egal-aboosta

[egal-aboosta]

Full honesty that I am both a mod of ask-jumblr and do NOT identify with the Society for Humanistic Judaism or with the Humanistic Judaism movement. There was a blog on here (maybe @humanisticjudaism-blog​?) that might be helpful. If Jewish blogs that see this could signal boost, that would be awesome!

Is there a Jewish Community Center near you? Those are Jewish and secular. I know that’s not the same, but you may find some overlap. You could also try Liberal Judaism. To my knowledge it’s similar to US Reform Judaism. Even though the Reform movement has a very different philosophy from Humanistic Judaism, I find that many Reform community members have a Humanistic Jewish approach. The same may be true with UK Liberal Judaism.

If you like reading, it seems like SHJ has blog posts and even put out some book recommendations in 2020′s Jewish book month. If you prefer videos, they have a Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/societyforhj/videos

In terms of resources not affiliated with or recommended by SHJ, MyJewishLearning.com is fairly pluralistic overall. It generally presents Jewish traditions in an accessible way and acknowledges when there is disagreement. If you are looking for nontheistic Jewish rituals, you will find many on ritualwell.org. It’s US-based and associated with Reconstructionist Judaism. Again, not Humanistic Judaism exactly, but there are definitely contributors whose approaches overlap with Humanistic Judaism (e.g. atheist/nontheistic, focus on social justice).

I've been considering adopting humanistic Judaism for a while now, but I'm struggling to find many resources to educate myself, or communities I can join. I'm based in the UK, and so far I've only found one (very) inactive wordpress blog here. I've thought of joining the SHJ, but membership is expensive for those overseas and the time difference makes event attendance tricky. It also has a Facebook group, but I tend to avoid that platform! I'm hoping someone might be able to recommend other ways to connect and learn more? Thank you!

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#humanistic judaism #egalaboosta gives bad advice

[egal-aboosta]

(Full disclosure that I’m also the mod of ask-jumblr)

Traditionally, you could probably say tehillim (psalms) but @wenevergotusedtoegypt​ might correct me on this.

If you’re looking for something less traditional and not necessarily halachically-aligned, Ritualwell has all sorts of beautiful poems/prayers https://ritualwell.org/healing-hard-times. As someone who affiliates somewhere nearish Conservative Judaism, I don’t feel comfortable endorsing newly written prayers that use the bracha formula (at least not endorsing them across the board). However, many (most?) on RitualWell do not use the bracha formula, and may be a helpful resource if you’re struggling with your own words.

I am scared for my friends in America today. Do you know a prayer for their safety? I have been asked if I can pray.

Mod here. I’m going to limit this post to prayers for safety or other appropriate Jewish practices (consider mentioning if okay for non-Jewish people to do the thing or not), with generalized options especially welcome. Let’s keep discussion away from all of the scary stuff that could be going on in the U.S. or around the world.

[egal-aboosta]

@dafyomilimerick​, I wanted to avoid making assumptions in my capacity as the mod, but my personal guess is that anon was nervous or confused about being ‘outed’ by their Hebrew name as being Jewish by conversion rather than birth. If being ‘outed’ is the concern, I want to point out that both names are common enough in (I think every) Jewish community that there are born Jews with that name from their Jewish bio parents.

Ad a convert, does one have to have Abraham and Sarah as part of one's Hebrew name?

Mod here. Respondents, please specify a community or other relevant FOR.

#conversion #miriam gives bad advice

[egal-aboosta]

Full disclosure that I’m the mod of ask-jumblr.

Reading about the basics of Judaism should be fine both by Jewish people and in terms of being comfortable for non-Jews. Reading about the basics wouldn’t really be a closed practice, and Judaism doesn’t tend to proselytize to non-Jews (perhaps with encouragement towards the Noahide laws as an exception).

Here are some sites I’d recommend:

MyJewishLearning (pluralistic basics)

Judaism101/JewFAQ (Orthodox, perhaps right-wing Modern Orthodox, but someone from there could say better)

ReformJudaism.org (Reform)

Chabad (Chabad perspective)

There are also many books with some basics about Judaism. You can probably find book lists around jumblr or even either ask-jumblr or my own Jewish/personal blog here (probably reblogged as #books). If you can’t find any or aren’t sure, let me know and I can find/send some. I grew up with some Jewish education, so my experience reading “adult books” of basics is limited, but I’ve read maybe a few.

So, as a Christian who happens to be interested in Judaism (I promise it’s because I think it’s neat and not some “getting to know Jesus” thing) I was wondering if anyone would be willing to provide some advice on how to be respectful while learning about and discussing Judaism. I’m aware of some of the basics, but there are always issues that I run into without realizing.

Mod here. If it’s alright, I’d like to limit responses to resources aimed at people who don’t necessarily want to be Jewish or “believe” in any Jewish approaches to Judaism. Presumably, anon is just curious about Judaism on an intellectual or “kindness to Jewish people” level. If there’s a really great resource you really want to share that doesn’t fit that restriction, please at least give a caveat (i.e., “aimed at prospective converts,” “takes a Modern Orthodox approach to our world”).

Anon, my apologies for the long delay in posting! I’m still clearing out the ask backlog. Your question was lovely, just my chaggim (holidays) were packed!

[egal-aboosta]

talking in the tags

#today in my life #I described myself as #'slightly to the left of Chabad' #lmao #it made sense in that context #and in a 'Judaism isn't linear' perspective #it makes some sense too #but I did not see that coming #lol

[egal-aboosta]

Super limited experience here so I’m tagging @jewishconvertthings in hopes they or their followers have some insight. My gut says reach out, but maybe wait until late October or early November (when the holiday rush will be done for Jewish people). As @wenevergotusedtoegypt pointed out, you likely won’t make progress per se, but I would think certain learning could be done at a distance to give you a guided head-start.

Depending on the type of community you’re in and how far-flung its ‘already-Jewish’ members are, finalizing conversion from 3 hours away (even with transportation) might not be a thing. Hopefully, if you get to a point where you’re really that sure you’ll be ingrained the community and they can help provide the network/support/logistics you need to get resettled, like finding job/housing nearby. I can’t speak to how realistic that ideal is :(

I have been trying to convert for about a year, which has been hard because I live about three hours away from the nearest synagogue and I don't know who to contact, and now there's covid and I don't have a car anyways. any advice?

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#miriam gives bad advice

[egal-aboosta]

How is it Elul already???!! I am not ready for this

#elul #HHD #high holidays #high holy days

[egal-aboosta]

Full disclosure that this is the mod, not serving as a mod right now, contributing from my personal account.

I visited a Reform synagogue a few years back maybe(? I posted about it somewhere on my blog though) where I noticed an unusual number of Asian people on the bimah and in positions of power, including a whole family and a variety of ages. (It was maybe like 6-10 people but out of only maybe a few dozen synagogue members at that service. Usually, at communities I’ve been in, visible JOC as a whole are more like 1/20-1/75...yeah.) It was a Reform synagogue.

If anyone’s relocating to convert or otherwise, looking for a Reform synagogue, and years-old demographics are a factor, feel free to message me for the synagogue’s name/website and I can easily dig it up.

I'm very serious about converting to Judaism, but the problem I'm worried about is the fact that I'm Asian. Would I still be able to convert?

Mod here. I pretty much never answer as the mod, so nobody get used to this.

Being Asian should not stop you from converting. That said, Jewish people and communities are not invincible to racism. I can’t speak to the extent to which anti-Asian racism is or isn’t an issue in any Jewish communities because I’d be pretty unlikely to see it. If there are any Asian Jewish folks or Jewish-adjacent folks who want to chime in, you are more than welcome to.

Much thanks! (Todah rabah!)  !תּוֹדָה רַבָּה

[egal-aboosta]

My ideas:

A low-key text study podcast like Tablet Magazine’s Take One, or a more conversational podcast like Unorthodox

A Hebrew learning app like Duolingo, Drops, or just flashcards with Biblical Hebrew (or Modern) and Aramaic words and phrases

If you are doing this at home, learn how to do some kind of craft that is or can inherently be Jewish (e.g. knitting to make kippot; making homemade cards for your synagogue’s ill, elderly or homebound members; if within practice, tying tzizit to make tallit gadol or katan as part of a larger project/group -- try to connect with funding and people who need them through a synagogue or a group like Chabad).

I think there’s at least one Jewish game where you learn Torah by choosing the animals that meet sacrifice requirements?? Anyone know of it???????

Looking for suggestions for something to replace the random phone game apps that I spend too much time on. My job is very emotionally stressful and mentally demanding; I want to do more Torah study, but I frequently find myself defaulting to something mindless because I need rest from my work. Does anyone have any suggestions for an activity that is a little less rigorous than text study but still in the same vein and not a time waster? FOR: any, but prefer orthodox or traditional

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#miriam gives bad recommendations #:p

[egal-aboosta]

I think Santa might be just as funny and a little less touchy

Still would leave the “Christian hegemony” issues, but I think Christians see Santa as more secular, and Jewish people see Santa as...less deadly

I’ve seen either a Jesus or a Santa at a Purim party once, but it was years ago and I forget.

Would it be disrespectful if I dressed up as Jesus for my shul's purim party?

Mod here. I can see two questions embedded in here:

Would Christians find it disrespectful for you to dress up as Jesus?

Should Jewish people care whether Christians find it disrespectful? Do Jewish people have any issues with it besides the potential disrespect towards Christians?

I’m going to set a FOR of Christian for that first question (the moment all y’all have been waiting for!) and a FOR of Jewish for the second set of questions. Let’s all remember that anon is asking, not doing and that if you don’t have the energy to respond, someone else will likely bring up similar points.

Much thanks! (Todah rabah!)  !תּוֹדָה רַבָּה

#Santa #miriam has opinions #miriam gives bad advice

[egal-aboosta]

If you’re in an egal community: talk to your rabbi about it pre-conversion, but if you still want to post-conversion, then go for it. If you aren’t in an egal community, probably cover/don’t according to whichever binary (sorry) you and your community sort you into obligation-wise.

If you’re looking for non-binary ways to cover, I think a beanie or wigs (you could go funky on that one if your comfort zone and your job, community, etc. allow 😁) might be your most gender neutral options. Anyone have thoughts or recommendations?

hi! i have a question - my partner and i are both working on converting to judaism and i'm very nonbinary so i don't put myself in the binary of being a man or a woman strictly but i like the idea of tzniut and covering my hair when my partner and i get married. would this be appropriate for me to do since i'm outside of the gender binary or no?

Mod here. I suspect that answers may vary based on the community anon and their partner are converting through.

Respondents may want to include a communal and/or halachic FOR. I can also foresee other FORs (e.g. experience) might be relevant to this ask and, as always, respondents are welcome to include those if they would like to.

Distinguishing between norms and halacha might also be useful here, especially for communities that make distinctions between halachic male/female’s halachic obligations.

I would also ask that respondents refrain from answering if their community wouldn’t accept a non-binary conversion candidate, as their answer wouldn’t be relevant to anon. The ask box is always open to start a new conversation.

Much thanks! (Todah rabah!)  !תּוֹדָה רַבָּה

#miriam gives bad advice #hair-covering

[egal-aboosta]

Ahhh, good to know. That’s...different and so not Jewish at all like yikes

Is it possible for a Jewish person to believe Jesus is the messiah (while not believing he is God)?

Mod here. Sorry for the long intro to follow. If you’ve been around jumblr for a while and are confident you know the drill, the tldr is to read the new bolded question at the bottom of this post.

People who are recognized as Jewish by a Jewish community believe all sorts of things. Whether someone with that belief would be welcomed into a community, tolerated in a community, or representative of any Jewish community is a whole different question... Jesus in particular is a really touchy subject in many Jewish communities, especially ones in Christian-majority areas.

In agreement with other Jewish communities, Messianic “Judaism” is not recognized as a form of Judaism by this blog. Any efforts to proselytize on this post will be met by swiftly blocking the user. The ask box is open to anyone who wants to discuss the history of Messianic “Judaism,” why it isn’t recognized, various historical and present cases around its handling by mainstream Jewish communities, etc. However, this previous ask (that I’m linking here) about Jewish beliefs around the Messiah might begin to explain why Messianic “Judaism” isn’t recognized by any other Jewish communities.

With all that in mind, I’m going to shift this ask’s question a bit towards an unanswered question that’s a bit more feasible than the entire spectrum of recognized-Jews:

Respondents, in your community, what range of beliefs around Jesus are welcomed or tolerated (e.g. a range), and established or typical (e.g the norm or ideal)? Feel free to share your own personal beliefs, talk about proof texts, etc. if you wish to do so. Community FORs may be helpful here.

Much thanks! (Todah rabah!)  !תּוֹדָה רַבָּה

#Jesus #again maybe not a conversation non-Jews should get involved in

[egal-aboosta]

@sorekbekarmi​, but don’t we believe that Elijah and a few other figures were “taken up to heaven alive” or something weird like that, and there are ideas that Elijah is going to come back in relation to the Messiah? Obviously Jesus wasn’t/wouldn’t have been, but how is that different? @dafyomilimerick​, this might also be within your wheelhouse?

Is it possible for a Jewish person to believe Jesus is the messiah (while not believing he is God)?

Mod here. Sorry for the long intro to follow. If you’ve been around jumblr for a while and are confident you know the drill, the tldr is to read the new bolded question at the bottom of this post.

People who are recognized as Jewish by a Jewish community believe all sorts of things. Whether someone with that belief would be welcomed into a community, tolerated in a community, or representative of any Jewish community is a whole different question... Jesus in particular is a really touchy subject in many Jewish communities, especially ones in Christian-majority areas.

In agreement with other Jewish communities, Messianic “Judaism” is not recognized as a form of Judaism by this blog. Any efforts to proselytize on this post will be met by swiftly blocking the user. The ask box is open to anyone who wants to discuss the history of Messianic “Judaism,” why it isn’t recognized, various historical and present cases around its handling by mainstream Jewish communities, etc. However, this previous ask (that I’m linking here) about Jewish beliefs around the Messiah might begin to explain why Messianic “Judaism” isn’t recognized by any other Jewish communities.

With all that in mind, I’m going to shift this ask’s question a bit towards an unanswered question that’s a bit more feasible than the entire spectrum of recognized-Jews:

Respondents, in your community, what range of beliefs around Jesus are welcomed or tolerated (e.g. a range), and established or typical (e.g the norm or ideal)? Feel free to share your own personal beliefs, talk about proof texts, etc. if you wish to do so. Community FORs may be helpful here.

Much thanks! (Todah rabah!)  !תּוֹדָה רַבָּה

#Jesus #Messiah #Elijah #non-Jews maybe don't get involved in this....

[egal-aboosta]

What Josh said. Please don’t convert through a community you whose Jewish perspectives and practice are in conflict with your own goals. Especially Reform v. Orthodox; there’s already enough bad blood there without any of us adding to it. Do keep engaging with lay-leaders, and hopefully they or Josh can connect you with a rabbi to work with in conjunction with this wonderful Reform community.

So I’m wanting to convert to Reform Judaism so I emailed the synagogue about it. They said they don’t have a rabbi or a conversion program but invited to me to Shabbat services (which I plan to attend). The only other synagogue in my city is an orthodox one, which does have a conversion program. What do I do?

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#miriam gives unqualified advice #conversion

[egal-aboosta]

I’m putting this below the cut because I don’t want to make people have this conversation if they’re not in an effective state of mind, and would prefer comments to reblogs because...tumblr.

I’ve been reading anti-racist works and otherwise engaging with antiracist media. I’ve been doing this for a while now. But now other people are reading this stuff and acknowledging its significance, so it seems like now I’m allowed to bring up race and racism without people going into auto-shutdown. If only it were for less depressing reasons. But back to that, I’ve been reading about race and racism in addition to comparative religions works, global history that they don’t teach you in school, etc. So no one think I’m an expert on any of it; just trying to get what should’ve been in school and life’s curriculums.

A lot of the authors and other media producers talking about race (not to mention other subjects)...don’t know how to talk about Jewish identity and experience accurately. (JoC for one, are often forgotten, but also Hitler wasn’t the first or the last, and so many other things...) And I try not to hold this against them because, frankly, it’s complex and not only is it usually outside the field of these media creators who are themselves often highly specialized (got to love academia), but it’s outside the topic they’re trying to address. They are writing or speaking or commenting about some other specialized subject and this other thing the world is making them do just isn’t their job; addressing my identity or Whiteness shouldn’t be their job. At least not their job right then and there.

I’m typically looking to learn something else from them: about their own specialty or at least about that work’s thesis. I don’t expect them to adequately address my identity or even White people as a general group, and I am sad that we live in a world where all these speakers, writers, thinkers always have to be addressing Whiteness on White people’s behalf in palatable ways.

I wish we lived in a world where they didn’t all even have to address White people specifically. I’m not wishing for a world where they weren’t assuming that White people would be engaging with their work, but for a world that wouldn’t be required to molly-coddle, teach, and address White people's own Whiteness in order to make White people feel better while those White people are doing their own homework. These writers, thinkers, creators shouldn’t have to. White people should be able to read a book or listen to a podcast or read an article or watch a movie that doesn’t address how they fit in. And those points about White people, Jews not withstanding, are often one of the weaker parts of these works. Sometimes, because they’re not the creator’s specialty, but more often because it’s not the work’s thesis and you can tell it’s been forced in there.

But these sections and episodes or additions, as much as they pain and frustrate me, these are understandable for where we are now. What isn’t is tumblr posts critiquing the existence of books and articles written by (or not by) and for White people -- but endorsed by activists and academics of color -- that grapple with Whiteness. Because, clearly enough, White people engaging with other anti-racist works need opportunities to explore their Whiteness, and I’d rather that they seek it out independently rather than creating a world where what feels like every anti-racist thinker has to make space in every work to cater to guilt-ridden, clueless White people. Selfishly, I’d also rather not see these writers fumble about my own identity, and other identities that don’t fit neatly into America’s black-white paradigm (e.g. pale Hispanic-Americans, the whole spectrum of Asian-American experience, Indigenous people, Arab-Americans). I’d like to take them more seriously than these forced extensions and formalized footnotes (created with a societal gun held to their heads?) are letting me.

Anyways, if anyone would like to hear about the works or sections of works I’ve found helped my learning, hmu over messaging and/or I can try to make some posts.

#race #racism #anti-Black racism #antisemitism #passing as White #White-passing Jews #can Jews be White?

[egal-aboosta]

Might be better with a kid who’s a little older, but there are recipes for non-toxic playdough on the internet. I have an aunt who used to work with preschool age and a little younger (maybe 18 months or 2 yrs and up?) and that was one of her go-to activities. I would just be careful about using raw/uncooked flour in it.

Singing to/with them, and playing with their toys with them (blocks, spotting them as they used a sit-to-stand push-toy walker, peek-a-boo with my face or toys, whatever other toys they were interested in) were also big ones when I babysat cousins that age. Most of my cousins had many siblings and/or very busy parents, so just the attention of someone playing with them, how they wanted to play was enough to keep it going.

Activity ideas for 9-month-old? I feel like with our workloads during the week he just gets plopped on the floor with his toys to entertain himself a lot, and I’d like to do something different with him on Sundays when I’m generally more available.

#miriam gives bad advice #9-month old #parenting #check the notes #saving the notes #look back on the notes

[egal-aboosta]

This is The Most Stressful Thing. Like not actually the most stressful thing, but this post got at one of many current anxieties. Throughout the process of becoming more observant, I’ve bent, broken, and disagreed with “normal” (often non-egal...) rules. Some of that breaking and bending has been more comfortable than other breaking and bending. But that doesn’t make it okay for someone else to pressure me or make me. Especially to drag out one rule I’m “not following” and therefore assume I won’t be keeping to another, etc.

Good example. I have not fasted for a while now because it has proven to be a Bad Idea. It’s absolutely terrifying to ask for Tisha B’Av and Yom Kippur off and worry that people will think I’m lying just because I don’t fast. Or that I’m being rude for not eating their food when I’m actually keeping vegetarian or ingredient list kosher (sketchy af, but I’m not the first Conservative Jew to do so...).

Yeah I think Judaism would be a good fit for me, because I honestly agree with it more than Christianity. It makes more sense to me. But I have to remain Christian because I don't want to cause division in my family (plus I heard that Jewish people can't go to churches, which would mean I couldn't go to family member's weddings and funerals).

Okay, well, that's technically true, halacha prohibits entering churches. But not all Jews follow all of halacha? I'm unsure why outsiders think this. Like "oh I could never convert to Judaism, I have tattoos." Like. There are Jews who have tattoos, it just isn't normative in our religious rules, but not everyone follows rules?

You gotta do what's right for you I guess though