#emoR

[ta-chazei]

The Blasphemer, as in Leviticus 24:13-23, by William Blake (1757-1827), circa 1800, ink and watercolor, at the Tate Collections

[geostatonary]

tonight in torah study we talk about priest divorce, the nature of blemishes, holidays, and the proper blessing for stealing a ram's horn

[girlactionfigure]

POWER OF SPEECH

The name of this week’s Torah portion is Emor, meaning “speak,” and starts with God commanding Moses to speak to the priests about their special responsibilities and restrictions. Why is the parsha named for the very act of speaking rather than the important Kohanic laws Moses speaks about? One reason is to emphasize the vital importance of speech in Jewish practice. What we say matters and has the power to cause considerable pleasure or pain to others. 

“Lashon Hara” (evil tongue) describes a wide variety of forbidden speech and is often used to mean “malicious gossip.” Our Sages teach that “Lashon hara kills three: the one who speaks, the one who listens, and the one who is being spoken about." Certainly the one who speaks does damage, as does the one who listens rather than walking away or changing the subject. But how does lashon hara hurt the one who is being gossiped about?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe teaches that speaking about a person’s negative traits actually reinforces them, even if the person never knows what was said. Perhaps seeing someone in a negative light will cause you to unconsciously treat them in a negative way, and often we live up to others’ expectations of us, whether deliberately or not. Let’s make sure to think before we speak, and assess honestly whether it is necessary and helpful for us to say anything. Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel said, “All my life I have been raised amongst the wise and I have found nothing better for the body than silence.” 

Accidental Talmudist

[kneipe]

belgrad 2022

[rickpoet]

A family poem for this week's Torah portion, Emor. Read along with the text at https://www.jewishpoetry.net/emor

[racunboy645]

[simply-smiley]

Empath

I am a magnet for Narcissists! They call me an empath!

[hineini]

again?

Dramatic as some people would regard my action if they had no context to put it in, I felt myself blinking away tears as I read an email sent by someone known to serve as leader if our rabbi’s beyond synagogue. His message told me I have an aliyah during worship this coming Saturday. Theoretically speaking, something to enjoy since it’s an honour to have one and it involves making music. Due to a draining coincidence, however, it’s safe saying I probably won’t sense much if any holy energy. Making blessings audible to sandwich some scripture saying people who are defective are unable to serve as leaders during worship. Disgusting to someone like me since-obviously beyond my sacred spot-many people regard me as defective due to that erratic medical condition of mine and/or any homophobic shit they want to believe in. My vocation as an EA can only emphasize that since God knows many students I helped were taken as being defective by their own teachers. Do I seriously want to bless scripture talking like that? No, I bloody don’t thank you. If any additional emphasis is necessary, my freaked level multiplied a thousand according to the fact that, hmm, I had an aliyah on shabbat emor a year ago too. 

As it is, my brain’s definitely dancing, attempting to deduce anything God wants to tell me through being summoned like that. Does that higher being feel sadistic and so want to give me something repulsive? Want to attempt to convince me anything and everything can prove holy in nature despite anything we as specific individuals think and/or believe in? Believe they are giving me that aliyah as a means of saying “F you” to the archaic scripture since I’m differently-abled (in addition to gay) and will be serving as a kind of leader as I sing through those blessings? Does it simply go to show how linked honour and heavy are (since their Hebrew stem is completely identical)? Sure doesn’t feel easy for a certain asexual dyke to set straight in her brain, thank you.    

[crossedwithblue]

El Higgins and Discworld comparisons

So I've seen a couple of comparisons between El and Tiffany, and to an extent I guess I agree - they're both young female YA-ish protags who are passionate about injustice. However, I'm not convinced that El really does weaponise her selfishness into a virtue the way Tiffany does - El (at least where I'm up to) is more about being crankily selfless despite her better judgement.

Which Discworld character does that remind me of a lot more than TIffany? Prickly? Aggressively practical? Expresses concern and affection via tough love? Tall, attractive in a scary way, with a death glare that could melt steel? Perhaps a tad arrogant about her own raw ability, or at least, not precisely humble? An unreliable narrator convinced that other people hang out with her only for whatuse she is to them, and continually surprised when someone wants her for who she is? Constantly battling not to take the easy path of becoming a monster, arguably despite a world determined to paint her that way? Has a himbo boyfriend she keeps trying to push away?

Am I describing El, or Granny Weatherwax?

(PLEASE no spoilers beyond the middle of book 2/Field Day, I am aware that the boyfriend situation has different outcomes in the two cases but it's still a parallel IMO.)

[junglesupport]

the pure joy from Noah's face, embracing a happy oscar and i was already bawling then i look to the side and it's a full blown river.

JUNZORK HUG WAHHHHHHH. 😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺 their full hug, juni face all mushed up in Ivan's shoulder oh oHhhhhh yk those wrapped dhis arms around his shoulder thingy yeah this is it guys 🥺🥺🥺 like that's a full comforting hug with Jun's hands around his waist arghhhhhh and from this pov I'd like to believe he's also giving him some soothing words huhewhhwhewhwhsjeh BYEEEEEE

[girlactionfigure]

Rabbi Benji

[blessphemy]

me seeing in an article that people who regularly spent >1 hour in their 20s in a squat had more osteoarthritis later (overextension of knee): *chuckles* i'm in danger

[mako-neexu]

other players: noooo they placed dantes into the father role!!! edguda is nerfed!! i cant forgive the narrative!!

me: YESSSSS I CAN FINALLY HAVE THE EXCUSE TO HAVE GUDA CALL HIM 'DADDY'

[eretzyisrael]

THIRD COMMANDMENT

This week's parsha Emor contains the disturbing episode of the blasphemer in the camp. A Jew (who has an Egyptian father) gets into a fight with another Jew and curses the name of God. Recall the Third Commandment: “Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Ex. 20:7, Deut. 5:11) Punishment is swift: God tells Moses to take the blasphemer out of the camp, “and let all who were within hearing lay their hands upon his head, and let the community leadership stone him.” (Lev. 24:14).

The Torah says that blasphemy is a death penalty offense, and then defines murder also as a death penalty offense. Next in the Torah are laws about injuries to animals and humans. Why is blasphemy in the same category of crime as physical abuse and murder? Uttering words in a moment of emotion that don’t hurt anybody seems like a lesser sin than taking someone's life.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein explains that a man who has no fear of God has nothing to keep his darkest inclinations in check. He is in a spiritually debased state and can rationalize any behavior. The crimes of murder, assault and property damage are linked to the sin of blasphemy because without a strong belief in God, people and societies are at higher risk of becoming wicked and violent. 

Note: like other death penalty offenses that don’t involve assault or murder, it's highly doubtful that capital punishment for blasphemy was ever imposed by a Jewish court. It’s in the Torah to emphasize that disrespecting God is a serious transgression.

[4thestars-sun-n-moon]

almost done editing chapter three...

theres actually a decent amount of changes in this one. i should probably alert people to reread when i finish my editing streak lol.

[sidsthekid]

Sorry this isn't what you asked for but BURKY AND NATE??? WGERE?.???? I want some fuckin rad burky and nate do you have fic recs cause if yuo do.ill do anything

oh yes yes yes here you go!!

to the brim and lovely bitter water by addandsubtract