#batya levine

[challahbeloved]

קָרוֹב ה' לְכָל קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת׃

karov hashem l'chol korav, l'chol asher yikrau'hu v'emet

hashem is close to all who call out to all those who call out in truth

(tehillim 145:18)

[jewish-microwave-laser]

i mean debby freidman alone has sung about every song in the book (that book being siddur), almost all of which mentions jerusalem and even longing for building the second temple. fully automated luxury kosher space kibbutz also does this. chabad religion sing hashkiveinu and lkha dodi (batya levine does lkha dodi as well). daniel kahn has multiple songs about how shitty both pro- and anti-israel advocates can be, as do schmekel (thinking specifically about "maybe she's shomer negiah" and "homotaschen")

a theater production of fiddler on the roof is currently being antisemitically targeted by protestors identifying as pro-palestinian in england (one of many sources x) (i wish the children of avraham/ibrahim in england are able to find peace soon b'ezras hashem)

abby stein is a founder of rabbis for ceasefire who want peace between israelis and palestinians, not for the israeli state to be wiped out, which i know a lot of people will get mad about

you cannot divorce adam sandler's zionism from his art, especially not his jewish art, especially especially not when his jewish art includes a bunch of flags for medinas yisrael

and nonny, idfk what the hell you were expecting from the chosen, a jewish novel about the history of jews in the 1940s released, famously in the lead-up to the six day war, written by the director of camp ramah and also studied in israel (as many jewish academics do) and was also the child of jewish refugees from poland. look me in the eyes and tell me genuinely that you're surprised a jewish historical fiction novel, that takes place at the time when the state of israel was founded, talks about jewish conversations around the founding of the state of israel. and you're not allowed to laugh

you don't get to burn judaism or jewish art of its ties to eretz and medinas yisrael and hold up the ashes triumphantly and say you've finally found an unblemished, pure, unproblematic judaism. jews have been longing for jerusalem and eretz yisrael since the first exile. get over it

also, anon, if you seriously cannot handle judaism's ties to eretz/medinas/am/krov israel SO MUCH that you can't even write the word??? just give up completely, you're never gonna be satisfied. also reminder that if you'll only listen to the voices of a minority who agree with you and never challenge your opinions, you're simply not an ally. you're just in it to make yourself feel better

do you have any recommendations for jewish media (movies, tv shows, books, etc) that isnt painfully zionist? it doesnt even have to be explicitly anti-zionist (although that would be preferred, just hard to find) , just ANYTHING that doesnt bend over backwards to shove isr**l down your throat. i just watched 'the chosen' (1987) for the first time (i know i know im late) and am so disappointed.

Hey anon. There are many pieces of media I can think of!

Music:

Daniel Kahn Batya Levine I don't think Debbie Friedman has any Zionist songs (if anyone can confirm this that would be great)

Chabad Religion; Yes, Chabad is Zionist but even if the band members are Chabad (which I don't know at all) it's more of a play on words/reference to the band Bad Religion and nothing more.

Fully Automated Luxury Kosher Space Kibbutz; I know the word kibbutz is in there but that's the only thing about this group that can be interpreted as Zionist (imo the reference to a kibbutz is not an endorsement of Zionism but just a neutral reference to it)

I don't think Schmeckel has any Zionist songs. There is a line in their song Maybe She's Shomer Negiah "But we didn't shake hands when I said 'chag sameach' / 'cause she's keepin' it Kosher like Shmuley Boteach" but I don't think it's an endorsement of the Shmuley Boteach.

Movies:

There's the classic Fiddler on the Roof; Sholem Aleichem (who wrote the short stories the movie is based on) was a Zionist and there's a part at the end of the movie that can be interpreted as endorsing Zionism but it's a very minor part of the plot.

The Rabbi's Cat

Yentl

Arranged

An American Pickle

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah; the synagogue where it takes place has Israeli flags and yes I know Adam Sandler is a Zionist but as far as Zionism in the actual movie it's just the flags.

Sixty Six

Keeping Up With the Steins

TV Shows:

The Rugrats is famous for being the first cartoon to have Hannakah and Passover episodes

Hey Arnold has an episode where one of the characters (Harold) has a Bar Mitzvah. There's other episodes that reference Harold's Jewishness but this is the only one where it's a major part of the plot.

As Told by Ginger has a Hannakah episode

Lizzie McGuire has an episode where on of the characters (Gordo) has a Bar Mitzvah

Arthur has a Yom Kippur episode

Muppet Babies has a Hannakah episode

Elena of Avalor has a Hannakah episode

Books:

I rarely finish books but I can say that I did finish Becoming Eve, which is Abby Stein's memoir and it's great

If anyone else has any other recommendations please either tell me in the replies or the reblogs

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

for JSotD have you listened to any of Batya Levine they have my favorite version of yismechu

I LOVE Batya's version of Yismechu, it's SO GOOD

[jewishvitya]

Ten songs, ten mutuals

Tagged by @obscene-odes

Let's see

1. We Rise - Batya Levine

2. Stranger - Dimash Qudaibergen (specifically this performance)

3. Fly Away on the Wings of the Wind - Evgeniya Sotnikova

4. Only Human - K (nostalgic, makes me cry)

5. Lullaby for a Stormy Night - Vienna Teng (I used to play this and sing my kids to sleep along with this song)

6. Altay - Ummet Ozcan & Otyken

7. Broken Umbrella - Epik High

8. Faye Wong - Hero (it's a soundtrack song from something I never watched)

9. Memories - Within Temptation (I spent high school listening to everything by this band)

10. Talk - Hozier (this one because my QPP used it to say something sweet about me when I was fishing for compliments)

Usually tagging makes me anxious but I'll try this time: @incandescentantelope, @thewalrus-said, @socksolotl, @domokunrainbowkinz, @linneakou, @linisen, @seanconneraille, @lexicaldreamer, @lines-on-ice, @arom-antix

[honeysuckle-venom]

3, 44, 71 and 100 for spotify wrapped? (and sending a hug if that's okay, hope the next couple hours will pass quickly & safely for you 💜)

Thank you so much Sae, I will gladly accept a hug <3. I'm already doing somewhat better, my meds have kicked in and I ate something, both of which helped. But the hug and warm wishes are appreciated, as is the fun ask!

3: The Moon Will Sing by The Crane Wives

44: dear god, by Philip Labes

71: We Rise by Batya Levine (also a religious song. Really great though)

100: Where Is Your Rider by The Oh Hellos

[silverjetsystm]

Ten ( 10 ) SIX ( 6 ) 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄 .

Personal Challenge Mode: No "The Killing Moon" or other easy outs (like the show score and soundtrack or ones I post all the time).

MK (1980) #26 Artist: Sienkiewicz

"Main Theme From Goncharov" - Jordan Dean

"Norra El Norra (Entering the Ark)" - Orphaned Land

"Veteran of the Psychic Wars" - Blue Öyster Cult

"Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against The Machine

"The Past is Dead" - Beartooth

"The Pit" - Silversun Pickups

"La Jumpa" - Arcángel, Bad Bunny

"Karma Police" - Radiohead

"Yismechu (Diva Nigun Remix)" - Batya Levine

"I Wanna Get Better" - Bleachers

Tagged by: @prettytm

[garden-ghoul]

oh yeah my review of new synagogue project services: batya levine was there lmao. uh so there were a Lot of niggunim and we didn't make it more than 2 lines into any of the introductory songs but the rest of the service was perfectly respectable. personally I find that tzedek chicago has a lot more joie de vivre even on yom kippur, but as ray pointed out at least nsp services do not contain any bluegrass

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

Jewish Song of the Day #8: Tu Bishvat

Comments:

Today is Tu Bishvat, BIRTHDAY OF THE TREES!!!

In honor of the holiday, have a beautiful niggun by one of my favorite Rising Song Institute alums, Batya Levine

Tu Bishvat is also known as the new year for trees and/or as Jewish Arbor Day. Why is it in the winter, you may ask? Well, that's because it marks the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in eretz Yisrael emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. (See also: Sukkot, for more Jewish holidays that are very weird outside of eretz Yisrael)

Some people have Tu Bishvat seders, where it is traditional to eat each of the seven species of fruit that are specialities of the land

Chag sameach! 🌱🌿💙🩵💚🩵💙🌳🌲

[saudadetaco]

Some of my fave options:

- Moshav

- the Klezmatics

- Daniel Kahn

- Batya Levine

- Beit Toratah (gender swapped Torah and liturgy)

- Gershon Kingsley, God is a Moog (weird old techno)

- the Hadar ensemble

- Schmekel (xxx!)

- Victoria Hanna

- RAZA

Music Recs?

As a new Jewish convert, one of the things I feel like I'm missing and have no idea where to start is with Jewish music. I love music, love to sing and would really enjoy having that element as part of my Shabbat and holiday practices.

Does anyone have recommendations for a newcomer? Where should I start?

[genderillusion]

Batya Levine (they/she) uses song as a tool for cultivating healing and resilience in their work as a communal song leader, musician, shaliach tzibur (Jewish prayer leader) and cultural organizer. They believe in the liberatory power of song to untie what is bound within us, and sustain us as we build a more just and beautiful world. Batya is a founding core team member of Let My People Sing! and is a Cultural Organizer with Linke Fligl. She offers song, ritual, and workshops in a variety of communities, and composes original music made of Ashkenazi yearning, queer heart-medicine, and emunah (faith/trust). Batya is also a lover of the ocean, queer dance parties, and puns.

As a lifelong student of Jewish song, ritual and practice, Batya supports people to dig into the juiciness of Jewish tradition, for the sake of healing and connection. This work is especially important for those of us who have felt disconnected, alienated or marginalized from Jewish tradition and within Jewish community. Rooted in the traditional wisdom and ruach (spirit) of their Modern Orthodox upbringing, Batya is dedicated to building a vibrant Judaism that simultaneously reaches backward and forward in time, and is wide enough for our whole selves.

[silverjetsystm]

"Hishtadlus" - Batya Levine

[neta-ilan]

My partner recently introduced me to this song, and I love it.

Lyrics: “We are good, we are flawed. We are the breath of an imperfect G-d.”

[onservantswings]

I think the ability to change is one aspect in which we reflect the divine. Torah is full of moments where G!d changes through relationship, perfection through process. A holy transformation in which perfection is never a single moment but the eternal and ongoing whole.

I've seen the last '"g-d made you perfect" that I can handle, and it's led me to a realization about how I think of g-d.

I don't think we were made perfect. We were made human. And, if I'm honest, the only perfection in my mind is g-d, and that sense of perfection is what differentiates humans from g-d. If humans were as perfectly-made as g-d, I for one wouldn't see the point in following, believing, trusting, caring for, or loving g-d.

I guess for me, I see the ways in which humans alter the Way We Were Created that I really don't think it's right to speculate as to if there's a limit to altering our abilities or bodies. For instance, as a trans person, I've definitely been inundated with this idea that because g-d made my body "perfect" that I shouldn't alter it ever, but isn't that a dangerous precedent? Is it really so, that our bodies are magically made perfect, as g-d that to even tamper with the idea of change would be the same as cursing g-d? I really don't think that's compelling.

I love thinking about just how much g-d is placed into people, but I don't think it warrants restricting the ability to learn, create, grow, or change. Thank g-d that He created the ability to change!

[anarchesed]

Haunting version of Lecha Dodi for Tu B'Av