#Jewish tradition

[freewingthefree]

One of the Sefer Torahs in my shul survived the holocaust and several decades of storage in sub-optimal conditions in the former Eastern Block. We have had a bunch of texts donated by Shoah survivors to us to help start and enhance our shul and add their history to ours to carry forwards. Our Cantor and Choir and Music Director work hard to keep alive the music of shuls past - to preserve the melodies as they have been preserved by those before, hiding sheets of music from the fires of the Nazis. Our whole existence is that of determination born out of a deep love.

“Once upon a time in the 1980s, when I was a twenty-year-old graduate student full of arrogance and attitude, I worked in the Hebrew books and manuscripts division of the Judaica Department at Sotheby’s New York. My boss was the “Judaica expert,” the late, great Jay Weinstein, a man truly deserving of his title, which he bore with immense modesty and humour. My own title was also “expert” but, by way of contrast, it only exacerbated my supercilious arrogance when I found myself called to the front desk to meet a client… The client I was about to meet on the day I am describing had called a week before to tell me that he was in possession of “a very old Hebrew book.” I was not looking forward to the encounter, since auction experts know very well that the hoi polloi consider anything more than ten years old to be ancient and hence of untold value. Disabusing clients of this notion as it applies to their particular treasure is an often painful but necessary task… Mr. X, I was dismayed to find, embodied all my worst fears. Stooped, elderly, still in his coat, and eager — very eager. Authoritative and disdainful though I made myself, he was simply unimpressed by my “impressiveness.” With total focus and trembling hands, he reached into a plastic shopping bag and produced, wrapped in newspaper older than I was, his “treasure” — a book of Psalms, printed in Warsaw in 1920. I couldn’t believe this monumental waste of my precious time — a brand new book of Psalms would be worth more than this! I was exasperated by this schlepper, and I wanted to tell him so. I wanted to show him the real treasures — gold, silver, ancient, and precious illuminated manuscripts — that had been entrusted into my “expert” care. I wanted to show him the door as I told him with authoritative disdain, “That book is worth whatever you paid for it!” But at that moment, like the angel in the legend who moves Moses’ hand toward the glowing coal rather than the glittering crown, thus saving his life, some kindly spirit moved my tongue. And instead of that anticipated send-off, I faltered, “Um, what did you pay for this?” The old man drew himself up to his full 5 feet, 2 inches. “For this, I paid seven days’ Auschwitz bread,” he replied with a dignity that totally deflated my pose. It seems that the Nazis had caught him with the little Psalm book, and as a penalty for possessing it, imprisoned him without food — only water to drink — for an entire week. Like Moses touching the coal to his lips, I was struck dumb. “This,” I stammered, “is too valuable for us to sell.” And I stumbled out of the room, a changed young man, with a new appreciation of what is meant by the words precious, valuable, and treasured.”

— Marc Michael Epstein, Skies of Parchment, Seas of Ink: Jewish Illuminated Manuscripts (via jewishhenna)

[fromgoy2joy]

99.96 percent of the year when I go to a museum: oh my gosh! Egyptian artefacts . What a complex society. Love their things with cats!

Me in the two week lead up to Pesach, staring daggers at random pharaoh 8,789’s bust, gripping the visitor’s guide in my hand: oh you fuckers.

[hiddurmitzvah]

In this zine we present you the symbols of the SchUM cities - Speyer, Worms and Mainz. They were important important jewish communities from the High Middle Ages, SchUM is the acronym made up of the first letters of the hebrew names of the cities.

The symbols were taken from tombstones, synagogue ornamentations, floor tiles and even from a mikveh. We used linocut prints for creating the zine, where along with the symbols you can read about its meaning and a bit of history about their place of origin.

The importance of the SchUM cities that they were significant centers of ashkenazi judaism, showcasing early, well-preserved jewish community life, architectural innovation and scholarship. These communities considered as a cradle for ashkenazic judaism, many customs and regulations existing still today actually came from the rabbis living here.

[bigfootboyband]

As Halloween approaches, I’ve been seeing many very talented makeup artists recreate the face of the bride in Tim Burton’s “The Corpse Bride.” I thought this would be a good oppertunity to make some art and remind one and all that the “The Corpe Bride” (known in some tellings as “The Finger” or “The Demon in the Tree”) is a beloved Jewish folktale. Folklorist Howard Schwartz traces the orgins of “The Finger” to 16th century Levant. Aftrer hundreds of years of retelling, the story, like all folktales, has undergone many iterations and also became highly informed by the violence of life in the Pale of Settlement (specifically towards women and young brides).

If you'd like to support me, you can do so here <3

[hebrewbyinbal]

I wasn’t going to post anything else today with all that has happened in Israel but evil will not win.

While my heart and prayers are with all the victims and my people, here is a simple lesson on Jewish traditions during Rosh Hashanah.

Traditional Rosh Hashanah foods are symbolic, reflecting hope, renewal, and blessings for the new year. Key examples:

Apples in honey – Wishing for a sweet new year.

Round challah – Symbolizes life’s cycle and continuity, often sweetened with raisins.

Pomegranates – Represent abundance and the 613 commandments

Fish head – Symbolizes the hope to lead and make progress.

These foods are part of the Rosh Hashanah seder, accompanied by prayers and blessings for a fruitful and positive year.

[fallensapphires]

Holidays: Chanukah (Hanukkah)

The darkness of the whole world cannot swallow the glowing of a candle.

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

[labyrinthofstreams]

Jewish women of Turkestan Krai, Central Asia.

Anonymous photographer, c. 1865-1872.

[mylight-png]

Hey Jews of Tumblr!

What's your favorite Jewish practice? This can be anything, whether it be a mitzvah that you find really important, a holiday practice, a Jewish value, etc.

Personally I like the fact that we are encouraged to question everything. I don't like taking things at face value and need to understand them, which is why I appreciate not only the acceptance, but also the encouragement of questioning things.

Goyim, do not respond. Those in the conversion process are welcome!

[fdelopera]

I started reading When the Angels Left the Old Country after I saw it recommend on your blog and I’m OBSESSED and I just think EVERYONE needs to know about it. The flavor, the Jewish, Yiddish, alter velt flavor of this book- impeccable.

Literally excuse me??? Screaming??? At this opening??? When do we ever get books like this?? Well written, plotted, just chef’s kiss??? Talk about a book that makes you proud to be a part of its heritage (disclaimer I have only read through chapter 4 lol).

i know. ohhhh i know. it's that feeling of recognition. the feeling of the familiar cadence of Yiddish that comes through, even in the English. it's the folk traditions, barely remembered from childhood. it's the way that this little angel and demon are Jewish. the little angel is genderless, and refers to itself as "it". the little demon is one of the sheydim. and yet the little demon is terrorized by the goyishe demons in the towns nearby. it's the way that they have always been here. the way that Shtetl grew up around them. it's the way that they care about the little villagers.

it's that feeling of someone taking us by the hand and saying, "yes. i know. i see you. these are our stories".

[the-lesser-light]

Tradition

A Rabbi was embarking on a study of local traditions for Jewish groups. Their focus was in exploring smaller synagogues and finding out if they participated in any older or newer customs and trying to find out where they originated from.

Such as finding a remote synagogue that perhaps said certain prayers on Shabbat in a different order than the usual order.

While visiting a small synagogue in the south, they attended a Shabbat and were intrigued to watch as when they brought out the Torah and went on their rounds through the group. When the carrier or the Torah turned down the center aisle, they would dip down very low, almost as if bowing, for a couple of steps, then would rise and carry on.

They returned the next week and witnessed the same thing. What tradition was this? Some forgotten motion of bowing from one of the old countries? Perhaps something long lost from the days of the Temple?

They spoke with the carriers and they didn't know where it had come from either, but it was something they had seen their predecessors do so they did it too.

The Rabbi did some research into the synagogue themselves and finally spoke with a few members who had been there for a long time.

It turns out, ten years prior, the synagogue had been under construction and one of the beams above had broken and hung down across the path, causing the Torah carriers to have to duck down to prevent them from hitting their heads.

When the beams had been repaired, the carriers were so used to ducking that they continued to do so. The next ones to carry the Torah had seen this and they too started to duck down in the same spot.

Now, years later, head bumping hazard now gone, it was a tradition to always duck in the same spot.

The Rabbi that told us this story today smiled keenly after she finished shaking the Lulav and Etrog in the standard directions then gave a little spin in a circle while shaking them all about. "I hope that ten years from now, someone will pass on my tradition and wonder what grand meaning and ancient custom it comes from. In truth, it's just a personal reminder that this holiday is about joy and that sometimes we just have to be a little silly."

[fromgoy2joy]

People in the process of conversion to Judaism have a rough time with labels.

You’re not a goy. Maybe, you could say, in the strictest definition you are- as in not initiated in bet the Beit Din or immersed in the mikveh. But not in the social sense of being on the outside of the community, seperated from all Jewish practices until the official moment of “you’re a Jew now!” No one’s going to knock challah away from your hands because you’re cosplaying.

No. You show up to shabbats. You’re at the minyans. You’re in the community and say the brachats. You keep kosher. And maybe you’re discriminated against for being apart of this world.

You’re basically a resident, working on all the citizenship paperwork. There’s a lot to do and you feel constantly behind. But sooner or later, you find yourself living a completely Jewish life. Without the official check mark.

And when people in the community try to explain your presence, they wave their hands and nearly glitch. “Uhhhhh she’s Jewish- not Jewish, no! But working on it!”

I wouldn’t take this away for the world. It’s a long good road at the start of a lifelong journey.

But for my Jews to be? I see you in our awkward phase. Let’s take our time- we’re getting there.

[matan4il]

Hi, all! I know I have some asks to reply to and I will, but this weekend is Rosh Ha'Shana, the Jewish New Year, and I will be with my family. I hope you can be patient with me until I can reply to you.

To all Jews who see this: may a year and its curses end, may a year and its blessings begin.

As we watch antisemitism rise, as hatred in general intensifies, I am going to choose to intensify my love. I will love you, my fellow Jews, more than ever, and I will love you, my fellow humans, more than ever. May we all find the blessing that exists in each day.

Adding a Yemenite Jewish traditional song for Rosh Ha'Shana performed in a modern (and lovely IMO) arrangement. Shana tova u'metuka!

[hiddurmitzvah]

Matzah holder with seder plate from the collection of the Hungarian Ethnographic Museum

This stand, carved from tropical wood and covered with embroidered textile sheets, was collected by Gyula Grünbaum in Sopronkeresztúron (now Deutschkreutz, Austria) in 1913. From the 17th century onwards, important Jewish communities were established in the seven field towns of the Esterházy estate. The famous Talmudic school of Sopronkeresztúr, known in Hebrew as Zelem, attracted young people from far and wide. Most of the Jewish objects in the Ethnographic Museum come from this village. In the early 1910s, Grünbaum collected ritual objects in Sopronkeresztúr that were rarely or never used by the Jewish community. Both the changing customs in the traditionalist settlement and the worn condition of the objects could have justified their sale.

Four carved columns hold the three shelves for the maces and the fourth, upper shelf, the 'seder tray', which holds six bowls on legs for ritual food. On the textile covering are embroidered Torah quotations in Hebrew for the Passover feast: "And the people carried their dough before it was boiled, tying their pots into their clothes on their shoulders." (Exodus 12:34) "And they baked the dough, (...) a leavened cakes" (Exodus 12:39) "And they ate the flesh that night, roasting it on the fire, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs." (Exodus 12:8).

[hebrewbyinbal]

In Hebrew, we often wish for a good year – Shanah Tovah, but this year, the words feel a bit different. After all we've been through, and what still lies ahead, it feels fitting to add a little hope for something more – for a better year.

In Hebrew, שתהיה זו שנה טובה יותר "May this be a better year."

As we stand on the cusp of this new Jewish year, my wish for you and your loved ones is a year that brings more light, peace, and healing. A year filled with love, growth, safety, and joy. May it be a time of renewal and strength, and may we all find the beauty, wisdom, and blessings that lie ahead.

Let’s walk forward with open hearts and a hope for better days 🍯🍎