#My Torah Post

[zarinaa113]

They weren’t paired up like this, I just can’t make five more Spider-Men.

I mean, I COULD but I’m too lazy

#My Post #Non-fandom #Parsha #Torah Meme #Jumblr #Naso #Torah #Spider-Man #Silly #Meme #Bamidbar #Cartoons #Korban #The Twelve Tribes #My Meme Post #Funny #My Torah Post #Edit #By Zarina A113 #I think I'm so gosh darn hilarious #MINE

[garlic-and-cloves]

There's a specific version of Shalom Aleichem that I've only heard sung on Simchat Torah.

So, while I was listening to music, this started playing. And I just started crying, and haven't stopped since.

Simchat Torah has always been my favorite holiday. I love singing and dancing, I love Jewish joy, and I love that we have a whole holiday for that.

But this year, I was reminded why we need that holiday. And every time I think of Simchat Torah, I am reminded of that day, and all the days that have followed.

But today, hearing that song, I felt that joy again for the first time. I was reminded that being Jewish isn't all suffering, there are many many wonderful and joyous and beautiful parts too. I love being Jewish, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

#Jewish #Jewish Joy #Jewish culture #Simchat Torah #Jumblr #my posts #Simchat Torah war #Jewish songs #am yisrael chai

[waitingonavision]

Encantober Day 21: Age

As a child under b. mitzvah age, Antonio receives a special aliyah on the holiday Simchat Torah, which celebrates the "joy of Torah"—and the completion and new beginning of the annual Torah-reading cycle. Antonio not only gets called up to the teva (reading dais) to the recite the blessings over the Torah, but receives an extra blessing for children.

I've drawn him holding a plush Torah, because Simchat Torah also involves dancing with the scrolls. The shape of Antonio's plush resembles a tiq: a metal or wooden case in which a Torah scroll is kept according to Separdic (Spanish Jewish) custom. Mirabel made it with help from Moisés, my original Encanto character.

#encanto #encanto fan art #encantober #jewish madrigals #antonio madrigal #simchat torah #my art #stuff i've posted #bb toño 🥺

[aelinfireheartgalathynius]

The discourse about Sarah J Maas being called a Zionist is giving witch hunt vibes at this point. Nothing I've seen has been conclusive at all. Just because she's a Jewish woman who went on birthright doesn't mean you should loudly denounce her as supporting genocide.

I am a Jewish woman who is pro-Palestine — so, not a Zionist — but who loves her Jewish diaspora culture. I have anti-zionist and non-zionist Jewish friends who went on Birthright because it's a free trip abroad. I know Jewish people who are staunch Israel supporters and I have Jewish friends going to pro-Palestine protests. Jews are not all one thing, and in fact it's ingrained in our culture that we have NEVER been one thing. There are Jews of all races, of all levels of religious belief, across the political and socioeconomic spectrum, scattered across the world.

If I were a semi-public figure (I say semi because Sarah has been clear that she is not the one posting on her public accounts and she doesn't have much interaction with fans outside of tours) people would probably have loud assumptions about me being a Zionist because I am publicly Jewish, I was a Jewish Studies minor in college, and I used to work at a synagogue. Guess what? I'm not a Zionist. I donate to UNWRA monthly, I do my clicks for Palestine, and I do my best to support with what I have. As a multi-disabled person that's all I can handle right now. If I were a semi-public figure I don't know if I would feel comfortable posting anything publicly either, because people are vicious and terrifying creatures. Sarah has a husband and child. She had gotten threats about fucking ship wars. This is so much more intense than ship wars.

Making these loud assumptions and calling for boycotting SJM, commenting on her social posts even though she isn't the one reading those comments — this is what antisemitism looks like. I know those of you who are angry at Sarah won't want to hear that, or will say that 'everything is antisemitic now' — which is a refrain that should raise red flags since it's the same argument other people use about transphobia, homophobia, racism, etc. You're the good guys, you support Palestine and you're anti-genocide and so on. But using stereotypes about an ethnic group to make assumptions and harass an individual of that ethnic group is not a good look even if you're convinced you're doing it for a good reason. Take that energy and put it toward spreading awareness, contacting politicians, attending protests, maybe even sharing messages from public figures who have posted publicly.

I understand that a lot of non-Jews (and a small number of Jews) are saying that it "has nothing to do" with Sarah being Jewish, it's just that she hasn't "used her platform." I implore you to consider why you are seeing and sharing such anger toward this one (fairly private) Jewish woman and not toward other prominent authors, especially those who are more active online, who have also not spoken out. Do some soul-searching and many of you may find that because Sarah is Jewish, you feel that she owes you a public stance more than other people. Because she is Jewish you feel confident enough to make an assumption about her views and post publicly about these assumptions. That is antisemitism at work. That is why this feels like a witch hunt to me, and why it is upsetting to watch.

As a reminder, I am pro-Palestine. I am not posting this to defend anyone. I am posting this to remind everyone that Jews are not all Zionists. Jews are not all one thing, ever. And deciding you get to hand down judgement on a Jewish person who has not shared their views publicly is antisemitism. It is deciding that you can assume negative things about Jewish people from afar. It is deciding that some antisemitism is actually okay — good, even, if you think it's warranted. I understand that people have other qualms with her writing, but those are not tied to her Jewishness, they're tied to her doing things like using the name Illyria and Illyrians for her ACOTAR series, etc, which is the kind of thing other fantasy authors have done over the years. Doesn't make it good or right but it certainly doesn't have anything to do with Palestine or Zionism.

If you disagree with me, please do not send hatred into my inbox. I am asking you to interact with this post thoughtfully. If your disagreement is going to be an explanation of how Jewish people owe the world every ounce of our energy, health, safety and lives, please step away and take a breath. I do not share your opinion. I have great admiration for those risking life and limb, risking jobs, risking arrest, to support Palestine. However, not everyone should be *required* to do all of those things, especially if you're disproportionately expecting those larger actions from Jews, thinking we "owe" it to the world.

Also, I want to be clear: This is not really about whether Sarah is a Zionist. It's about the fact that we don't know, and you cannot pretend to know. Most of the arguments I'm seeing are making a lot of assumptions, and that is the part that makes me uncomfortable.

If Sarah ends up being a Zionist, I still stand by this post, because it isn't about defending Sarah, it's about my hurt and disappointment in seeing people make assumptions rooted in antisemitism, assuming someone's views based on Jewishness and little else.

#“but her grandma was in the idf!” okay do you agree with everything your grandparents do because i definitely dont #“but she's been to Israel!” ok is everyone who's ever been to Russia anti-Ukraine? #“but she writes characters and places inspired by Jewish history / the Torah!” once again guys Judaism is not Zionism pls say it with me #“but she should be using her platform and if she isnt then she clearly is a zionist!” please read this post #“but she's done shitty things in her books so her track record is bad!” um people are allowed to have varying flaws #this is not an all or nothing thing she can do questionable things with her writing as a white woman and that doesnt mean she is a zionist? #please don't send hate to my inbox because of this post im so tired

[syn0vial]

yesterday, i learned that one of my acquaintances from church is like, gleefully and unreservedly supportive of the gazan genocide despite going to a church where every sermon for the past few weeks has been about the horrors and tragedy of said genocide. like, i could not fucking believe how hilarious he seemed to think it is that innocent palestinians are dying, just grinning and laughing and shaking his head and rolling his eyes when my pastor and i expressed horror at the innocent people being killed. just remembering it makes me choke up with anger.

anyway, i'm going to be very stupid and try to talk to him about it this coming sunday. i'll use all my teacherly tricks to try and gently lead him to feel one single scrap of empathy for the victims of israel's civilian massacre, but lbr: he'll probably respond with the same amount of glee and condescension as last night and it's going to end with me making me a scene at church.

but i know i shouldn't. so here are some things i should NOT say, no matter how angry he makes me:

i've always hated the sound of your voice, even before you said such horrible things. you say everything with such condescension. when you read the gospels in church, i have to hide my face behind my program to hide my grimacing. you make the words of christ himself sound like a grift of some oily used car dealer who thinks he's smarter than he actually is. i pity you for going through life with such a voice, and pity you even more for thinking it charming.

it baffles me that you'd allow something as basically human as compassion for the suffering of others to be so utterly sanded away by propaganda. it's pathetic that you could laugh at innocents dying. you've let yourself be lobotomized by a clumsy surgeon and style yourself wise with the icepick still sticking from your skull.

i've always thought your face looks like an easter island head sculpted from a raw chicken breast.

see? none of those would be productive, no matter how truly they express my feelings about this person.

thus: people of faith, pray that god grants me the wisdom and restraint to not light this motherfucker up in the middle of coffee hour. amen.

#vent post #personal post #this happened last night and i thought i'd feel less angry in the morning but NOPE #still incandescent about it #sometimes i think i'm a very self-righteous and unforgiving person #bc i can't seem to do the thing other people do where they can just chalk things like this up to a difference in opinion and remain friends #when someone is cruel‚ it feels like it completely deranges me #suddenly they're a monster in my eyes #buuuut none of the philosophies i subscribe to endorse this kind of black-and-white thinking. quite the opposite actually. #so. i've gotta work on seeing people as works-in-progress rather than writing them off as incorrigible monsters #but.... lemme just vent first 🤬 #love my pastor though. i was raised jewish‚ and he was adopted by a jewish family when he was 13 and almost became jewish himself #so i feel like we have similar spiritual backgrounds and see eye-to-eye on a lot of things #after my argument with the above asshole‚ my pastor and i spoke at length about what was happening in gaza and how horrible it all is #as well as topics like zionism‚ antisemitism‚ and the torah #he's such a good guy. i'm sad he's retiring :( #i feel like we need him now more than ever to keep speaking out about the genocide #and to make sure views like the one mentioned above don't take hold in our church #cw: genocide #cw: racism

[foolsocracy]

Would u guys think it’d be weird if I did a little analysis on the Torah and noir 😭😭😭 I feel so insane doing this Torah portion thing

#I’m literally comparing him to Moses THIS IS INSANITYTTTTYYYYY #quoting the Torah like some weirdo #I always joke abt my niche posting but wow. new heights have been reached #the dog speaks

[blastlight]

Arguing about fantasy halacha based on actual halacha is the same as trying to establish a headcanon that fits within the subject's worldbuilding setup.

#i'll find a way to say this more clearly some other time but you get it #blast babbles #jumblr #fandom #fantasy halacha #this post brought to you by the phrase 'zombification is not a valid method of schechting' #zombie cows would not be kosher #nobody asked about zombie cows but i thought about the nether a bit too long and got here #this is fun. i can see the enrichment of studying torah #this is why i'm obsessed with magic systems (cough cough ut/dr). i love taking an established structure and using it to extrapolate- #unspoken details. #and this is why harry potter's magic system SUCKS btw. it's just a bunch of shit thrown together with no solid rules. #shoutout to brandon sanderson and naomi novik they made some of my favorite examples of writing beautifully structured magical systems #worldbuilding

[a-kosher-dunk]

Wait can you tell us about the sea of reeds? That sounds fascinating

Sure! 

In this post, I mentioned that the crossing of the Sea of Reeds (Chapter 14 of Exodus/Shemot) evokes birth imagery. Here is an excerpt from Exodus 14:21-14:22: "Thus the waters split. The Children of Israel came through the midst of the sea upon the dry-land, the waters a wall for them on their right and on their left."

In these verses, the people of Israel are specifically called the children of Israel. That word choice, on its own, isn't terribly significant. "Children of Israel" is a common phrase in the Torah. The Israelite people are descended from a man named Israel and therefore are literally children of Israel. The phrase also implicitly casts God as a parent protecting God's own children.

The surrounding context, however, suggests that "children" has an additional meaning here. In Hebrew, Egypt is called Mitzrayim: literally, "the narrow place." Scholars have written hundreds of pages on the meaning of this term, but for now, I want to take it fairly literally. The Children of Israel are moving from a narrow place, through walls of water, into a new life. That sounds an awful lot like an infant moving out of the constriction of the womb, through the breaking "water" of amniotic fluid, and being born.

Even Moses seems to pick up on the metaphor. In Numbers 11:12, he sarcastically asks God, "Did I myself conceive this entire people, or did I myself give birth to it?" God doesn't answer the question directly. Instead, God reminds Moses of his responsibility towards the Israelites and encourages him to seek out people who can help him. The implied answer is "Yes, actually, you and I did birth these people, and we are therefore responsible for taking care of them."

Why would crossing the Sea of Reeds be compared to birth? Well, the podcast Judaism Unbound offers an answer. In the podcast, the hosts describe two systems for thinking about Jewish identity: Genesis Jews and Exodus Jews.

For Genesis Jews, all Jews are members of an extended family united by common ancestry. Their model is Abraham and his descendants in Genesis. Exodus Jews, by contrast, are Jews because of shared experiences. Their model is the exodus from Egypt, through which the Children of Israel and the mixed multitude accompanying them became an entirely new people. They went from being slaves to being an independent, cohesive ethnic group ready to forge a brand new society.

In other words: the moment in which the Children of Israel crossed the Sea of Reeds was the moment in which they were truly born.

Citations: All scriptural quotes come from the Everett Fox translation of the Five Books of Moses. The first four episodes of the podcast Judaism Unbound cover the concepts of Genesis Jews vs. Exodus Jews, although the hosts repeatedly revisit the topic in subsequent episodes.

#asks #my posts #divrei torah #d'var torah #exodus #shemot #sea of reeds #the red sea

[elysiuminfra]

g-d is my best friend and she made me transgender because she loves me

#religious thoughts #thoughts #making this post separate bc it amuses me. she really DID make me transgender. no matter how iw as born i wouldve been transgender. #transgender all the way down. #secret note: i actually becam #e. MORE transgender. after studying torah #because i was able to unlearn all my self-hatred imposed by christianity #and finally connect my religious ideals to my gender identity. it all just slotted together #thank you to my rabbi for introducing me to the idea of g-d is genderless and i was like woah.... just like me.....!

[honeysuckle-venom]

I'm so tired but I'm too freaked out to go back to sleep so instead I'm going to get ready and go to synagogue this morning. I can nap after services.

#text post #my post #my anxiety about everything is worst at night and early in the morning #but my meeting with the rabbi was good and services last night were good and services this morning will be good #plus someone's have her bat mitzvah this morning and it's the same parsha from my bat mitzvah 12 years ago #so it'll be fun to hear her d'var torah and think back to mine

[gerardwaygirlmoments]

Maybe it’ll be Bullets again tonight. Think about it. It’s Simchat Torah, the holiday when Jews complete the Torah and then start again at the beginning. After Danger Days night, MCR has completed their eras, so they could begin again.

Chag Sameach

#I’m basically shit posting here. I know MCR is far from Jewish #I fucking wish tho #mcr #mcrla5 #i brought you my bullets you brought me your love #danger days #judaism #simchat torah #torah

[some-teeth-in-a-trench-coat]

How long is it gonna take until the three align:

I'm on my computer

I have the spoons to edit my blog description

I remember that I've been meaning to edit my description for like a month at least

Anyway in the meantime and so maybe someone will hold me accountable:

Black lives matter. No ifs ands or buts. Black lives matter.

Religious Christians ask me before you follow or you will be blocked on sight (this obviously doesn't apply to followers from before I put this in my description who are unaware of the new rule, but if any new follower doesn't read my description before following that's their problem)

#sfw #personal #I should probably also have a tag for xians dni or xians don't derail #thinking about that time someone (out of ignorance and not malice) derailed my post about Torah #by saying Jews ''''specialize in the old testament'''' #which is uh not great but they didn't know better and hopefully they learned from their mistake #but also maybe I should have specified *on the post* that I didn't want to hear any xian takes #because some people are genuinely and through no real fault of their own unaware how offensive that is #(not saying they're a majority but I want to give them the benefit of the doubt and they're free to prove me wrong and get blocked) #antisemitism #tw religion mention #(the purpose of a dni is not that haters are gonna stay away but a warning they're not welcome and an invitation to walk away in peace)

[oseh-shalom]

So I realized I haven’t made a personal post on this blog in almost 3 months-- since the day I had my beit din/mikveh. Frankly that’s not too unusual for me (I’ve always been more of a lurker in online spaces) but I thought it might be worth reflecting on my relationship to Judaism in the time since I finished converting.

I think the biggest thing that’s changed is that I don’t have the same feeling of “wow, this is all so Amazing and New” -- something that was so present through my conversion process. For so long, I feel like my journey with Judaism was characterized by “firsts”-- my first Shabbat service, first time wearing a kippah, first Pesach seder, first time davening at home with my own siddur, etc etc. And that makes sense! Everything was new to me, and the whole point of the conversion process is to live and experience Judaism. 

And I know it’s still early days since the mikveh... but even just a few months after becoming Jewish, I feel more settled in my identity. Yes, I still love learning and experiencing new things. And of course I still have “firsts” left. A few days after the mikveh, I wore a tallit and had my first aliyah. A couple of weeks ago, I held the Torah for the first time during services. Soon I’ll be going to my first Jewish wedding, and I’ll read from the Torah at my bat mitzvah. As with anything, I have a lifetime of new “firsts” within Judaism.

But the thing is... I feel more at home in my Judaism now. It’s hard to explain the distinction, because feeling “at home” was definitely something I experienced during the conversion process. But now I feel like... I’m just a Jew living my life, you know? All the little things that used to feel ~new and different~ (lighting Shabbat candles, going to shul, davening, celebrating holidays, etc.) are just part of my life now. It’s not that I enjoy these things less, or find less meaning in them; instead, they simply feel more natural. Like I’m just living my life, instead of trying so hard to become something.

And that’s the distinction for me, I think. I don’t have to try so hard. I’m no longer reaching and yearning and starry-eyed. I’m more settled now; more comfortable.

I’m just another Jew in the world. There’s joy and freedom in that. But mostly, just comfort.

#jewish conversion #personal #this post brought to you by: holding the torah for the first time & realizing my life doesn't revolve around 'jewish firsts' as much anymore #it's a quieter joy to feel settled in my identity now #not as bright and new as it used to be. but it's incredibly comforting to just. be.

[tacticalgrandma]

Oh so that “there is a definitive answer to the moral questions posed by the binding of Isaac in the Torah” post came from the morm/on!tumblr that apparently exists. That makes it make a lot more sense.

#need every post that claims to have a ‘Jewish answer’ to a theological question #to be appended w the saying ‘2 Jews 5 opinions’ #anyway if you want my Jewish Answer it’s that the God of the Torah is a god who learns from their prophets as much as the other way around #the panicked voice of the angel telling Abraham to stop #stop don’t lay a hand on him #is God realizing what a horrible mistake they’ve made & giving Isaac the ram & his birthright in apology #if the goal was just teaching Abraham critical thinking skills #it would still have been cruel to do it with those stakes #God should not have put Isaac in that situation no matter what & trying to keep them infalliable in the story #really does not work #esp not w the God of Abraham #when the negotiations over Sodom & Gomorrah constitutes the world’s first Jewish lawyer joke #anyway. if it doesn’t leave room for debate it’s not a proper Jewish take & I say that w full irony

[stirrings-of-a-jewish-soul]

torah goes hard. but it goes even harder studied with another person.

#my post #judaism #jewish conversion #torah study #chevruta?? maybe

[im-fuck3d-90]

Describe a non-fandom thing in fandom terms!

I'll go first!

The bible is an OC-centric Future AU of the Torah, which is a parody of Old Pagan stories.. Also the Quran has the tags, "I'm not even in this fandom, I just like the characters"

#Describe non-fandom things in fandom terms #tw bible mention #tw torah mention #tw quran mention #tw religion mention #dunking on abrahamics lmaooo #I've had this idea for DAYS and my ADHD ass just now posted it #pls rb with more bullshit; it's so hilarious XD