cloth *up there*, pulling it out again, and seeing if there’s blood on it. Think kind of like putting in a tampon. 

Here in Israel the cloths are sold at most pharmacies, while in the rest of the world you can get them online or i assume at the mikvah or a jewish store, but I’m not sure.

False: Women then have to bring that cloth to a rabbi: Women are trusted and expected to check the cloth themselves and decide for themselves if the cloth is clean of blood. What women DO bring the cloth to a rabbi for is if they’re not sure. The blood or discharge that negates a clean day is red or dark brown, ie a sign that you’re still actively bleeding. Because (as any menstruating woman knows) your period and vaginal discharge can be any of several colors, it is at times hard to tell if the color is indicative of active bleeding and therefore you have to start the count to seven over again, or if its old blood or non-blood discharge and you can keep the count going from where you are.

False: If you have a question about whether or not your cloth is “clean”, you must take it to a male rabbi: so this one is actually a bit of a controversy within the Jewish community, but many people hold by yoatzot halacha (literally law advisors), women who are trained in matters of family law and handles these kinds of questions. there are also other programs in communities in major cities whereby women facilitate anonymous period questions and checks on behalf of other women, like Nili does in my hometown of Chicago. here’s the link to their hotline: https://www.torahchicago.org/nili-hotline.html.

3. The Mikvah

I realize I already got to the part where I answered my friend’s question, but since i hope I still have your attention, lets finish the story so to speak.

I’ll start off this way--aside from people scared about being naked in front of someone they don’t know or embarrassed to know that anyone they meet in the mikvah waiting room is probably going to be having sex that night, and knows that you’re probably gonna have sex that night, I’ve never heard about a complaint about the mikvah.

The entire operation is built like a private spa. Most appointments are scheduled far enough apart to maintain the women’s privacy, the idea being that ideally they won’t see anyone but the receptionist and the mikvah lady (I’ll explain later) before they go in. Women first are taken to a bathroom with a bath or shower, because before going into the mikvah, you gotta be clean. There are fancy soaps and shampoos, shavers, and nail polish remover (gotta take off the nail polish before you go in). Most places have fluffy towels and nice bathrobes and the like, but it really depends on where you are. When you’re done bathing, there’s usually a way to call to the receptionist to let her know that you’re ready to go in.

Soon after, the mikvah lady will come and lead you to the mikvah itself. Her job is to make sure that when you go in that every inch of you (including every strand of your hair) goes underwater. Most women turn around while you undress and only turn around again when you’re in the water, as a measure of maintaining as much privacy as possible. you then dunk, say the blessing, dunk again, say another, optional blessing, and then either get out or dunk another 1-5 times, depending on your mother’s traditions (or whoever taught you)

SUPER SUPER IMPORTANT NOTE: If being naked in front of a stranger triggers trauma or extreme anxiety, talk to both a rabbi and the mikvah lady. There is a way for you to dunk without supervision (which the mikvah lady should know about and be able to teach you how to do) and the mikvah lady MUST leave and let you dunk on your own if you ask. YOUR MENTAL HEALTH COMES FIRST!!!!!

Welp thats the end of our overview. There’s a lot more to get into here (like what exactly makes a mikvah a mikvah, the more spiritual aspect of this commandment, etc), but the goal of this post was mostly to avoid the misconception my friend, a Jewish high schooler in the same Jewish school i went to had. If any rabbis or learned women want to add or correct anything ive just said, please do... like i said in my disclaimer I’m not the most knowledgable about this subject, being that its laws do not yet pertain to me.

[nerdinsomniac]

please do not refer to potatoes as

dirt apples

[nerdinsomniac]

Omg this is the most Israeli thing I've ever seen...

Roughly translated: We're broken from protests at Rabin Square. Stay at home with Netflix like anyone. We are the millions protesting against a million protests

I give it 24 hours before I see a counter protest

[nerdinsomniac]

I guess airport security just doesn't like me...

So aside from the fact that I've been pulled out for extra security the last couple of times I've flown (because 4 foot 8 not ashke Jewish me looks soooooo threatening) today my bag got frisked by TSA for... guess again, books.

Apparently the 5 books I have in my bag (including my siddur btw) are *super* dangerous a d the xray machine flagged my bag. The TSA agent and I had a good laugh abt it.

Jokes on them tho I have lots more in the bag they didnt check.

[nerdinsomniac]