#Jewish Schools Near Me

[kadimadayschool]

Why Kadima Day School is the Ideal Private Jewish Day School for Your Child

Choosing the right educational environment for your child is a significant decision. For families seeking a well-rounded education that integrates academic excellence with Jewish values and traditions, Kadima Day School is an outstanding choice. As a leading private Jewish day school, Kadima offers a unique educational experience that nurtures both the mind and spirit.

The Benefits of a Private Jewish Day School

1. Academic Excellence with a Jewish Foundation

At Kadima Day School, we provide a rigorous academic curriculum that prepares students for success in higher education and beyond. Our program includes core subjects like mathematics, science, and language arts, enriched by Jewish studies, Hebrew language instruction, and religious education. This comprehensive approach ensures that students receive a well-rounded education that supports both their intellectual and spiritual growth.

2. Strong Sense of Jewish Identity and Community

One of the defining features of a private Jewish day school like Kadima is the emphasis on fostering a strong Jewish identity. Our students engage in cultural, religious, and social activities that deepen their connection to their heritage. From celebrating Jewish holidays to participating in community service projects, our programs help students develop a sense of belonging and pride in their Jewish identity.

3. Character Development and Ethical Leadership

Kadima Day School is committed to developing students who are not only academically proficient but also morally grounded. Our emphasis on Jewish values such as kindness, respect, and social responsibility prepares students to become ethical leaders in their communities. The lessons learned at Kadima extend beyond the classroom, shaping students into compassionate and responsible individuals.

Why Choose Kadima Day School?

1. Personalized Attention and Support

With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, Kadima ensures that each student receives the personalized attention they need to thrive. Our teachers are committed to understanding each child’s unique strengths and challenges, providing tailored support to help them succeed. This individualized approach is a hallmark of our private Jewish day school experience.

2. Diverse Extracurricular Opportunities

Kadima offers a wide range of extracurricular activities that complement our academic program. From arts and athletics to clubs and community service, students have ample opportunities to explore their interests and develop new skills. These activities are designed to promote well-rounded development, encouraging students to discover their passions and talents.

3. Engaged Family and Community Involvement

As a private Jewish day school, Kadima places a strong emphasis on family and community engagement. We believe that education is a collaborative effort, and we actively involve parents and the wider community in our school events and activities. This partnership creates a supportive network that enhances the overall educational experience for our students.

Experience the Kadima Difference

Choosing Kadima Day School means giving your child an education that balances academic rigor with cultural enrichment and character development. Our commitment to excellence and community makes us a standout choice for families seeking a private Jewish day school.

Discover how Kadima Day School can make a meaningful difference in your child’s life. Join us and become part of a vibrant private Jewish day school community that prepares students for a bright and successful future.

[strelitzacademy]

Unlock Your Child's Future by Choosing Between IB Program Elementary Schools and Traditional Schools

Feeling overwhelmed by the daunting decision of where to educate your child? Explore the critical contrasts between IB program elementary schools and conventional institutions. Learn about the profound advantages offered by IB PYP schools and discover the best international baccalaureate schools options, including those tailored for Jewish students. Your child's unique journey towards success starts with making the right choice.https://strelitzinternationalacademy.org/exploring-the-difference-between-ib-school-and-regular-school/ https://ha-va.client.renweb.com/oa/inquiry.cfm?memberid=16940

[robotbabe]

*roger from american dad voice* these jewish bakeries….. oh my god….

[justacynicalromantic]

Ukrainian painter, professor, public figure Oleksandr Murashko (1875 - 1919) with his wife Marguerite Murashko, nee Kruger:

Oleksandr was a student of another prominent Ukrainian painter - Illia Repin.

Murashko has been called "the most important Ukrainian artist of the turn of the century". His painting "Carousel" won the gold medal at the Munich Exposition in 1909, and he exhibited in Venice, Rome, Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, and Düsseldorf.

From 1909 to 1912, Murashko taught at the Kyiv Art School. In 1913, he opened his own studio in the Ginsburg skyscraper, where many young Jewish artists were trained, including Mark Epstein. He had a great influence on Kazimir Malevich.

He founded the Association of Kyiv Artists in 1916 and the following year co-founded the Ukrainian State Academy of Arts.

Oleksandr Murashko was murdered by the agents of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission secret police, more commonly known as Cheka (ЧК), in 1919, when he was taking a stroll with his wife.

Not long before his death, his hands full with organising the socially important activities, with teaching and working at the Art Rada, Murashko wrote:

"I haven't really been making any new artwork for the last two years. All of me is immersed in organizing the artistic life of Ukraine. This issue is posed so acutely and is so complicated that I cannot possibly, in any good conscience, avoid it. But I have firm hope that, having given my all to my people, I will be able to return to quiet work..."

Some of Murashko's artwork.

The famous "Carousel":

"Burial Of A Kish Otaman":

"Winter" and "Girl in A Red Hat":

"Near The Cafe":

"Rural Family":

[jewish-joy]

I'd like to think, generally, people are good. That I can trust my classmates and everyone is good-hearted.

But this was recently a protest at my college. One that in better days I would have loved to support, and stand beside.

But at this protest, there was no goal other than the vague words of demonstration and "intifada". The speeches were about "resistance" by "any means necessary".

"What 'means' do you think are necessitated on a sleepy college campus?" I so badly want to ask them. One where the non-zionist Jewish community has been repeatedly attacked, often in the name of justice?

What made me shut down my computer and breathe out was the collection of pictures published from the school newspaper.

In each one, with teenagers and 20-somethings holding up posters with vicious slogans, all I can think about is their eyes. How hateful their gazes are, with mouths turned down and eyebrows knit together. And how the quotes underneath each picture was about the "zionist interference and projects".

And that's all I can think about, is how that anger is present and near. And out of the hundreds of students present at that protest, there has to be someone or several someones willing to take "action".

And time will only tell what that "action" will be.

[transgeirmder]

yooo book update

and it grows

[fromchaostocosmos]

Claims that Israel has been committing a genocide of Palestinians date to long before October 7. Yet the population of Gaza was estimated to be less than 400,000 when Israel captured the territory from Egypt in a war against multiple Arab countries in 1967. It’s now estimated at just over 2 million. Population growth of almost 600% would make it the most inept genocide in the history of the world.

Those repeating the word genocide over and over, turning it into a mantra that penetrates the public consciousness, smearing Israel and anyone who supports it, ignore the facts of this war. This is not an unprovoked war, like Russia’s against Ukraine. It’s not a civil war between rival militias, like the one raging in Sudan — which, by the way, is being ignored by almost everyone, even though the UN describes it as one of the “worst humanitarian crises in recent memory,” where a famine could kill 500,000 people. No, Israel was attacked. On October 7, Hamas launched a gruesome assault on Israeli civilians, killing some 1,200 — including many women and children — and dragging hundreds of them as hostages into Gaza. Today dozens — including many women and children — remain in captivity. Those who keep saying that Israel’s response is an act of revenge rather than the strategic, defensive war that most Israelis view as a fight for national survival against a determined enemy backed by a powerful country are deliberately distorting reality. In doing so, they are perversely evoking the same false blood lust and grotesqueness embedded in the blood libel archetype.

Indeed, Hamas’ actions, which precipitated this war, don’t seem to exist in the minds of ostensibly humanitarian-minded protesters. Nor even the fate of the hostages, still captive in Hamas tunnels. Although the campus protests vary in their message and actions from school to school, we never hear protesters chant that Hamas should release the hostages or accept a ceasefire. Quite the contrary. Accusations against Israel at times include praise for Hamas, one of whose aims — the end of the Jewish state — is shared by some key organizers of the student protests. As Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently said, “It remains astounding to me that the world is almost deafeningly silent when it comes to Hamas.” Accusing Israel of genocide and putting the entire onus for stopping the war, putting all the blame for the deaths, on the Jewish state is even more astounding because Hamas — designated a terrorist organization by the US, the European Union and many other countries — is a group whose explicit goal, according to its founding charter, is not just to destroy Israel, but to kill Jews. That is the definition of genocide.

Still, the death toll, even by the Hamas count, does not in any way suggest a genocidal campaign. The terror organization puts the total at about 35,000. The figure, disputed by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy among other think tanks and researchers, includes Hamas fighters. That means the number of civilians killed, whatever the total, is actually lower. Compare that to the death toll in Mosul, Iraq, where coalition forces uprooted ISIS from a city that had some 600,000 people at the time. Estimates of the exact number of deaths vary, ranging from 9,000 to 40,000 (the latter is the estimate of Kurdish intelligence). The lowest figure is on par with the rate of total deaths reported by Hamas authorities in Gaza that does not distinguish civilians from Hamas fighters, while the highest is four times greater. I don’t recall hearing the term genocide used there, or in any of the battles that led to more than half a million people being killed in Afghanistan and Iraq during America’s wars there. And yet, Israel has been repeatedly smeared with this damning accusation.

[i-swear-my-name-isnt-raz]

Last night (May 2) two of my friends stayed in my off campus apartment because they did not feel safe on our college campus due to the encampment and protesters who have been calling for “intifada One Solution” and mobbing the main entrance to campus to harass students not part of the protest.

I emailed the school admin because it is unacceptable that Jewish students are fleeing campus and the synagogue and chabad house are doing more to support students that the actual admin. And the admin, like the cowards they are, didn’t even respond to my email and just forwarded it to one of the rabbis in the area.

I hope if people who are part of these encampments see this, you feel ashamed if your school’s Jews are leaving due to unsafe environments. I am fucking sick of the rise in antisemitism the last seven months and I am fucking sick of the silence from the goyim around me. I was looking to invite people to a birthday dinner and I realized that I have 2 non jewish friends who I feel comfortable around and letting near my Jewish friends. It breaks my heart, but i have realized how important it is to protect the people I have and how it’s ok to cut people out how make you feel unsafe.

I am realizing how I can’t even trust former friends anymore because I saw them celebrating October 7 and I hear their deafening silence when Jewish people are assaulted for being Jewish. Literally any other minority and these people will be vocal about it. But when it’s Jewish blood, it’s suddenly cheap

[too-antigonish]

Endeavour and Fascism

There's a thread of history running through Endeavour that's been on my mind a lot recently. It's a somewhat unified arc that runs through 3 episodes: Coda, Colours, and Raga. I was curious to learn more and did some research.

It's probably nothing new for folks in the UK, but for most of us in the US, it's not something we learned about in school.

So here goes...long post...

S3E4: Coda

We get the first glimpse in in Coda when Thursday comforts Trewlove with the offer of a cigarette as she copes with the murder of a fellow officer:

THURSDAY: All right? TREWLOVE: They just shot him. Like it was nothing. THURSDAY: Here. For the nerves. Keep the pack. Stick 'em behind your notebook and nobody'll know. TREWLOVE: Thanks. THURSDAY: Tip my old governor gave me. Sergeant Vimes. Cable Street. “No Pasarán!” All right? Let’s have that jacket buttoned up, then. TREWLOVE: Sir.

It's such a little exchange, but it delights me in so many ways. There's the sweetness of the interaction between Thursday and Trewlove. There's the irony in hindsight of his "thoughtfulness" in helpfully encouraging her to smoke. There's the nod to Terry Pratchett's Discworld with the references to both "Sergeant Vimes" and "Cable Street." And finally there's the nod with “No Pasarán!”  to the actual Battle of Cable Street that occurred in the East End of London in 1936.

A nostalgic reference to “No Pasarán!” is actually a bit ironic coming from a former Met officer. As the unfortunate party charged with keeping the two opposing sides "peaceful," the Met faced some of the worst violence on that day. However, Fred Thursday would not have experienced it as a police officer.

We know from the episode Home that he didn't join the police until two years later, in 1938. We find out in Cartouche though, that he did grow up near Shadwell Basin—about a ten minute walk from where the main showdown in the Battle of Cable Street occurred—so there's a good chance that Thursday would have witnessed the events of that day and maybe even participated.

Here's my understanding of what happened: The British Union of Fascists—a group openly aspiring to create a British  state in the style of Hitler's Germany or Mussolini's Italy—attempted to stage a march through the middle of London's East End. Their leader was Oswald Mosley, a horrible but charismatic minor aristocrat with a Hitler-wannabe-mustache, his own cadre of paramilitary "Blackshirts," and—unbeknownst to him—a major problem in his ranks with deep infiltration by Special Branch. 

Why the East End? It was the poorest area of the city and thus home to the most recent immigrants—in particular, the UK's largest Jewish population—many of whom had escaped rising persecution elsewhere in Europe. At the same time, the East End was also home to the Londoners hit hardest by the rising unemployment of the 1930s.

Mosley's rhetoric had finally become openly and unapologetically anti-Semitic in 1935 and the idea that Jewish immigrants were the ones responsible for stealing jobs from the "native" British was a simplistic explanation offered by the BUF that unfortunately resonated with many East Enders. So ultimately, the East End was home to both the main target and the BUF and some of its biggest supporters.

In October of 1936, Mosley planned for his Blackshirts and their supporters to march through the heart of the East End. Determined to both defend themselves from threats of violence and stop the march from passing through their community, Jewish leaders and others mobilized, successfully recruiting thousands of their East End neighbors and others allies to assist.

© Jewish East End Celebration Society

On the day of the march, despite a massive police escort, the BUF was turned back repeatedly. The slogan of the day, borrowed from the Republican fighters in the Spanish Civil War was, "They shall not pass" or "No Pasarán!” 

Eventually, things came to a head at the junction of Cable Street and Christian Street. Multiple barricades were erected and the BUF marchers were pelted with rotted vegetables and the contents of chamber pots. It became a pitched battle at one point. Unable to break through the East End, Mosley was finally forced to relocate his followers to Hyde Park.

© Copyright Jim Osley Detail from a mural painted on the side of the former St George's vestry hall

S5E4: Colours

The Battle of Cable Street was a humiliation for the fascists and for Mosley, a victory for the Jewish community and their allies. Sadly, the happiness was very short-lived. Mosley was able to frame Cable Street in the press as an attack by the left on his right to free speech.

There was an immediate increase in support for the BUF in the greater London area, particularly in the East End, and an increase of violence against Jewish people in the UK.  Oswald Mosley himself travelled  to Germany only two days after Cable Street. There he married socialite Diana Mitford in a secret ceremony at the home of Joseph Goebbels with Hitler attending as the guest of honor. 

Mosley and Mitford CC-BY-2.0

However, the increase in support that occurred right after Cable Street was brief in itself. As the threat of Nazi Germany became more apparent in the UK, the popularity of the BUF declined. Once the war began, the Mosleys were interned under a provision that applied to active Nazi sympathizers.

Post-war, Mosley attempted to once more find a place in politics but fortunately never moved beyond the fringe. He and his wife became prime movers in advancing various Holocaust denial theories and later espoused rather unpleasant opinions on topics such as the forced repatriation of immigrants and mixed-race marriages.

If this all sounds familiar, it's because it all crops up in the storyline of Colours where the character of Charity Mudford, Lady Bayswater is a stand-in for Diana Mitford.  RL's dialogue very much captures the sheer banality of the real Diana Mitford's  evil:

BAYSWATER: I can't change the past. If Winston hadn't been so eager for office, all the unpleasantness might have been avoided. My husband had Hitler's ear. We could have persuaded him. Softened his resolve. He wasn't immune to reason.  THURSDAY: Charming conversationalist, no doubt. BAYSWATER: Actually, he was a very good mimic. Terribly witty. MORSE: Sir, is it time for that telephone call? To the station? I can take it from here. THURSDAY: The unpleasantness, as you call it, cost me six years of my life, and untold millions a great deal more.

S7E2: Raga

But we're not quite done yet. The BUF had a successor. The National Front was founded by a former member of the BUF who then joined forces with John Tyndall, the leader of the Greater Britain movement which had a big anti-immigration focus.

As with Jewish immigration a generation earlier, heavy South Asian migration to Britain in the 1970s made it an easy target for those seeking to pin all of the nation's economic and social problems on "outsiders."

The National Front eventually came out with an agenda that called for the revocation of citizenship for all non-whites in Britain and forcible repatriation to their "native" countries. NF rallies were frequently accompanied by violence whipped up by the kind of rhetoric we hear in Raga where the character of Gorman serves as a stand-in for Tyndall and his ilk:

THURSDAY: Well, we're very concerned about young Pakistani lads getting knifed on the street. GORMAN: Terrible. But I can't say that I'm surprised. You cram all of these incompatible cultures together on one small island, of course it's gonna lead to blood. And worse. MORSE: Sounds like a threat, Mr. Gorman. GORMAN: It's just an observation. If the police can't keep the streets safe and defend the indigenous population against outsiders, well, no wonder people take it into their own hands. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a seat to win.

If anyone sees anything that I've gotten wrong here, please let me know. This was my first time reading through any source material on this whole topic and it's complicated (and depressing as hell).

I haven't got any pithy, final point to make except to say that there are certain ideas that seem to cycle back with horrible regularity every time certain conditions are in place. They're wrong. They're simplistic. They're hateful. And they need to be stopped every time.

[etz-ashashiyot]

About Me/FAQs

You can call me Avital. I am a non-binary traditional egalitarian Jew living in the US. Any pronouns except they/them are fine. (!היא/את בעברית, בבקשה. תודה)

I really appreciate human interaction. That being the case, if you follow me and I don't already follow you, please send me a DM with the following:

What you want me to call you (internet name, username, nickname, whatever)

What brought you here and made you want to follow me

Something random about you that you feel comfortable sharing (pet pics are always welcome too <3)

I had a whole lot of other rules on my previous blog to weed out the faint of heart, but I genuinely don't know how well that worked, so instead I will simply put roughly the same information below as resources and recommended reading. Fair warning: I will operate from a baseline assumption that you've done the reading and therefore will not be explaining anything in them.

I also had a listing of my firm opinions and other miscellaneous information. That got long and unwieldy, but a lot of people seemed to appreciate it, so I will post roughly the same list under the cut.

The current username refers to my current symbol of a tree of lanterns in the starlight. This is related to my desire to create self-symbolism, old school style (like I really want to create a family crest, a flag, a seal, and other heraldic nonsense. Why? Because it delights me, of course.)

This page is under construction and subject to change at any time.

B'vracha,

Avital

Recommend Reading

For followers who are Christian, were Christian, are non-Jews who grew up in a Christian culture and/or have only learned about Judaism through Christianity, these links are very helpful in unpacking some of the antisemitism you were taught:

Better Parables (specifically the article about Pharisees, but read the rest of the site too, it's great)

Antisemitic readings of the Temple table-flipping incident in the New Testament

The current Israel-Hamas war and just המצב discourse in general require a lot of background knowledge to discuss intelligently, and not just propaganda. There is a LOT of antisemitism in the public around this topic and it is having serious real-world consequences for Jews all over the world. The mis- and disinformation is causing problems for everyone involved. Islamophobia in the West has increased as well. If you're going to engage in this discussion, I am respectfully but forcefully asking you to read the following sources. They are useful regardless of where you fall on that political scale.

There Is No Magic Peace Fairy

Ways to help: [1], [2], [3]

Muslim organizations advocating for peace, education, positive interfaith relations, and fighting antisemitism

This is perhaps my best summary of my own feelings on the whole thing

Is your pro-Palestine activism hurting innocent people? Here's how to avoid that

Please learn what Kahanism is, because it actually is what people think Zionism is. Zionism is simply a desire for Jewish self-determination in our ancestral homeland of eretz Yisrael. Kahanism is a type of racism that cloaks itself in Zionism but is fundamentally bigoted.

A non-exhaustive list of antisemitic incidents, attacks, and pogroms during [OP's] lifetime

An exceptionally long and thorough explanation of antisemitism and antisemitic violence throughout history

Why The Most Educated People in America Fall for Antisemitic Lies by Dara Horn (tumblr link in case the article link gets broken)

This explanation of the atrocities endured by Soviet Jews and how the legacy of Soviet antisemitism undergirds western "antizionism-not-antisemitism." If you call yourself an anti-Zionist, this is required reading.

An excellent overview of the basics

This is nowhere near complete information, but it's an important start. I will very likely continue to add resources as they become available and would love to create a primer on this topic more generally.

If you don't believe that October 7th happened or wasn't that bad, or really any atrocity denial please read this article from a reporter who was shown the actual footage, as well as this article documenting its effects on him.

If you are still in denial about the pattern of gender based violence, sexualized torture, and widespread rape as a war tactic committed by Hamas on 10/7, you are legally required to read this article.

About the blog:

I’m going to try my best to keep this blog to primarily Judaism, comparative religion and theology, with the occasional side sprinkling of queer & trans stuff, BUT it is absolutely a personal blog at the end of the day.

I talked about Israel and המצב stuff a lot on my previous blog and will likely continue a bit over here too. I welcome a broad swath of opinions, so long as they objectively treat all parties involved as human and deserving of safety, stability, freedom, dignity, and peace. That is apparently a large ask these days, and a not-small part of why I keep talking about this issue. Please be part of the voices that give me hope for the future, okay?

Minors can follow and interact but please keep in mind that I’m probably closer to your parents' age than yours if you do want to interact with me directly.

Interactions:

Rude asks will be deleted. Harassing blogs will be blocked and probably reported.

I consider anything even remotely in the vicinity of trying to proselytize to me to be “harassing,” or at a minimum, rude. Just FYI.

Otherwise, nice interactions are welcomed.

Banter is encouraged; trolling will be ignored

If you are a goy and want to argue with me about Jewish theology, you have to match my perfect score on this popquiz, no cheating by looking things up during the quiz. I learned Judaism as an adult mostly through self-study so you have no excuse. If you're invested enough to argue with me you're invested enough to do the reading homework. (To clarify: I'm happy to explain Jewish stuff to anyone who is sincerely asking or just have a friendly comparative theology discussion or whatever. But I have zero patience for those who want to argue with me about basic shit claiming they know more than me, especially if what they're claiming they "know" is not only wrong but antisemitic and wrong.)

If I don't respond to your interaction, there's a strong chance that I (a) have no idea what to say and am thinking about it, (2) totally meant to respond and just forgot after the notif disappeared, and/or (3) got incredibly busy. It's not personal! Please don't be shy about following up with me if you like. I promise that if we have a problem that is fixable, you'll know. If we have a problem that is not fixable, you'll be blocked.

I am currently learning Ivrit and am delighted to have interactions in Hebrew. Please feel free to message me, reply to posts or reblog, submit asks, etc. in Hebrew and I will do my best to read and respond to it. (Responses will be slower, but not for lack of appreciation of your thoughts!)

Anything else, just ask.

Hard stances:

You're not going to change my mind on these things; I've looked at the evidence, my personal experiences, and thought about them long and hard, and I am not going to be swayed by an internet rando. I can (often, but not always) co-exist just fine with people who I disagree with, but if seeing my posts about this is going to upset you, just do us both a favor and block me now please.

I am deeply distressed at how many people are choosing to live in a "post-factual society" where the truth is based on truthiness vibes and the politics are based on the quippiest of slogans. I don't care who's doing it, misinfo, disinfo, propaganda, atrocity denial, and gaslighting are BAD. There is no nuance here; these are bad things. They are bad if they go against your cause and they are bad if they "support" your cause. No cause is better than the truth.

If we cannot have a discussion where we are operating from the same baseline reality of verifiable facts, we cannot have a productive conversation and I will not engage with you. We can agree or disagree on a lot and that is fine, but facts matter.

If you cannot be reasoned with in accepting verifiable facts as reality, you need help. I'm serious. That is cult behavior. Get off tumblr and get help.

I don't know how to tell you that you should care about other people. If you don't see the inherent worth in other human beings' lives, I can't fix that. Go take that struggle to G-d and heal your soul.

I support the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in our ancestral homeland of Israel, the same way that I support other indigenous groups' right to self-determination in their ancestral homelands. If you don't, I'm going to need you to examine why Jews should be singled out of every other group to be denied this right or denied support in seeking it. That said, I definitely do not agree with many of the decisions made by the Israeli government, especially (but far from exclusively) regarding their treatment of Palestinians. I think both Jews and Palestinians deserve to live in peace, safety, freedom, dignity, and self-determination for both. No one is going anywhere; any real solution must recognize that. I tend to favor this proposal by A Land for All as an ideal (and given the grassroots nature of this idea, I think it could work pragmatically too, if the political will exists on both sides.)

I reject the Zionist/anti-Zionist dichotomy altogether for a number of reasons: 1) It impedes conversation because too many people agree but will never know it because they refuse to talk about what they actually mean by those labels and instead make assumptions about the other group. 2) It inherently puts the validity of an existing state up for debate rather than looking at real solutions for the future. You cannot unmake the state of Israel without widespread atrocities, but you can figure out options for everyone to live together in peace and heal from the collective trauma. 3) It also makes it way too easy to play Good Jew/Bad Jew and "Zionist" has basically become the slur de jour for "Jew." It sucks that people took a Jewish word for an important Jewish concept and made it synonymous with "bloodthirsty racist," but personally I don't think arguing over that at this exact juncture in time is helpful.

Bottom line: I'm a humanitarian and a pragmatist, and I care about all the people who call that part of the world home.

Update: for real, if you have trouble seeing Israelis and Palestinians both as human and deserving of safety, dignity, freedom, and inherent worth as living human beings, I don't want to know you. I don't want to talk to you. Go fix yourself.

🌻 I stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦

Free Iran from the Islamic Republic // Women Life Freedom

Abortion is a human right and should be safe, legal, available on demand, and shameless. It's a necessary medical procedure and it's completely barbaric that we're still talking about it as anything else.

Birth control, abortion, and no-fault divorce are actively positive parts of society and building healthy families.

Transition care is healthcare and also a human right. Allowing people to transition prevents self-harm and suicide, and has an extremely high efficacy rate with an exceptionally low level of risk or regret. We now have well over a century of data on this.

That said, detransitioners who are still supportive of trans people/aren't transphobic are more than welcome here, as any exploratory process deserves the right to say, "Interesting! But nope!"

Transunity, ace/aro positivity, and just inclusionism in general, 100%. Fuck off with anything else.

Queer might be a slur in the mouths of some people, but my identity isn't. Don't reblog my posts if you're going to tag it with "q slur" or "q word" or censored in some way. I'm not Gay as in "I prioritize cis men over the entire rest of the community" but Queer as in "my personal labels are none of your business but my political stance on queer liberation sure as fuck will be."

If you don't vaccinate yourself and your kids for any reason other than medical necessity, and especially if you promote anti-vaxxer views and the associated pseudoscience, you are actively harming the most vulnerable members of society for entirely selfish reasons and that makes you a bad person. I hope your kids bypass you to get vaccinated.

Wear a mask 😷

[pink-fiat003]

When and where did you first learn about Christianity, and when and why did you decide to become Christian?

I didn't actually start learning about religion seriously until in high school when one of my relatives told me he was a Catholic. As a Muslim, I had no clue about Christian theology at all. So I watched YouTube videos, read "The Case for Jesus" by Brant Pitre (which is a 5/5 book), and the Bible. However, once I started going to Mass with him and being near the presence I think that was the final nail in the coffin and eventually led me to believe. For me, the strongest argument is the fact that there's strong historical evidence for Christ's ministry and the crucifixion -it's difficult to deny it happened. It also doesn't make sense to me that a prophet would come 600 years later if Jesus made it clear he was completing the Messianic prophecy to the Jews - which has a lot of basis in the Jewish books. I could go on with a lot more arguments.

But in conclusion, the historical arguments are the strongest reasons for pushing me towards becoming a Catholic. I was baptized and received all of my sacraments this year. Thank you for asking!

[kadimadayschool]

Why Kadima Day School is a Leading Jewish School in California

Finding the right school for your child involves more than just academics; it’s about choosing an environment that nurtures their growth, values, and identity. If you're searching for a well-rounded educational experience rooted in Jewish traditions and values, Kadima Day School is a top choice. As a premier Jewish school in California, Kadima offers a unique blend of academic excellence, cultural enrichment, and personal development.

The Benefits of Choosing a Jewish School in California

1. Academic Excellence with a Cultural Foundation

At Kadima Day School, we provide a robust academic program that prepares students for success in higher education and beyond. Our curriculum covers essential subjects like mathematics, science, and language arts while integrating Jewish teachings, Hebrew language, and religious studies. This holistic approach ensures that students receive a well-rounded education that fosters both intellectual and spiritual growth.

2. Strong Jewish Identity and Community Engagement

One of the key advantages of attending a Jewish school in California like Kadima is the focus on developing a strong sense of Jewish identity. Our students engage in a variety of cultural, religious, and social activities that deepen their connection to their heritage. From celebrating Jewish holidays to participating in community service, our programs emphasize the importance of living and learning within a supportive Jewish community.

3. Character Development and Ethical Leadership

Kadima Day School is committed to shaping the next generation of ethical leaders. Through our curriculum and daily practices, we emphasize values such as kindness, respect, and social responsibility. Our students learn to navigate life’s challenges with integrity and compassion, which are essential qualities for future leaders in any community.

Why Kadima Day School Stands Out as a Jewish School in California

1. Personalized Learning Environment

With small class sizes and a dedicated faculty, Kadima ensures that each student receives personalized attention. Our teachers are not only educators but also mentors who guide students on their academic and personal journeys. This individualized approach helps students excel in their studies and build confidence in their abilities.

2. Comprehensive Extracurricular Programs

Kadima Day School offers a wide range of extracurricular activities that complement our academic program. Whether it’s through arts, sports, or community service, students have the opportunity to explore their interests and develop new skills. These activities are designed to promote well-rounded development and encourage students to discover their passions.

3. Family and Community Involvement

As a Jewish school in California, Kadima places a strong emphasis on family and community involvement. We believe that education is a collaborative effort, and we actively engage parents and the broader community in our school activities. This partnership ensures that students receive the support they need to thrive both academically and personally.

Experience the Kadima Difference

Choosing Kadima Day School means giving your child an education that balances academic rigor with cultural enrichment and character development. As a leading Jewish school in California, we are proud to offer an environment where students can grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially.

Discover why Kadima Day School is the right choice for your family. Join us and be part of a vibrant Jewish school in California that prepares students for a bright and meaningful future!

[indecisiveavocado]

words english badly needs, Channukah edition

Ambidreidelous: able to spin a dreidel equally well clockwise or counterclockwise. Example sentence: "I have discovered that I am not ambidreidelous."

Channuconfusion: Goy confusion and misunderstandings of Channukah. Example sentence: "Mary was so Channuconfused, she said dreidel was gambling!"

Channukah: Goy understanding of Channukah. When spoken, the "Ch" is pronounced as in "church" or "cheese". Closely related to Channuconfusion. Example sentence: "Mom, I can't go to school today, we're 'learning' about Channukah and I won't be able to stand it."

Channukemphasis: Channukah being overly emphasized or implied to be more important than it is. Example sentence: "It's classic Channukemphasis - Rachel's school 'taught' about Jewish holidays, which apparently means Channukah, Channukah, Channukah, with the token word about Yom Kippur or Shabbat."

Christmecca: When people of other religions try to claim or appropriate Channukah. Example sentence: "Why are the goyim always Christmeccing? Aren't their holidays enough?"

Christmissed: When "teaching" or "celebrating" or "honoring" the token Hannukah thing, getting the date wrong because they assumed it would be near Christmas. Example sentence: "They included a little menorah by their giant Christmas tree, but they Christmissed--Channukah ended last week."

Christmurge: The urge, when someone says/implies Channukah is the Jewish Christmas, to mention how the Channukah spirit is killing those who try to destroy us (or similar). Example sentence: "Oh, you think that's the strongest Christmurge anyone's ever felt, do you now, you innocent little child?"

Countfusion: Confusion when trying to calculate Channukah-related things because it starts at night. Example sentence: "Sorry I'm late, I kept getting countfused about Channukah."

Transliteranxiety: Worrying about how to transliterate Channukah. Example sentence: "It takes me twice as long to write a post about Channukah as it should because of transliteranxiety."

EDIT: @hyperpotamianarch has suggested the following word:

Transliterhate: hating how Hebrew is latinized. Can apply for transliteration between any two languages. Example sentence: "the name James really lights up my transliterhate, could you believe it's somehow supposed to be יעקב?"

[historicity-was-already-taken]

Hello! Thank you so much for your current Q&A regarding Israel/Palestine. I'm a teacher (for foreign languages) at a secondary school in Germany, so I'm constantly torn between the "criticism of Israel is inherently anti-semitic/the existence and safety of Israel is German state reason", which means, for example, that we as teachers are supposed to suspend students for the day if they come to school wearing the Palestinian scarf etc. (I don't think this is good practice, and I'm glad I haven't had to enforce this yet), on the one hand, and on the other a lot of students from the middle east, even Palestinian students, who are obviously and completely understandibly highly upset about the ongoing situation because their families are much closer to the conflict that I as a white German am. These students often go from understandable criticism ("Why can they just say your home now belongs to them?" regarding the illegal settlements) to downright anti-semitism; I overheard one student saying something (probably Arabic) in an insulting tone to another student that had the word "israel" in it and then he tried to tell me "israel" meant "dog", so it wasn't anti-semitic (what??). I'm uncomfortable with several of the measures my federal state (which is my employer and to whom I have to be loyal or risk getting removed from teaching) has taken regarding the I/P conflict (which has resulted in several Jews and Jewish organisations to be penalised for anti-semitism), but also with the extremely scary vitriol of Muslim students towards Jews and Israel. Your blog in general and your Q&A is giving me a better understanding and ability to convey a more nuanced position to the students in my care. Thank you for this opportunity, and for providing it without usernames attached.

Just to sort of untangle all the issues you're speaking to for readers less informed on how All Of This is playing out across Western and Central Europe, here are the dynamics at play here, and specifically in Germany:

-West and Central European white supremacy, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and racism; particularly as directed towards Arab and Near Eastern populations.

-Palestinian trauma.

-German national commitment towards eradicating anti-Semitism from its society as a way to avoid ever repeating the crimes of its past.

-Hardcore anti-Semitism within Near Eastern Diasporic populations deriving from both the European colonizers of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the appropriation (imo) of Palestinian trauma and rage.

-The place of anti-Semitic rhetoric and narratives within Israel-critical speech.

It's a knot it will take a multi-national team of specialists to even begin to untangle.

I'm so glad anything I'm doing here is helping you be able to navigate what is, quite frankly, a clusterfuck.

[poisonousquinzel]

In honor of the Deadpool 3 talk going around, be aware that the director Shawn Levy is a Zionist who supports Noah Schnapp, with Ryan Reynold's support.

Caption: These are just a few images of the hundreds that compel me to speak up: More than 1000 dead, over 150 kidnapped , others raped, wounded, brutalized .

Children, teens, women, and the elderly...

This terrorist act has and CAN have NO justification, no 'context' that can explain or forgive .

To be clear: this was perpetrated by Hamas-- a terrorist organization that does not seek peace, nor democracy , nor a 2-state coexistence for the Palestinian and Israeli people; they want the elimination of Israel, the eradication of the Jewish people, and what they did in Israel should outrage anyone with basic human principles. You can care about the struggles of the Palestinians and still condemn Hamas as the barbaric terrorists they clearly show themselves to be. Honestly baffled that there's even any debate about this .

You don't need to be Jewish to stand with these innocent victims and hostages. You don't need to be Jewish to be heartsick, outraged and stand against this terror; you just need to be a human being with eyes and ears and heart.

Oct 10, 2023

And yeah, unsurprisingly, he's posted jackshit in regards to the proven lies that were and are spread about the events of Oct 7, or about the propaganda he helped spread, or about how Israel killed it's own people on Oct 7, or how they have repeatedly had chances to get the hostages back (including this month as well!!) and refuse because this has never been about the hostages, or how they've repeatedly lied about Hamas bases and operatives to try n justify bombing hospitals & schools, or how Israel has committed dozens of war crimes over and over, or how there's plenty of recorded proof of IDF / IOF soldiers beating up and assaulting Jewish people who disagree with them, or the videos of Israeli settlers harassing others in their circle for having empathy for Palestinians, screaming obscenities and insults at teachers for having empathy for other humans, or the thousands of Jewish people who stand with Palestine and have been this whole time, or the heinous racist shit Noah Schnapp has spewed lately, or how the IDF / IOF is known for having a problem with soldiers sexually assaulting each other, or how Israel is a safe haven for pedophiles (ya know, rapists), or about the little girl who was stuck in a car with her dead relatives until she was also murdered by Israel (alongside the medical workers who had gone to recuse her), or about the videos of the Israeli military using bulldozers to run over people in tents, to run over a pregnant woman, to run over refugees, or about the family members who've had to carry the pieces of their loves ones in bags because they were blown to pieces by the bombs set off by the Israeli military, or about how they're actively starving every Palestinian person they can and refusing to allow aid into Gaza, or how Israeli folks are actively driving out in droves to physically prevent aid trucks from passing to get to a starving population, or how it's been a tradition for Israeli settlers to go to the edge near Gaza to listen and Celebrate bombings long before Oct 7, or the countless pieces of irreplaceable historical landmarks have been destroyed, or the over 30,000 Palestinians who've been murdered in cold blood since Oct 7 while Zionist cheer on the violence.

Marvel supports Israel, actively, don't let your love for that specific series cloud that.

[eretzyisrael]

BY ANI WILCENSKI

At Cornell, the school uses an anonymous reporting system in which anyone can submit a complaint against a frat, even people who don’t attend the university—which can then become near-immediate grounds for a formal investigation during which the fraternity may very likely be suspended. This happened as recently as February, when Cornell’s Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received “an anonymous incident report” making unspecified allegations against at least 10 fraternities. By 9 p.m. the same day, OSCCS emailed every new member of those fraternities encouraging them to come forward with their own reports; three days later the school began suspending the accused chapters. The frats were prohibited from all social activity during the investigation, which included banning new members from eating at the house, even though they were paying for the fraternity meal plan, and limiting events at campus apartments occupied by graduating seniors, some of whom even had to cancel their birthday parties. I talked to one senior who wrote to the university, explaining that their guidelines were making it impossible to hold even small gatherings among friends and asking for additional clarity so seniors could find approved ways to enjoy their final days as students—especially since the anti-Israel protests were making campus life notably unenjoyable.

“It was frustrating because most people in our frat are Jewish, and the frat really was essential for us while there were swastikas being drawn on school sidewalks and people were yelling ‘From the river to the sea’ every day,” he said. “I said in my email to the school that campus is divided, isolating, and even threatening for Jews sometimes, so having the fraternity social network is actually a critical part of our lives. They didn’t even respond to my message.” The school lifted his frat’s suspension nearly a month later after the university found insufficient evidence for the allegations.

This incident—and the myriad other times the school leaped to penalize even unsubstantiated infractions—is still fresh in the minds of Cornell fraternity brothers as they watch the university’s noisy Gaza encampment enter its second week, despite multiple statements from the school pointing out its many rule violations. “It’s pretty clear the school views a certain type of rule break as honorable and just, and other rule breaks as violations by entitled jerks, so this was not surprising to me,” the senior said.