#koshercosplay

[resplendent-ragamuffin]

Amazing news Jumblr! I think I found the earrings from @koshercosplay's latest Chanukah merch ranking post!

[foldingfittedsheets]

@koshercosplay took a 20 minute commission slot from my commission sale for this very dapper mouse man!

You too can get some sale art if you wanna check out my$20 for 20 minute sale! (There's also non-timed slots here if you want something polished). Just shoot me a DM! Commissions are currently going to my betrothed and I going on an unofficial honeymoon, so funds support the gay agenda!

[mihrsuri]

Thinking about how there’s been more than one Jewish musician who has made a song in the ruins of those who tried to kill us over thousands upon thousands of years. And we live. Am Yisrael Chai. We live in our indigenous land and their empires are gone. In the face of hate, of darkness and pain we live.

I was thinking about this because honestly, I have been so close to not being here. It goes up and down, that feeling that I shouldn’t be, that I’m not Jewish enough, that I’m not Mizrahi enough, that I’m not biracial enough or X enough. That not that long ago I didn’t just say I was a doll I knew I was - knew I wasn’t a person, just a disgusting thing who was going to a hell I only believe in for me (yes just me) - that I was too tainted to live.

And I won’t get into all of it here but one thing, one thing was thinking - maybe my ancestors aren’t ashamed of me, maybe I don’t have to scourge myself with how I need to uphold their legacy. Maybe they are embracing me - generations of women from Persia, from Syria (who had to leave Zion) and from Ireland and those women who are not related by blood - my dads family - Jewish women who held their exile in Poland, in Russia and then England. Maybe they look at me and smile. Maybe they will welcome me after all - rape survivors, exiles and refugees who built homes and kindness and joy amongst darkness - who found light. Who found stars.

Maybe I don’t have a Passover Seder to go to and anorexia and cptsd mean I need to adapt practices but I am still Jewish enough.

Anyway I want to shout out my Jewish Mutuals who have been a light in the darkness since October but also my saatis who have stood beside me, who have listened to me cry. And my Jewish friends.

@dancingsorrow jewishlivesmatter @slyandthefamilybook @mossadspygoat @the-ships-to-rule-them-all @travelbasscase @fdelopera @koshercosplay

@wheresonichedgehogwnt @ruffboijuliaburnsides @taibhsearachd @cephalopodvictorious @amadiwhispers @captainlordauditor my darling darling Jewish Friends. You have mattered so so much.

All my saatis (you know who you all are) but I’m going to particularly talk about @gen-is-gone @beyondthisdarkhouse @nocompromise-noregrets who have listened to me cry and have held my hand from across the world. Who have said to me, I will hide you, I will love you. (Also C and @kawuli and just…my saatis)

Also @rahabs I will never forget your kindness ever in my entire life.

And to everyone who has stayed to listen. Who has stayed with me, with us in the darkness - thank you.

[rosefyrefyre]

So today I was in CVS (had to pick up prescriptions, as you do) and I was chatting with @fanficallergy -- and I stopped to look at the (very small, but at least it existed) Hanukkah section.

Me (staring): Wow, this is...wow.

FanficAllergy: Oh?

Me: I'm going to send you a picture. Hold on a minute. *takes and sends picture*

FanficAllergy: ...Why is CVS selling a Hanukkah buttplug?

Me: That's exactly what I thought!

@koshercosplay -- one for your terrible Hanukkah memorabilia list?

[is-the-thing-actually-jewish]

Hi, I’m a random non-jew (goy? Goyim? One is plural right? I’m sorry I’m stupid) and I just wanted to say thank you for this blog I sent it to my friend Alex who is Jewish and is always super frusturated this time of year by the whole channukah-as-jewish-christmas phenomenon in stores and things, and I just KNOW they’re going to love the screenshots I sent them

Your sense of humour is just like theirs lol

Are you going to make more posts?

Sorry for the late response!

Goy is singular, goyim is plural, and you’re not stupid it’s just a different language :)

We are going to make more posts–and as a side note for those of you who’ve sent us asks, don’t worry, we are working on responses! We have all of them, we are planning to respond to all of them, some just take us longer to research and draft than others.

The Chanukah Rating posts actually aren’t our work, though! Those are from the fabulous @koshercosplay

[koshercosplay]

Happy early Pesach @koshercosplay

Chag sameach!!

[sag-dab-sar]

The Need to Recognize Christmas' Preferential Treatment 🎄

Christmas is seen as "stolen" from pre-Christian traditions or described as "not really Christian". Some of it is legitimate (e.g with specific local or national folk traditions), a lot of it is pseudo-history (e.g Mithras birthday, an entire Christmas tree, lights) but frankly neither actually matter. Because, in our modern world, Christmas holds a prestigious place due to Christianity.

.🔹.

Here are examples that showcase Christmas' ubiquitous, unquestioned place in many Culturally Christian nations and why we need to recognized its ubiquity:

Appropriation of Judaism, re-imagined for Christmas exists like this. @/koshercosplay has basically an infinite amount of examples to use for these posts and even gets sent asks of more examples.

There is no Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu or other religions' holidays reserved as an official federal holiday in the US. So all non-Christian religious holidays are labeled as "accommodations" while Christmas is a given.

While my post targets the US because thats were I am from, this isn't US only. Christmas is a public holiday in a large protion of countries around the world (see map).

Hallmark Christmas movies, that are made by the dozens at this point and are a US Christmas staple, are propaganda longing for a better ""family friendly"" white washed Christian version of America that never existed.

Hallmark has added anti-semitism into it's Christmas movies.

A Hanukkah presentation was banned in a Florida school meanwhile the same school was celebrating Christmas activities and decorations. Justified by Florida's Parental Rights Bill ("Don't say gay" bill) "obligating us to follow the 5th grade standards [...] At this time, a Chanukah presentation is not in our standards." It was only reversed to to social media outcry.

Something similar also happened in a Vancouver school where Christmas decorations were allowed because they "aren't religious" while Hanukkah ones were explicitly denied.

Fasting and breaking for prayer during Ramadan is seen as an inconvenience to employers, who need "guidance" on how to "accommodate" their Muslim employees. And has led to Muslims being straight up fired. Whereas Christmas decorations, events, or music in a work setting is fine.

Universities won't hold classes on Christmas but will reverse their practice of not holding classes on Yom Kippur & Rosh Hashanah because not holding classes on those holidays is "intended to insure greater continuity in the academic schedule and minimize course disruption for students." Those two holidays are a debate at the university— Christmas is never a debate.

Not holding classes on Eid al-Adha is also controversial! This also included reversing the decision to not have classes. The decisions to not hold classes on the holiday is a debate at the school board— Christmas is never a debate.

To make it all worse in the US: Christian Nationalism is dramaticlly increasing x x x

.🔹.

No matter what pagan-ness or secular aspects can be found in Christmas it has a privileged special place in our culture— that is afforded to no other religion— specifically because it is Christian. There are a few examples where this isn't the case (e.g Japan) but those are very few and far between

In my strong opinion: if you choose to celebrate the holiday, as a Christian or non-Christian, you should recognize the special spot & privilege it has.

You shouldn't dismiss that fact and the above examples because "pagan origins" or "celebrating it in a secular way"

Maybe next time when your classmate, your child's classmates, or you sibling's friend want to put up Hanukkah decorations in school next to the Christmas ones you can speak against the school administration that bans it, or against the teacher who gets upset at the idea.

Or perhaps you can be the person at the school board meeting who points out that Christmas isn't any more special than Yom Kippur or Eid al-Adha so why are those debatable when Christmas isn't.

Recognizing these things is not raining on Christmas' parade nor does it mean you should feel guilty for celebrating, its simply a matter of expanding you view of the world and learning the obstacles other people face.

.🔹.

P.S

Recognizing its preferential spot is paramount imo but if you'd also like to touch on the history of the matter:

Here is some info on the "Christmas is stolen" argument, as well as tracing secular and religious history of the holiday.

The origins of Christmas and its traditions are marred with psudeo-history plastered all over news websites, blogs, and supposedly reputable sources. But many of this comes down to secondary sources citing each other in a loop without primary sourcing. Here is an example of how that can happen (not xmas related).

-

-Dyslexic, not audio proof read- | -repost-

[gerardwolfesfwart]

Happy hanukkah / חג חנוכה שמח

This piece features my OC named Rebecca celebrating hanukkah by lighting a hanukkiah, shes a character in a crimefiction comic im writing atm :) hope people like her as much as i do

Alternate blurred background version under the cut :)

The earrings are pretty much a copy of the ones at the bottom of this post https://www.tumblr.com/koshercosplay/736101473248739328/its-time-for-my-yearly-chanukah-merchandise

[zeezeepearl]

Hi I have two questions that I should be able to google but I'm getting mixed answers. Can gentiles/goyim use the word Jew? Some sources say it's a slur (my apologies for saying it if it is) and others say that it's the proper term, and that it's weird to say Jewish people?

Also I read that goyim is Yiddish, so should I use gentiles or goyim or does it matter which? All of these in the context of being respectful of course! Thank you!!

I'm not really the best person to ask. I grew up in an insular Jewish community where the word "jew" was completely neutral, but I know people who've had the word flung at them like a curse. I hope they don't mind me tagging them but @lazarusemma and @koshercosplay are more outspoken Jews who may be able to articulate a response better than me.

Keep in mind that the Jewish community is incredibly diverse and you're going to find as many opinions as there are Jews in the world. Additionally, not every Jewish person is going to have an answer for you.

[vaspider]

Hi, I just saw it and I thought you would like to check out the more informative and more accurate version of that thing you reblogged of black jewish children (the version by Koshercosplay). It was apparently from a black hebrew isrealite group, but koshercosplay added a bunch of POC jewish history photo examples that I thought were neat.

Oh hunh! I'll take a look, thanks!

[foxgirlchorix]

Hello I LOVE your blog name!!! The Wayfarers series is my absolute favorite, it's one of very few books that I can just open up at any point to reread. So I'm just popping in here to say that I love it and seeing it in my notes made me SO HAPPY

Hell yeah babey!!!! :)

[paintedmakos]

Commission for @koshercosplay! 

Commission info

[royalarchive2]

Behold, Superteacher!

[starks-anthony]

hey everyone, i’m starting a podcast! it’s called They Made It Out of Clay.

tmiooc is all about how judaism has inspired some of your favorite sci-fi and fantasy works, from superheroes to good omens (and also some less obvious ones, but you’ll have to listen to find out what).

the first episode features the very lovely @koshercosplay​, but it’s not out just yet, so in the meantime, listen to the brand new trailer here or wherever you listen to podcasts!

[dianaraven]

Hey, I really loved your ‘writing Jewish characters’ ask. Do you know if there’s anywhere I can read more about the do’s and don’t’s, media studies, etc.? Just curious and wanted to see! Thanks!!

Hi! Sorry this took so long, nons. Unfortunately I can't think of any, but I'm not huge on listening to other peoples' media studies 🙃 lol. You can always feel free to ask, though (me or whomever). The jumblr community is pretty open and willing.

If you would like more specific help on one thing or another, there are plenty of Jewish sensitivity readers over at @sensitivityreaders , of which I am one if you want to dm me.

One thing I do know though, is that we Jews love talking about ourselves so I suggest you google Jewish youtube creators, I'm sure there are plenty that are more media analysis focused. Of course, there are always Jewish blogs and newspapers (many of which are accessible online, ofc be aware of any cultural/religious biases, I'd suggest reading columns from multiple groups and take everything you read with a grain of salt, you know, two jews three opinions and all that).

If you're looking for historical stuff I do recommend SnappyDragon on youtube who does historical costuming and has a few videos on tropes, and historical Jewish culture etc.

@/koshercosplay also might be able to help. Their blog is full of Jewish/fandom wonderfulness.

But yeah, again, feel free to reach out on tumblr if you have specific questions. Many Jews on here are willing to answer questions.