#jewish holiday gift idea

[miharuwrites]

Hanukkah candles at bath & body works for all the Jewish peeps this holiday season 😎

https://www.bathandbodyworks.com/p/happy-hanukkah-3-wick-candle-026767653.html?cgid=3-wick-candles#start=38

[peacefuldwellings]

MyBakeryClub

[hebrewbyinbal]

Just notified by Amazon that Hebrew 1 is the most gifted item in the #jewish #holidays category! 💙

Thank you to all who have ordered and are sharing the gift of learning #hebrew which is my passion to teach and a blessing.

Hebrewbyinbal.com/order

[germiyahu]

Actually don't listen to me. I'm an impulse buyer with credit cards. You want a nice looking pitcher and basin to perform the hand washing mitzvot? That's an excellent opportunity to go thrifting! You might even find Judaica there, like a Chanukkiyya perhaps?

You don't want to wait 8 years for Shabbat candles to arrive from Israel? Ask your rabbi! When I asked her if you can reuse a Havdalah candle, she sensed I was worried about the cost of buying all these candles and said her shul has tons of extras.

You absolutely do need a Chumash, a Tanakh, and probably a study Bible too... but Sefaria has all that and more! Especially the Talmud and other Rabbinic sources! It literally blows my mind that this site exists and is free.

But what about all the books on Jewish history and philosophy? What about textbooks for Modern and Biblical Hebrew? See if there are scanned versions online, or go to your local library. Invest in notecards, you're going to want to write down prayers and such, this will especially help if you don't own the books you're studying from.

It's a good idea to have a Siddur, but your shul will most definitely have their own, and as others have told me, you can ask your Rabbi if you can borrow one to take home (make sure to treat it with reverence).

If you want to start baking Challah and are living on your own, or maybe in a dorm room, see if there are community cooking spaces so you don't have to buy your own materials, or just ask your parents if they can gift you some kitchenware because "You want to get into baking."

You literally don't need anything other than a cup that you think is pretty and has meaning to you for the Kiddush. And don't splurge, I've seen hundreds of very attractive Kiddush sets and candle holders and all that for modest prices.

And take it slowly! Don't buy everything at once. We're nowhere near close to Chanukka right now, so don't even put that in your mind. If you want to acquire holiday items, focus on Pesach and worry about other festivals in their due time, let your wallet recover a little. This also goes for Shabbat! You don't need a pristine set of everything all at once, I'm just an idiot. You can slowly build up your perfect beautiful intricate table as the months go by.

[hanukkahbingo]

Panfandom Hanukkah Bingo

WHAT: A fanworks bingo celebrating Jewish (and Jew-ish) characters across any and all fandoms. Write fanfiction and/or create graphics (moodboards, edits, vids, whatever you like) to fill prompts on this overall bingo card. During the 8 nights of Hanukkah, submit your fills to the AO3 collection and/or post them on Tumblr to be reblogged and added to the Bingo Masterpost.

WHO: Any and all characters who are Jewish or Jew-ish. Canonically Jewish characters (like the Baudelaire orphans), characters who are* Jewish but it’s not explicitly stated (like Bucky Barnes), characters who you like to headcanon as Jews (like Tina Belcher), characters who are Space Jew-ish or otherwise Scifi Jew-ish (like Leia Organa)… all are welcome. Interfaith, multicultural, patrilineal, and convert stories are all welcome! MESSIANIC HEADCANONS AND/OR MESSIANIC STORIES ARE NOT WELCOME.

WHEN: Start creating whenever you want, but the AO3 collection will be open from December 7-15 to accept works for this year’s bingo. Masterposts on Tumblr will be posted each night (like… Hanukkah gifts for fandom, get it?)

WHERE: Tumblr (tag @hanukkahbingo and #hanukkahbingo) | AO3 | Discord – All works must be posted on either Tumblr or AO3 to be included in the Masterposts. Discord is for discussion, betas, cheerleading, etc!

WHY: Jewish characters and Jewish fans are often overlooked or erased during the Winter Holiday Season in favor of “Secret Santa” exchanges, Christmas-themed fics, and the idea that ~Hanukkah is Jewish Christmas~ (which spoiler for all fics in this bingo: it’s not). This panfandom Bingo challenge is to celebrate Hanukkah on its own terms and give Jewish characters and fans a place to breathe. :)

And I’m tagging @fandomevents @stuckybingo @buckybarnesbingo @tikkunolamorgtfo @progressivejudaism @damereyconnection @starspangledbigbang @starwarsblr @gffa @elizabethminkel @bettsfic @hellotailor @copperbadge @vaspider @reachmouse – if you see this and you love a Jewish or Jew-ish character (or a Jewish fan!) please reblog so that we can get a good selection of fandoms and fanworks… Jewish fans deserve love this time of year especially, and this seems like the least I could do to help spread some of that love.

[edenfenixblogs]

Look what Google just recommended to me!!!!

I already own (and love) Shabbat and Portico.

But I am OBSESSED with the rest and must acquire them immediately.

Top of my list is Love Japan because LOOK AT THIS BEAUITFUL BOWL OF MATZO BALL RAMEN!!!!!

We hear a lot about Jewish people in Europe and MENA, but we do not hear a lot about Jewish culture as it blends with East Asian cultures, and that’s a shame. Not just because it erases the centuries of Jewish populations there, but also because there are plenty of people of mixed decent. People who may not have come directly from Jewish communities in East Asia, but people who have a Japanese Father and a Jewish Mother, for example. Or people in intercultural marriages. These are all real and valuable members of the Jewish community, and we should be celebrating them more. This cookbook focuses on Jewish Japanese American cuisine and I am delighted to learn more as soon as possible. The people who wrote this book run the restaurant Shalom Japan, which is the most adorable name I’ve ever heard. Everything about this book excites and delights me.

And of course, after that, I’m most interested in “Kugels and Collards” (as if you had any doubts about that after the #kugel discourse, if you were following me then).

This is actually written in conjunction with an organization of the same name devoted to preserving the food and culture of Jews in South Carolina!

I’m especially excited to read this one, because I have recently acquired the book Kosher Soul by the fantastic, inimitable Michael J. Twitty, which famously explores faith and food in African American Jewish culture. I’m excited to see how Jewish soul food and traditions in South Carolina specifically compare and contrast with Twitty’s writings.

I’m also excited for all the other books on this list!

A while ago, someone inboxed me privately to ask what I recommended for people to read in order to learn more about Jewish culture. I wrote out a long list of historical resources attempting to cover all the intricate details and historic pressure points that molded Jewish culture into what it is today. After a while I wrote back a second message that was much shorter. I said:

Actually, no. Scratch everything I just said. Read that other stuff if you want to know Jewish history.

But if you want to know Jewish culture? Cookbooks.

Read every Jewish cookbook you can find.

Even if you don’t cook, Jewish cookbooks contain our culture in a tangible form. They often explain not only the physical processes by which we make our meals, but also the culture and conditions that give rise to them. The food is often linked to specific times and places and events in diaspora. Or they explain the biblical root or the meaning behind the holidays associated with a given food.

I cannot speak for all Jews. No one can. But in my personal observation and experience—outside of actual religious tradition—food has often been the primary means of passing Jewish culture and history from generation to generation.

It is a way to commune with our ancestors. I made a recipe for chicken soup or stuffed cabbage and I know that my great grandmother and her own mother in their little Hungarian shtetl. I’ll never know the relatives of theirs who died in the Holocaust and I’ll never meet the cousins I should have had if they were allowed to live. But I can make the same food and know that their mother also made it for them. I have dishes I make that connect me to my lost ancestors in France and Mongolia and Russia and Latvia and Lithuania and, yes, Israel—where my relatives have lived continuously since the Roman occupation even after the expulsions. (They were Levites and Cohens and caretakers of synagogues and tradition and we have a pretty detailed family tree of their presence going back quite a long time. No idea how they managed to stay/hide for so long. That info is lost to history.)

I think there’s a strong tendency—aided by modern recipe bloggers—to view anything besides the actual recipe and procedures as fluff. There is an urge for many people to press “jump to recipe” and just start cooking. And I get that. We are all busy and when we want to make dinner we just want to make dinner.

But if your goal isn’t just to make dinner. If your goal is to actually develop an understanding of and empathy for Jewish people and our culture, then that’s my advice:

Read cookbooks.

[atom-writings]

hetalia axis & allies (+ canada) xmas headcanons

1.6k words ~ gender neutral headcanons

tw: uhhh christmas obviously. mention of religion and underwear?? uh... i think that's it

a/n: this is my first christmas as a jewish convert so that's been weird. anyway I just wanted something quick, so its mostly a list of gift ideas (:

America

Alfred is SUCH a huge Christmas fan. I mean, canonically he dresses up as Santa, so he goes all out for the entire month of December. He's been working on a huge holiday home display for decades, and it shows.

He plays Santa at his local mall during the weeks leading up to Christmas; and on the night of, he hands out hot cocoa outside his house. It's fun, but it also means he's a little distracted when it comes to you.

What he would get you: Posters of your favourite movies, super comfy pyjamas, expensive figures of characters you like, candy you like but never get for yourself, model planes or Legos for you two to build together, novelty pens, a stupid cowboy costume so you can match <3, those handmade coupons because he 1. Loves you and 2. Forgot about Christmas until yesterday

What he would want: Any video games, Funko Pops, vinyls of music he likes, those big packs of shirts (he is constantly running out of shirts because he rips or irreparably stains them,) Marvel comics, anything with an eagle on it, those mini wacky waving inflatable tube men things, bulk pens and pencils because he also breaks those constantly-

England

Arthur is not big into Christmas and never has been. He'll celebrate with you, but he's not going out when it comes to any aspect. If anything, he finds it a little exhausting getting gifts for everyone

But, he does adore walking around and looking at all the lights. He'll do that a couple times with you in December.

What he would get you: Any novel you’ve mentioned even once, tickets to a concert both of you will enjoy, classy jackets that fit you perfectly, cute keychains, fancy art supplies, fragrances that remind him of you, bags/purses that fit your style, CDs

What he would want: Sewing supplies (thread, new needles, new fabric scissors,) framed photos of the two of you, Doctor Who merch, foreign tea, a book on how to take care of your eyebrows properly (he will not learn otherwise,) slippers, those sarcastic magnets that all millennial women have at least one of, any ridiculous piece of merch with the union jack on it

France

Francis has very mixed feelings about Christmas. On one hand, he hates how consumerist it has become, but on the other hand, nothing makes him happier than seeing the joy the season brings to others.

Plus, he does enjoy giving and receiving presents. The music too? Wonderful. As long as you don't get too stressed out, the holiday should be perfect.

What he would get you: Tons of clothes; stuff that's already your style, and completely new stuff, room decorations (NOT posters,) a reservation at a nice restaurant, bracelets that he made for you, makeup (if you like that kind of thing,) candles that smell like his cologne, CHEESE

What he would want: Fancy fabric, any clothes (he doesn’t care what they are as long as you think they’d look good on him…) paintings or photography, literally ANYTHING creative you’ve made, hair ties (he loses at least 5 a day,) bird stuffed animals, (Basically anything! Francis is not picky)

China

Christmas is a new occurrence for Yao, and he isn't the biggest fan. He'll buy you stuff for it, but he would do that normally. The lights and the music aren't anything special to him either. Basically, he won't celebrate unless you want to.

What he would get you: Elaborate, very expensive jewellery, huge stuff like a car, Chinese cookbooks, traditional clothes that he made specifically to represent you (: luxury handbags (that he got at SUCH a good discount,) tons of weird off-brand merch of your favourite show, probably a nice meal too!

What he would want: Yao is hard to buy for. Soft robes, stuff to help with back pain, face masks, Hello Kitty keychains… reading glasses maybe?

Russia

Although he isn't as excited about Christmas as he is about the New Year, he still loves the holiday. It's a nice excuse to see family, and everyone is just so happy around the season! He's especially excited to celebrate it with you.

He's not the best at giving gifts, but he could be worse. Regardless of whether you like all of it, you're gonna get a lot of stuff.

(Also, he plays Santa for the kids sometimes. It's so cute-)

What he would get you: Random knick-knacks he probably found at a local market, knitted hats and gloves in your favourite colour, a scarf to match his, tickets to go somewhere warm on vacation, stuffed animals! books that made him think of you (usually philosophical or religious novels,) pretty rocks (:

What he would want: SUNFLOWERS! (This works for every occasion,) baked goods, clothes that aren’t 250 years old- new doilies and paintings to decorate his house, pictures of yourself, friendship bracelets, stuffed animals, if you can make a scarf somehow, DO THAT

North Italy

Feliciano cares about Christmas in a more religious way, but he's never mad about getting presents. So, he'll probably spend most of the day in church, but he still did put a lot of effort into getting you stuff you love.

What he would get you: Pajamas & bath robes, shitty romance novels that he wants you to read, weird hand-made knick-knacks, makeup, strange mugs that he found at a thrift store, a painting of you (: probably a pair of his boxers-

What he would want: New paint brushes, novelty pasta shapes, fancy jackets, any art that you’ve made (regardless of quality,) cat stuffed animals, The Ability To Get A Grip, skincare products, shiny garbage (For art purposes, duh,) those handmade coupon things

Germany

Ludwig does not enjoy Christmas particularly. He's terrible at giving gifts but he wants to so desperately that he spends all of winter stressing out about it. Yes, he's excited to see your reaction to his gifts, but at what cost?!

Although he does still like all the decorations at least. Maybe he just likes re-decorating though.

What he would get you: Puzzles you can complete together, soft sweaters, practical stuff you need (like book bags, lens cloths, that kind of thing,) stationery, reservations for private tours at museums you would find interesting, a subscription to whatever silly service you want (:

What he would want: Books about city planning, nerdy card games, a fun lanyard, a new coffee machine, those aroma-therapy diffuser things, household tools like vacuums and stuff (Get him an air fryer. He’s going to be fascinated.) stress balls, pens (He is boring.)

Japan

Kiku really has no particular feelings towards Christmas. If you weren't there, the most he would do was put up a mini tree. He's stressed out by both giving and receiving presents and is only willing to do that kind of thing if you want to.

What he would get you: Electronics, merch of your favourite Sanrio character, books that he thinks you’ll like, stickers, a bento box, comfy sweatpants, cute hairpins, plushies from your favourite media, a bunch of pillows, some obscure Japanese snacks too!

What he would want: Miku figures, posters, video games, manga, general nerdy stuff, history novels (he likes to correct them,) blackout curtains, cute face masks, a Polaroid camera, a guide on socialization (Seriously.) a knit scarf, if you can knit (:

South Italy

Romano desperately wants to care about Jesus more than getting gifts. He's a devout catholic, g*ddamnit! But... he does just really love eating baked goods and getting gifts more than anything. Getting together with family, the music, the lights, he just ADORES the holiday.

What he would get you: Blankets and pillows, your favourite snacks, clothes that are a little more revealing- cruise tickets (if going on wouldn’t be hell for you,) a journal where he wrote down all of the things he loves about you (completely honestly,) religious items, fancy perfumes

What he would want: Paintings from local artists, post-its (so he can finally remember SOMETHING,) anything with the Italian flag on it, stupid bumper stickers, pictures of the other nations that you’ve written insults on, fancy patterned scarves and fabric

Prussia

Like Alfred, Gilbert loves Christmas in a very childish way. He embraces that side of himself during the holidays and he'd love it if you joined him in that. He constantly insists on going out to see the lights, and he just can't get enough of Christmas movies. Even the bad ones (He's a Hallmark girlie.)

What he would get you: A vintage music box, hair dye, DVDs of your favourite movies (just to have,) stationery, random snacks he picked up from a gas station an hour ago, weirdly sentimental jewellery? Vintage journals, pictures of himself

What he would want: Coupons (???) goofy temporary tattoos, metal CDs, tea (he’s weirdly embarrassed about liking tea and doesn’t buy it for himself?) vintage maps that he can frame and hang up, probably like, WD40? DC comics, novelty trophies, Pokemon cards, video games

Canada

More than anything, Matthew loves winter. So, therefore, he loves Christmas! Seeing you smile when you open your gifts, he looks forward to it all season. It seems like the only time of year when everyone else is either as miserable or as happy as he is, so it's his favourite holiday.

Cuddling up in front of the fireplace with hot cocoa, watching some old Christmas movie, its all he wants.

What he would get you: Comfy hoodies, comfy slippers too, hot cocoa packs, big stuff like a new PC or fridge or smth- decorations for your room, face masks, fidget toys, novelty Canadian keychains, figures of your favourite characters, festive sweets (like candy-canes and stuff.)

What he would want: Anything with a maple leaf (yes, he wants MORE of that,) boring stuff like socks, wood-working tools or like a new snow shovel, fairy lights, DVDs (because he still uses them? Why.) a new phone case, gift cards (HES BORING,) pre-packaged crafts, lotion and cologne that smells like pine

merry christmas if you celebrate! this'll probably be the last full thing I post until 2024, so thanks to all you readers for sticking around this year (: you have no idea how much it means to me. i love yall. and to all a good night or whatever santa said

[esmedelacroix]

16 days til' Christmas

figuring out why boyfriend!hobie brown doesn't celebrate christmas ⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆

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Christmas Eve at Spider Society was always described to be the most depressing thing ever which was not true since Miguel had the whole place decorated and festive to lighten the fact that so many of you are still there making sure that anomalies weren’t destroying the Christmas cheer in other universes.

You didn’t mind fighting anomalies during the holidays. You liked the work you did and you loved the Spiderman-themed con I’m on eggnog art that was being served in the cafeteria.

Everything was perfect for the holidays and you all were having a little get-together on the roof to celebrate. Who would’ve known that Miguel and Peter B were so crazy about Christmas? You didn’t mind because you were right on that boat with them.

You had a mission earlier that day and when you went to med bay, the nurses were dressed up like Santa’s helpers and they had holiday-themed band-aids. You had no idea why anyone told you that Christmas at Spider Society was so terrible if there was so much effort put in to make it fun.

You never questioned any rumor you heard from Spider Knight ever again when you made the mistake of walking up to Hobie’s table with a plate of holiday sugar cookies for the two of you to share with an ugly sweater on.

“Hey Hobie, thought I’d make us some cookies to share,” you said as you slid the plate of reindeer and Santa-themed treats towards him.

Jessica Drew walked by looking at the cookies you had offered Hobie and said nothing more than, “Good luck,” as she patted your back and chuckled to herself.

“No thanks,” Hobie said, sliding the cookies back to you.

“What don’t tell me you don’t believe in Christmas,” you quipped, giving him a playful nudge thinking you made the funniest joke on the planet.

“I don’t,” he replied sternly with the blankest expression.

Your heart dropped and your mouth hung open. There’s no way, he has to be joking. You thought to yourself as you shook your head slowly in disbelief.

“Hobie, that’s not funny cmon. Do you not like sweets? I mean I make the best cookies on the planet. Mayday helped me make em’” you insisted.

“I was being for real mate, I don’t celebrate Christmas,” he sighed, kicking back in his seat, chuckling at your level of surprise and denial.

Holy shit, he was being for real. What am I going to do with that custom electric guitar I got him as a gift?! You thought to yourself.

“I’m sorry, is it some kind of religious difference that I’m just being insensitive about?” you asked thinking that maybe he was Jewish or something(yep you’re going crazy).

“You know how I feel about religious love,” he replied, flicking your forehead. Of course, how could you forget such an important detail?

“Then why? Why don’t you celebrate it? Did you give someone your heart then the very next day they gave it away?” you jested poking fun at him.

“No Christmas is a scam. First of all, there is no proof that Jesus was even born on the 25 of December, it originated from a pagan holiday, it’s a celebration of the Norwegian God Odin, and the government has completely brainwashed America into buying gifts for their loved ones so that they can profit off of the millions of dollars made during the holidays. I refuse to be just a part of a number that keeps the government rich and helps them waste more of their money on our so overfunded military,” Hobie explained.

Hobie was always outspoken and his opinions as much as you hated to admit it, made sense. They made so much sense but Christmas was where he was wrong.

You tried your hardest to just respect his opinions and hold it all in but you couldn’t. “Hobie, you’ve got it all wrong. None of the information that you listed is news to me at all. But I still celebrate Christmas. Want to know why? Because Christmas is what you make of it,” you stated sternly.

“That’s the stupidest thing I have ever heard in my entire life. No offense babe,” he replied.

“It’s not stupid because even if it has been proven that Jesus wasn’t born on that day that doesn’t mean that it’s not bad to have a holiday where you remember and celebrate him if someone were to celebrate Christmas for religious reasons,” you argued.

He hummed and nodded in stumble agreement. “You can have all this talk about pagans and Odin but no one outside of those cultures ever thinks about those two points on Christmas Day,” you said.

“It doesn’t mean that's not still the origin,” he rebutted.

“Even if they are the origin no one ever really thinks about that. I know I don’t. We may be giving the government money but we already do that by simply being alive in this country,” you said.

“If Christmas isn’t about any of the things that it’s actually about then what is Christmas about for you? What do you make Christmas out to be?” he asked.

“Christmas to me? Christmas is a holiday that teaches its participants about the importance of gift giving and the feeling you get when you give a gift that someone loves as opposed to receiving one,” you started.

Hobie continued listening, nodding his head indicating that he was listening to your interpretation of the holiday. He subconsciously picked a cookie up and started eating it entertained by your passion for Christmas.

“Christmas is a time to gather with the people you love most and bake, dance, drink, laugh, and love. Christmas taught me that any gift with thought behind it is a good one. I cherish an expensive perfume the same way I cherish a handmade card. The value of a gift is dependent on the love put behind it,” you continued.

“To celebrate Christmas is to see your loved ones stare at something constantly when shopping and surprising them with it as a gift because nothing feels any better than seeing that smile on their face knowing that you made someone you love so happy that they hug you or give you kiss,” you finished almost tearing up at the happy memories.

“Okay, okay, I can work with that,” Hobie started.

“Really?!” you asked as glitter and heavens sparkled in your eyes with happiness.

“Yes but the government is still tricking us all,” he joked as he wrapped an arm around your shoulder and pulled you into his side.

“Oh, whatever,” you replied, rolling your eyes as you snuggled in with him.

“I already knew that you were a holiday fanatic so I got you some gifts despite my former reluctance to celebrate Christmas,” he admitted.

“Thank you Hobie, seriously,” you said.

“Now can we go to that Christmas Eve party on the roof or what?” you asked as you took his hand and dragged him to the elevator.

“Ugh, I’ve made it a mission to never be caught at one of these functions,” Hobie nearly whined.

As the two of you exited the elevator together hand in hand it seemed like the whole party stopped and everyone turned to look at the two of you in disbelief.

“Uh Hobie, this is the Christmas party,” Peter B said double-checking to see if he knew where he was.

“It’s all good, he’s not the Grinch anymore! At least not as much as before,” you reassured as you took the drink that Peter B offered you.

“Alright then,” Peter started looking at him skeptically as Hobie nodded at him confirming your words.

“Welcome to the party my friend!” Peter B exclaimed, handing him a drink. Miguel gave the two of you a nod and you spent the rest of the night singing along and dancing to the Christmas songs that Hobie sadly didn’t have the pleasure of knowing the words to.

"How was that for your first Christmas Eve celebration?" you asked as the two of you left the roof.

"It was actually kind of fun. Odin didn't pay a visit either," he quipped.

"Alright enough of that," you said, giving his arm a playful slap.

"Okay, I had a lot of fun. Thank you for dragging me up and telling me about the magic of Christmas," Hpbie finally said.

"You're welcome. I hope you love Christmas even more when you open your gifts tomorrow," you said.

"Gifts" plural? I thought you were the only one that got me a gift," he said confused.

"Me and Miguel get you a gift every year but you're never there to open it. Don't tell the boss man I told you that all he'll do is deny and deny and I will never see the light of day," Peter B said as he attempted to rock Mayday to sleep after all the sweets she had at the party.

For the first time after hearing that news Hobie felt that feeling. That fuzzy little Christmas feeling where it feels like there are fireworks in your heart and you realize that someone saw something, thought of him, and bought it for him as a gift for the sole purpose of seeing his eyes light up on Christmas morning. Hobie was starting to love this feeling. It was a Christmas miracle.

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taglist:

@aripet22

[ducktoonsfanart]

Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck's (plus Phooey) Birthday Party as well as April, May, and June Duck's Birthday Party and Easter Party - Egg Beating - Donald's Birthday Party - Quack Pack AU - Duckverse - My Version

Even though I know it's past, I wish everyone a happy Easter once again, according to the Julian calendar, as well as the one that has passed, as well as a happy belated birthday to Huey, Dewey and Louie and a happy birthday to April, May and June. And together with their friends and relatives. And they are present at Donald's jubilee 90th birthday. I drew as the end of the celebration of the Easter holidays as well as the birthday of the best triplets for this year.

On April 15, 1938, the famous trio appeared in the classic Donald Duck short, called “Donald’s Nephews”, which will change the history of the Duckverse in part. Also April, May and June as Daisy's nieces first appeared in the June 30, 1953 "Flip Decision" comic strip by Carl Barks and have been part of the Duckverse ever since. Certainly to all who are Orthodox (especially those who celebrate according to the Julian calendar and who celebrate after the Jewish Passover) who live in Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Armenia, Greece, Serbia, Cyprus, Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Ukraine, Montenegro, North Macedonia and to all Orthodox people living around the world, I wish you a happy Easter! Christ is risen! Христос васкресе!

If someone asks me, yes, it is celebrated differently among the Orthodox and differently among the Catholics and Protestants, so it turned out to be a completely different Easter this year. Don’t worry, there will be a joint Easter next year. So Orthodox Easter fell on this day. The day he was crucified and died, resurrected and defeated death and the devil and proved that there is eternal life for all of us who believe. Glory to Jesus Christ who died for all of us sinners and rose again for all of us to save us!

This time Louie Duck and Zeca Carioca found themselves together and applied one traditional Serbian custom for Easter, and that is beating eggs, hitting egg on egg. The one who hits well and leaves that egg undamaged, is the winner. So I put them on this time too. And don’t worry, they don’t eat eggs, they are mostly artificial eggs. ;)

Yes, I drew as a combination from Quack Pack, Donald Duck comics (Italian, Danish and Dutch comics), The Legend of The Three Caballeros, OG Ducktales and Ducktales reboot, Darkwing Duck and certainly from Ze Carioca comics (Brazilian comics), where mostly teenagers, but there are also preteens. Mostly all part of my Quack Pack AU. Some are happy and some are unhappy. There are also Easter eggs and birthday cake as well as strawberries. There in this drawing are Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck (Donald's nephews), April, May and June Duck (Daisy's nieces), Phooey Duck (fourth nephew), Zico and Zeca Carioca (Jose's nephews), Gosalyn Mallard, Honker Muddlefoot (Darkwing Duck), Webby Vanderquack, Gene the Genie (OG Ducktales), Minima De Spell (Magica's niece), Sonny Seagull (Garvey Gull), Newton Gearloose (Gyro's nephew), Dugan Duck (Fethry's nephew) and finally Shamrock Gander (Gladstone's nephew).

I hope you like this drawing and this idea and feel free to like and reblog this, just don't use these same ideas of mine without mentioning me. Thank you! Also Happy Easter to everyone once again and Happy Birthday to Donald's nephews and Daisy's nieces!

This is also a gift for my friends @isabellanajera, @you-big-palooka, @elmer-dat-gander , @fantasticenthusiasttale and @barbiedisneyavenger as well as for a friend who recently celebrated her birthday, happy birthday dear @nuvemzinhacorderosa! I hope you like this!

[love-kurdt]

Swooping, Sloping, Cursive Letters: 16

word count: 466

PLEASE READ THIS IS ME TRYING FIRST, AS THIS STORY RELIES HEAVILY UPON THE CONTEXT OF TIMT

December 24, 1988

Dear Will,

For as long as I can remember after becoming friends with you, I’ve spent Hanukkah with your family, and you’ve spent Christmas with mine. I’m not sure when exactly this tradition started, but I think it stemmed from me being a whiny little shit as a kid. It was probably along the lines of something about feeling left out. I’m not even Jewish, and you’re not Christian (neither am I at this point, if I’m being completely honest with you), but we make it work.

Hanukkah at your place was great this year. Your mom’s cooking was fucking legendary, which is kind of funny, because on any other day, she wouldn’t be caught dead in a kitchen. But Hanukkah is different. And I’m glad that she raised you and Jonathan to embrace your Jewish identity. I think it’s pretty admirable.

Speaking of admirable; I have absolutely no idea how you got through tonight in one piece. I’m barely holding it together. You know how I talked in one of these letters about that grace you have during horrible situations that helps you persevere? You certainly had it tonight. I fucking wish I had that.

Every time my dad said something related to his objection to having you over, or how art was a terrible career path to take, or how we weren’t to do any funny business later (which we weren't going to do anyway, because we aren't dating), I wanted to fucking lunge across the table and strangle him. Every time I found myself teetering on the edge of murder trying to stand up for you, though, you’d put your hand on my leg under the table and run your thumb against my knee, almost as if to say, I can take it, Mike, don’t worry. But I do worry. You deserve so much more than what you can simply “take.” And I hate that my dad has the sheer audacity to insult you like that, even on a fucking holiday. He has no chill.

…Well, neither do I right now, so the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I guess.

Anyway, I’m just writing this to thank you for helping me keep my cool. If it weren’t for you, I probably would have ruined the night with some indignant squawking about how you’ve been through enough and how my dad’s remarks were nothing short of dense. But I’m glad I didn’t blow up, or else you probably wouldn’t be too keen on staying over into tomorrow morning like you usually do. I really hope you like the gift I got for you. Spoiler alert: it’s a new set of pastels. And no, you can’t not accept them, because I threw out the receipt.

Merry Christmas, Will.

Love,

Mike

-

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[jeanmoreausautismstickers]

my marauders headcannons <3

Remus Lupin

heterochromia. I don't care what the films say this man has two different coloured eyes tyvm. the left ones dark brown, nearly black, and the right is a light shade of amber.

DYSLEXIA !! my dyslexic little mate we can match. he absolutely adores reading but it takes him longer if he doesn't use a spell (ty to MsKingBean89 for the spell idea mon ami(e))

hEDS. me too king

cat lover. he absolutely adores cats and sirius gets SO jealous. I think he absolutely owned a cat at some point b4 he started teaching and he dotted on that cat

wears elastics on his wrists (specifically during hogwarts for sirius and lily, but kept wearing them after out of habit </3)

Sirius Black

hard of hearing. I think he probably lost it cos his mum hit his ears or screamed so often at him in close quarters. he'd definitely be vv resentful over it too cos now he's not able to listen to music much

audhd fr. this man was definitely neurodivergent but he must be just like me and be autistic and have adhd cos yh

he whined. loads. not like whinging but like genuinely high pitched whines when he was frightened or upset, kind of like Enid from Wednesday

adored kids but was terrified to have them because of how his mum was

this is gonna be controversial but idc. this man absolutely fancied Remus when he was shagging women, but at one point dated Marlene and Remus at the same time. it's ok tho cos Marlene was kissing Mary on the side

James Potter

vegetarian. refused to eat meat after he became an animagus because it felt cruel, but ESPECIALLY wouldn't eat deer jerky ("it's practically cannibalism, padfoot!")

mama's boy through and through !! this man LOVED his mummy. told her all about his friends and Lily

taught Sirius how to treat people and house elves better when they were first years. you can't tell me this man wasn't the reason sirius wanted to improve himself

he fought w sirius a lot. im sorry I love them both but brothers fight and like. even found family brothers. sirius is the most petty bitch you cannot tell me that James didn't get annoyed or frustrated with some of Sirius' habits and didn't begin arguments over them

so bad w kids until Harry. he was absolutely terrified of them, cos he never had interacted with them much before he had his own, my man Sucked at babysitting and frequently panicked whilst lily was pregnant because he was scared he'd be a bad parent

Peter Pettigrew

#1 James fan. my guy didn't go anywhere if James wasn't going to be there

become You Know because of his jealousy of James and Sirius' friendship

aroace fr. absolutely Disgusted w the amount of PDA by jily and wolfstar

tried to protect Harry for as long as he could w out being suspicious. he still loved James and Lily, and their son, and was just too scared to fight back at You Know Who once James and Lily were dead

a whole virgin, never even tried getting with anyone before he realised he was aroace

Lily Potter (Evans)

actually thought the Marauders were pretty funny but put on a face because of being friends with Snape

a whole pansexual queen

bought everyone in Gryffindor Christmas gifts, or if they were Jewish/Muslim/any other religion that doesn't celebrate Christmas she'd figure out when their holiday was and got them gifts

first person Remus came out to. and she accepted him immediately because she knows what it feels like to be an outcast

so autistic. her special interest was absolutely Jane Austen books I take no criticism <3

Regulus Black

hated his mum just as much as Sirius, but actively tried to conform because he was too scared to be hurt by her

was angry with Sirius for running away, even if he understood why Sirius did it, it still hurt him immensely. that was his older brother, the only one he could talk to, and when he left, it broke off the little bit of familial love he had left

in love w Barty Crouch Jr. I DO NOT CARE. platonic my aSS they were boyfriends, but they hid it very well. absolutely such a healthy couple before the war though. got together when they were 13 or 14 by accident, and stayed together until Reg died

actually really enjoyed being called Reg and Reggie, but pretended to hate it so he wouldn't be perceived as weak or soft by his mum

chess fucking champion

Marlene McKinnon

the flirtiest person you'll ever meet. flirted with everyone but was actually an aromantic lesbian

loved her family unconditionally, and constantly was going home on weekends to help her mum before she died of breast cancer

hated school, she was dyslexic and never told anyone so everyone just thought she was a dumb blonde

half Japanese, but her biological father left when she was a baby, so she wasn't really in tune with that part of her culture.

got bullied in primary school for being the "only dumb Asian"

Mary Macdonald

the most supportive person you'll ever meet

helped the younger POC in Gryffindor take care of their hair properly, and absolutely was like an older sister to all the young girls

not a mean bone her body

muggle born, but she grew up with a friend that had a wizard father so she knew about magic before Hogwarts

terrified of dogs, except for Padfoot, because of being bitten by one when she was in nursery

Dorcas Meadowes

a lesbiannnn. she was in love with Pandora, and they dated for a while before she decided she was done with the Wizarding World and cut contact with everyone

slytherin, but she was friends with everyone

loved Quidditch

oh she was a Pureblood but her parents died when she was young and she stayed with a squib aunt til hogwarts

took muggle studies and would hex any Slytherin who made fun of her for it

Pandora Lovegood (Lestrange)

a Lestrange until marriage

terrified of Narcissa and Bellatrix, but was one of the bridesmaids at Bellatrix's wedding

Ravenclaw, but best friends with Dorcas, Regulus, Barty, and Evan and was hardly if ever in her own common room

she ADORED muggle musicals

her and Dorcas met in a Care of Magical Creatures class in third year and immediately became best friends

Evan Rosier

really homophobic outwardly but was in the closet (for a HOT minute)

flirted with girls constantly

super protective over Pandora and Dorcas

had the worst penmanship and Regulus and Barty both refused to help him with homework because of it

managed to be the only Slytherin who sucked at potions

Barty Crouch Jr.

gay little lad with gay handwriting

LOVED cats. this man was the BIGGEST cat lover I do not care im right ur wrong. absolutely adored them

had a little sister who he was really protective over, she was in Hufflepuff and died during her 4th year which is what made him follow Regulus into joining up w the Death Eaters

daddy and mummy issues for days. bro never had a civil conversation w them

he absolutely beloathed Walburga and Orion Black when he found out what they did to Regulus, but obviously never said anything about it

[i-mean-technically]

an exchange of culture

a small fic for an event in my server!

“Merry Christmas, Optimus!”

The cheery shout drew everyone’s attention to the pink striped girl, who was wearing a bright red hat with white trim. Next to her was Raf with a shy grin and gripping something in his hand and dark-haired Jack with silver frills in a necklace wrapped around him.

“Good morning, Miko,” Optimus returned, having a vague idea of what she was referring to. “Your hat is well-made.”

She grinned brightly up at him, bouncing in place. “Thanks! Ms. Darby showed me how to use a sewing machine. I made it myself.”

“An impressive feat,” Optimus replied, feeling a small smile tug at his lips. The children were always bringing something new into their lives, and always kept things from getting dull. “Is there a special occasion for your attire?”

Somehow Miko’s smile got even wider. “It’s Christmas! Best holiday America came up with.”

Agent Fowler snorted from where he was typing up a report. “She’s not wrong,” he called out, not looking up from squinting at his screen.

“It has turned into a capitalist nightmare,” Jack agreed with a tilt of his head, and Optimus saw him twitch when his skin touched the silver necklace.

“Fuck the government!”

“Language!” Many voices said at once, and Optimus turned down the sensitivity of his audials once again.

“Isn’t Fowler legally required to arrest you now?”

“This place technically doesn’t exist.” Fowler still hasn’t looked away from the monitor.

“That means no rules!”

“Upt, upt, upt! There are rules. Many, in fact!” Ratchet had his hands on hips and was frowning down at the children.

“Not that Miko actually follows them,” Jack teased. Optimus was glad that the boy-no, young man, had grown comfortable enough to do so. Even just a few months ago Jack would have stayed silent, hanging back from them.

“Psh,” Miko waved her hand at Ratchet and Optimus had to hide a smile at the indignant expression on his old friend’s face. “Rules suck, and presents are awesome.”

That got every one of his Autobot’s attention. **Presents? For us?** Bumblebee asked, doorwings hiking up in excitement.

Optimus found himself intrigued as well. No one has gotten a gift in… a long time. Their current base was technically a loan, as was most of their equipment. A gift, from their young charges…

Something warm bubbled in his chest, spark feeling too big for its casing.

“Yep!” Miko was beaming, eyes nearly glowing. Jack and Raf drew up behind her as Optimus felt his bots gather around the balcony. He knew that she couldn’t understand the young scout, but it wasn’t hard to guess what could have been said. “We didn’t really know what to get giant alien robots sooooo we’re kinda just winging it.”

“And Raf’s really the only one who celebrates anyway,” Jack added.

“I thought it was something all humans did,” Bulkhead said, sounding confused. Optimus was as well.

“A lot of humans, sure,” Jack said with a shrug before scowling and lifting the necklace off and placing it over Raf’s head like a crown. “But my dad was Jewish and Mom doesn’t celebrate any holidays.”

“I’m not Christian,” Miko said with a shrug. “Doesn’t stop me from wanting to do presents though.”

“It’s pretty big in my family,” Raf said, smiling up at them. “Christmas is the one time of year that everyone comes home and is together. We celebrate family more than Jesus.”

“And you’re family!” Miko said before Optimus could ask more about Jesus from the point of view of the children. “So we’re celebrating together.”

“Everyone comes home, huh?” Bulkhead murmured with a sad sort of smile that had grief pulling down at Optimus’ spark.

“Yep,” Jack said. The way he said it got everyone’s attention. “Bulkhead’s present is first, special delivery even.”

Optimus could feel the confusion spread around them just before the proximity alarm goes off and Wheeljack comes screeching into the base later.

He transformed with a flourish, walking towards Optimus and his stunned Autobots. He spread his arms and a smirk crossed his scarred face. “Why the long faces? Did the party get canceled?”

Bulkhead shook off his shock first and released a booming laugh, rushing towards his friend. “Ha ha! Jackie!”

Optimus stood back near the humans as his Autobots, his family, came together eagerly. He glanced down at Jack, noticing that Miko was already racing towards the reunited Wreckers. “This was very kind of you to do, Jack.”

The young man shrugged, rubbing the back of his head. “Miko wanted to have a party, and get a gift for Bulkhead. Raf’s the one who found Wheeljack’s comm.”

The warmth in Optimus’ spark spread to the rest of his body, and he very carefully reached out to tap Jack on the top of his head. “Merry Christmas, Jack Darby.”

Jack grinned up at Optimus. “Happy holidays, Optimus Prime.”

[hebrewbyinbal]

September Jewish Holidays are upon us & I have your gift giving ideas covered with my best selling Hebrew Books! 📚🤗

Click my bio link 🤩✨

[shakespeareallanpoe]

Batfamily Secret Santa

With the holidays coming up here's my headcanon for what each of the batfamily members would get each other if they were doing a secret Santa. (And yes, I know Bruce is canonically Jewish, but I believe either Tim or Dick are some denomination of Christian so I'd imagine they have a mixed holiday celebration at the manor)

Bruce (got Stephanie)

Ok so Bruce is super generous on a good day and I can't imagine Steph wouldn't be dropping hints since Thanksgiving, so he'd probably give her everything she asked for plus a new movie Wayne manor doesn't have, so after the celebration they could watch it together as a one-on-one bonding thing since he's pretty big on quality time in some versions.

Dick (got Bruce)

Bruce really doesn't expect anything for the holidays which is perfect because I have this headcanon that Dick is actually really bad with giving gifts. Someone bullied your little sister? Not on his watch. Life advice? He'll pull from his past experiences to tell you what not to do. Emotional support? Bro he's there. But birthday/anniversary/holiday gifts? Expect a mug with Snoopy's face because you both watched Charlie Brown together once. In July. He's just that kind of gift giver. So I'm thinking Dick would get Bruce a dinosaur themed 1,000 piece puzzle because Bruce likes dinosaurs and he likes puzzles so boom! Match made in heaven, ya boi is a genius. 😎

Barbara (got Jason)

Babs is a pretty practical person so her secret Santa to Jason probably consisted of a gift bag with manly smelling body wash, a gift card to Barnes & Noble, and a CD mixtape of Jason's Spotify favorites so he can pop it into a car and listen to it during long car rides.

Duke (got Damian)

So Duke is a pretty creative person when he's passionate about a project and his ideas are definitely one of a kind, but I think for some time he would really struggle with coming up with a secret Santa for Damian because he isn't all that close with Robin. He knew Damian appreciated weapons but he's also the type of person to not want Damian to think that weapons are all he is by getting him one. Presents for Damian's pets are off the table since Damian spoils them on every day of the year, so Duke would probably gift Damian something for the child he is, since Damian never had a childhood. Maybe a telescope so Damian could look at the stars with his family on clear nights. Just like what Duke's mom gave him as a boy for the holidays one year.

Cass (got Dick)

Cass didn't receive material gifts for most of her life so she probably enlisted Alfred's help. Given that the butler knows Dick pretty well, they decided to give him a gift basket with blue ribbon that had a T-shirt of his favorite band, some flash fuzzy socks (Wally would approve), and his favorite holiday candy. Dick is really more of a quality time kind of person if you want to make him to feel special, so it didn't need to be elaborate anyway.

Jason (got Cass)

I don't care how much people try to make Jason into a sexist, ignorant-to-the-fine-arts kind of person. Jason doesn't give a fuck about gender stereotypes and he loves learning, especially about classical things like literature or fine arts. For his secret Santa to Cass he got them both tickets for a weekend trip to Russia to see a ballet in person in one of the grandest cities in Russia. Cass has obviously been to many places across the world, but it was always for a mission and nothing more. For the holidays, Jason gifted her two days where they could travel and explore the culture, living like locals or being those stereotypical tourists just for shits and giggles. Just a few days without work to relax and live happy lives as regular people. When Cass got her gift Jason pulled her aside afterwards to explain it, so she wouldn't cry in front of everyone. And she did cry. Just a little. So did Jason.

Tim (got Duke)

Tim wouldn't think too hard about Duke's gift since he knows the people Duke hangs out with. Or could find them. Getting Duke a gift was as simple as casually running into Duke's friends and asking them about what Duke likes. Not that he or Duke's friends ever mentioned this to Signal, so when he opened his secret Santa and found some hyper-specific things amongst some more generic gifts, he began to wonder just how much Tim knew about his life.

Stephanie (got Babs)

Steph is absolutely the type of person to get someone for Christmas something they want themselves. So a lot of the gifts Bruce gave her look similar to what Babs got from Steph. Not that she means anything by it, but in her mind if it's worth wanting, someone else close to her probably wants it too. And Babs doesn't mind. She already bought herself a new desk light after the old one got knocked down one too many times, so it doesn't matter if she has a cute keychain to go on it.

Damian (got Tim)

Regardless of his age I think a younger sibling will always be a younger sibling. Damian would probably give Tim a large fancy gift bag filled with tissue paper... and nothing else. He'd do it just to see Tim's reaction to rifling through the bag for several moments to come up empty. Then, when Tim admits defeat, Damian would hand over a gift he asked Jon to pick up for Connor, nicely wrapped with Tim's forged signature and everything. He wasn't about to get Tim a gift but it's okay because he knew Tim would've somehow forgotten to get his boyfriend a holiday gift anyway. (And he did)

[britany1997]

Holiday traditions and celebrations the Lost Boys enjoy

(Not my gifs)

David:

•David claims to hate Christmas and the other boys call him the grinch behind his back

•But he low key appreciates Christmas because the boardwalk gets much more crowded which means more food

•He’s not the guy to bake cookies or watch movies with, but he does like decorating

•Mainly because he gets to be in charge

•He sits back and tells the boys where to put stuff, how to hang stuff, etc etc without actually doing anything

•EXCEPT when it comes time to put the star on the tree which he ALWAYS does himself

•He’s the leader, it’s a rank thing

•He gets the boys presents but they’re always practical gifts

•Practical for them AND him

•One year he got Paul a stick of deodorant and Paul was just like, “thanks bud” :)

•Trust me, it was definitely a gift for David too

Dwayne:

•Dwayne is a hopeless romantic at heart and he loves watching romantic Christmas movies (with his s/o or if he’s single, he can usually convince Star to watch them with him)

•Not the Hallmark movies though, he’s a man of taste

•His favorites are Love Actually, The Holiday, and Four Christmases

•He also loves Edward Scissorhands and Little Women which he will argue to the death are Christmas movies he’s a Meg but thinks he’s a Jo

•He sheds a single tear everytime Kim asks Edward to hold her and he can’t (shh don’t tell the boys)

•True to his Native American roots, he also observes the Winter Solstice with the boys

•Traditionally, there are sunset bonfires to celebrate

•Theirs happen a little bit after sunset (for obvious reasons)

•They share people food on the beach, and Dwayne will tell stories about his past and his ancestry

•He loves that the boys want to celebrate the holiday with him <3

Marko:

•I definitely believe @luv4fandoms’s headcanon that Marko is Italian, so he celebrates Christmas

•He makes Panettone and Pandoro every year to share with the boys

•Paul doesn’t like it but he eats it anyway because Marko made it

•Marko tells Laddie about La Befana, so now the boys have to get Laddie presents on Christmas AND Jan. 5th because thats when La Befana comes

•It’s ok though, they love him:) and its not like they pay for them anyway

•Marko’s also ethnically Jewish! So he celebrates Hanukkah as well

•Paul grumbles like “how come Marko gets 8 presents and I only get one?” >:(

•The boys watch while he lights the candles each of the eight days

•They also gladly partake in the fried food part of Hanukkah and eat Latkes and Donuts with Marko

•The first time they celebrated, Marko explained the history of Hanukkah with the story of the Maccabees, the restoration of the temple, and the miracle behind the menorah and the eight nights

•Marko’s glad he can share this part of his culture with the boys

Paul:

•Paul lovesssss mistletoe

•Mans has it up ALL OVER the cave, its ridiculous

•Well kinda, he doesn’t have access to much mistletoe so he hangs stuff that sorta looks like it and hopes nobody notices

• “Paul is this lettuce?” “Paul is this Rosemary?” “Paul is this WEED?” No. It’s mistletoe. Shut up.

•He has the genius idea to just take some to the boardwalk with him so he can kiss random babes

•The boys kinda look at each other and Dwayne sits him down

• “Paul, most girls will find that creepy.” “Ok so I’ll only kiss boys! Problem solved” :)

• Dwayne hides his mistletoe

•Paul also likes Santa

•He always says ‘Santa probably doesn’t exist.’ And the boys are like, uh what do you mean “probably.”

•And after a lot of concerned prodding he gets kinda fed up

•He’s like, ‘so you’re tellin’ me immortal guys who have to feed on the blood of humans to survive exist and an immortal guy who leaves presents for good people doesn’t???’ He’s like, bffr

•The guys are ok with this logic but then David says, “you know you’ll never get anything from Santa right? We’re pretty much all naughty.”

•Paul smirks and says, “only in the best way.”

•The boys all groan

Happy Holidays!

[jessicalprice]

healers should get weekends too

(Reposted, with additions, from Twitter)

The story of the man with the withered hand (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11) gets used a lot to make the Pharisees, the ancestors of contemporary Judaism, and by extension and implication, Jews and Judaism more broadly, look monstrous. 

If you’re not familiar with the story, it’s the one in which Jesus goes to the synagogue on Shabbat, and there’s a man with a “withered” hand there, and the Pharisees are watching him to see if he’ll heal on Shabbat. Jesus tells them off, and they decide to plot to kill him. 

This story is actually a prime example of how the gospels demonize--or get used to demonize--completely normal behavior from Jews in order to make Jesus (and Christians) look superior/enlightened/improved. 

The readings of this tend to be either: 

Oh, the Pharisees have a problem with Jesus healing on Shabbat? They value following a meaningless religious law over saving someone's life. Look how rigid they were, following the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law, willing to let someone die rather than breaking a silly ritual prohibition.

Or, at least, they value following a meaningless religious law over alleviating suffering.

When Jews push back on these readings, we usually focus on pikuach nefesh, the principle that almost any Jewish law can be trumped by the need to save a life. You’re starving and all that’s available is pork? You eat pork. Someone gets a life-threatening injury on Shabbat? You do whatever you need to in order to save them. 

Of course, this has the effect of giving into the tendentious framing the gospels use--the man has a withered hand, not a life-threatening injury--but Jesus responds to the Pharisees by citing life-and-death situations.

It also throws the Pharisees under the bus: Judaism, practiced properly, would side with Jesus. 

But if the man had been dying, there wouldn’t be any disagreement between Jesus and the Pharisees. So I think we can all agree that the first reading of this story--that the Pharisees (and by extension, Jews in general) valued following religious law over saving a life--is nonsensical, and whether it's intended that way or not, antisemitic.

But what about the second reading? Did the Pharisees value following restrictions on activity during Shabbat over alleviating suffering?

There are two ways to look at it:

The Pharisees are just being used in the gospels as stock opponents for Jesus, so we shouldn’t assume it’s actually a historically accurate depiction of positions they held. (This is the easy one.)

The actual historical Pharisees did have an issue with people healing on Shabbat. (This is the more interesting one--why?)

The Christian (practicing or cultural) answer to this always seems to be an unexamined assertion of “religious law.” The Pharisees are either mindlessly following “religious law” and are too rigid to understand when it should be flexible, or they’re maliciously following “religious law” to punish??? people for being sick???

I think a lot of this trend in Christian thinking starts with Paul, and his near-constant assertion that Jewish law is burdensome, unpleasant, and ultimately impossible to follow or satisfy. If you believe that, then I guess it’s easy to imagine Jewish legal experts as superciliously holding people to impossible-to-meet standards that they knew they couldn’t meet themselves, making them both nitpickers and hypocrites.

But that’s not how Jews see Torah.

And I think you can sum up Jewish opposition to the idea of Jesus healing on Shabbat as:

Doctors should get weekends too. 

Let me back up. Again, reading the NT, you get the idea that Shabbat is a day of restriction, this time when we're not allowed to do stuff we want to do, but we have to hold off from doing it because otherwise God will be mad at us.

But in Jewish thought? Shabbat is a gift. 

 Every seven days, we get a holiday. It's an assertion of freedom: we're not slaves anymore. We get to have a day of rest, a day in which commerce is no longer a driving force, a day to not be workers.

So, if it’s a gift, why the harsh penalties in Torah for working on Shabbat? I mean, you can go with "because God said so," but the Torah's laying out rules for a society so usually there are societal reasons too.

And I think the obvious one here is economic competition. We can only all relax and enjoy Shabbat if we're not feeling like we should be working. If someone in our community, possibly a business competitor, is out there working 7 days a week, and we're only working 6, we're suddenly at an economic disadvantage. And the temptation, if one person is cheating, is for everyone else to cheat too, or at least to be worrying all day that they're losing out by not cheating. So what is supposed to be a day of rest and peace and not being ruled by the marketplace becomes a day of restriction and stress and worrying about the marketplace.

So yeah, if you're a first-century Jew, especially given that you're living in times of harsh economic oppression, you're going to disapprove of other Jews working on Shabbat. It's kind of a betrayal of everyone else who's trying to preserve that day of peace even under Rome.

The dude with the withered hand wasn't bleeding to death, and presumably has been living with it for a while. Why does he suddenly have to be healed today, on Shabbat? Again, if he had a life-threatening condition, Jewish law would be very clear: you do what’s necessary to save his life, even on Shabbat. But this isn’t a life-threatening condition. 

The implication is that healers should be available to work at all times, even on what’s supposed to be their day of rest. 

That’s actually really dangerous in a communitarian society, which emphasizes people’s duty to the community over their individual interests. Shabbat restrictions actually function as a check on people getting used up and exhausted by the needs of those around them. Healers have one day a week during which, barring a life-threatening emergency, they are free of demands that they work. 

The NT stacks the deck by having Jesus act like this is a matter of life and death, that if you’re not healing on Shabbat, you’re killing. It sure seems like he’s saying that healers shouldn’t get weekends. 

So yeah, I’m with the Pharisees on this one. If I need non-emergency surgery, I’d be an asshole to demand that the surgeon perform it on her weekend instead of waiting until Monday. 

If I’m trying to be charitable to Jesus, I guess I could assume that he believed the world as everyone around him knew it was about to end, and this was supposed to be a “let’s all pull together” moment. But it’s not sustainable in the long term.

Healers deserve weekends too. 

(Photo credit: Jonathan Borba)