#Tips from the Torah

[tipstorah]

Traveling Tips from the Torah

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Travel has been an intrinsic part of the human experience, often prompting reflection and a sense of discovery. The Torah, a foundational text of Jewish tradition, offers insights that can enhance the journey, both physically and spiritually. Herein, we explore several travel tips derived from the teachings and narratives of the Torah.

First and foremost, one of the central themes in the Torah is the importance of preparation. In the Book of Exodus, the Israelites are commanded to prepare for their exodus from Egypt. This preparation included gathering provisions, planning their route, and ensuring their families were ready for the journey ahead (Exodus 12:11). This principle underscores the significance of meticulous planning before embarking on any trip. Travelers are encouraged to research their destinations, make itineraries, and pack wisely, taking into consideration the necessities for their journey.

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Furthermore, the Torah emphasizes the value of community and companionship in travel. In Leviticus 19:34, it is stated that one should love the stranger as oneself, highlighting the interconnectedness of humanity. Traveling in groups not only enhances safety but also fosters shared experiences and mutual support. As pilgrims and caravans journeyed together in ancient times, modern travelers can similarly benefit from the camaraderie and enriched perspectives that arise from shared adventures.

Another vital lesson from the Torah is the importance of mindfulness during travel. The narrative of the Israelites wandering in the desert serves as a reminder to embrace the journey itself rather than hastily focusing on the destination. This principle encourages travelers to remain present, savoring each moment and appreciating the landscapes and cultures encountered along the way. The teachings found in Deuteronomy 10:19, which urge compassion for the disadvantaged, further remind travelers to approach their journeys with kindness, engaging respectfully with local communities.

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Lastly, the Torah presents a perspective on travel as a means of personal growth and spiritual exploration. As one traverses new landscapes and cultures, there lies an opportunity for profound self-discovery and reflection. The experiences gained can lead to greater understanding, empathy, and connection with others. The journey can become a metaphor for life's own travels, where challenges and triumphs contribute significantly to one's character.

In conclusion, the Torah offers timeless travel tips that resonate across generations. Through preparation, fostering community, practicing mindfulness, and pursuing personal growth, travelers can embark on journeys that are not only enriching but also transformative. As travelers take to the roads and skies, these guiding principles can enhance their experiences, leading to deeper insights and meaningful connections with the world around them.

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[vaspider]

At my old shul, they have a Torah scroll that is about 400 years old. It is a Shoah survivor and it was preserved bc it was smuggled out of what is now the Czech Republic, IIRC, during WWII, with some other refugees.

And now it is retired and in a conservation case bc it is too fragile to touch anymore, but almost a decade ago now, that was the first Torah I held, the day of my beit din & my conversion being final. This is also the case for Emet, and for Cat. Cat's confirmation class was the last class to read from it during their confirmation -- when it was used, before it was retired, it was only ever unrolled once a year, to the same spot, which is the parsha that the confirmation class always has, to minimize damage, and they retired it when it became too fragile even for that. Like, when it tipped over from 'incredibly fragile' to 'probably not kosher anymore,' they had to set it aside.

Remembering that made me feel … bittersweet happy, because it feels like the way we keep and remake and renew connections no matter what happens, to be realizing, "Oh, I should tell [my friend's wife, who is a Sephardic Jew from Prague], about the survivor Torah." I remember when they handed it to me thinking that it weighed just about as much as Cat did when she was born… and was somehow also immensely weighted. At the time, someone asked me if it was heavy, and I said, "Not at all, and incredibly."

[aloysiavirgata]

She walks in beauty, like the night

Scully in the simplest, blackest silk. Scully pale, moon-kissed, vulnerable. Scully’s hair and eyes like where the stars are born.

***

Scully comes to him when even the moon is all but asleep, like a single calla lily from a secret admirer. Unbidden. Unexpected.

Unparalleled.

“Mulder,” she says, outside his open door, in a negligee that last shade of sky blue before it goes pitch black.

Spaghetti straps and a low décolletage, though not shockingly low. Lace trim, mid thigh. It looks like something Katharine Hepburn would wear to slap you.

Not you. Him.

Specifically him.

She looks up at him through her heavy-lashed, heavy-lidded eyes.

He stares at her for his own sake because deep in his 12 year old heart, no one would ever, ever, believe that nerdy Fox Muld-

Scully takes another step closer onto the sad oatmeal carpet of his hotel room. She has such pretty ankles, she has such pretty calves. She smells like honeysuckle and hot bike tires and buttery lobster rolls and the sweetest, purest moments of his life.

She tips her face up to him, Agent Scully does, all eyes and lips and cheekbones like a geometric proof.

“God,” he says. And he means it.

***

LA belongs to the sun and Scully is a San Diego baby but he knows, he knows, she is an East Coast girl at heart. He knows she loves the first retinal purple-orange sunrises of America and the first sapphire kisses of night. He knows she loves the stars by which her father learned to navigate. He knows she loves the distant moon.

He knows she loves blue crabs and wool duffel coats and khaki shorts and aspires to East Hampton in her most secret, silent heart.

One day he will make love to her in London because she will, he knows, hark to the call of the City. She is a creature of old stone and lichen and liminal space.

She is the answer to Samson’s riddle.

***

He’d rented a jet black ‘57 Chevy Bel Air because Christ, this girl. Abductions and cancer and the most awful brutality and stolen ova and Christ; this brilliant, moonbeam girl.

She sees the car and she says nothing. But her eyes, her eyes. Her Star of India eyes.

Scully sees the car and she smiles, shy. Scully squeezes his hand.

***

He fucks her - hard, desperate - in the Chevy out over Mullholland and she cries out for him because even Saint Teresa writhed in ecstasy.

He kisses her the way a mariner kisses his homeland soil because she is his human credential. He kisses her like a Torah scroll. He shudders, murmurs I love you, I love you into the hot, sweet dark of her mouth.

***

She is bleeding, just a little. She is bleeding in the warm caress of a Southern California night. She is bleeding as though she were a virgin and maybe she is; maybe there is sex and there is fucking and there is making love and there is This.

Are you there, god? It’s me, Dana.

She touches his sleeping rosebud lips. She touches his funny nose and his beautiful jaw and she doesn’t say I love you aloud like he had because she’d learned it was shameful. She’d learned to salute.

But it’s 3 AM, neither properly morning nor properly night. It’s 3 AM and she isn’t LA pretty, not by a long shot, but she’s here with him, with Mulder, who is very LA pretty and has money besides.

She’s too short and too pale and her nose is patrician rather than cute and she gets burnt instead of tan. She doesn’t laugh in the right places at movies. She likes copper because it burns green, she likes moths more than butterflies, she can quote Jane Austen’s most acerbic lines.

She thinks of Mulder swimming hard across the Vineyard tides, Mulder with his cinnamon skin in the whipped cream breakers. Riding a red fixed-gear along Lake Tashmoo, tugging his tiny sister along. Mulder basking on the beach like a young god of summer. Mulder with his heart afire like Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.

Her father is dead and look, look Mulder has such a tender soul even if he’s Jewish and atheist, Daddy. Mulder has eyes like fern moss.

“I love you,” she says, her eyes brimming with tears, her eyes bright as the newest stars.

[outreach-by-adellah]

Kavanah & Tefillah - Tips for Powerful Davening (19 Shevat)

Tefillah (prayer) is one of the most central components of the Jewish faith. It is a way for us to reach out to our creator, to thank Him for what He has given us and to ask Him for anything we still need. Hashem appreciates it deeply when we take the time out of our day to talk to HIm, and truly wants to answer as many of our prayers as possible, though sometimes in unexpected ways. So, if it ever seems like your prayers aren’t being answered, know that Hashem is still listening no matter what, but try some of these tips to get the ball rolling a little faster!

Start with Gratitude. Who would you rather do a favor for? Someone who starts their request with how grateful they are for the things you do for them, or someone who just asks you for something right off the bat? Probably the former, and Hashem feels the same way. Gratitude is of utmost importance in Jewish law. Our people’s name, Yehudim, comes from the same shoresh (root word) as the word for gratitude, so Hashem values gratitude very highly. He is more likely to answer the prayers of those who are grateful for what he does, as that is His way of teaching us to be more grateful. Therefore, next time you have a request for Hashem, you should start by thinking about all the blessings Hashem has already bestowed upon you.

Be Less Specific. Imagine that someone is davening to get into a specific university which has the highest rate of acceptance into medical school… but really their destiny is to be an artist. Hashem may not grant this prayer to be accepted into that university, because Hashem knows that this person’s true path lies elsewhere. If you are praying for something overly specific, the same thing may happen to you. Instead, be more broad with your prayers. If, in that situation, someone prayed to simply have a successful future instead of to get into a specific university, Hashem would get their art career started and grant them success quickly. Next time you are about to pray for something specific, pray for your end goal instead, and since Hashem always knows what you need, Hashem might take you there in an unexpected way!

Be Selfless. Selflessness is another Jewish value (perhaps the most important one in the entire Torah) which Hashem cares deeply about. It is a well known fact that davening is more effective when it is done for someone else. As such, it can be helpful to daven for things that benefit others, or to have your loved ones daven for you as Hashem is more likely to grant selfless prayers. This is also why your prayers are much more likely to be granted if doing so would help you fulfill a mitzvah. Hashem only wants the best for His people, and prefers those who feel the same way.

Daven Every Day. The best way to improve your relationship with anyone is to talk to them as often as possible, and the same is true for Hashem. Since the way you talk to Hashem is by davening, you should daven every day to become closer with Him. Just as you would be more likely to do a favor for a friend than for an acquaintance, Hashem also prefers to grant prayers to people who take the time to know Him more deeply. So, if you feel like your tefillah is not being answered, try to make a habit of talking to Hashem every single day. Besides, who could be a better friend than Hashem?

Take Action! There is an old Jewish story about a man who davened every single day to win the lottery. His davening was perfect! He expressed gratitude towards Hashem, and prayed with the utmost intention and extreme consistency! He does this every day for months, and eventually becomes upset with Hashem for not letting him win the lottery. Eventually, he calls out to Hashem, saying “what’s the deal? I’m a good Jew, I davened perfectly, I’ll donate some of the money as tzedakah, what more do you want from me!?” Hashem’s response? “BUY A LOTTERY TICKET!”. You see, you can daven and daven and daven for years, but if you never take any action towards achieving your goals, nothing will ever happen. So, buy the lottery ticket! If there’s something you’ve been davening for for a long time and it has yet to come true, you need to be the first one to take action to get it done. 

If you take the time to put all of these tips into action, not only will you strengthen your relationship with Hashem, but you will also be practicing some of the most important Jewish values. If you become a grateful and selfless person who is deeply connected to Hashem, you will not only be a better person, but you will have the added benefit of getting more of your prayers answered!

Tell me in the tags: Do you have any other advice for more effective davening? Do you have any inspiring stories to share of your prayers being answered?

Jew Joke:

I would drop to my knees twice a day begging Hashem to do anything that would make my life easier. 

So He gave me knee pads. 

[mariacallous]

More than 230,000 American Jews voted in the 2025 election for the World Zionist Congress, setting a new turnout record and nearly doubling participation compared to the last election five years ago, according to preliminary results released Thursday by the American Zionist Movement.

The tally excludes nearly 20,000 votes that the body overseeing the election determined had been cast fraudulently and disqualified.

The results suggest heightened interest among American Jews in shaping Zionist priorities, as 152 delegates from the United States — nearly one-third of the 525-member Congress — prepare to travel to Jerusalem this October to help decide how over $1 billion in annual funding will be allocated to Jewish and Israeli institutions.

The right-wing and Orthodox bloc repeated its strength from the last election, appearing to once again secure a majority of votes despite a surge in support for several leading liberal slates. 

The top vote-getter was the Vote Reform slate, representing the Reform movement, U.S. Jewry’s largest denomination, with about 48,000 votes. The liberal-leaning slate won some 16,000 more votes than the last election, when it also placed first, but its vote share dropped from 26% to 21%. The slate said the result shows that the Reform movement is the leading voice of American Jewry.

“This is more than just a win for our slate — it is a resounding mandate for the values we champion,” Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, said in a statement.

Am Yisrael Chai came in second place with about 32,00 votes, or about 14% of the total. Positioned as a centrist and Orthodox voice, the slate proved successful in courting Jewish college students and young professionals with its focus on pro-Israel advocacy, Jewish pride and promoting “love of Torah.”

Eretz Hakodesh, an Orthodox slate whose debut in the last election helped tip the balance of power at the World Zionist Congress in favor of the right-wing bloc for the first time, placed third with about 29,000 voters. Mercaz USA, representing Conservative Judaism, was fourth with 28,000 votes, and Orthodox Israel Coalition-Mizrachi, the political arm of Modern Orthodoxy, secured about 27,000 votes.

In all, 22 slates competed in the U.S. election, up from 14 in 2020 — a sign of growing political, religious and generational diversity among American Jews. The election, administered by the American Zionist Movement, took place from March 10 to May 4, with 224,237 valid votes cast online and an additional 6,020 by mail.

[keshetchai]

Greetings Friend,

I hope you can help me

How did you go about learning Hebrew? As in what resources, classes, books etc. did you use to get a handle on the language?

I really struggle with languages, so I was hoping you had some advice or tips.

As a bit of background, I am currently a conversion student, going on almost 2.5 years now. I have long since completed the formal learning requirement with my synagogue (conservative) and according to my rabbis, I am free to attend the Beit Din and Mikvah whenever I so choose.

I know my neshama is Jewish, I know this is who I am/supposed to be. I know because of some unusual childhood experiences, and then when I started converting most aspects of the learning and practices came so naturally (granted nowhere near an orthodox level of observance, which isn’t necessarily the goal at this time, but certainly not something I am opposed to perusing) except for the languages.

As previously stated my rabbis say it is okay but something is holding me back from taking that final plunge (lol), and I believe it’s the language.

I still bench in English, and find it really stressful to attend services because I can barely muddle my way around the liturgy, or songs during a Shabbat dinner.

Of course this is just a personal hang up, and absolutely no criticism or shame on anyone else who converted without knowing/knowing very little of the language. Just, for some reason it just doesn’t feel right. I cannot bring myself to say I am actually a member of this wonderful, beautiful tribe before I have overcome this hurdle.

So… any advice?

A few answers for you, the first is most important:

Very Early On in my studying, one of the two rabbis at my synagogue wasn't leading and so she sat in the back, and I decided to sit next to her because i was still finding my footing in the basic service.

And at one point, it may have been for mi hamocha, the cantor starts with a NEW tune I don't know, and I'm still relying on the transliteration entirely and was still trying to memorize the FIRST tune.

And my rabbi leans over and whispers to me: "I have never heard this tune before in my life either."

And the anxiety broke, then. I didn't know this version for the song already and I was lost. But the rabbi sitting next to me also didn't know this tune.

Being Jewish is about always learning something new, even if you are encountering the same thing you've seen or done before dozens or hundreds of times. THAT is being Jewish. Rereading the same book every year and the same passages over and over, but still being a little lost or even finding something you never knew before?

That is being a Jew.

Jews may open a siddur and know what they'll find there, but we do not open it and expect to know everything about how that material is used or applied. And we don't feel a guarantee that life will not teach us something new today, or that someone's minhag won't be totally different from ours. Jews may know the Torah, they may even choose to memorize the mitzvot by heart, but we don't expect this memorization will ensure we never have a halakhic question in life!

So you see, the big scary fact is this: you might become a fluent reader of prayer book Hebrew, you might someday daven entirely in Hebrew, or even graduate rabbinical school, but still sometimes be thrown into being a stranger to something, even something you thought you knew.

But when you identify this and then embrace it, it becomes less scary and part of your Jewish identity. Being perfectly settled, fixed in your knowledge or your thinking or your skills — it honestly doesn't feel terribly Jewish to me.

And for many people born as Jews this can manifest as a type of reflexive embarrassment or self-consciousness for failing at jewishness somehow or having less knowledge for one reason or another. It can make folks defensive or ashamed or feel frustrated for the disconnect. I'm here to tell you that as converts we get the chance to illustrate joyfully that no Jew knows everything Jewish, and that is the experience of being Jewish. The biggest thing holding any of us back from learning the things we don't know is

a) being afraid to seem not Jewish enough or

b) being afraid to not know something

I have excellent news for your (and my) anxiety:

A) almost all Jews worry about how Jewish they seem in some fashion or another so that's normal and,

B) since only hashem knows everything, our job is to not know everything, but to be willing to learn anything. Also we're better in numbers! Two heads are better than one and a minyan is better than that! Everyone doesn't know something, but none of us are alone as Jews. Which is why we become Jewish in community, and not alone. Because someone else might know what we don't!

Get it?

Step #1: you have to jump feet first into not already knowing something perfectly and start knowing less but learning more.

If you are reading the English words and English translations to daven, this means you need to stop. This was your training wheel. And you are not finding your own balance relying on it.

If your siddur has transliterations of the hebrew, bring a little index card next time and cover up the English as you daven for a start. I familiarized myself with the Hebrew because I was saying everything in Hebrew out loud every single time. Once you know the shema by heart more or less (for example), all you have to do is learn the alphabet to prompt your memory to progress further in your Hebrew learning.

That's how kids learn any language. We speak before reading as children. So speak and chant and sing in Hebrew. Whisper the Hebrew. As you get more comfortable, learning to read Hebrew will be an exercise you can even do during the middle of shabbat.

Because you know what the prayer says, and you just need to match the words you see to the sounds you know.

Step #2: know the aleph bet before you attempt reading comprehension of all words.

Things that I used to learn the aleph bet:

Hebrew scripts (the app by drops)

Write it! Hebrew app

Victoria Hanna's The Aleph Bet Song (Hosha'na) because uh she sings the aleph bet and pronounces it

Behrman House Books: Hineni: prayerbook Hebrew for adults; aleph isn't tough! For adults. The kids stuff is good too, I'm not ashamed to say I own "time to read Hebrew!" 1&2

(The Hebrew by inbal on Amazon looks new but good possibly?)

If you want a siddur set up specifically to practice matching transliteration and Hebrew aleph bet, I recommend Chayim Alevsky's My Siddur (choose the minhag variant you use! I bought the Sephardic/Israeli as I don't use ashkie pronunciations.

There will be slight differences of you're used to liberal inclusion of say, the matriarchs, but in general this is a solid practice book for anyone. Transliteration is given word by word, with full word blocks reading in the same direction as Hebrew. At the bottom of the page certain (possibly newer to the learner) words will be defined.

It also now has an app which looks like this:

So you see this is pairing the reading direction of Hebrew words with the sounds spelled out in English to strengthen your Hebrew. If you try to read the transliteration in the English direction word by word, you'll be reading it backwards and starting with v'kayahm, instead of "modeh" (or "modah" feminine). Further even if you're starting correctly with modeh, the English word is still left to right over the Hebrew right to left. so this forces you to be attentive to the Hebrew itself and slow down word by word!

The layout in the print versions means you can cover up the transliteration to test your learning of certain words, and only check if you forget.

I still am not perfect at everything and I truthfully attentively practice Chinese far more than Hebrew reading, but this is what helped me.

Good luck!

[feygaleh]

as someone who is technically a goy, but also is considering convertion since 2021, but its a hard decision, so i am really back and forth about it, but then again it calls to me, but what if its a phase etc etc

i love your blog it is so beautiful and soothing and just so lovely and really tips the scales towards gathering the courage and actually starting the convertion process, thank you from the bottom of my heart

hey this really really made me almost cry. i love hearing things like this and if it’s something that’s been on your mind for that many years i think it’s really worth reaching out to a rabbi over

many people start the process to finally realize it IS for them or even it ISNT for them. the torah studies leader at my shul is the leader of the judaism 101 course, which, if you’re unfamiliar, is the course converts take at the very start of their conversion.

during torah studies we allow others to zoom in and whenever this man sets up zoom (because i’ve seen him set it up for other events my shul puts on as well) he always talks about how “oh but there will never be as many people in here today as there is during the first month of conversion classes” and that’s because many many people DO start to realize it’s not them. they DO talk to a rabbi, they DO sign up for the class, they DO study the torah, they DO learn the history of judaism and THEN they decide “as beautiful as this religion is. it’s not for me”

i actually am in tears a little bit at the thought of just being able to help. wether it helps guide your soul back home, or helps you find a definitive answer. im really privileged to be here.

i put a lot of love for my people and my religion into this blog. thank you so much for your kind message. i really hope you’re able to find yourself, wherever that may be

mazel tov 🤍

[ladyimaginarium]

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Use your intuition & scroll to the bottom to receive your message!

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: our& apologies for the hiatus on our& readings, a lot's been happening over the last few months since october !! it's been a hot minute since i& did a brief tarot reading, unfortunately ive& been going through a lot & i& unfortunately haven't had the motivation or the spoons but i& was called to do a collective reading with just one (1) card. i& usually shuffle to get a message, but this time i& don't feel called to. take what resonates, leave the rest of what doesn't & don't force anything if it doesn't fit your situation, keep in mind that energy and outcomes can always change & nothing is forever set in stone, you have free will in every choice you make !! keep in mind that this is a general collective reading so the messages here may not apply to everyone. as a general message: my& readings are for entertainment purposes only and don't replace professional medical/legal/business help. feedback and a review after a reading is given, whether public or private, is obligatory. you can do that by reblogging, dming or emailing us privately on the matter. if you do not provide this, you will be added to my greylist and won't be given anymore readings, free or paid, until you give feedback which you can fill out in the form listed down below. don't just leave this in the likes, reblog and support your tarot readers, my time and labour aren't for free. while it isn't necessary, if you'd like to tip, my paypal's below. I have personal paid readings available which you can fill out the form below so tips, bookings & feedback are highly appreciated considering i plan to do this for a living!

BOOK A READING | FEEDBACK FORM | TIP JAR

𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝: Killstar ( Memento Mori ) Tarot.

Justice: This is actually one of my& favorite cards in the tarot. The sign of Libra may be significant, you may have it in your chart placements or in your big four. The number 11 might be of significance. Something could be happening for you on the 11th of this month or it could be your birthday on the 11th of March (& if that's the case happy early birthday !! 🥺💕✨). The Justice card is ruled by Libra. I'm& getting that for some of you, you're gonna need to stop doomscrolling & take some time out if you're able to to relax & I& wholeheartedly mean that (tarot's calling me& out lmao). Please take care of your mental health. You don't need to take the world's burdens on your shoulders. It's okay to cry if you need to. As it's once said in Perkei Avot 2:16 in the Torah, "You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it". Interestingly enough, Justice came out in my& last reading & I& still have that same message. Justice will happen, whether that's in your personal life & I'm& getting this will also apply to the global state of affairs. I& don't know what that is, but it could be either big or small scale & I& think this'll differ onto what exactly this is for each of you. I& don't think this applies to most of you, but I'm& getting at least one of you could be involved in legal issues, it's possible that you could be winning that (again I'm& not a legal professional I& don't need to know a backstory or anything!). Regardless, someone (or maybe multiple people) or something is being exposed. Maybe this is someone that did you and/or a loved one wrong & they're getting karma for it. I'm& gonna repeat what I& said last time because it's possibly still relevant to your current situation: learn the truth about others & yourself, speak & know the truth of something before passing a judgement on someone or something, don't believe everything you read & hear (& just as a general psa: STOP GETTING YOUR NEWS FROM TIKTOK & TUMBLR FOR THE LOVE OF G-D I'M& BEGGING YOU). However, on the other hand, if you were the person that harmed someone, this is essentially a warning. You still have a change to change your actions & your ways & your thoughts for a better future for yourself or someone else that you harmed. Whether you accept the advice or not if it resonates is entirely up to you. This reading isn't light compared to previous readings but I'm& a tarot reader that gives you what you Need to hear, not what you Want to hear, those are two very different things and quite frankly I'm& not the type of person to condone someone's bullshit if it applies. With that said, thank you for being here & for existing, and see ya in the next reading!

[womenfrommars]

Hi I'm from France and I stumbled upon one of your posts about Islam. I'm genuinely sort of terrified of the future here. We finally achieved an atheist majority and fully separated religion from the state but Islam is quickly growing unquestioned. Somehow being antireligion in progressive circles has been fully turned into something bad.

And I don't think I can lie to myself anymore - muslim men are raised into an incredibly misogynistic environment and are strongly encouraged to never question it and benefit from it. I have had first hand interaction with those muslim men who sexually harassed me and pejoratively talked about my rights as a woman. On the French internet there is a massive mob of those same men being incredibly misogynistic everyday on how women dress and act.

And what is truly terrifying is that I'm told to endure it all. That it is just bad apples. Our leftists parties are in full support of it and gain voters from the muslim community, online and irl leftists constantly repeat "islamophobia" to every criticism brandished at Islam. Our discussions are getting americanized when their muslim minority is like 10 times smaller than ours and actually progressive over there. I'm so tired. There is no analysis of religion anymore. There is just choice feminism - choice to hide your body and be a property for men. And questioning the ever growing presence of men who desire to own us is somehow "white feminism". I'm lost and scared that eventually they'll become a big enough population that our laws will change to accommodate their regressive religion and take away my rights as a woman.

Somehow being antireligion in progressive circles has been fully turned into something bad.

Oh no you got that totally wrong. You can shit on Christianity all day long because it's seen as ''the white man's religion'', irrespective of all the non-white Christians who face persecution and subjugation in various parts of the world. And since October 7 it has become extremely normalised in progressive circles to demonise Zionism and by extension the Jewish religion, with false quotes from the Torah going around that all of us non-Jews are subhumans. It's only Islam that is being protected by the progressive left. They harp on about Islamophobia but Christophobia and anti-Semitism are not part of their vocabulary at all

On the French internet there is a massive mob of those same men being incredibly misogynistic everyday on how women dress and act.

Welcome in Europe in 2024! Muslims are not asking to be included, they are asking to be centered and catered to. They're not just asking for halal meat in supermarkets, they want to change European culture significantly. They want to get rid of secularism, sexual liberty, and the improved position of women in European societies. In the UK they're even handing out flyers asking people not to walk their dogs in muslim neighbourhoods because they consider dogs to be spiritually unclean animals. Muslim apologists are openly discussing child marriage online and the right for a muslim man to beat his wife. But leftists would rather talk about Christian misogyny (read: Christian women online sharing tips on how to dress modestly).

Our discussions are getting americanized when their muslim minority is like 10 times smaller than ours and actually progressive over there.

The USA has different immigration laws and mostly accept highly educated, liberalised muslims from Asia and the Middle-East. Almost all of their illegal migrants are from South America where Islam barely exists. The American muslim population is quite wealthy and highly educated as a result of the immigration laws whereas the European muslim population is lower educated and more dependent on social security, overrepresented in crime statistics, and not fully integrated into the culture as a result of the immigration policies from the 70s and the refugee crisis from 2015 and onwards. So to an American if you voice concerns about Islam specifically they see no reason to do so other than racism. I would like to see their reaction if their Christmas markets, concerts, and synagogues are blown up by Islamic terrorists. You'd think 9/11 would have been a wake-up call

And questioning the ever growing presence of men who desire to own us is somehow "white feminism".

Even when ex-muslims come out in favour of Western culture and against Islamic culture the left sees them as puppets because they think minorities cannot think for themselves. Unironically racist. Not to mention ex-muslims face extremely violent threats and social rejection from the Islamic community

I'm lost and scared that eventually they'll become a big enough population that our laws will change to accommodate their regressive religion and take away my rights as a woman.

Honestly I have had such thoughts myself, especially with mass migration coupled with the extremely high birth rate of muslim women. I think the best course of action is restricted immigration combined with intense integration efforts. And we must be willing to defend our Western values publicly even if it means we will be accused of right-wing nationalism or racism. Islam is fundamentally incompatible with secularism and equality between men and women

[son-of-avraham]

Hi! First of all kind greetings :-) I've been trying to learn about Jewish history, culture and religion for more than four years and been pretty sure I want to convert since at least three years. I've attended a service at a local (non-orthodox) Synagoge a few years ago but have not started conversion process or contacted a rabbi, at first because finding an Orthodox congregation close to me was a challenge. There is no contact info of any Rabbi online for security reasons, and I've yet to talk to any Rabbi in my city - even my last visit to the local shul was only communicated with a Gabbai. I've also studied Hebrew for quite a while now. My partner is Jewish Israeli and I've attended most holidays a few times over the last few years and also taken part (I was always invited). First of all I'm kind of scared to make the jump again and contact the congregation I've found I think would work for me because the last shul I visited rejected me three times before even attending a service as a visitor, no mention of giyur. Which each time was incredibly emotional for me. Also the security made me cry because they were so mean to me lol. I'm scared the orthodox shul would completely reject me, esp. because I know they (in my country) usually keep to themselves even more and are more wary of outsiders. I also feel guilty to "demand" to enter their space at this hard time, though I've wanted to do it long before this war. Do you (or your followers) have any tips on how to first approach the congregation at this difficult time? That congregation and their members have faced attacks several times since the war. The only way to contact anyone at that congregation is through a generic info@xxx email. I don't know why I'm so ashamed to contact them. I feel like I'm in such a weird limbo since a few years and I just want to break out of it and start the process. Should I be upfront with my intentions from the beginning or first make a more generic request? Sorry for the long ask. Any thoughts or tips are welcome 🙏🩷🌸

I want to start this by saying I'm really sorry - I can only imagine how stressful this all is. I'm also really proud of you! I can only hope that you are fulfilled when you engage with judaism <3

When I contacted my conservative shul, I emailed them and was upfront - I can't remember what I said, but I was completely open about wanting to attend services, that I had never been to shul, and that I wanted to be part of the community (I didn't outright mention conversion though). They ended up calling me directly because they didn't see the emails at first, as well. When I emailed my rabbi, I was also rather frank and upfront - I detailed how exactly I engaged with my community, what extracurricular I do (hebrew class, ITJ, and others). I would honestly consider letting them know that you've extensively engaged with the community. I think it can give them a better idea about your intentions in the sense that it's obvious that you've already done so much. It (probably) won't hasten the official conversion process, but what it will do is help you to find your footing quicker, I think.

I don't know your situation, of course, so please engage with this insofar as using this as inspiration. I would absolutely see about getting as many people involved as possible as a support system - one of the hardest things to learn (at least I think) is to not think of this as entitlement, but moreso as connection. We need each other. We can't (well, shouldn't) study Torah alone, we can't build community alone, and we can't live a full life alone. I think we (as those who've converted/are converting) get caught in our thoughts and worries, and I just want to emphasize that you have done nothing wrong by wanting to be jewish, and, indeed, while there is a process to converting, there are people who want (and maybe personally feel they need) to help - you'd truly be surprised! It's obvious that you absolutely want to be sensitive and respectful - I say use that energy as affirmation, rather than holding yourself back by it. What I mean by that is have confidence that you are doing your best - you might stumble, but with the way you're talking, I can tell where your heart is. I think people will also recognize that, and people are going to be more willing to help when they can tell that you've been trying so hard. That's been a lesson that I needed to learn, and it's one that I wanted to share with you.

Y'all have been asking some hard-hitting questions, and I want to thank you for entrusting me to type all of this out. I know how vulnerable it feels, and it fills me with warmth to know that the long-standing tradition of building jewish community is one we can participate in together. You are not an island - I want us to join together. I know this answer is not sufficient on its own, but I hope that maybe at the least, you might feel seen and cared for. I hope those who have more similar experiences could perhaps also speak to it. I wish you the best of luck, and please feel free to come back. There's no shame here, and I hope you can feel welcomed in this space

[yellingmetatron]

Numbers 2, 3, and 5

2. What are your unpopular opinion(s) of the fandom you’re rping in?

I am choosing to classify this as the 'Abrahamic mythology' fandom rather than Hellaverse because I honestly don't think I have unpopular opinions for that. As in, as far as I can tell a lot of people have the same complaints as me. Like. Even disliking Stolas as I do seems (despite what the more frothing haters would tell you) pretty common. This fandom seems to have pretty diverse opinions, whoda thunk.

So, to the point: I don't like the way people interpret the Old Testament (speaking in RP terms). It's kind of awkward to express this, but let me just say historical and cultural context makes a lot of issues more complex than at first glance. And oh my god, this has turned into a mini essay somehow, I can't help myself, more under the cut.

TL;DR, there is more diversity of myth that could make playing a Biblical character more fun, and I wish more people were aware of that. If you want the whole big rant, it follows thus:

Fr'instance: The Oral Torah states that before the Israelites made war on the tribes of Canaan, they gave diplomacy a shot and it didn't work. Now, obviously not everybody is going to cite that, but my main point is, throughout history the text has been commented on, and various traditions passed down on how to interpret it.

Let me give you another example of how intensive this can get: In the Written Torah, Pharaoh's Daughter (known as Bithiah or Batyah in rabbinic literature) is described as sending out a handmaiden to retrieve Moses from the Nile. In the Gemara, an argument immediately breaks out, because an uncommon word for servant is used that could also be translated as 'hand'. One sage argues it should be read literally as hand, and that Batyah's physical hand stretched outward by several cubits (traditionally the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger). If this sounds horrific, well, it is. But it also seems to violate the tradition that God does not do miracles in vain-- he only directly subverts the laws of nature to make a point. And it'd be easy to just have a handmaid go out to get Moses. So what gives?

Well, other commentary argued that yes, "hand" should be read literally, but should not be interpreted literally. What is meant to be understood here, say the sages, is that Batyah's hand united with God's hand to save Moses, and the hand of God is infinite. It emphasizes the total unity of action of Batyah with God, highlighting her righteousness and how she achieved something as "impossible", i.e. miraculous, as her hand physically extending-- saving a Hebrew child who would grow up to be their greatest leader as the daughter of a king who hated the Hebrews.

This is important in general for biblical narrative from a Christian standpoint, too, because Jesus uses metaphor and parables all the damn time. His discussion with Nicodemus looks weird to a lot of people-- Nico looks kinda dumb, asking if Jesus means being born again as a literal return to the womb-- except this is what actual rabbinic discourse could look like, and they were both rabbis. Nothing was taken for granted, and for all Nico knew Jesus coulda gone "Yes, I meant a literal return to the womb. Now, here is what I mean by womb, because that is the part that should be understood figuratively..." or some such.

Look, part of this rant is inspired by an age-old grievance I have with one of my favorite commentators on myth, Joseph Campbell, who really hated what he read of the Hebrew Bible. And I get that! Lots of people have been in that position! Except the majority of the people from the group who produced it didn't think just reading it was enough. You had to know a bunch of other traditions-- god save me, I will resist explaining how that whole 'an eye for an eye' thing was supposed to be read-- and this often carries into Christianity and Islam as well. Even Luther and Calvin didn't think absolutely everything written should be taken literally, despite what some fundies will tell you.

3. What rp trends are you so over and can’t wait for it to die?

Answered!

5. A ship everyone in the fandom you’re in loves, but you can’t stand?

I tend to find the idea that Jesus an Mary Magdalene were an item one of the oldest written instances of 'men and women can't just be friends'. And I am forcing myself not to turn that into a mini essay. One per post, Metamun, one per post.

[kosher-martian]

Help with Chavurah

My local Jewish community is older, very very Reform (like 1920s Reform; services with little or no Hebrew), and increasingly insular. Conversion students and younger congregants are getting turned off by the decisions of our leadership team. We youngsters feel like we are unwelcome and unwanted. Decisions which impact the entire congregation are being made - some in direct violation of our bylaws - with little or no consultation by the congregation.

Our wonderful rabbi, embattled since they started the job, is out. I hope they find a congregation that can appreciate their talents. Services just aren't the same. Our Rabbi brought a spiritual richness into our lives that the older congregants just aren't interested in. We've gone back to services entirely in English, homilies with empty platitudes, and a spiritual hollowness that is driving down already record-low attendance.

One of the conversion students put it best: "It feels like they know the congregation is in bad shape and instead of trusting the younger generations to fix it, they've decided to take it with them to the grave."

I've tried and failed to get anyone in leadership to listen. I've explained time and time again that their decisions are pushing young people away. They keep saying I'll understand their decisions "when I'm older". Time is not on anyone's side. I doubt there will even be a synagogue in my town in 10 years. Despite having a local population of close to 1000 Jews, we have no one attending under 20 years old, only four people under 35 years old (myself included), and maybe two or three folks younger than 60 years old. The remainder of the congregation (and everyone in positions of leadership) is rapidly approaching their 70s and 80s.

I've talked to our conversion students and several youngsters regardless of whether they attend or don't. The feedback has been pretty consistent: There's a desire for something more "traditional", more "authentic", and "more Jewish" than what the synagogue offers. No one's asking for Orthodox services, they just want more Hebrew. They want to discuss Torah and Judaism on a deeper level. They'd like to discuss Jewish history and philosophy. In short, they actually want to learn.

I feel a responsibility for the folks who want something more. They have spiritual needs that aren't being met. Me and a few other congregants are looking to start a study group or something to fill the spiritual void. It's clear that our synagogue is not ours any longer (if it ever was to begin with). I've never done anything like this before and I'm not sure where to start. There's a bit of learned helplessness among those of us looking for change, so for now I'm planning to do a lot of the heavy lifting myself. Has anyone gone through something similar? Are there resources available out there for situations like these? I'm looking for learning materials / educational resources. A repository of good parsha discussions around which I can build lesson plans? Some sort of Idiot's Guide to Building a Jewish Community from Scratch ?? Any recommendations for books, magazines, podcasts… anything you've got! I have some books, documentaries, and YouTube channels for Jewish history. I'm more concerned about my shortcomings in philosophy and Torah interpretation.

Anything recommendations, tips, tricks, and/or advice to help get our chavurah off the ground is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[transgenderer]

A yad (Hebrew: יד, literally "hand"; Yiddish: האַנט hant, "hand") is a Jewish ritual pointer, popularly known as a Torah pointer, used by the reader to follow the text during the Torah reading from the parchment Torah scrolls. It is often shaped like a long rod, capped by a small hand with its index finger pointing from it.

Beyond its practical usage in pointing out letters, the yad ensures that the parchment is not touched during the reading. There are several reasons for this: handling the parchment renders one ritually impure and the often-fragile parchment is easily damaged. Moreover, the vellum parchment does not absorb ink so touching the scroll with fingers will damage the lettering.[1

The Mountain Jews had a peculiar way with pointers: they were held in pairs forming a V-shape dividing the text into passages. They were made and donated in pairs, even joined with a chain when they had inscriptions related to the same event. Their shapes were of two types: a flat bar and a bar twisted into a long tight screw-like shape with a flat part. In both types, the pointing part is made in the shape of a flat broad leaf with a rounded tip.[2]

[tiptapricot]

(Late to yesterdays but) MKcember day 7: Chanukah Sameach and/or Gelt and Gus/Crawley.

———

Steven jogged across the street, stumbling slightly as he slid through a puddle. He cringed as he felt his socks get wet.

He really would’ve preferred to have taken the bus, but he and Marc had spent too long on last minute dinner shopping, and now they’d missed it. It wasn’t Steven’s fault the store didn’t have vegan sour cream in stock, but by the time they’d realized that, it was too late to go somewhere else and they were both too frustrated to try and get the ingredients to make it at home. It was already evening, not quite sundown but too close, and thus, they’d been forced to run.

Steven frowned to himself as he rounded a corner and dodged between a few pedestrians, trying not to drop the bulky paper bags clutched to his chest. If his and Marc’s first time intentionally celebrating Hanukkah together was messed up by some bloody groceries, he’d certainly be more than a little peeved.

“Steven, it’ll be fine,” Marc said quietly, an amused level of casualness pushing forward. “Stuff’s never perfect.”

“But I want it to be nice.”

“It will be, don’t worry.”

Steven huffed under his breath as he cut through an alley and into the large square he usually passed through on his way home. Even now, as cold as it was, it was packed with street performers and tourists. Steven slowed his pace, muttering apologies as he weaved past the thicker crowds at the edge and towards the center. Bollocks. He hadn’t meant to take this way. It was still close to home, but all the sounds were… overwhelming right now. Stupid autopilot feet.

“Breathe.”

Well. As long as they were here.

Steven circled around the fountain and paused by Crawley, shifting his bags awkwardly to try and reach into his pocket.

“Can’t chat too long tonight, I’m afraid,” he said. “In a bit of a rush. But can’t leave you hanging, can I? Don’t have the usual bite on me but I can still tip you a—”

He paused, his fingers poking into something soft and metallic.

“What…?”

Steven craned his neck down as he pulled a rather smushed coin of gelt from his pocket, clearly softened by the heat of their thigh.

“Oh-Marc,” Steven hissed, digging his hand in to find several more squashed coins. “What did you do?”

A wave of embarrassment spread flush through their chest.

“I must’ve—I dunno. Didn’t we use change for that veggie tray? Where else could we have put it…”

Steven sighed dejectedly, staring down at the melted chocolate and gold foil sitting in his palm. It wasn’t much to give, was it? Not here, at least, that wouldn’t really be appropriate. Actual gelt, actual coins may have been, but they’d blown that too.

Steven felt some comment about ‘And this is why I don’t eat chocolate’ burning on his tongue, but that felt… mean. No matter how frustrated he was, he knew Marc had been excitedly snacking on the gelt baggie he’d gotten himself over the last few days, and it felt wrong to make that a problem. It had just been an odd day. That wasn’t anyone’s fault. They’d been scattered, and overexcited, and still figuring things out, and even if a few pounds would be better right now, Steven had to admit that gelt brought its own sweet memories, too.

Sticky fingers, wrappers littering the tabletop. Dad used to give it as a reward for studying Torah, though it was sometimes a bit stale if he’d held onto leftovers months later. Not that that mattered much. It was the thought that counted, the message about it. His voice excitedly telling them about real money, the responsibility of charitable actions, and the promise of a sweet ending to hard work. Some of those memories were… blurrier now, a bit melted and soft all their own, but they were a kind piece of life to hold on to.

Steven shoved the gelt back in his pocket, unbothered by the laundry that was already ahead. It was liquid gold in their clutches, something not to be shared then, but which had been given in return many times over.

A sweet end to a long day, a sit down and a talk, a fish swimming through bubbles. Glints of yellow and kind eyes. Company and care, the importance of exchanging shared space and love.

Steven readjusted his bags, shifting awkwardly in place.

“Say would… would you like to get out of the cold and have a bite?” he asked. “I’ve gotten way too much for myself and absolutely will not finish all this, and it’s shaping up to be rather cold tonight, yeah? So like… my flat’s a few blocks away, if you’d like. First night of Hanukkah!” He made an excited hand gesture, though it was a bit stilted with his baggage. “Yayy!”

Old eyes flicked to his, amused and fond, and for the first time, the statue cracked, and creaked, and smiled.

———

Check out the prompt list here!

[sourb0i]

No one asked for this, but I'm gonna do it anyway: sourboi's tips for bringing more jewish tradition into your life without going whole hog (pun intended) from day one!

Keeping Kosher:

This was the hardest for me, because I'm a picky eater and sensitive to a lot of foods, so my menu is generally pretty limited. What really helped me was finding things that I really liked first, and then replacing non-kosher items with them. For example, pepperoni pizza was a staple food for me, and I really didn't want to give it up because I couldn't eat any other toppings. However, a friend made me an insanely good pizza with chicken on it, and once I had that it was (almost) easy to give up pepperoni!

Keeping the Sabbath:

Admittedly this one is a little tricky, and it really depends on how strict you want to get. For a while I had to work on Saturdays, but even now I don't just stay at home today- Saturday is, after all, a rugby day. But I say that counts because I'm doing it for recreation, and thats what helps me relax after a long week. Other more Jewish things I do: candles, every Friday night. It takes five minutes and really helps my brain shift into weekend-mode. I also have a Jewish Playlist that I listen to while I'm making dinner, and I have at least one song that I can sing along to. I also have a Torah discussion podcast that I try listen to (Parsha Podcast by Rabbi Yakov Wolbe).

Holidays:

Again, this one is hard for me to do, but more because I am quite literally the only Jew in town and the nearest synagogue is 3 hours away. For the High Holidays, or Yom Kippur at least, I'll probably get a motel room so I can go to service the whole time. Otherwise, my favorite thing to do is cook; there are fantastic dishes and baked goods for every holiday, and often I make enough that I can share with my friends.

So if you're converting/moved to an isolated area/reconnecting with heritage, I hope these tips help you. בהצלחה!

[quicksilverblue]

Hello!! Saw your reply under the Queer Christians unite :) Hope you don't mind me asking since I saw you studied the Bible; wondering if you have any tips on documentaries, books or anything else that can vouch for the queer community on behalf of the bible? Only been getting passive or against, would love to see it from a positive perspective. (Fingers crossed it's there!)

Hi!

A couple of the books I use in class are:

Queerying the Torah

The Queer Bible Commentary

and Bible Trouble: Queer Reading at the Boundary of Biblical Scholarship

Hope that helps!