#Just Daven Things

[davenskilnyk]

Why is Media Literacy in Reviews Dead AKA Why?

[feyres-divorce-lawyer]

what did i say?? comedy😭

[laineystein]

The most successful day in Yerushalayim! Family and davening and food and alllll the simcha.

You know…I always hear people talk about religious trauma and I don’t at all relate with that. I could. I should. But I don’t. The practices that 16 year old me rebelled against are practices I love now and I don’t hold it against anyone for teaching me about them and hoping that I’d keep them someday. I’m happy they did. It’s necessary and I’m grateful. But today I found myself feeling so self conscious because for as observant as I think I am, I could always be more observant. At least outwardly so. At shiur, I was the only woman without covered hair or the only woman over 25 without children and I just felt like schlock. And no one was making me feel this way. I love these women so much and they love me the same! But these are deep seated insecurities that I clearly have never gotten over, ones that tell me I’ll never be frum enough to marry the man I want to marry or frum enough to have children and a successful home life. But the crazy part is I married the (formerly) frum boy! And we are working on building a family and the success of that has nothing to do with me covering my hair…or my elbows or my knees. The pressures I’ve put on myself are just that — pressure I have put on myself. Because 16 year old me pushed away what she thought she couldn’t have because it made not having it easier. But 33 year old me has it now. All of it. The boy and the life and the (someday) family IYH.

This week’s parashah reminds us that if we believe in Hashem we will be protected and blessed. And if we believe in Hashem, we as women will be protected from miscarriage and barrenness. But I believe in Hashem with everything in me and I still don’t have children. And it’s currently my biggest heartbreak and I feel it with every ounce of my being and I wonder how I can be more frum and what more I can do to show Hashem that I am worthy. But, as mishpatim reminds us, the gifts do not come when we are more observant or more devout - being more observant and more devout are the gifts.

I will have children someday IYH. And I will have them despite not covering my hair or failing to follow any other mitzvos that maybe make me feel inferior. My level of observance is not rewarded with the family I want. My level of observance is the reward while I work to build this family.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

[captainimprobable]

i don't understand how I am literally sitting here sick over the communication being cut off in gaza and fucking terrified for what that means for the palestinians but people who are supposed to be my friends, who have zero personal stake in this, can't find it in their hearts or minds to give two shits about the jews being murdered and taken hostage. I can't fathom how some of yall are incapable of caring about two things at once. It's like you just separated this into "good" and "bad" and anyone associated even a little bit with the "bad" side deserves to die. Why do my people deserve to die? Because they live in Israel? If you genuinely believe that everyone who lives in israel deserves to die, or worse, if you believe jewish life just isn't worth anything, fucking unfollow me.

[torahtot]

there's this junior who's sort of in my friend group and she's so embarrassed abt being jewish/religious it's painful. the secondhand cringe. i know it's not her fault she's dealing w problems it's just annoying bc me and my friends r all past that stage but god. i want to help her but i want the floor to swallow me whole every time she opens her mouth

[magnetothemagnificent]

i feel like i vaguely remember you saying you were chassidic/grew up chassidic (or maybe i'm just imagining things lmao) and as a queer jew, this is so difficult for me. i'm so conflicted when it comes to chabad. on one hand, the fact that i'm a queer jew who isn't fully observant is hard. i know my rabbi would prefer otherwise even though he doesn't say anything, and the chabad community can be isolating in that aspect. on the other hand, i love the community. i love that my campus rabbi can answer my questions. i love that i know where to go for shabbat dinner. i love that they don't want to strip me of my queerness, even if they don't approve, and all they want is for me to live a fulfilling jewish life and do mitzvot. i hate that chabadniks aren't "accepting" of queer jews, but i love that they're welcoming of all jews, regardless of background. have you ever felt this way or am i alone in this

You are not alone in this.

It's absolutely true that I grew up Chabad. I am adamantly no longer Chabad, but I still engage with the community out of necessity and because, well, my family is still Chabad. And it's very very isolating, especially for me, because I can't even go stealth as a trans guy because other Chabad people know who I am, or at least who my family is. So I am in a constant limbo state of being treated as an outsider not just because of being queer, but not even being able to daven with other people- I'm not allowed on the men's side, and I make the women uncomfortable.

Though, I will counter your statement about Chabad being welcoming of all Jews, regardless of background. Chabad as an institution does not consider patrilineal Jews to be Jewish. It also doesn't consider converts who haven't undergone and *Orthodox* conversion to be Jewish. As an institution, Chabad also doesn't affirm trans people's gender identities, nor does it consider homosexuality to be anything but a test from G-d that one must overcome (sometimes even through conversion therapy). And, unfortunately, the closer you get to Chabad, the more you'll realize that. Campus Chabad is very different from institutional Chabad, it's very much a facade to try and recruit more Jews to become Chabad themselves, and yes that does mean eventually "giving up" their queerness.

So that's my caution to you. I think it's great that you're able to use Chabad as a resource - it's certainly better than not having any Jewish community at all- but it's important to be aware of who they are and what they're intentions are. It's kind of like the Salvation Army in a sense- I would *never* tell someone who is able to benefit from their aid to just not use whatever help they can get, but as an institution the Salvation Army is Not Great and getting too close will only end in getting hurt.

And here's some Jewish youth and/or young adult programming organizations (that aren't institutionally queerphobic) you might want to look into if they exist in your area:

Keshet

JQY

Moishe House

Hillel

It's tough out there, but you're certainly not alone. And the fact that you're seeking out a Jewish community is important and incredible, especially in these times.

[icomeandg0]

"More than one"

Part 6!!

Linked universe x reader (s)

Warnings: Confusing

A/N: Last chapter of the series, HOORAY!

"Let's get out of here!"

♡･ﾟ:｡.:･ﾟ･ﾟ:｡.:･ﾟ♡♡･ﾟ:｡.:･ﾟ･ﾟ:｡.:･ﾟ♡

With the others…

“Well…! This is new” LOZY/n says as the following of BOTWY/n, Wild and Twilight all followed the guards as they were chained.

“You opened the door too fast, you didn’t wait for discussions to end” BOTWY/n gave her a light scolding which made LOZY/n grin sheepishly, “My bad!”

“You guys didn’t have to jump in for us” BOTWY/n says as she looks back at the two boys, “Eh, Can’t leave you all alone now, can we?” Wild grins as he tilted his head a bit, “I’ll have you know I am capable of doing things on my own, Mister!” BOTWY/n giggled slightly.

“Hm…that’s strange, the other groups were supposed to meet back up here…” One of the guards said, “Dave, stay here with the prisoners until we come back” another guard informs the one in front.

Without a response, The guards take off, “They always do this!” ‘Dave’ grumbles.

“That’s not very good teamwork! You’re supposed to be a team and stick by one another!” LOZY/n says, “Hey…I don’t think it’s a good idea to talk to the guard” Twilight whispered to the cheerful Y/n.

“Ugh! Thank you! Someone that actually understands me!” ‘Dave’ says with a sigh of relief, this earned a few shocked faces from the trio behind LOZY/n.

“I completely understand! I’m totally on your side, communication is key for both sides! Now what was your name again? Dave?” “It’s actually Daven but no one’s…ever asked me that before…our commander just gives us nicknames—you’d be lucky enough if you get your full name really!—“ as the guard rants on, the trio decide to use it to their advantage.

“Keep talking to him, keep stalling for as long as you can” BOTWY/n whispered earning a subtle nod from LOZY/n. LOZY/n winks as the three snuck away while the guard was turned around and ranting.

“Oh yeah, let it out, Daven!” LOZY/n encouraged.

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The trio roam the halls silently, “It’s very quiet…no guards nearby too” Twilight observes as BOTWY/n and Wild check nearby rooms.

“Completely empty…as if they’ve already been wiped out or something” Wild says, making BOTWY/n think deeply.

“Well…in this time we can get to TP—Erm, D/N…just need to find what room they would’ve put her in” her little mess up didn’t go past Twilight…but it did for Wild.

Soon, Twilight's ear twitches, “Hide, I hear footsteps!” The three of them rushed into a room and hid behind or underneath furniture inside.

“What a rare specimen! Dragons were just legends but now we have one! A real living one!” A voice says with excitement.

“It’s pretty tame..Maybe someone owns it?” “No way! A magnificent beast like that shouldn’t be tamed! Well, run a test on it and figure out what to do with it. To hell with its ‘owner’” the voices were faint but audible.

Twilight growled lowly at this and once the people were far enough he got up, “We have to save her, C’mon” Twilight says determined as he looks outside, once it was clear he exited.

The BOTW duo stand up, “he’s more determined to find that dragon than we are” BOTWY/n comments.

The trio venture forward when they come across a gate, “Great…now how the hell do we get it open?” Twilight grumbled as he looked around for a lever, chest or anything.

“You have your sheikah slate..?” BOTWY/n asked Wild who managed to get the message through his brain and pulled out his slate, selecting the magnet symbol, he grabs the metal bars and pushes his slate upwards making the gate lift up.

“Nice” BOTWY/n comments as the three all walk through , Wild dropping the gate once he made it through.

Now as they were opening another gate, this one being a wooden gate the boys looked around just to make sure no one was there. Once the gate was open…their eyes fell on the big creature in the middle of the room, D/N. She was tied up all around her body but there was someone near her, covered in a cloak that covered the person from head to toe. 

When the person looked back a small gasp was heard, “How did you get in here? Guards are everywhere” The voice was familiar to BOTWY/n but right now she couldn’t put her finger on who it was.

“Who are you and what are you doing with D/N?” Twilight asked, a bit on edge. The person lowers their head “I’m trying to set her free” “Oh yeah? How do we know you aren’t lying huh?” Wild raised a brow at the stranger, The person slowly takes off their hood and smiles sheepishly, “Well, I’m an ally of BOTWY/n so I don’t plan on deceiving either her or her friends” BOTWY/n makes a ‘o’ with her mouth and soon smiles. “Hey! SSY/n! Been a while huh? Have you been with her this whole time?” 

“Only recently, I’ve been waiting a while for the people to leave so I could free her as fast as I could but you guys came in and I froze up” SSY/n says softly, looking away shyly. 

“Well…No time to stall, let's get her out and find the others” They all crowd around the dragon, Twilight at the front, holding the dragon's snout as the dragon huffed tiredly. “Don’t worry girl, we’ll get you out” he pats her snout making her lean into the touch a bit.

“Does he know her?” SSY/n asked curiously as they cut at the thick ropes, “No clue honestly, he’s been on edge about her this whole time.” “He must know her secret…Who is he anyway?” SSY/n asked curiously, “A Link” “A Link?” SSY/n repeated just to clarify. “Yup, Like that one over there–” She points to Wild who was distracted with cutting the ropes.

“He’s a Link, There's a whole heap of them, 9 to be exact” “similar to us.I take it that means each of them is from the same timeline as each of us individually?” BOTWY/n was impressed “Just exactly that, great guess!” SSY/n grew bashful but she knew one thing…she didn’t want to see her Link.

“There, ropes are done” Wild says as all the ropes that were holding the dragon down are off but the dragon still wouldn’t move, “She’s tired, she won’t move” Twilight says, the dragon made weak attempts to get up, “Does anyone have anything in their bag…a herb or..potion?” Wild pulls out a green potion and is immediately snatched from his hands. “Hey!”

She walked up to the dragon with the potion, popping off the cork of the bottle she held it near, “Is that safe for her to drink in this form?” Twilight asked cautiously, BOTWY/n gave him a look when he said ‘form’ “We have to try either way, if it can get her to move then so be it” BOTWY/n says as she bends down, Twilight takes one last look at D/N before helping by opening the mouth of D/N. BOTWY/n pours the green substance down D/N’s throat before moving away with an empty bottle.

It didn’t take too long for the effect to happen, D/N stood up letting out a low hum as she moved around in the room, everyone let out a sigh of relief. “Had us worried there” Twilight smiles at the dragon who walked over to him and leaned down into his arms, Twilight hugs against her snout “I missed you, girl.” Twilight whispered–

“Okay…I don’t know if this is concerning or not” Wild grimaced a bit as they were awkwardly standing behind the…two.

“Well, since you’re standing on your 4 feet…I’m sure you can lend a ride?” BOTWY/n grins as the dragon huffs but she bends down enough for everyone to get on.

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Back with the others…

Where have you been all this time? Why couldn't you reach out? Did you regret leaving after that day? Did you miss me?

Questions filled Warriors mind as he stares at his Y/n with too many emotions surging within him. He feels like he can burst right now, he needed answers.

"I know that look, You have questions and that's understandable but that will have to wait until after. I'll answer any questions you have, it's the least I can do" HWY/n says softly soon she scans the area of the fallen guards. "They won't stay down for long, I put a stun spell on them for a temporary moment" HWY/n explains.

"Huh? She can do magic?" Hyrule muttered in slight awe, "The only one out of us all that can, she's a one of a kind gal" OOTY/n winks playfully at HWY/n making her chuckle "Oh you flatter me"

"I'm really not keen on watching you two compliment each other but can we hurry this up?" FSY/n grumbled, "Oh don't be like that, firecracker. Someone will compliment you one day" HWY/n teased the short tempered girl making her irk and Legend cackle. "She's my favourite one so far, she's got spunk" Legend whispered to Warriors who chuckled a bit, "Yup...She's full of it"

The group walks along the hallways, Warriors walking beside HWY/n and he was being stiff which everyone could notice. "Why so stiff, knight?" HWY/n teases as she looks over to him and he subtly blushes, "Just...making sure there are no threats so I need to be firm" "Mhm" she hummed, not believing him at all but turns away.

"And you'd think the pretty boy has charms, he sucks at flirting" FSY/n says, "This isn't like him, he can make a woman fall to his feet with a few words but...he's so awkward and shy around her" Four whispered as the two watch the two in front of them.

Soon the ground started to rumble under their feet, "What the hell?" LTTPY/n muttered as she looked towards the ground, "AHHH!! Hold me!" WWY/n jumped into Winds arm making him yelp and stumble even more.

Warriors reaches out and grabs HWY/n by the waist to secure her, "Hm, learnt manners I see" She chuckled, Warrior felt his confidence ride up and he smirks, "Only for someone worth impressing"

"Why are they choosing now to flirt?!" FSY/n irks as she tries to keep her balance.

The rumbling kept getting louder until a big (F/C) dragon stops just in front of them.

"Hey! Welcome to dragoness express! Jump on board for a bumpy ride!" BOTWY/n grins before she turns serious "No but seriously, get on so we can get out" "Ha, Don't need to tell me twice" LTTPY/n says as she moves to the side of the dragon and hoisted herself up, one by one everyone managed to get on.

SSY/n made sure not to make any contact with the boys but- "Y/n?" Sky called out making her internally sigh, she turns around and smiles shyly, "Hi, Link" She says softly. "Aw how cute, we're all reunited and happy as a whole" OOTY/n says as Time was seated next to her stiffly, "Loosen up, Link. It's only a dragon ride" OOTY/n teases earning a slight glare from Time.

"There they are!"

"Bring me back my specimen!"

"These people are crazy!" FSY/n looked between the two groups coming towards them, "Yup but we're crazier! Hee-Yah!" D/N roared before charging towards a dead end and a small ass window. "Are you trying to get us killed?!" FSY/n yelled as she hung on for dear life.

With no further explanation, D/N lowers its head so it's horns were going to come in contact with the wall first, D/N broke through the wall and jumped out...expanding her wings as she flew upwards making everyone hold onto each other as BOTWY/n was the only one with a secure grip around D/N's horns-

"OKAY WE'RE HIGH ENOUGH GO DOWN!"

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"I'm not doing that ever again!" FSY/n collapsed on the solid ground as soon as they had landed, they were in the forest far from where the castle is anyway. Once everyone hopped off the dragon, Twilight had a little pep talk with her before she flew off.

"Wha- We just saved the damn reptile now it's going?!" Legend grumbled.

"Are you okay? hurt anywhere..?" Hyrule asked as he approached LOZY/n who smiled brightly, "No! I'm fine, really...Thanks for worrying though" She said softly, Hyrule scratched the back of his head bashfully.

"You aren't hurt, right?" Sky asked SSY/n who gave a small smile, "I'm fine, You don't have to worry about me"

Soon from the bushes they heard the bushes rustling and out revealed the last of the Y/n's "Finally! I found you all...Oh! and a few extras..?" TPY/n tilts her head as she looks between each Link. Twilight just went forward and hugged his Y/n with glee "Oh! It's nice to see you again too, Link!" She chuckled a bit as she hugged him back gently. "Words can't describe how much i've missed you" "Oh Link" TPY/n melted at his words.

Bewilderment and disgust was everywhere on FSY/n's face, "I'm not being a part of this, why is there so much romance going on?!" She had a mild meltdown, she was sick and tired of this all. Four sat down next to her and patted her back, chuckling a bit at her being a drama queen.

"Yay! Groups back together! I have an idea...we should all travel together!" BOTWY/n suggested which a few agreed to, some not too keen but their opinions didn't matter to BOTWY/n. "Well that was the plan after all, these boys need us...or well he does, I need to keep him in check" OOTY/n teases as she points over to Time.

"Sounds good to me"

"I guess so..." WWY/n rolls her eyes as Wind shoves her playfully.

"Now then, that's sorted so what should we do now?" Warriors asked "We continue on, once we find a suitable place, we'll rest for the night" Time states. Once everyone was on their feet and ready to head off, a big portal forms from under their feet and they all fall in a few yelps and screams before the portal closes and it's quiet again...

THE END.

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Finally finished this series, thank you for everyone supporting and I love reading every comment that's on any post of mine. Ask box is going to be put up soon so get those request ready!

Yes I did get a bit lazy and kinda teleported LOZY/n on the dragon when she was talking to Daven, I just ran out of ideas...

[jewishconvertthings]

How to Immediately Ingratiate Yourself in [Most] Jewish Communities

(*caveat that I'm an American, liberal Jew, so my experiences are not universal despite being common)

So you've just started going to shul and you're worried about fitting in with the congregation. Or, perhaps, you're moving out of the community you converted in and are worried about finding your place in a new community. Maybe you're switching shuls. Whatever the reason, you're starting in a new community and want to be accepted right away. Here are some tips for becoming a rapidly accepted fixture in the community:

If your community has a weekday minyan, go to minyan. That will show you who the real machers are in the community: the ones who make services happen regularly and who aren't shy about calling or texting people to get butts in seats. If you're Jewish, you might be Jew #10, the perennial hero of daveners everywhere. If not, you're communicating to them that possibility in the future. (No one was more excited for me to finish conversion than the minyan regulars.)

Okay but what if I'm a woman (or not halachicly male person) attending a non-egalitarian community? If it's liberal orthodox community and/or has a partnership minyan, I'd still consider going. I attended morning minyan at my Modern Orthodox shul for months before I completed my conversion because it was less awkward than going to the Conservative minyan and having to clarify that no, they still couldn't count me yet. (And I really liked the people and the post-minyan drash the rabbi would give.) They were actually delighted to have me holding up the women's side of the mechitza and welcoming in the occasional women who would come for a yahrzeit.

Do you have rhythm and/or are possessed of decently good coordination? Learn the cup song! [Tutorial] People will be very excited albeit potentially confused if it comes out that you didn't grow up going to Jewish summer camp. (I'd just tell them you saw the song on the internet and thought it looked fun.)

Are you musically talented or a semi-competant guitar player? Many communities would love to involve you in the songful parts of the service if you let leadership know.

In general, pay attention to what your community is always begging for volunteers for, especially things you can do as a non-Jew or not-quite-yet-Jew if that's your situation, and sign up for one or two things you think you'd be good at. I would say it's better to pick one thing and focus your energy on being THAT guy rather than trying to do a little of everything (voice of experience here.) Real life examples I can think of: being a greeter, arranging set-up for events, helping out with food prep such as kiddush or post-minyan bagels, running groceries to homebound congregants, delivering mishloach manot if your community does that, childcare or assisting with children's activities if you like kids, etc.

Put a fair amount of energy into remembering people's names and faces, and try to work out early who is related to whom. Bonus points if you can file away information about their lives that they tell you during your conversations with them.

If you're asked to do honors by the gabbai, try to say yes to anything you know how to do and are qualified to do halachicly. If you're not Jewish, many liberal communities will still let you open the ark or take a multi-person aliyah with someone who is Jewish, or have you read some of the contemporary English language prayers. Bonus points for if you are able to learn and perform hagbah (especially if you're left-handed/able to hagbah when the sefer Torah is heavy on the left side.)

Honestly, if you're between the ages of 18 - 35, most communities will be thrilled you're there and tripping over themselves to get you to come back. In combination with the above? You're their new best friend. If you are older than that or still a minor, they will still be very happy to have another friendly and helpful face, even if it's just that you regularly attend minyan.

Good luck and here's to becoming a beloved fixture in your new community!

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

There is something so sacred about the velvety darkness that is so often deeply underappreciated.

Depicting holiness is often a very bright affair, with blinding lights, white marble, ethereal rays of sun filtering through the clouds, stark white robes that almost seem to glow from within, banks of cumulus clouds piled in a froth against a blazing blue sky, reminding us of the sapphire throne of God.

But how much more sacred is the holy dark?

If God is infinite, what better way to depict or understand that infinity than the endless dark of the universe? Earth, when properly understood in its place in the cosmos, is a bright speck in a vast sea of unending black.

Have you ever felt folded up in the dark? Swaddled like an infant, wrapped in its all-encompassing embrace? Dark is restful, dark is peace. Dark is all things hidden and in the safety of that dark, released. Have you ever felt freer to express yourself than when sitting under the night sky with a loved one?

The liturgy speaks of "Tachat Kanfei ha-Shechinah," being brought under the wings of the Divine Presence. I like to imagine this as being held safe under the vast drape of the night sky. As I look up, I see just a fraction - an infinitesimal glimpse - of the Divine Presence in all Her glory, this small bit revealed to us, just like the revelation of Torah is a tiny taste of the infinite creation of the Infinite Creator.

My best prayers are whispered into the quietude of the dark, without the noise and visual distraction of the day. In the silence of the restful dark, one can almost hear the still, small voice speaking straight to your soul.

Even when davening Shacharit to the rising sun, I take a moment during the Amidah to cover my head beneath my tallis, a shadow falls across my siddur, and I imagine the soft underside of my tallit to be covered in the pinprick lights of a million tiny stars.

[davenskilnyk]

Dear God, Why Are Y'all So Miserable?!?!

[slyandthefamilybook]

Noah's Spring Jewish Book Review

this isn't gonna become a regular thing, don't worry. I just need to gush some about these books. I'm gonna keep the reviews short too because who's got that kind of time!

So far I've read 4 Jewish novels this spring and I'm working on a fifth. We'll go in chronological order

1. Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott

~ Two estranged siblings, Isaac and Bellatine Yaga—the grandchildren of the famous Baba Yaga—inherit their ancestor's chicken-footed house. They travel the country putting on puppet shows and exploring their own mysterious abilities, all the while trying to escape from a threatening figure known only as the Longshadow Man, as well as their own pasts. History relives itself in a book filled with magic and mystery ~

This book was so damn good. Every other sentence is tattoo-worthy and hits you like a sack of bricks. The characters feel so real and raw while also managing to fill out their respective roles with a sense of poetry. The book has a supporting cast of memorable characters and a sense of real danger throughout. Every so often the house will interject in a way that reminds me so much of my bubbe (עליה השלום). I've read reviews that said it dragged on a bit in the second act but I was enraptured the entire way through. It's also pretty gay, which I always appreciate. 10/10

2. When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb

~ An angle and a demon—best friends for 200 years—set out from their tiny Pale shtetl to America in search of a girl who hasn't been heard from. They're accompanied by Rosie, a spunky and fire-spirited girl from their shtetl desperate to get away and have an adventure in the far-off West ~

No book has made me feel quite so seen as this one. As someone who grew up Orthodox there's virtually no representation for people like me. The majority of Orthodox characters in media are trying to get away. None of them love it quite so much as I do, as much as the characters in this book do. From Little Ash tucking his peyot behind his ears like my older brothers used to to the angel waking up to daven shacharit. Sacha Lamb takes the brave stance of "what if Jewish theology is real, actually" and it shines on every page. The writing effortlessly intertwines spirituality and reverence with a classic Yiddish folktale. It's also pretty gay. 10/10

3. From Dust, a Flame by Rebecca Podos

Hannah, the descendant of the famed Rabbi Yehuda Loew, wakes up one morning to find herself transformed, her eyes turning to yellow slits. Her mother seems to blame herself without explaining why, and soon after disappears. After receiving a mysterious letter, Hannah and her adopted brother Gabe travel to upstate New York to meet their mother's family, to learn the secrets of her past, and of their own lineage ~

I'll start off by saying I'm not sure if I was the target audience for this book. It was good, don't get me wrong, but the writing wasn't to my taste. It was a little... blatant, where I prefer prose to be a bit more subtle. Again, nothing wrong with it, just not my particular thing. I definitely relate to Hannah and Gabe a lot, each in their own way. A lot of the book felt very comforting and familiar to me. The book is equal parts supernatural action and intriguing mystery, and keeps you engrossed til the end. It's also Extremely Gay 7/10

4. The Way Out by Gavriel Savit

~ Yehuda Leib and Bluma set out from their tiny Pale shtetl, each on a mission of the utmost importance. Yehuda Leib is looking for his lost father, and Bluma is running from Death. Navigating the Far Country full of demons, goblins, and angels, the pair fight their way through history and mystery alike, and prepare to make war on Death himself ~

This book. Oh boy this book. Where do I start? This book made me cry several times, which hasn't happened in over 15 years. This book said everything about death I've been feeling since my bubbe passed away (עליה השלום). This book genuinely made me re-think how I view G-d? All that and more in less than 400 pages. This book harmonized with my soul. This book changed who I am as a person. This book made me crumble to dust and then built me back up from scratch. 10/10

[dearfuturehusbandblog]

The Stupidity Doesn't End

Dear Future Husband,

Yesterday was an okay day and today was an okay day. No major hiccups or blowups or stupidity. Things were actually relatively okay.

But of course, that means nothing, because everything can change in a split second.

There's a Little Old Lady in our building who is moving to an old age home soon and MotherLivelyHeart decided that we should have a goodbye party for her.

The discussion of this party went from "we should invite everyone she knows to come say goodbye to her" to "we'll just keep it a building thing."

And every time discussion of this thing came up, I kept saying we should do it in the party/conference room that our building has, but MLH has some unexplained hatred for that room and always nixed the idea. She wanted "to do it in my home. I have a beautiful home for a reason."

The last discussion we had about this party earlier in the week (after she agreed to doing the mealtrain thing on Thursday and before she decided she doesn't want to do that again for quite a while), it seemed decided that we would have the party in the hallway near Little Old Lady's apartment with a tiny table set up with a little nosh and a bunch of chairs, instead of in our apartment.

When MLH bought the stuff for the mealtrain breakfast, she also grabbed a boxed cake and boxed brownies. And at some point she scrounged up a bag of popcorn. And erev Shabbos, BigSis baked the cake and brownies.

Then, on Friday, MLH pinned an event in the building whatsapp chat reminding everyone to come say goodbye to Little Old Lady and the time that she posted was 6:15pm-6:45pm or "after havdallah." And the location she posted was our apartment.

Now, time is important for a few reasons. One of which is that, recently, for some reason unbeknownst to me, we have started following a different havdallah time than we used to.

When I was growing up, we waited the longest time for havdallah because my father thought he was chassidush or something and that's what he'd been taught. But it became an issue when he wasn't davening with any chassidush minyan anymore (and hadn't since I was like 2) and we were the weirdos, having heard havdallah at our friends' houses and still unable to do anything after shabbos (like get a ride home) until the proper zman.

My parents spoke to a rabbi* about it who told them that since they had chosen this time as baalei teshuva who didn't really know anything, they could change it. But it was a one-time change and they couldn't adjust again after that, and to be sure of which time they wanted to switch to.

So when I was in high school, we all of a sudden started keeping the "one hour" that most people keep. I believe this is the opinion of The Gra...?

And so, 6:15pm this week becomes important when, out of the blue, we're not ending Shabbos at like 5:30pm if Shabbos started at 4:30pm, but instead at what I think is the offical Tzais HaKochavim time of around 5:45pm. Because by the time Shabbos is over and we've cleaned up from shelosh seudos and actually finish havdallah it's after 6:00pm, which gives us only 15 minutes to set everything up.

And right before havdallah is when MLH decides to tell us that she forgot to get small plates. Oh, and also we don't have any drinks.

This was something SHE was planning. She didn't ask for any help. In fact, ada raba! She told me point blank that she didn't want me making a big deal over this and buying or baking anything for it. "I'm just going to pick up some cookies or something." I was like "fine, this is your thing, go for it."

Well, Little Old Lady showed up at like 5 after 6pm and parked herself right between the kitchen and dining room, when we had just barely finished havdallah, and nothing was set up yet.

We now have 10 minutes to get everything ready which includes finding a folding table for the hallway, making sure we have a tablecloth for it, tracking down small disposable plates and some drinks.

Because none of this was done before Shabbos.

Then another neighbor shows up and she sits next to Little Old Lady and now the direct path from the kitchen to the dining room is blocked, despite us clearly needing that area cleared to be able to get things set up. But whatever. God help our cluelessness.

MLH makes some statement about getting the hallway set up and BS all of a sudden goes "why?" And MLH says "because that's where we're setting things up." And BS makes a face and says "why? it's cold out there." And MLH goes on some mini diatribe about how our apartment hasn't been tidied up and it's so embarrassing, devastating, and humiliating.

Yes, in front of Little Old Lady and Other Neighbor. FFS.

Well, BS's resistance settles the topic - we're doing it in our apartment.

Which shouldn't really be much of a shock, considering that MLH set the location for the event as our apartment and nobody knew the original intention was to have it in the hallway to begin with. But whatever.

Right after Little Old Lady arrived, MLH started cutting the brownies and needed a tutorial on how. Like, seriously? While she was cutting the brownies I asked her what she wanted to do with the bunt cake.

Her response: "Well, we could do an icing or a drizzle, but that means pulling out the confectioner's sugar and vanilla and making a mess... we could cut it up and put it on plates, or just leave it plain and let people do what they want. It's a cake; don't overthink it."

So fine, I left it alone.

Then at about 6:20pm, while she's cutting the brownies into ridiculous shapes despite what I had shown her, she asks me "What do you want to do with the cake?"

I said, "I don't know, it's your cake, whatever you want."

And I get back a condescending remark through forced smile and gritted teeth: "Thank you so much for your help."

Because, I'm of course the bad guy.

Because she "planned" and did a piss-poor job of it.

Because I clearly needed this right now.

I should add that I've been having issues today with the arm that I broke earlier this year. I don't know the cause of it, but I've been experiencing pain for hours, which she knew. And I even made a comment to her about how the most pain is when I have to rotate my arm and grasp things which is required for cutting and carrying.

Yet she kept trying to get me to cut and carry things.

It's almost like she wants me to say no so that she can be upset.

I don't get it.

Anyway, so now we're hosting this little party in our apartment that is "so gross and disorganized and unclean and an embarrassment" or whatever, and while guests are literally coming in she's puttering around tidying random things and muttering under her breath how embarrassed she is at the state of the apartment.

Which, granted, is a bit unorganized, but isn't unclean. It's just not "host-a-party" clean because we didn't clean to be hosting a party.... because it was supposed to be in the hallway and not in the apartment....

So at around 6:30pm, about halfway through the time she alloted for this "party", MLH was fuming at the embarrassing state of our apartment and my inability to be helpful physically (or idea-wise, considering I just parroted back the whole not overthinking the cake situation to her and I guess that was the wrong thing to do), BS started putting together a glaze for the cake, and I sat down on the couch, out of the way, and checked a few messages on my phone and started cataloguing my thoughts.

And MLH took that opportunity to ask me in a whisper across the room "are you going to join us?" To which I was like "what?" and she said louder "are you going to join us at the table?" and I was like "I don't know, maybe" and she said something like "well, then, just go to your room. this is not nice." Because I guess me sitting on the couch on my phone while things were still being pulled together and Little Old Lady was shmoozing with two neighbors, was the rudest thing I could possibly be doing.

Should I remind you that I'm in my mid-30s?

And being reprimanded like a child.

For being in pain and out of the way while people set up a party that I was told straight-up to not do much for.

I frickin' hate my stupid life.

Shabbos was decent and this is how my week starts.

I'm over it all already.

So, my dear future husband...

Here's wishing you a shavua that's tover than mine.

-LivelyHeart

*and just because my life is ridiculous and stupid, this rabbi was someone my mother was doing work for at the time, and who has since been locked up for being a disgusting pervert who went off the rails when he was found out and arrested. I don't even know if he's frum anymore, not that he truly was if he was really doing all those gross things he was accused of, which I kind of don't doubt, based on the piles and piles and piles of evidence....

[fangirleaconmigo]

In your expert opinion, do you think there’s any deeper reading to interpret from Geralt’s rebound with Essi, and traits she shares with Dandelion? (I know it wasn’t authorial intention in the least, but when he kissed her within 10 minutes of meeting, I got a “she’s a lot like Dandelion, surely she’s safe to embarrass myself with” vibe).

Hi Nonny!

Essi and Dandelion, Poets and Parallels, Ballads and Broken Hearts

Thank you for the ask! I'm on my lunch break from work, but I'm so happy to be answering Witcher book questions again that I'm sneaking off to do this.

Essi is such an interesting character, right? On one hand, she seems to be treated as the 'anti-Yen" by the narrative and the thing that Geralt 'should' want, thereby reinforcing his love for Yen when he *doesn't* fall in love with Essi.

But then there are all the curious parallels and similarities with Dandelion, which also makes it fun to analyze in that way. The list of similarities is long: their profession, personality, looks, their level of talent, and my favorite, their readiness to throw hands on behalf of Geralt of Rivia. And then there is The Ballad.

Ok. I'm going to set authorial intent aside for the moment, because writers write things all the time they don't intend to write. And I think any artist worth their salt should be thrilled that their work is layered and interesting enough to inspire differing interpretations.

That being said, let's get to the fun part.

SPOILERS SPOILERS FOR ESSI'S STORY PLS DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED.

Profession, personality

Let's look at Essi's introduction! She enters the scene acting just like Dandelion. Both poets are mercilessly insulting one another in their fake-genteel way. (Lots of shade, as well as out and out insults)

Geralt is taken aback, thinking they are fighting, but then they fall on one another embracing and he's like...oh lordt. There's two of them.

"The Witcher was taken aback, but not too greatly. A professional colleague of Dandelion's could not, indeed, differ much from him in terms of predictability."

--Sword of Destiny pg 195

So we have profession, and personality being very similar. Bards with sharp tongues and ready emotions. Then we have looks!

Looks.

I've done a post on Dandelion's looks here. And Essi is similar! Blonde hair, blue eyes, and beautiful. Same same. Sorry, her eyes are a dark blue whereas Dandelion's are cornflower. Much different so contrast.

Level of talent.

They are both beloved and famous. When Ciri is studying at Nenneke's temple, she has access to both of their books of poetry.

[Ciri] read The Adversities of Loving and Time of the Moon, collections of poems by the famous troubadour Dandelion. She shed tears over the ballads of Essi Daven, subtle, infused with mystery, and collected in a small, beautifully bound volume entitled The Blue Pearl. --Blood of Elves pg 298

And Geralt adores both of their voices. When Essi and Dandelion are singing together, Geralt thinks to himself that they have the most beautiful voices that he has ever heard.

They Stay Ready to Throw Hands for Geralt of Rivia.

The text even classifies Essi and Dandelion together on this. And as I said, it's my favorite part of her character, and not just because I love Geralt. It shows her strength, her strong sense of self, her courage, and her values.

First, she, much in the way that Dandelion does, uses her fame, connections, and higher social standing to protect Geralt. And she throws Dandelion into the mix for good measure to strengthen her threats. So when Duke Agloval threatens to drive Geralt to the border with a whip. Essi reponds.

"...please dont threaten Geralt. It so happens that Dandelion and I have several friends...King Ethain of Cidaris...always says that our ballads aren't just lively music and rhymes, but a way of spreading news...Do you wish, your Grace, to be written into the chronicle of human kind? I can arrange it?" --Sword of Destiny pg 212

And when Geralt turns down Agloval's 'offer' of permanent work killing sea creatures in a permanent war with them, (keeping in mind that the noble has stiffed Geralt twice on payment so far) Agloval invokes Geralt's poverty in a demeaning way.

"Oh how proud," Agloval smiled. "How haughty. You reject offers in a way some kings wouldn't be ashamed of. You give up decent money with the air of a wealthy man after a lavish dinner. Geralt? Did you have lunch today? No? And tomorrow? And the day after? I see little chance, Witcher, very little..."

It is so infuriating. Agloval is saying...who the fuck do you think you are? Someone important? Someone with status?? Someone who is allowed to decide his own ethics for himself?

This is a constant theme. The...know your place. Stop trying to think for yourself. Ethics look stupid on you, because you aren't 'real' enough of a human being to have them. So it is super satisfying when Essi lets loose on him.

"How dare you!" Little Eye cried shrilly. "How dare you speak like that to him Agloval!...How can you be so base?"...

Geralt tries to stop her. He sees little point.

"Stop it Essi," Geralt said. "Stop, Essi, there's no point." "Not true," she said angrily. "These is a point. Someone has to tell it straight to this self-appointed duke....who now thinks he has the right to insult other people."

And she isn't done.

"Yes, Agloval, " Essi continued, clenching her shaking hands into fists. "The opportunity to insult other people amuses and pleases you. You delight in the contempt you can show the Witcher...you should know that the Witcher mocks your attempts and slights., that they do not make the faintest impression on him..."

Then we bring Dandelion back in. Because guess who also feels anger and revulsion when Geralt is treated so contemptuously? Let Essi say it...

"The Witcher doesn't feel what Dandelion and I feel, and we feel revulsion."

Sword of Destiny pg 237

That's like...not even half of her unloading on this guy. She is like...you are worth less than Geralt, so jot that down.

Now..

The Ballad

Here is why the ballad matters to me. I think that perhaps even more interesting than how Geralt responds to Essi (interesting though it is) is how Dandelion responds to Essi. Why does he think someone who is almost exactly like him is perfect for Geralt? I mean, he sees himself in her so much that he thinks of her as his sister.

He loves her more than Geralt does I think that is clear. Geralt cares deeply about her. But to Dandelion, she is like his family.

He is put in a shitty position of seeing her distraught and anguished about her feelings for Geralt and Geralt afraid of leading her on or hurting her. Geralt and Essi go back and forth, making it insufferable for Dandelion as a third wheel.

I talked about it here here and here.

Dandelion's response is the subject of controversy in fandom, and there are many valid and differing reader responses. But it seems clear that Dandelion has come to terms with the fact that Geralt and Essi will not be together in love, despite his advice to Geralt. So he suggests they just fuck to get it out of their systems and then everything will be ok. (that's his solution to most things)

So, if he is at ease with that, why the ballad? At the end of the story, Dandelion composes a ballad while Essi and Geralt sleep.

Dandelion, staring into the dying embers, sat much longer, alone, quietly strumming his lute. It began with a few bars, from which an elegant, soothing melody emerged. The lyric suited the melody, and came into being simultaneously with it, the words blending into the music, becoming set in it like insects in translucent, golden lumps of amber. The ballad told of a certain witcher and a certain poet. About how the witcher and the poet met on the seashore, among the crying of seagulls, and how they fell in love at first sight. About how beautiful and powerful was their love. About how nothing - not even death - was able to destroy that love and part them.

Sword of Destiny pg 246

Why this romantic song?? About a witcher and poet?

Yes, it could be just for the ballad, for a successful song. The text talks about the real story not being a good one for a ballad.

But there is so much emotion and magic in that scene. What is he thinking? What is he feeling?

Of course you know about what happens next, Essi's heartbreaking end, and Dandelion's crushing grief. She dies of smallpox during an epidemic. Dandelion is there. Did he go as soon as he heard? Was he visiting her expecting some lovely evenings singing around a fire and found her dead?

However it happened, Dandelion does not leave her to die alone. He does not turn tail and leave, avoiding smallpox. He literally carries the cold dead corpse of this woman he loves, who he sees as his sister, in his arms...

...Dandelion had carried her out in his arms between corpses being cremated on funeral pyres and had buried her far from the city, in the forest, alone and peaceful...

He buries her alone with his own hands! Oh how his heart must have shattered. It is moments like that, that you see the deeper, kinder, even (dare I say) noble side of the vain, braggadocios, whorish bard.

It goes on to say that Dandelion could have changed the song at any point to be a true version (the one where Essi dies), but he never did.

No, Dandelion stuck with his first version. And he never sang it. Never. To no one. Sword of Destiny p 246

Yeah.

To me there is a story about a young girl who cares enough for ten people, who has a huge heart, and a deep soul. A fearless girl who feels things too big for her to handle for a man others call a monster. A girl whose voice is like an angel.

And then there is a story about a broken hearted poet who loved her (far more than Geralt did) and who wrote a song about a witcher and a poet and he never changed the words and never sang it to anyone.

And I wonder if he wasn't writing that ballad about a witcher and a different poet entirely.

*sob*

[torahtot]

anyways.. i really think 5785 can be my year. 5784 started out bleaker than anything but ended so strong and im living more meaningfully than perhaps ever before and meeting such good people. it's been a very strange and disorienting chag but i think that elevated the experience and made it possible for it to be as wonderful as it is. i just hope i can carry this through to yom kippur but im gonna have a reckoning and really try to make it work at home.

[keshetchai]

Greetings Friend,

I hope you can help me

How did you go about learning Hebrew? As in what resources, classes, books etc. did you use to get a handle on the language?

I really struggle with languages, so I was hoping you had some advice or tips.

As a bit of background, I am currently a conversion student, going on almost 2.5 years now. I have long since completed the formal learning requirement with my synagogue (conservative) and according to my rabbis, I am free to attend the Beit Din and Mikvah whenever I so choose.

I know my neshama is Jewish, I know this is who I am/supposed to be. I know because of some unusual childhood experiences, and then when I started converting most aspects of the learning and practices came so naturally (granted nowhere near an orthodox level of observance, which isn’t necessarily the goal at this time, but certainly not something I am opposed to perusing) except for the languages.

As previously stated my rabbis say it is okay but something is holding me back from taking that final plunge (lol), and I believe it’s the language.

I still bench in English, and find it really stressful to attend services because I can barely muddle my way around the liturgy, or songs during a Shabbat dinner.

Of course this is just a personal hang up, and absolutely no criticism or shame on anyone else who converted without knowing/knowing very little of the language. Just, for some reason it just doesn’t feel right. I cannot bring myself to say I am actually a member of this wonderful, beautiful tribe before I have overcome this hurdle.

So… any advice?

A few answers for you, the first is most important:

Very Early On in my studying, one of the two rabbis at my synagogue wasn't leading and so she sat in the back, and I decided to sit next to her because i was still finding my footing in the basic service.

And at one point, it may have been for mi hamocha, the cantor starts with a NEW tune I don't know, and I'm still relying on the transliteration entirely and was still trying to memorize the FIRST tune.

And my rabbi leans over and whispers to me: "I have never heard this tune before in my life either."

And the anxiety broke, then. I didn't know this version for the song already and I was lost. But the rabbi sitting next to me also didn't know this tune.

Being Jewish is about always learning something new, even if you are encountering the same thing you've seen or done before dozens or hundreds of times. THAT is being Jewish. Rereading the same book every year and the same passages over and over, but still being a little lost or even finding something you never knew before?

That is being a Jew.

Jews may open a siddur and know what they'll find there, but we do not open it and expect to know everything about how that material is used or applied. And we don't feel a guarantee that life will not teach us something new today, or that someone's minhag won't be totally different from ours. Jews may know the Torah, they may even choose to memorize the mitzvot by heart, but we don't expect this memorization will ensure we never have a halakhic question in life!

So you see, the big scary fact is this: you might become a fluent reader of prayer book Hebrew, you might someday daven entirely in Hebrew, or even graduate rabbinical school, but still sometimes be thrown into being a stranger to something, even something you thought you knew.

But when you identify this and then embrace it, it becomes less scary and part of your Jewish identity. Being perfectly settled, fixed in your knowledge or your thinking or your skills — it honestly doesn't feel terribly Jewish to me.

And for many people born as Jews this can manifest as a type of reflexive embarrassment or self-consciousness for failing at jewishness somehow or having less knowledge for one reason or another. It can make folks defensive or ashamed or feel frustrated for the disconnect. I'm here to tell you that as converts we get the chance to illustrate joyfully that no Jew knows everything Jewish, and that is the experience of being Jewish. The biggest thing holding any of us back from learning the things we don't know is

a) being afraid to seem not Jewish enough or

b) being afraid to not know something

I have excellent news for your (and my) anxiety:

A) almost all Jews worry about how Jewish they seem in some fashion or another so that's normal and,

B) since only hashem knows everything, our job is to not know everything, but to be willing to learn anything. Also we're better in numbers! Two heads are better than one and a minyan is better than that! Everyone doesn't know something, but none of us are alone as Jews. Which is why we become Jewish in community, and not alone. Because someone else might know what we don't!

Get it?

Step #1: you have to jump feet first into not already knowing something perfectly and start knowing less but learning more.

If you are reading the English words and English translations to daven, this means you need to stop. This was your training wheel. And you are not finding your own balance relying on it.

If your siddur has transliterations of the hebrew, bring a little index card next time and cover up the English as you daven for a start. I familiarized myself with the Hebrew because I was saying everything in Hebrew out loud every single time. Once you know the shema by heart more or less (for example), all you have to do is learn the alphabet to prompt your memory to progress further in your Hebrew learning.

That's how kids learn any language. We speak before reading as children. So speak and chant and sing in Hebrew. Whisper the Hebrew. As you get more comfortable, learning to read Hebrew will be an exercise you can even do during the middle of shabbat.

Because you know what the prayer says, and you just need to match the words you see to the sounds you know.

Step #2: know the aleph bet before you attempt reading comprehension of all words.

Things that I used to learn the aleph bet:

Hebrew scripts (the app by drops)

Write it! Hebrew app

Victoria Hanna's The Aleph Bet Song (Hosha'na) because uh she sings the aleph bet and pronounces it

Behrman House Books: Hineni: prayerbook Hebrew for adults; aleph isn't tough! For adults. The kids stuff is good too, I'm not ashamed to say I own "time to read Hebrew!" 1&2

(The Hebrew by inbal on Amazon looks new but good possibly?)

If you want a siddur set up specifically to practice matching transliteration and Hebrew aleph bet, I recommend Chayim Alevsky's My Siddur (choose the minhag variant you use! I bought the Sephardic/Israeli as I don't use ashkie pronunciations.

There will be slight differences of you're used to liberal inclusion of say, the matriarchs, but in general this is a solid practice book for anyone. Transliteration is given word by word, with full word blocks reading in the same direction as Hebrew. At the bottom of the page certain (possibly newer to the learner) words will be defined.

It also now has an app which looks like this:

So you see this is pairing the reading direction of Hebrew words with the sounds spelled out in English to strengthen your Hebrew. If you try to read the transliteration in the English direction word by word, you'll be reading it backwards and starting with v'kayahm, instead of "modeh" (or "modah" feminine). Further even if you're starting correctly with modeh, the English word is still left to right over the Hebrew right to left. so this forces you to be attentive to the Hebrew itself and slow down word by word!

The layout in the print versions means you can cover up the transliteration to test your learning of certain words, and only check if you forget.

I still am not perfect at everything and I truthfully attentively practice Chinese far more than Hebrew reading, but this is what helped me.

Good luck!

[writergirl2011]

For the writer ask, 10 and 11?

Ooh, more asks! Sorry that I took so long to get to these, anon! It's been a crazy week for me.

10. Top three favorite fic tropes.

Hmm. I have a thing for enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, as my main fandoms have revealed to me over the years--it's most evident here with Jaime/Brienne since their relationship starts out so antagonistically (complete with swordfucking er, I mean, sword fighting). I love variations on this as well, such as "they're secretly falling in love even though they're fighting in real life"--aka the "You've Got Mail" trope.

Competence kink!!! I love it when both Jaime and Brienne are good at what they do. They might be clueless (and/or hopeless) when it comes to relationships because they're idiots in love, but professionally, they've got it together.

And friendship--whether Jaime and Brienne are friends or that they have friendships established. I probably like this for them best because of how lonely each is in canon until either they meet people along the way who become important to them (Pod for Brienne, possibly his gaggle of squires for Jaime) or people who care about them but who they don't see much (Daven and Genna for Jaime).

11. Three tropes that are fine but overrated.

Hrm. The thing with tropes is that I'd probably start off saying, "well, I don't like this..." only to realize that at some point, I've written it!! For example, I didn't used to like "fake dating/relationship" because it always meant that someone got humiliated, usually the heroine (since I read a lot of chick lit novels back in the late 90s-early 2000s). And the last thing Brienne needs is that, kthnx. But then I wrote one such story and actually don't mind them as long as there's no embarrassment!

I'm not the biggest fan of the "Big Misunderstanding" trope. It's fine and I'll read it (and write it), but it's not my favorite. Misunderstandings in and of themselves are fine--communication isn't perfect. But if it's something that's going to drag on forever, then no. Just no.

Beyond that...I don't know. I'm sure there are tropes that aren't my favorites but I'm blanking on them right now, because so often, a person can write a trope I'm kind of "meh" on and make me love it.

Thanks!!

And please, anyone else who wants to send in an ask, please do so! You can find the original post here 😁