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spn-fanfic-reblog-writes · 2 years ago

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So useful and true but cannot confirm the religious aspect. Sorry.

@spnfanficpond

“Thirteen” Tips on Writing Jewish Characters / Some Jewish Identity Stuff Explained

So you want to write a Jewish character, but don’t want to write a caricature? Or are worried they won’t register as Jewish to readers, or something will be off or wrong? Well I, friendly (virtual) neighborhood Jewish professional, am here to help!

Note: The Jewish community is made up of roughly 14 million people worldwide with all sorts of backgrounds, practices, life circumstances, and beliefs. I’m just one American Jew, but I’ve had exposure to Jewishness in many forms after living in 3.5 states (at several different population densities/layouts), attending Jewish day school and youth groups, doing Jewish college stuff, and landing a job at a Jewish non-profit. I’m speaking specifically in an American or Americanish context, though some of this will apply elsewhere as well.

Let’s start with the word “Jew.” It’s not inherently a slur, but can absolutely be used as one. I am a Jew. You can call me a Jew, just not a Jew. Like most minority groups, there are slurs against us, but Jew is the proper demonym. It can be used disrespectfully as a noun, but isn’t inherently disrespectful. Think “Chava is a Jew” versus “You’re being such a Jew.” 1a. Any use of Jew as a verb by gentiles (non-Jews) is not okay. Your Jewish characters should be horrified by someone telling them they “Jewed down the price.” 1b. Any use of Jewess by gentiles is not okay and your Jewish character should not be cool with it. 1c. Many Jews would actively prefer to be called such because that’s what we are and “Jewish person” is stepping away from our Jewishness. But I get that not everybody is going to be comfortable calling us Jews. That’s okay, and “Jewish person/people” or “X is Jewish” is TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE. 1d. With that said, Jewish people refers to ourselves as Jews. If Sarah is Jewish but is squicked about referring to herself as a Jew, your Jewish readers will immediately know she’s written by a gentile. 1e. Actual slurs against Jews is a post for another time (did you know K*ke literally means circle?).

Your Jewish-American character likely does not speak Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, or any other Judeo-Language (languages that are a mix of Hebrew and at least one other language, typically written in the Hebrew abjad). Three notes on this, however: 2a. If your character is an immigrant or the child of an immigrant, they might speak the Judeo-language of the old country. The most common will be Israeli-Americans speaking Hebrew, but families still speaking Yiddish, Ladino, Judeo-Arabic, and other families do still exist. The children of Jewish immigrants might also speak another language that isn’t a Jewish one, like Russian or Spanish. 2b. If they are in a VERY religious Ashkenazi community, they might speak Yiddish at home and in the community. 2c. Odds are decent, however, that your American Jew can read but not understand Hebrew. If your character went to Jewish Day School or Yeshiva, they definitely read Hebrew, and will have some understanding of it (but likely not fluency).

Despite what I just said above, your Jewish-American character likely drops a lot of Yiddish words and phrases into their day-to-day speech. Which words/phrases in probably a list for another time, but the most common will be foods, family names (i.e. “Zayde” instead of Grandpa), and sassy expressions. They may incorporate some Hebrew to a lesser extent.

There’s not just one version of kosher. There’s kosher, kosher-style, Halav Yisrael, glatt kosher, etc. Depending on your character’s level of kosher, they’ve need a hecksher (kosher mark) on any given item or only eat at kosher restaurants, although not all Jews keep kosher and many keep “kosher-style” (i.e. only eat theoretically kosher things).

Your Jewish character should be a whole character, both in general and in relation to their Jewishness. This means, among other things, that they aren’t obsessed with Israel and I/P discourse one way or the other and that while writing you remember that not all Israelis are Jews and not all Jews are Israelis. Your Jewish character is not constantly agonizing over the I/P situation, has a life outside of their Jewishness, and shouldn’t be a cardboard stand-in for your desire to discuss the middle east.

The Jewish experience varies dramatically with geography. Jews living in Omaha, Richmond, Philly, Kansas City, Boca Raton, and New York City are all American Jews. They will have drastically different Jewish experiences. I strongly recommend doing research on the Jews in the specific place your story takes places, but generally: 6a. The closer you are to the northeast coast and NYC (except south Florida) the better and more varied your Jewish resources. 6b. NYC has the highest Jewish population of any city on the planet. Big cities like Boston, Chicago, and L.A., as well as just outside of NYC in NJ and NYS, and suburban/exburb south Florida will have lots of Jewish resources: day schools (Jewish + secular education mix), maybe Yeshivas (Jewish focus), multiple synagogues, a Jewish Community Center, Jewish dating services, social stuff, Jewish charities, and youth activities. Your character will have other Jewish friends and their gentile friends will likely know other Jews. Antisemitism is still a problem and usually takes the form of excluding Jews from activism, thinly-veiled stereotyping or excusing antisemitism from people from other oppressed groups, but it’s usually not as overt as elsewhere. Almost always safe to disclose Jewishness. 6c. Small and mid-size cities Denver, Virginia Beach, Charleston, and Harrisburg will have a JCC or Jewish federation, multiple synagogues, and maybe a Jewish day school. Your character is not the only Jew their gentile peers have met, but the bagels are meh. They will have other Jews to bond and commiserate with. Antisemitism here is mostly like that in big cities with occasional burst of overt incidents and attacks. It is generally physically safe for them to disclose Jewishness. 6d. Big towns and small cities in the south or mid-west will have maybe one synagogue - probably reform or Chabad. Your character will have to seek out Jewish spaces, but they will be easy to find. They will not be everybody’s First Jew, but it will be unusual. Antisemitism here is mostly overt - most of the antisemites your character deals with will be very obvious and many will be violent. Jews in such situations will not hide their Jewishness per se, but will be more selective in choosing to disclose it. 6e. Rural areas and small-small towns will not have a synagogue. Your character and their family may be the only Jews or there might be a small group that meets on occasion or carpools to the nearest synagogue. They will have to actively seek out the others Jews and they will be difficult to find. Disclosing their Jewishness is a serious consideration and not always safe. Odds are they are many people’s First Jew, which gets really weird real fast. Beyond the harmless ignorant-but-trying-to-learn-from-their-first-Jew types your character will interact with, there’s also violent and overt antisemitism here. 6f. If your character is in college, they will likely have a Chabad and/or a Hillel on campus if they are at a large school or a school with a significant Jewish population.

Related: when Jews meet each other for the first time, a game of “Jewish geography” ensues as they try and trace people they know in the other person’s state/city/community.

Jews come in all shapes, colors, sizes, genders, sexualities, politics, and religious beliefs. There are all sorts of Jewish people with tons of different intersecting identities. Don’t box yourself in to writing one kind of Jew. Just research a ton on the particular subsection of the Jewish community your character is a part of - a Mizrachi-Jewish Persian-American bisexual woman is going to have a different experience than a straight Ethiopian-American Jewish man who is going to have different experience from a queer Ashkenazi-Jewish-American girl with non-Jewish family. 8a. Jews with Ashkenazi (eastern/northern European) ancestry and customs are the biggest group in the U.S., but by no means the only group or representative of every Jew. Sephardi (Spanish/southern European/north Africa), and Mizrachi (north Africa and the middle east) are the next biggest groups. It would not be unusual for your character to have Polish-Jewish, Iraqi-Jewish, Moroccan-Jewish, or Russian Jewish ancestry or a mix. 8b. Each of these groups have their own customs, Judeo-languages, local holidays, and local historic tragedies. Generally, historic Sephardi communities were linked between themselves, historic Ashkenazi communities were linked between themselves, and historic Mizarchi communities were linked between themselves. The three had some, but limited contact. Additionally, all three major groups have subdivisions within them. 8c. There are also smaller groups that don’t fall within the three traditional categories, like the Ethiopian Jews, the Cochin Jews (India), Chinese Jews, Gruzim (Georgian), and more. Most of these smaller groups were not in contact with the wider Jewish world. 8d. All Jewish groups start from the same base texts (the written Torah), and the majority include the oral Torah as well. Local interpretations and traditions develop, these are referred to as minhag(im) (customs). For example, the biblical commandment is to not boil a baby goat in its mother’s milk. Some communities extend this to mean no chicken and milk, others reason that chickens don’t produce milk so the mixture is acceptable. Both are equally valid interpretations rooted in tradition, but they are different. 8e. Marrying between Jewish subgroups in the U.S. is super common and outside of extreme or really intense groups is not frowned upon. Traditionally, the father’s minhagim are followed, i.e. a Syrian-Jewish father and a Spanish-Jewish mother would follow the Syrian-Jewish minhagim with their children. Many modern couples choose the mother’s traditions or mix them up, but that’s the traditional route.

Unless they are VERY religious, your character’s family is unlikely to be particularly wound up about them being LGBTQ the way a comparably Christian family might, at least not because they’re Jewish. Samuel’s Jewish mother is likely unconcerned he likes boys and is much more empathetic than he must marry a Jewish boy and raise any kids Jewish.

There are so many Jewish holidays, and they are not all celebrated the same or with the same intensity. Probably enough material for its own post, but the ones most likely celebrated by your character: 10a. Shabbat and/or Havdalah. Shabbat starts Friday nights with candles, wine/grape juice and challah bread, Havdalah ends Shabbat with a braided candle, wine, and aromatic spices. Shabbat dinner is usually a meat meal and it is common to invite guests or eat with friends and family (in normal times). 10b. The “High Holidays” - Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Jewish students often skip school for these. Yom Kippur is a 25 hour fast with services all day, Rosh HaShanah has services in the evening and morning. 10c. Passover - arguably the most important holiday. Celebrated with two sometimes agonizingly long Seders (ritual meals), family gatherings, and abstaining from leavened bread for 7/8 days. 10d. Hanukkah - Not actually that spiritually important, but culturally important for American Jews. Typically celebrated with candle lighting, presents, visits to family members, and greasy food.

There’s a lot of wine involved in Jewish ritual, so it’s unlikely your character’s Jewish family are teetotalers.

Jewish families tend to be very intense, loud, opinioned, caring, and involved, compared to many other assimilated American families. Shabbat dinner is not quiet. Dissent is a Jewish value - differing opinions are allowed (and expected in many circles), as is the ability to argue/defend competently.

Jewishness can mean ethnic identity, cultural identity, and/or religion. There are several major denominations religiously, although that needs to be its own post in detail. The noteworthy movements at this point are Orthodox (further subdivided into Ultraorthodox and Modern Orthodox), Conservative (middle of the road, no relation to conservative politics), Reform, and Reconstructionist (both very “choose your own/your community’s adventure).

Probably will write more parts in the future, but this is heinously long already! Hope this is helpful!

#personal #jewish #jewish writing #jewishwriting #jewblr #writeblr #writing advice #jewish identity #jewishidentity #jews #super long post sorry not sorry

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superlaurenblogs · 3 years ago

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Dear family, Our story has been longlisted for The Women's Prize for Playwriting! News of the shortlist is due next week. In the meantime, any and all good vibes are appreciated, but above all I'm so honoured to have made the list! #HopeAndHerChildren #WomensPrizeForPlaywriting @painesplough #Playwright #Theatre #newwriting #jewishdiaspora #jewishidentity #multiculturalism #playwrightsofinstagram #fringetheatre #jewishtheatre https://www.instagram.com/p/CWTT9zAoZsY/?utm_medium=tumblr

#hopeandherchildren #womensprizeforplaywriting #playwright #theatre #newwriting #jewishdiaspora #jewishidentity #multiculturalism #playwrightsofinstagram #fringetheatre #jewishtheatre

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secular-jew · 6 years ago

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RM Bellerose, a trailblazer and indigenous rights activist, unleashes a thought provoking tsunami of rational analysis layered on a bedrock of common sense and truths.

""I used to believe that there should be 2 states, that if Israel compromised a bit the Arabs would accept a 2 state solution and that it would be the most fair and equitable solution.

I believed that there was some equivalency between the arabs and the Jews, after all they had created a nation state and the arabs were already living there. I believed that the Arabs just wanted the same things we all want, peace, equality, prosperity and the ability to live a good life. And that they would do what they needed to make that happen.

Then I went to Israel.

Now I understand that there are already 2 states, Israel and Jordan. That the land the Arabs claim as "their ancestral lands" are in fact no such thing and that in many cases they literally ethnically cleansed them of Jews. that most if not all of these Arab areas, have Jewish sacred places and ancestral places in them. as an indigenous rights activist, the fact that the Arabs have stated they will not allow Jews access if the Arabs are in control, means I cannot abide them ever being in control.

I have seen that there is no equivalency, the Arabs have refused time and again, to even negotiate without concessions being made before they even come to the table. The violence appears one sided because the Arabs are so inept and incompetent that they try and try yet fail to actually kill Jews in any numbers, yet the Israelis continue to use pinpoint tactics while fighting random attackers. The Arabs hide behind women and children while targeting women and children and till the Israelis refuse to take the bait. there is no moral equivalency. The Israelis build bomb shelters for kids, the Arabs put kids in buildings to shelter their bombs.

The history shows clearly that by the time of the ottomans, the vast majority of Arabs who actually were living in what is now Israel, didn't own the land, they were tenant farmers much like European peasants. it was a landowner class that lived mainly in Beirut and Damascus who owned everything. The Arabs were not native to the land they were in fact descended from colonists themselves. some carried Jewish blood from the waves of forced conversions. But they were not indigenous in any tangible way.

Then I spoke with Arabs, and unlike the leftists, I actually listened. and unlike the leftists, I understood the difference between individuals and groups, as a group the Arabs have made it clear that anything less than everything is unacceptable, they do not care if they get Judea and Samaria they want Jerusalem and Caesaria and everything in between. from the river to the sea is their mantra. as a group they are genocidal, hateful and completely unredeemable. They have refused every offer for peace, they fill their children with hate and they have become inveterate liars.

Now as for individuals? I spoke with a few who wanted an end to the conflict and didn’t care if it meant becoming Israeli citizens as long as they had peace. I spoke to one little wee guy in Jerusalem (Ari Fuld is a witness) who said he had Jewish friends and wanted to be able to live without problems. I had dinner with a family where the father was in tears speaking of his childhood where he went to school with Jewish kids, had Jewish friends and worked for a Jewish company but after Oslo couldn’t do anything of those things. his sons called him a "traitor" and said he was soft. I have empathy and sympathy for individuals, I do not have anything but enmity for the group.

The left has decided that its progressive values are more important than anything else, and they have decided that inclusiveness and empathy are more important than security. This is why in Israel, where people tend to be very pragmatic about security, the left is eroding and the right is ascendant. And as it becomes more obvious, the left becomes ever more strident and shrill. The recent nation-state law is a case in point. Israel is the Jewish nation state, built on Jewish ancestral lands, by Jews. The language is Hebrew and the character of the state is Jewish, as evidenced not only by the freedom of minorities there but by the argumentative nature of the state itself. Yet the reaction to Jews asserting themselves has ever been inclined towards hysterics, even from Jews themselves. Empowered by the left who think they see an opportunity to be divisive and not be blamed for it, some minorities are trying to claim it infringes upon their rights, yet the truth is that without the Jewish nature of the country, they would have none

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vieformidable · 7 years ago

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Sharing this poignant profile in courage. HANNAH SZENES: Hungarian Jewess, poet, underground patriot, Zionist, paratrooper, executed in Budapest in 1944 at age 23.

Born in Budapest on July 17, 1921, to an distinguished and assimilated Hungarian Jewish family and whose father died when she was 8. Exposed to antisemitism during her high school years, she joined a Zionist youth movement, learned Hebrew, emigrated to Israel to study at the girls agricultural school in Nahalal, continued her diary that began in Hungary, completed a 2-yr course in agriculture, and joined the Sedot Yam kibbutz at Caesarea, working in the kitchen and laundry.

In 1943, she joined the Palmah (pre-State Haganah division) with the purpose of aiding beleaguered European Jewry. She studied wireless technology and also became a paratrooper.

In March 1944 she and several other Palestinian-Jewish volunteers (mostly Europeans) were dropped into Yugoslavia to aid anti-Nazi forces and eventually crossing into Hungary in June. She trained with 110 others but was only 1 of 32 who were dropped into Nazi territory. She was caught soon thereafter, sent to prison in Budapest, and tortured by Hungarian authorities. When the Hungarian authorities realized that Szenes would not be broken, they arrested her mother and the two women came face to face with each other for the first time in almost five years. Both mother and daughter refused to give the authorities the performance that would lead to the information they had sought.

Tried as a spy, Hannah Szenes was offered the option of begging for a pardon to avoid the death penalty, but she refused, and was executed by firing squad in a snow-covered Budapest courtyard.

Hannah Szenes mother Elizabeth survived, emigrated to Israel, and helped publish 15 editions of her daughters diary, poetry, and plays. in 1950, Hannah Szenes’s remains were brought to Israel where they were buried in the “Parachutists’ section” in the military cemetery on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. In the same year a kibbutz was founded and called Yad Hannah in her memory.

#HannaSzenes #Hungarian #Jewess #Zionist #Israel #Jewishidentity #Jewish #Underground #WWII #Nazism #Resistance #Judaism #patriot #profileincourage

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yuval-david · 4 years ago

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Rosh Hashana is just around the corner! No matter how you transliterate and spell #RoshHashana #RoshHashanah #RoshHashanna #RoshHashannah #RushAHomeAh , the Jewish New Year is a time to join together (even if virtually). Join me and @JewBelong as we celebrate the Jewish High Holidays with this virtual experience. For more information and free tickets go to @JewBelong or JewBelong.org. . . . . . . . #YuvalDavid #JewBelong #SinsStarsShofars #VirtualHighHolidays #highholiday #highholidays #americanjew #virtualevent #synagogue #jewishidentity #jewishactor #jewishfilmmaker #jewishdirector #jewishadvocate #jewishactivist #holiday #holidays #Israel #israeli #virtualexperience #jewish #judaism #jews https://www.instagram.com/p/CFJ-R41hdW6/?igshid=3z3ix68gpadd

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lindablatt · 5 years ago

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Thank you @yehoshuakahana for this remarkable historical research!! This is what identity is all about, how far back can we look? What is story behind the etymology. ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- "It's believed among some historians that "Ashkenaz" etymologically derives from "Scandinavia", the name of this famous Northern Germanic nation. However, the original Biblical "Ashkenaz" mentioned in the books of Genesis and Jeremiah is more likely to be somewhere in the Caucasian mountains next to the black see. . At the time of the Assyrian empire over the fertile Crescent, a nation similar to the Tatars across the black see (in todays Ukraine) were on the rise. These are the Scythe tribe, Fearless nomads who later ruled over vast plains from eastern Europe to central Asia. Among the Assyrians they were called "Ishguza", Sounds similar to "Ashkenaz", and it's believed to be its real origin. . Presumably, the desire for Biblical names on new regions in Jewish diaspora, lead to this foreign land in the far west, unknown to Biblical Jewry, to be transformed from Scandinavia to Ashkenaz. Though, the original Ashkenaz is most likely Southern Ukraine and around the black see. . . . #Askenaz #Ishkuza #Assyrians #Skythetribe #tribalpeople #identity #identityrunsdeep #etymology #history #historicalcontext #knowyourhistory #JewishIdentity #JewishDiaspora https://www.instagram.com/p/B_gP0xXDhRB/?igshid=onnup39vq01q

#askenaz #ishkuza #assyrians #skythetribe #tribalpeople #identity #identityrunsdeep #etymology #history #historicalcontext #knowyourhistory #jewishidentity #jewishdiaspora

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djstormageddon · 5 years ago

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Photos of me bring that Big Jew Energy at last month’s Kosher Cabaret with @magicalgirlburlesque! All photos by @robstarobin.nsfw! . . . #magicalgirlburlesque #thenestbrooklyn #koshercabaret #burlesque #neoburlesque #nerdlesque #jewishculture #jewishidentity #nightlife #nycburlesque #nycnightlife #thingstodoinnyc #thingstodoinbrooklyn #saturday #saturdaynight #datenight #girlsnight #girlsnightout #dj #djlife #stormageddon #djstormageddon https://www.instagram.com/p/B51kgwznUjh/?igshid=rz6ow0vozjkj

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urbanamericanjewess · 7 years ago

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AUG 8th, 8pm, at Lyric Hyperion Theater in #LA, I'm doing a free performance of HOMELESS IN HOMELAND for a LIVE FILMING!!! Fundraising to cover production costs, link in bio. All donors will receive access to the edited video. Sometimes projects take longer than you imagine to become fully articulated entities. The journey is a beautiful struggle in which so much is reviewed. After a successful run of HOMELESS IN HOMELAND in England --now with a new prologue sequence touching on the central and universal themes in the narrative-- it is time to properly document the show! I am extremely proud of this piece; the interdisciplinary and documentary aesthetics, the education on Israel/Palestine conflict history, the complexity of identity politics and sexuality in relation to social justice. My creative team and the input of many in my community has been invaluable. As a result the show has deeply impacted audiences in both the USA and UK. This filming will generate new promotional material for future productions and ensure that the show can be seen when I am no longer performing it. Skilled filmmaker Hal Masonberg of Off Leash Films has agreed to shoot and edit; for this I'm super grateful. He's also been shooting behind the scenes at recent recording sessions for a new music project.... more on that soon. ;-) #livefilming #solotheater #derivedtheater #soloshow #interdisciplinary #documentarytheater #experimentaltheatre #hiphoptheater #storytelling #characteractor #playwrite #actor #dancer #poet #urbanjewess #jewess #justice #identity #diaspora #jewishidentity #Israel #demilitarization #palestine #solidarity #coexistence #BDS

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girlactionfigure · 1 year ago

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Embarking on a journey with David Ben-Gurion, it's fascinating to see how his evolving perspective mirrored Israel's evolution. As secular Zionism shaped his youthful endeavors, a nascent Israel bore the marks of his ideological imprints, cemented in the words, "We do not wish to create a theocracy."

However, the founding of Israel in 1948 served as a cornerstone, laying tangible connections between the political spirit of Zionism and centuries-old Jewish heritage. This juncture perhaps instigated a transformation within Ben-Gurion himself - he found himself entangled in the nuances of Jewish identity, ceaselessly treading the line between the secular and the religious.

With time, he moved noticeably closer to Orthodox Judaism. Leading Israel through the labyrinth of world politics and societal diversity, Ben-Gurion's deepening spiritual connections became more apparent - a testament to the evolving Jewish State's profound influence on its leader.

Israel's fluid and complex journey finds a parallel in Ben-Gurion's own transformation, from a secular visionary to an appreciator of multifaceted Jewish religious identity. His legacy thus is a remarkable cocktail of secularism and faith, serving as a mirror to Judaism's diverse landscape and the dynamic Zionism-Judaism relationship.

Reflecting on his life, lessons from Ben-Gurion's breathtaking physical, mental, and spiritual journey guide us through the current challenges faced by Israel's diverse society. It's a call for introspective exploration of what it means to be Jewish, tearing down the walls of monolithic understanding, and sensitively embracing the pluralistic dimensions of Jewish identity.

Remember, as we navigate the complexities of modern Jewish identity, let us draw wisdom from the profound journey of David Ben-Gurion - from the secular to the religious realm.

grouchomaccabeeand

partisanprincess

#DavidBenGurion #JewishIdentity #Zionism #Secularism #OrthodoxJudaism #IsraeliHistory #ReligiousAwakening #PoliticalZionism #JewishHeritage #SpiritualJourney #Israel #Jew #Judaism #grouchopresents

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wearbu · 2 years ago

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Celebrating Jewish Peoplehood

Step into the vibrant, diverse world of Jewish Peoplehood, a beautiful tapestry of shared stories, traditions, and connections that spans the globe. As we celebrate our shared heritage, each one of us plays a unique role in this vibrant community, nurturing our individual Jewish identities while strengthening our collective bond. Dive into the richness of Jewish culture, from studying sacred texts to sharing a hearty laugh over a classic Jewish joke. Remember: Why don't we make bread into money? Because it would be too crumby! 😂 Embrace your place in the global Jewish family, and let your Jewish identity shine!

#jewishpeoplehood #jewishcommunity #jewish identity #jewish humor #jewishhumor #jewishidentity

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unadulteratedcollectordreamerblr · 6 years ago

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#workinginthestudio all morning. another section of the #ruthweisberg painting. Taking my time but #usingtimewisely While this dries, I will work on a few of my drawings and the other painting. #workingartist #fineart #narrativepainting #expressionism #socialrealism #culturaldiversity #jewishidentity (at Woodland Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwH_yeNl7Sv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=rgvcw4czy198

#workinginthestudio #ruthweisberg #usingtimewisely #workingartist #fineart #narrativepainting #expressionism #socialrealism #culturaldiversity #jewishidentity

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benevolentbirdgal · 4 years ago

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A guide to 13 Jewish holidays / Jewish Writing Advice

Depending on how you want to count, there are theoretically 47 Jewish holidays, assuming you count all minor, major, and modern celebrations, both minor and major fasts, special shabbats, and each Rosh Chodesh (new month) individually. Since that post would be A) neverending, B) probably not useful in its entirety here, and C) really not applicable to most Jews you meet or write, I’m going to tell you about 13 celebrations (12 holidays plus the category of Rosh Chodesh and the category of special Shabbats), which will be plenty long enough. Maybe I’ll write a super-niche passionate post about the minor fasts or modern holidays later, but today is not that day.

Usual disclaimers: I’m one me. The Jewish community is 14 million and super diverse. These are broad strokes and local tradition may vary. I operate from an American context and communal gathering/food sharing practices come from the Before Times (in some cases, the long before now times).

I’m going to go in the order of the Jewish calendar, instead of likelihood of celebration, and note the most popular ones as I go. Three general notes as well: I will be using the most common transliteration/translation of the Hebrew names, Jewish holidays (and days in general) start at sunset and operate on a separate calendar that fluctuates relative to the secular Gregorian calendar. The Hebrew dates are listed with the months they generally fall in on the Gregorian calendar. Holidays marked with an * will likely merit their own list at some point.

Additionally, how long many holidays last also varies depending on location. For some holidays (NOT fasts), diaspora (outside Israel) Jews celebrate an extra day for Jewish-diaspora-is-complicated-story-for-another-time reasons. I will note these holidays.

*Rosh HaShanah (Tishrei 1, September-October): Jewish new year (well, one of four, but for the purposes of our discussion today, the Jewish new year). 1a. Typically celebrated by synagogue attendance, consumption of foods that are sweet and/or round (or have heads, like fish heads). Longer services than normal Saturday morning services but not by much, even when combined with regular Shabbat services. Big time to gather with families for a large meal. 1b. Lots of blowing of shofars at specific times, shofars, which are cleaned and sometimes painted ceremonial ram’s horns (we’re operating on 1200 B.C.E. tech here). Some of us are very good at blowing the shofar. Some of us are assuredly not. 1c. One of the most common holidays to celebrate, part of the “High Holidays.” If your character is remotely observant or has a very Jewish family, they celebrate this holiday. 1d. One day in Israel, two in the diaspora.

Yom Kippur (Tishrei 10, September-October): The second holiday in the “High Holidays.” Yom Kippur is ten days after Rosh HaShanah, known as the “Days of Awe” (or the “Days of Repentance”). The Days of Awe, outside of orthodoxy and people who do prayers every day, aren’t really celebrated outside of asking people for forgiveness and tashlich (throwing away sins by yeeting small pieces of bread or other small foodstuffs into a pond). 2a. Yom Kippur is a 25 hour fast. Fasting on Yom Kippur means the following: No food. No water. Medication is typically okay (and most denominations are 100% okay with food/water necessary to accompany medication). No sex. This is usually extended to no sexual contact in general. No wearing of leather. You’ll see a lot of sneakers on Yom Kippur. No perfumes or lotions. Bathing/washing. This one is the one most people ditch. 2b. Jewish “adults” who are not health-impaired are expected to fast. Pregnant women, sick people, and the elderly explicitly get a choice and most of the former two do not fast. Lots of old folks do and have very strong opinions about it (I fast, but have gotten second-hand awkward watching a healthy 23-year-old explain why they aren’t doing so to an 89 year old survivor who is). There are young/healthy/not pregnant people who choose not to fast, but this is generally frowned upon. 2c. One day holiday regardless of location. Starts at beginning of sunset one day and ends at complete darkness (ideally with three stars in the sky) the next. Fasts are typically broken as a group over a large meal. 2d. It’s very likely that your Jewish character “celebrates” Yom Kippur and whether they fast or not is likely a point of contention with their family. 2e. There are a bunch of different services and they are usually heinously long. 2f. Shofars are also super important here. 2g. Wearing white is traditional in many communities. 2h. Napping is a popular way to pass the time, especially among less traditionally observant Jews.

*Sukkot (Tishrei 15-22, September-October): The Festival of Booths, basically the Jewish Harvest Festival. 3a. Fairly common to celebrate but not as much as the High Holidays, Passover, or Hannukah. 3b. Celebrated by building a Sukkah, which is an at-least-three-sided TEMPORARY structure with a natural roof (corn, leaves, bamboo) that you can see the stars through. People will eat and sleep in the Sukkah, and go “Sukkah hopping” to visit other families’ Sukkahs. 3c. In addition to regular guests, there is kabbalah and traditional mysticism that the a different guest from Jewish history will join you in the Sukkah each night, known as the Ushpizin. The Ushpizin Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David) are all male, and in the 20th century some Jews began the custom of honoring Ushpizot (female guests as well, adding Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda, and Esther (although some obscure lists of Ushpizot date back to the 15th century). 3d. Your Jewish character may not have a Sukkah. Their temple will have a communal one. 3e. It is customary to shake a lulav and etrog, also known as the four species. Three leaves and a citrus from specific plants are held together and shook in all six directions after the recitation of a prayer. I like to call this shake-the-plant, but it actually has a ton of different spiritual meanings traditionally ascribed to it. There is also a processional in synagogue with the lulav and etrog.

Shmeni Atzeret (Tishrei 22, September-October): In Israel, the one day after Sukkot and in the diaspora the last day of Sukkot and the day after. There are some extra prayers and it marks a seasonal shift in prayers pertaining to rain. Unless your character is particularly religious/observant, they aren’t going to do anything extra. This holiday’s functions were mostly relevant during the Temple Periods in ancient Israel.

*Simchat Torah (Tishrei 23, September-October): Simchat Torah celebrates the restarting of the Torah-reading cycle and overlaps with the second day of Shmeni Atzeret where there is a second day. Unlike in some other faiths where the congregation or leader generally chooses the text of the day, Jewish congregations are bound by the Parsha (portion) of the week for formal services/readings (as opposed to other forms of study). The 54 parshas are read over the course of the Jewish year, and the resetting of that cycle is Simchat Torah. In synagogues during services readings from from Torahs, which are large, heavy, physical scrolls. This is relevant during Simchat Torah particularly. 5a. Two days in the diaspora, one day in Israel. Intermediate level popularity. 5b. Seven hakafot (professionals) are performed by dancing around the synagogue while members alternate carrying the Torah. This is considered an honor. Simchat Torah is usually the only day all the Torahs are brought out (or at least the ones that are in good enough shape to be carried). Dancing is mixed outside of orthodoxy and separated within orthodoxy. Only Jewish adults are permitted to carry the Torah. Outside of orthodoxy this includes both men and women. Within some orthodox congregations, women-only circles will also include Torahs in their dancing. 5c. There are also smaller not-Torah-but-still-Holy scrolls and Torah-shaped-stuffies that children will sometimes carry and dance with. 5d. After the dancing, the final parsha is read aloud. This is the only time we read Torah at night (from the physical object Torah - we read books of the Torah in other forms at any hour). The scroll is then rolled back all the way to the first reading. Reading the first or last reading is a great honor.

*Hanukkah (Kislev 25 - Tevet 2, November-December): Hannukah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the political and cultural oppression of the ancient Greeks in the 160s B.C.E. After the victory of the priestly-class-turned-warrior-bros over their oppressors, the Maccabees found the Temple seriously wrecked, both on a physical and spiritual level. They wanted to rededicate the temple, but only found one itty-bitty little jar of oil for the Menorah (seven-branched candelabra in the Temple), enough for one day. They figured it was better than nothing, and immediately sent out for more oil, which took eight days. That was the miracle of the lights, and where the Hanukiyah (eight-branched variant of the Menorah) comes from since the oil for one day lasted eight. 6a. Hanukkah is an immensely popular eight day festival. 6b. Religiously, Hanukkah actually isn’t super important. Religiously-significant practices for the holiday are lighting a Hannukiyah, telling the story of Hanukkah, and eating greasy foods. 6c. There are approximately a shabillion ways to spell Hanukkah, it’s not just you. There are actually only two acceptable (really only one 100%) Hebrew spellings but transliteration is a bitch sometimes. 6d. Although not “Jewish Christmas” gifts on Hanukkah are a thing because of the proximity to Christmas. Hanukkah gifts as they now are are really a 1950s-forward thing because Jewish kids were starting to have Christian friends en-masse who were getting Christmas gifts at the same time a lot of the U.S. was experiencing an economic boom. Purim is actually the traditional gifting holiday. 6e. Related: Hanukkah parties are very popular, but much more cultural than religious. 6f. Dreidels have a weird AF history and their dubious origins (and half-dozen possible theories) truly merit their own post. In the U.S. they are played with chocolate coins or other not-money, elsewhere children frequently use their local equivalent of pennies instead.

Tu Bishvat (Shevat 15, February-March): The Jewish new year/birthday of the trees. Functions like a Jewish Earth day - planting trees is popular. Fresh fruits are consumed in celebration of what trees give us. Some more religious families also do a ceremonial meal, a Tu Bishvat seder, but most Jews don’t.

*Purim (Adar 14, February-March): Purim, an immensely popular holiday celebrates the survival of the Jews during the first exile period in the ancient kingdom of Persia. The text celebrates the strength of our community and the chutzpah of a Jewish woman, and is usually celebrated in practice like Jewish Halloween. 8a. The story really merits its own post, but the short of it is because shenanigans, antisemites, and booze-hound kings a Jewish lady named Hadassah became queen (hiding her Jewish identity and taking the Esther to do so), the king’s head advisor Haman wanted to kill-the-Jews-tm, Esther was able to prevent it by convincing the king that the Jews should be able to fight back, the Jews did so and won, Haman was executed, and Esther’s cousin/bestie Mordechai became the new advisor. [really, the full story is Hollywood-level drama, another post to come.] 8b. Communities gather together to do communal readings of the book of Esther (in Hebrew or the lingua franca), it’s only about 10 chapters and takes an hour or two. The megillah is read once in the night and once in the day. Technically there are several megillahs for different books/holidays, but Jews are usually referring to Megalilat Esther (the book of Esther) when they say the megillah, definitely so on Purim. 8c. Costumes are donned by adults and children alike, both inspired by the story and otherwise. This is in honor of the hiddenness in the story (with both Esther and some other stuff we don’t have time for today). Synagogues often hold costume contests as a small break between chapters. 8d. Readings get ROWDY. It’s customary to boo and make noise using little noisemakers when Haman’s name is said aloud, as with the names of his also Jew-hating sons (which are traditionally said in one breath). There are also certain lines of the megillah read out loud together. 8e. It is a mizvah to give gifts (typically of food) to friends as well as to charity on Purim (two separate mitzvahs). 8f. It’s also a mitzvah to have a big special meal. 8g. It’s a common misconception that it’s a mitzvah to get so lit on Purim you can’t tell the difference between Haman the wicked and Mordechai the blessed. It’s not a Mitzvah, but there is some commentary in the Talmud saying that, so while not a commandment, “get lit to honor the party king goy who vouched for us and also because Jewish history requires drinking sometimes” is a historically-rooted take. Consequently, it’s very popular to drink a lot on Purim. 8h. Purim is, for all of the above, immensely popular with both children and adults despite being dark AF. 8i. Purim is the last holiday in the Torah itself (Hannukah is after). 8j. Purim is a one-day holiday unless you’re in a walled city (long story).

*Passover (Nissan 15-22, March-April): Arguably the most important holiday, theologically. Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. 9a. Families gather for Seders on the first night (Israel) and second night (Diaspora). The holiday is 7/8 days long and one of the most common to celebrate. In normal years it’s common for families to travel to have large gatherings together. 9b. In addition to regular kosher laws, “chametz” (basically leavened bread and bread-like things and most foods that bring joy). There are five grains that can make chametz, wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt. Some communities historically forbade other foods that could be mistaken for chametz, like the Ashkenazi forbiddance of kitanyot (legumes, rice, corn, certain seeds), although that was revoked/voted on to be not an official custom by nonorthodox denominations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. 9c. Seders are ceremonial meals with 15 steps, including the actual meal itself. The quickest Seders run maybe an hour plus the meal. The longest can run upwards of 6-8, depending on the denomination, family, and customs. It almost goes without saying that there’s a lot of food and wine involved. 9d. In addition to be prohibited for consumption, Chametz cannot be possessed or consumed on Passover, so Jews clean out their houses of Chametz, and temporarily sell it to a gentile friend or family member for the duration of the holiday. 9e. Passover-specific hanger is very real, especially after the post-Seder food-coma wears off. Especially if you already have dietary restrictions and can’t just do a meat-fast. 9f. During the Seder, the story of Passover is gradually told from Moses to the plagues to the Exodus itself. It is a fairly interactive telling/ceremony and the specific rituals to different parts of the Seder merit their own post. 9g. Synagogues also hold Seders, but at-home ones are very common. Whose home to go to for the Seder is often a very political choice.

Lag BaOmer (Iyyar 18 for Ashkenazi, Iyyar 19 for Sephardi, May): The counting of the Omer is from the second day of Passover to Shavout. Passover is the leave from Egypt, Shavout is the getting of the Torah, the Omer is the in-between time. There are a bunch of restrictions during the Omer for long-story reasons, but haircuts, shaving, listening to instrumental music, weddings, parties, and dinners with dancing are forbidden during the Omer. Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of this count, is the exception. 10a. Consequently, for Jews who are abstaining from the aforementioned things, Lag BaOmer is popular to do those things. 10b. Many Jewish schools and synagogues will have counting activities for kids and prizes if they can count all the way to Shavuot on their sticker chart or equivalent. 10c. One day regardless of location. 10d. Bonfires are a super popular activity, usually accompanied by feasts. 10e. Not as popular as some others.

Shavout (Sivan 6, May-June): Shavout celebrates the day Moses came down with the Torah and when the ancient Israelites in the desert formally chose to enter their covenant with God at Mount Sinai. It was also celebrated as an additional harvest festival in ancient times. 11a. Two days in the diaspora, one day in Israel. 11b. The “dairy holiday” because the Jews didn’t have any kosher meat and had just received the laws, including kosher. 12c. The book of Ruth is read on Shavout. There are several possible explanations, but the most popular is that she choose to be Jewish, just as the Jews did at Sinai. 12d. Torah studying all-nighters are traditional. 12e. Not as popular as some other holidays.

Rosh Chodesh (varies, 1st of every Hebrew month): There are 12 Hebrew months, except for leap years which have a second Adar. The first day of each month is known as Rosh Chodesh. It is unlikely your Jewish character does anything for it, unless they’re very religious, work at a synagogue, happen to be at shul anyways for another reason, or go to a Jewish school. If any of those are true, their prayers will have extra prayers (especially on Shabbat or another holiday). 12a. Rosh Chodeshes are traditionally women’s time/a moment set aside to honor women.

Special Shabbats (varies): There are eight special Shabbats scattered around the year right before or after a big holiday. Services are longer and special prayers are added, but unless your character goes to shul or is in another circumstance where they pray consistently, they likely won’t know/care/notice.

Some of these topics are also totally their own posts, but this is a general overview of the most important/common holidays and already super long!

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