#judaism really is just about going 'oh i know them!' like you actually *personally* DID know them 💀

[shalom-iamcominghome]

Jewish geography is such a freaky thing because today's guest rabbi was taught by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (z"l) and he mentioned how he was in the area for parts of his career. If you think the world is small, you likely haven't entered the jewish world

[frownyalfred]

Hello! A random and specific question has occurred to me, and I think you might have some thoughts, if you're ok with answering!

So, most of the time Judaism is passed down matrilineally. I know there are some exceptions, and some groups that believe Judaism can be passed down through either parent, but generally it's just through the mother. This is how dc accidentally made Bruce Jewish.

However, is it the birthing parent who makes a child Jewish? Or is it strictly the mother, regardless of if she gives birth to the child or not?

I know that sounds like I'm asking about trans Jewish people, but I'm actually curious how this would play out in a world where mpreg is normalized, like in an abo alternate universe. For instance, if Bruce is Jewish and gets pregnant as an omega, would his kids also be Jewish? I did look up perspectives on trans Jewish people having kids, and unsurprisingly views are divided but it seemed like people mostly consider the birthing parent being important, i.e. a trans Jewish man would have Jewish children regardless of the other parent. What are your thoughts on this, if you're open to sharing?

(This ask got longer than I meant, sorry I wrote you a whole essay lol. Also I really hope this doesn't come across as rude, and I sincerely apologize if it does. Tone is difficult on the internet!)

Oh, that's a very very interesting question. Another one I'd like to ask my rabbi if I ever work up the nerve.

I'm no scholar, so if someone else wants to correct me on this one, feel free. But here's my best guess:

The gist of matrilineal descent is that it emerged from a time when the only way you could guarantee that a child was Jewish was to witness the birth from a Jewish mother. Rape, missing fathers, etc all made it a grey area, and back then, it was the only way to be "sure" that a child was halachically Jewish.

The interesting thing is, this was a change from patrilineal descent, but people still argue about when that change happened. Depending on the denomination, matrilineal descent is very very important beyond just determining Judaism, or it's a vestigial practice that has stuck around because it's, well, tradition.

Now, origin and existence are two different things. While it might have emerged for certain reasons, modern standards have obviously changed. We can do DNA tests and other rituals. But a lot of major denominations will turn away patrilineal Jews or hold those with Jewish DNA at arm's length until their Jewishness has been determined. That's only changed recently, and even then very slowly.

So, now that that's out of the way -- how does this relate to omegaverse? I suppose carriers in a/b/o universes would be considered de facto mothers, because they give birth. From my (limited) understanding, the core of most strict matrilineal arguments are 1) we've always done it this way post reception of the Torah 2) it was the only way to ensure someone was Jewish and 3) there are inherent attributes to mothers/the feminine that Rabbis argue are metaphysical and important to consider.

But it depends on how you write omegas. Are they defined by their ability to birth? Are they dual sex or single sex? Do they have the ability to sire offspring in addition to carrying them? Do they serve a "motherly" role in addition to giving birth? All things to consider.

Me personally, I'm a big proponent of accepting all Jews as they are, as long as they're not proselytizing or cosplaying as Jewish from another religion. It's a closed practice but we're also dwindling in number, so turning away people because their father was Jewish and not their mother is bizarre to me. Especially if they were raised in the religion -- at that point it's a technicality, but many rabbis will still make you go through a conversion which is wild to me.

I would throw out there, for the sake of omegaverse -- if the carrier is Jewish, generally, in most cases, the pups are Jewish. That makes sense to me.

[your--isgayrights]

Seeing your answered ask about metas makes me want to share this list someone made about ORV’s literary references: https://twitter.com/Jomeimei421/status/1806147303004336632

I think this same person also said something about ORV being a blend of low-brow fiction and high-brow literature and I agree. I would like to see a legitimate academic paper referencing or breaking down ORV, and now that I think about it, maybe this has already happened and I just don’t know how to find something like that.

This list is honestly such a great resource, thanks for sharing :)))) <3333

I would add the samguk yusa and samguk sagi to this list tho, even though the references might count as 'myths' or an oral tradition that's the nature of the older historical texts. I think I have a couple breakdowns of the references to the Samguk yusa, a post about ljh's name and the historical ancestors referenced, and some stuff about JttW.

In the concept of high brow and low brow, I agree that ORV is very good at being like very respectful of anything that is a 'story' and I think good at portraying the sort of 'character' that some genres or reading types represent. I think one of my posts is definitely about how the KDJ relationship with his mom is very representative of the sort of evolution of webnovel culture out of classical literature and trauma literature scenes in the sort of 'professional,' established Korean publishing. Also as a Naruto guy I really respect the JttW arc for being like 'hey all middle grade action stories and shounen a little bit comes from JttW tbh.' I also think the premise of ORV is great as sort of the natural conclusion to like American gods or Rick Riordan type justifications for all religions being true bc people believe them: ok, then here's also one man's favorite anime boy being real because he believes in him and he's actually going to punch God now. Oh also a literary reference I guess is that metatron and etc are from the Talmud rabbinic scriptures. Though I think myths about him are mostly from kabbala / oral tradition (which stems from Judaism but even now there are Jewish people who think it's very wrong to call them Jewish beliefs. Part of that is probably that in more modern history kabbala has partially been developed and sort of appropriated by non-jewish people in a way that is kind of similar to orientalizing / mysticizing the more 'normal' Judaic beliefs practiced by wider Jewish communities ((think tiktokkers who are like I Am a Witch doinG Qabala but actually she's basically just writing creepypasta in her brain about things other people actually believe in that she knows nothing about)). At the same time, there is kabbala that naturally developed from people Jewish faith in the same way orphism or other 'occult' beliefs developed out of governmentally/societally enforced/accepted Greek and Roman religions throughout history. Fun fact: Sefer ha-bahir is apparently an influential text in the development of og kabbala and apparently literally describes the idea of transmigration so that is fun.)

Ok besides the historical stuff the media on the list I'm actually exposed to is just Han Kang and then Naruto (I watched some of one piece in middle school but retained very little of it tbh I just know who some of the guys are. Actually I just had a dream where I complimented a guy's one piece shirt and then he asked me if I liked the anime and I had to be like oh... No).

I did some research on YSA's reading 'taste' though and I think it's very fitting because they're realistic books with "literary value" that are like very relevant to society but obscure enough that you wouldn't make up reading them just to impress someone, unlike Han Myungoh claiming 'art of war' is his fave book (that's another lit reference in there somewhere I think? I just remember finding it fitting... It's the type of fit for business men who want to seem macho and smart but actually don't enjoy reading at all... I would say if they said three kingdoms was their favorite I would at least believe they read it or saw an adaptation but like art of war just isn't really a Story it's more like self help? Like there are stories but they're showing 'lessons' about war lol.)

[yourtoradorasextendedwarranty]

Something I can't understand is the ideology that modern Neo Progressives have in general. Because frankly they don't have cohesive ideology at all. They believe in Communism (or so most say) but literally are the world's biggest Karen's when it comes to consumer goods. Like iPhones and anything Apple.

They will scream EAT THE RICH, while subsequently padding those same rich wallets. Then they will scream about the environment and it gets kinda wild. Because they want paper straws, never you mind you can't really recycle them, they are often made of NOT good materials for people or for the environment, AND production of them is actually worse all things considered. Yet they claim that you should do it FOR the environment........Sure.

Then there's the fact that Hamas is killing people in Gaza now, and I see no mention of "Genocide" almost at all any more. No mention of care at all about what's going on. Guess the issues was actually the Jews then. BUT NO that doesn't make sense either because they are convinced that Elon, Trump, etc are all SOMEHOW, Nazis. Despite Trump helping his daughter transition over to Judaism to marry her husband. And also because the wave that Elon did was not very Nazi like.....And is far less similar to a Nazi salute than Elizabeth Warren, Hillary, Obama, Harris, and Bush have done. So you hate Jews, (Even though you refuse to admit it and just say Zionists instead because it somehow became socially acceptable) and you have the NERVE to call Elon a Nazi?

Hamas were literally waving Nazi flags at their own rallies. Oh and that's not also adding to it the fact that China, the country that everyone that left TikTok is now FAWNING over, have never listened to people that have lived there for any extended period of time....ever. Like the people that escaped and now live in the US. AND THAT is a whole separate can of worms because China is HELLA racist, they have ZERO free speech. They don't have almost any women's rights at all, and they are literally the Actors of the Eastern world.

"Don't worry. We aren't raping Uighur women daily. Don't worry we didn't weld people into their homes to enforce 'Zero Covid'. Don't worry none of those welded in starved to death. Don't worry our people totally have access to free and open information. We are so dedicated to that, that a government actor needs to be in every business over a certain size? We will just tell everyone our apartments are 500$ a month/year......while not telling them how much we MAKE a month or year. Yes please hate American more and eat our propaganda harder."

Oh, and a secondary mention of the poor Uighurs. Sterilized, Shaved bald, made to all wear the same thing, re-education camps on how they are impure and wrong. Then there's the rapes of the women to breed them out. AND THEN used as cheap slave labor.

PLEASE do tell me you care about Muslims when you overlook an actual by the definition Genocide. But because it's Communists doing it, it's just fine I guess. Their lives don't actually matter. Funny enough black lives wouldn't in China either. Hell they HATE the LGBT with a passion but know that western liberals love the LGBT and use that as a publicity stunt to try and con said Western Libs that they somehow actually care. You people are walking. Talking. Contradictions. And a lot of the outrage you fake is over stuff you know NOTHING about.

Like getting mad that illegals are being deported despite more rapists coming into this country due to having basically NO borders at all. And before some moron comes into my notes and say's "Not all _____ are~" see....Let me stop you right there. NO HONEST PERSON is calling all of ANYONE crossing the border, Rapists. It's just a Factual POINT that rapists, sex traffickers, CHILD traffickers and drug mules have made a huge boom off of Biden's policies. If you have a real ideology, then stand the fuck by it and stop making excuses. Move to a country where hate speech laws exist. You will learn fast what it means to NOT really have free speech. Especially not when you are not allowed to talk poorly of your government or it's officials. Lest you be arrested or fined. Like in the UK.

People in the US think things are just awful here. Live other places for long stints of time and do all the same stuff you do here. You can't. You walk into and ER here, they have to see you. It might take 2 hrs but they CAN'T turn you away. Canada? Your "Socialist Dream" depending on what's wrong with you, their system is so strained, it could talk you days or months to be seen at all. SURE most of its free, but did you know that wealthy Canadians TEND to come to the US for healthcare because they feel they get treated better and more thoroughly. Wild right? But it happens.

Moral of the story. Things here are far better than you realize. And EVERY country has its own issues. Most countries have stricter laws, stricter borders, stricter immigration laws, and several other things. Including restricting self defense, arms ownership, and speech. And many have higher taxes than CA. Neo Progs will never understand how well they have it. And I don't know how to tell them the rest of the countries and cultures they defend look at them as degenerates. Sluts. Whores. Evil. Monsters. Gross. Etc. Any other bad word you can think that's how they see you. Unless you listen to their PR people. And you ALWAYS DO.

[suugrbunz]

you’re developing feelings for someone?? Tell more, tell more (if you’re okay posting some about it)!! I’m so interested in attraction psychology.. 😁

oh boy am I a case to study when it comes to attraction, this might be long.

Tw: Short mention of SA (not in depth, just the word itself)

ah where do I start— I'm practically anti-falling in love. The last two times I did, I was ghosted. So I don't want to fall in love out of that fear.

I think one trait that's been present everytime i have developed feelings for someone is whenever they text me I panic and turn my phone off until I think of a response. I do have some social anxiety that can become controling of these situations. One time, a guy called me and I had just deleted his number from my phone. Believing he wouldn't text or call me. I watched my phone ring, yelling at my friend that he was calling. She then sent me an excuse to text him and then call back... That's one of my funniest stories. oh he ghosted me.

I'm about to just start purging my brain's every though here we go.

He's not Jewish. No one would mind in my family. However, he is pagan which I think is where my parents may begin to mind. I don't, he's so lovely. Plus, my parents told me not to let them control me. I'm really lucky to have parents like them... Oh, I expressed my lack of judgement towards people immediately as he's experienced lots of unnecessary hate for his religious beliefs. Someone told him he should be killed for his pagan beliefs. Which... What the fuck?

I propose to the court; Why would I, a Jewish individual, express the same oppressive words that's been used against my people for centuries? I wouldn't. I think he groups Christianity and Judaism as being quite similar but the two religions are very different. If it was similar then an eight year old girl wouldn't have said I'll be in hell for not believing in Jesus. Big ew on the clear indoctrination of a child.

Frankly, I don't care what you are in terms of religion. As plainly stated to him, I believe religion is personal and it shouldn't matter what you are. As long as you are a good person, why would I care?Plus, I am not that religious. I used to be but, again, as stated to him, I felt alienated after a controversy within the community. Which connects to my experience of attraction. I was sa'd when I was eleven. People shamed victims/survivors of the crime for opening about their stories. Now you may ask, why? Rabbis were committing these crimes and people can't stand the thought of someone we paint as a saint actually being a terrible person that isn't free of sin. Idiots.

I did explain the community's controversy in full to him because he asked why I felt alienated.

He's complimented me a few times on my appearance but I cannot reciprocate the feeling. I had to explain that I don't feel physical attraction to anyone. I will compliment a personality rather than appearance if I am romantically interested. Which that ... Second sentence was not expressed.

I noticed when I am falling in love I begin to act more positively. My friend commented on the fact I am acting sweet & affectionate. Which as someone else who studies some attraction psychology, made me realise what was happening. I have a habit of not realising I'm actually developing feelings until some says something that flips the switch.

A strange flaw I have noticed of myself and I think it's out of trying to protect myself is that I fall in and out of love with the same person a few times. I'll convince myself they won't...love me. Then they show interest and I'm suddenly red in the face, remembering their actions and words are a better representative of their emotions than my thoughts. I remember when I liked this one guy, prior to this one, I had a moment of knowing it wouldn't work out. I remember crying to myself as I realised I don't speak nearly enough for people to actually love me. Was listening to mitski as well, great artist to play whilst crying.

My low self-esteem really strains my ability to connect to people. Oftentimes, I convince myself no one even likes me. Which happens off and on with this current guy and all my friends. Sometimes, I find people that are understanding of the issue (and don't baby me due to it).

Oh, he he's formed the habit of texting me good morning when he wakes up. This morning as I woke up, I was thinking about that. I turned my phone on and saw the notification from him and ... It causes such warm feeling inside... He and I talked about birds, nature, and other things. I have three birds that I adore. And here's my weird thing, I collect their feathers. I have a bag of feathers. Which I told him. He responded that he's been wanting to collect feathers as well but from wild birds lmao

Oh, I have the habit thinking of the person I have a crush on at random moments and becoming really smiley. This is a repetitive habit. Has happened with others.

[yanzinator]

I need to rant rn about how much I hate my dad, in a place he won't find out about it, so I'm doing it here. Be warned, this is very negative about Judaism. If you're a convert or a goy, or whatever else, don't interpret this as integral part of it, it's just certain circles within certain circles that I'm in, but if you don't want to see the darker side of Judaism, maybe don't read on. Also trauma dumping!!

I fucking hate my dad, which is hard, because he's a hard person to hate. He has fantastic people skills, he knows everyone, and he's friends with everyone he meets, he seems really kind, and also he's really rich. He's a millionaire, we live in basically a mansion, so every time I tell someone "yeah I'm mendy's son" they're like "oh you're so lucky" "that must be so great" "he's such an awesome person" and I have to pretend I agree with them or else I look like a spoiled asshole of a child, and it always feels like I'm stabbing myself. He's an egomaniacal control freak, he thinks of me as his property, I know this both because of how he acts, and the fact that he makes sure to regularly explicitly remind me of this. "you're my son, you belong to me. I own you", any time I'm slightly out of line. Which is a lot because his standards are insane. My hair is currently about 5 inches I think. From my forehead it reaches to right under my eyes, I grew it from a buzzcut with no in between cutting. I use hairclips to keep my bangs off my eyes, and I regularly have to threaten him with never talking to him again so he doesn't buzzcut it while I sleep. He makes sure I know about that one reel he saw on insta where a guy cut a line on his friends head, so the friend had to buzzcut the rest. If I want anything at all, there's no way to get it other than making it myself from scrap or paper, or going through him. Now to be fair, he's usually very generous, because he has the money, but if it's something he doesn't like, and remember he's a religious nutjob so most things, I'm out of luck. Even if it's a 2 dollar cup with a girl, any girl tbc, doesn't matter how tznius she is, because it's too inappropriate. I want to run away, get a job, live alone, be financially independant, if extremely unstable, because even with a landlord breathing down my neck, at least he won't be looking at my bookmarks. Problem is, I don't know how, because I have no secular education. When I was a kid, we lived in Buffalo NY, we were poor back then, we lived in a bad neighborhood, my mom hated the place, but I loved it. I went to a tiny private Jewish school, had 60 students total, but they taught well, I learned properly, I had friends, everything was normal. By the time I was 10, My dad was doing really well, not rich well, but he had a lot of assets, a few thousands in savings, we moved to mexico because of a business opportunity, and there I had no friends but worse, no education. Now there were schools, but they weren't Jewish schools, and god forbid someone with foreskin teach me how to find X, so instead, he financially strained himself to find me tutors. I do appreciate that, he worked really hard to emulate school for me. My curriculum when I was 12 was more intense than actual school was, and now I think like an Amorai, I know details about tanach no even thinks about, I can tell you mechanics about the world that make me look like conspiracy theorist, but no that's just tanya, and if you have a question in Halacha, I can answer you as well as a Rabbi, and if you want to know where your poop go after digestion, I know this guy on tumblr... Taxes? I don't know what the first form even looks like, what name to look up. Job application? Like from the movies? And what would I put on it? "Dissected a worm in 6th grade, top of my class in hebrew, 18 years experience as a professional Jew". Eventually I did have an opportunity, when I was 15, I went to Yeshiva in florida, they had a class where they "taught" GED. So I'm there right. I go to the rosh yeshiva, "I want to learn GED", They gave me this thick as book, and told me that they have a teacher come in for an hour a day. I could be a loner who learned with him and give up 1 of 2 hours of free time that I had in the entire 24 hour day, which btw included 7 hours of sleep, because the rosh yeshiva read an article saying adults need 7-9 hours of sleep, never mind we're teenagers who need 8-10, -block text limit

and that the range isn't "everyone needs to get at least 8 at most 10", so much as "some need 8 some need 10", but no we all get 7!!!, and then 2 hours of free time, I had to dedicate half of that to learning GED, and the teacher's teaching style was, "you see this page. Read it. Then read the next page.". When I ask my dad what I'm supposed to do with this, he tells me not to worry. When I get married (between ages 24-26) (to a religious Jewish girl), he'll buy me a house, then I'll go to shul and study all day, and he'll pay me a salary, and I'll be a talmid chacham who learns torah all day, a perfect chassid. What if I want to do something else? "you have an internet connection, find some online course". I quit that first Yeshiva after half a year, and went to another Yeshiva in tzefat. That one had more secular studies, it taught us from a 1st grade level, and it was preparing us for Bagruyot (12th grade tests) and we had a year to catch up. Also, they made a point to never allow more secular studies than holy studies in the curriculum. we had ~2 hours of free time, but 8 hours of sleep! but also the non free time, the lessons were much, much harder... also also Mikvahs! sorry to digress but fucking. In tzefat, they were mandatory for a certain period, not all year, but enough that I remember vividly, I often see people online talking positively about Mikvah, so does my family, I know how to pretend I like it but it is a fucked up concept. When I was with my uncle, he's ultra religious and very convincing so I'd go to the mikvah with him, he was very respectful, he waited outside until I finished and then go after, and he'd always take me while the local minyanim were praying so I was alone. He's the only person who ever took my feelings into account, but even then, occasionally someone else was also going at the same time, but it was one person so I just had to face the wall and it'd be fine mostly. In yeshiva, the guy who kept track right, he was respectful, waited outside the changing room, but unless you wanted to get up at 5am, and go in when everyone else is asleep, though even then you'd be going in with 2 or 3 other students, after chassidus boker, you had 30 minutes to dip, and this yeshiva had hundreds of students, and not a particularly large mikvah, now I'm sure no one was looking at my dick, but that didn't make me comfortable. Also two of the rabbis also dipped at this time, so that ++. Anyway, after a year, I managed to get 3 yechidot in gemara, but I was so stressed that I was considering and had already planned out my suicide, so when oct 7th happened, I used the excuse to not go back to israel (I was home for the holidays) and I have not went back since. So anyway, my lack of education is also blamed on me. And hey maybe it is my fault, I don't fucking care, I still have no way out of here. I hate my beard so fucking much, I want to wax it off, I want it to hurt, I want to feel it seperating from my skin, "they are wires that connect you directly to god", god's getting a direct live feed of all my spite. I hate everything about everything I have to deal with, but I have to pretend I'm so happy because from the outside that's what it looks like, and if I don't appreciate my good fortune I'm clearly just a spoiled rich kid.

[jessicalprice]

Like you said her post implied people who weren't xian were "missing something" in a negative context, and I can't tell if she meant that or meant "it's impossible for one person to experience everything, I wish I could experience the good things about others' religions and that they could experience the good things about mine."

What they said was:

But I feel loved by my god and I want everyone to have a chance to feel loved like that. I don't understand other people's gods, but I know mine, so what I really meant was let's find the similarities between us and use that to bridge the differences.

This is assuming that the difference between us is that I filled in my god template slightly differently than you did. When the truth is we're not even using the same template.

"Let's use the similarities between us to bridge the differences"

What if, and hear me out, you didn't treat difference as a problem that needs to be fixed or bridged or whatever? What if you accepted that you don't need to be able to fit the ways that we are different into the ways that we are similar? What if, to treat me as a neighbor, you stopped making me making sense to you as a prerequisite?

What if you just let me exist and tried to meet me as I am, rather than trying to check off boxes about how we're similar, as if the degree of similarity between us is what makes me acceptable?

(for context I'm former Xian now agnostic)

Oh, believe me, I can tell.

I'm real bad at reading intent so I just default to the more charitable interpretation of what people say, maybe that's a bad idea when talking about religion, especially when xianity is so dominant and prone to proselytizing,

How nice for you. Why do you feel the need to tell me that you're trying to be charitable?

Is it, perhaps, because you think I should have been more charitable to that poster?

Have you considered that maybe telling a member of a marginalized group that regularly gets shot at--not to mention all of the less potentially fatal treatment and othering, both intentional and unintentional--to be more charitable to members of the dominant group is not something that a member of the dominant group should be doing?

The rich should not be demanding charity from the poor.

You want to go interact with that poster yourself, be charitable all you want. You want to interact with me? Maybe stop self-congratulating about your charitableness.

but isn't she kinda following in the spirit of your "holy envy" question?

*laughs forever*

Let's go back to the tags that started this.

I love Jesus and I think everyone should have a chance to know him

The poster may have backtracked when called on their openly proselytizing bullshit, but that's just a little more softly phrased version of exactly the thing the Christian panelist said.

Idk, maybe it's different cause everyone "has a mom" in that there's someone who's AFAB that had a hand in them existing/that they're biologically related to, so I guess "having a mom" is more a default and it's not controversial to say "I wish everyone had a good mom."

So you get where the metaphor breaks down. Congrats. Now keep thinking. Follow it to its logical conclusion.

The metaphor breaking down is sort of the point.

It's what, in Judaism, we call a qal v'homer argument: if thing A (minor premise), how much more thing B (major premise)?

If it is annoying, alienating, objectifying, to have someone insist you must have their mom--something everyone has biologically, and something that actual science says having in a relational sense is better than not having, barring cases of extreme abuse, and in fact not having that relationship or a reasonable substitute thereof in early childhood literally fucks you up for life--or at least a mom...

...how much more so to have someone insist you need their god--something that not everyone has or needs, something that it is not by any means proven that it is more often good than harmful to have--or any god, for that matter?

Also cause the context was an interfaith event, aren't we kinda assuming that everyone in the discussion has a "mom?" Like yeah, not everyone wants or needs a mom, but if you're having a discussion in a "talking about our moms" panel, you can kinda assume everyone there has a mom

Please learn the first fucking thing about cultures outside your own.

Many Buddhists are nontheist. Judaism does not require belief in a deity (if we believe in a deity, we only get one, and a specific one at that, but you can absolutely be a devout, practicing Jew and an atheist). Some Hindus see all gods as being manifestations of the same being/consciousness, but some are fully polytheistic.

So no, it was not a given that everyone on the panel had a "mom" (and one may have had several moms, and the fact that I was there and don't know whether she considered herself to have one or several should give you a sense of how not central it was to anything she said) or that they were there to talk about their "mom," rather than their culture and practices.

how can you be so controversial and yet so brave

(reposted from Twitter)

Hey so, have I ever told you about the time I was at an interfaith event (my rabbi, who was on the panel, didn't want to be the only Jew there), and there was a panel with representatives of 7 different traditions, from Baha'i to Zoroastrian?

The setup was each panelist got asked the same question by the moderator, had 3 minutes to respond, and then they moved on to the next panelist.

The Christian dude talked for 8 minutes and kept waving off the poor, flustered, terminally polite Unitarian moderator.

The next panelist was a Hindu lady, who just said drily, "I'll try to keep my answer to under a minute so everyone else still has a chance to answer." (I, incidentally, am at a table with I think the only other non-Christian audience members, a handful of Muslims and a Zorastrian.)

So then we get to the audience questions part. No one's asking any questions, so finally I decide to get things rolling, and raise my hand and the very polite moderator comes over and gives me the mic.

I briefly explain Stendahl's concept of "holy envy" and ask what each of theirs is.

(If you're not familiar, Stendahl had 3 tenets for learning about other traditions, and one was leave room for "holy envy," being able to say, I am happy in my tradition and don't desire to convert, but this is something about another tradition that I admire and wish we had.)

The answers were lovely. My rabbi said she admired the Buddhist comfort with silence and wished we could learn to have that spaciousness in our practice. The Hindu said she admired the Jewish and Muslim commitment to social justice & changing, rather than accepting, the status quo.

The Christian dude said he envied that everyone else on the panel had the opportunity to newly accept Jesus.

I shit you not.

Dead silence. The Buddhist and Baha'i panelists are resolutely holding poker faces. The Hindu lady has placed her hands on the table and folded them and seems to be holding them very tightly. Over on the middle eastern end of the table, the rabbi, the imam, and the Zoroastrian lady are all leaning away from the Christian at identical angles with identical expressions of disgust. The terminally polite Unitarian moderator is literally wringing his hands in distress.

A Christian lady at the table next to me, somehow unable to pick up on the emotional currents in the room, sighs happily and says to her fellow church lady, "What a beautiful answer."

anyway I love my rabbi to death and would do anything for her

except attend another interfaith event

[mindful-of-ideas]

A/N: This is kind of supposed to be set in the same universe as this post. So, basically, House is your dad, and you move in with him and Wilson. Since your dad is more distant, you go really close really quickly to James, so much you consider him like your dad. Also, I am not Jewish (as you might have guessed from previous posts), but I did do some research and tried to stick to stuff I knew. If I made any mistakes please, please, please tell me.

“Oh, what are you making,” you said, barging into the apartment.

“Hello to you too. I’m good, thanks. How about you?” James asked.

“Sorry,” you said, getting up on the counter by his workspace, “Hi, I’m good.”

You smiled at him. You hadn’t been living here for too long, yet it already felt like home.

“So, what is it?” you asked again.

If there was one thing you had learned right away, it was that James made the most amazing food ever. Yes, there was some burnt stuff or some new recipe with too much of one thing, but those were rare occasions. And it ranged from breakfast to dinner, from appetizers to desserts, and from quick snacks to five-course meals. Coming from a house where your mom often forgot to even buy some food, this made you feel like the luckiest person on Earth.

“So, what is it?” you asked again.

“Latkes,” he said, picking up a potato.

He already had a good amount grated thinly, yet he was still going.

“Latkes? What are those?”

“It’s like a potato pancake if you want. You grate some potatoes, combined them with matzo meal, egg, salt and pepper, and then you make pancakes and fry them. That’s it!”

“Matzo…? Well, it does sound really good,” you said, handing him yet another potato, “How come you’ve never made that before?”

“It just never occurred to me before now I guess.”

“Why?”

“Do you always ask that many questions or is it just today?”

“Sorry…”

“It’s something we typically eat during Hanukkah, that’s why,” he answered, “And don’t be sorry.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize it was… Happy Hanukkah! I can’t wait to taste them if that’s okay.”

You felt so dumb. You knew James was Jewish and you had been meaning to learn about Hanukkah so that, not only could you wish him a Happy Hanukkah on the right date, but also just to be nice. It was the least you could do for the man who welcomed you into his life like that.

“Why, of course, it’s okay! You think I’m making that many latkes only for myself?”

“I don’t know… I just… I don’t know much about Hanukkah and Judaism, I didn’t want to say something… wrong.”

“Well, what do you know,” he asked, smiling.

“I know about the menorah with the candles, there’s like eight plus one to light the others and it’s like to remember the days some… people spent in a… cave? Something about them having to save their oil so they would have enough light. And there are the dice, though I have no idea what it’s supposed to represent or how you’re supposed to use them… And well, you mentioned food so I guess there is other very specific food, just like Easter…”

You stopped there. That was everything you knew.

“I’m so sorry I don’t know more,” you added.

“Y/N, that is an awful lot,” he said, smiling at you proudly, “you don’t have to apologize, it’s okay to be curious about things and learn about them.”

You smiled letting out a sigh.

“Can I ask you something,” he asked.

“Yeah?”

“What does Christmas mean to you?”

“Ummm… that is a good question actually.”

“Take your time,” he said, going back to his potatoes.

To you, Christmas had never really been a religious thing. You actually had a hard time wrapping your head around the fact that some people still viewed it as a religious holiday first and a capitalist holiday second. But Christmas wasn’t either about spending loads of money on presents. It was more about taking the time to breathe after the marathon that were final exams, and to look back on what you’ve accomplished. The free time also meant that you could go out and do some fun activities with friends. And as for Christmas day itself:

“I guess Christmas is one day of the year when you get together with friends and family and enjoy being there for each other. I don’t really care about getting presents, I’d much rather give them and see how happy people are to get them. Christmas means getting together and having fun.

“Well, that’s what I think about Hanukkah. See, it’s not that different in the end.”

He looked at you, waiting to see if you were going to ask something else. Seeing that you didn’t, he added:

“How about you help me finish this,” he said, “Then, I’ll tell you about Hanukkah. And you can ask as many questions as you want.”

“Sure!” you said, jumping off the counter, “And James?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I still buy you a ‘Christmas’ present… well a Hanukkah present…or a… a present, I guess.”

He turned to face you, resting a hand on your shoulder.

“Of course, you can! You don’t have to, you’re taking interest in Hanukkah is the best present I could ask for.”

“Cheesy, I love it!” you said.

He rolled his eyes.

“No, I want to, I got this super cool idea weeks ago and I’ve been dying to give this to you!” you said excitedly.

“Okay, okay,” he said smiling, “Don’t spoil it though.”

“I wouldn’t! What should I do to help?”

“I am putting you on grating duty, my arm’s tired,” he said laughing.

[utilitycaster]

I also am going to break neutrality now that the survey is over to say that the vehemence of feeling against the CR Content Warning project surprised me, and I think ignoring it - even if you support this project - is foolish and self-serving at best and dangerous at worst.

I don't regularly use content warnings (I approve of them in concept, but they're not something I use); my own mental health stuff is not particularly influenced by media/triggers. There are things I strongly dislike and that make me uncomfortable but those tend to either not apply in most D&D (I just like...don't really watch horror) or are actually easier for me if they just happen such that I can move on as I get fixated on "oh fuck when will Bad Thing happen" (this is also why I'm spoiler-averse). So I've personally tried to stay in my lane.

However:

The Content Warning project has virtually no oversight. People have made edits that were probably well-meaning but were actually quite offensive (eg: an edit indicating Golems, as a concept, were triggering because of cultural appropriation from Judaism, which gets things wrong on several levels and is pretty fucking offensive to me as a Jewish person). There are conflicting attempts to be incredibly granular beyond any actual play content warnings I've ever seen, but also to avoid spoilers. They don't seem to value mental health triggers at the same level as physical violence triggers despite the latter being a ubiquitous characteristic of most D&D. They have claimed to have been working on alternate hosting but there has been literally no progress in the eight months since it began - even though it is free and easy to create your own wiki.

That said, what is most concerning to me is the outpouring of feedback on this project on a survey about the wiki. The CR CW project is a tiny piece of the wiki and easy to avoid. And yet, in the original survey, which did not mention it at all, enough people brought it up as a problem for me to follow up. In the follow-up survey, which included two other pretty significant topics, overwhelmingly the feedback people took the effort to write out extensively was about this project, and specifically that they had attempted to provide feedback and were not only ignored but belittled.

I will be clear: the wiki cannot shut down this project entirely, just remove it from the wiki. I deliberately did not ask for further opinions on the CR CW project on the follow-up beyond "should it be removed" because the wiki cannot do anything but remove it and so those feelings, while valid, are not strictly relevant. But there was a massive influx of comments expressing frustration with the CR CW project in any free text box available. I am fairly sure it's because the Content Warning project is outright hostile towards people who provide constructive feedback and those with concerns were just glad that someone, anyone, was permitting them a space to air these grievances. And for that, the CR CW project should be utterly mortified at their total failure to serve the community.

I will be advocating in the strongest terms for removing it from the wiki (I'm waiting until post-Thanksgiving to ensure it doesn't get lost over the holiday) and I will let people know here so that they can comment on the wiki at this time. If you are interested in getting it removed I strongly recommend you take to the wiki or the wiki discord to ensure administrators see the fandom's concerns in detail, and I am happy to help guide people through this process.

[ruffboijuliaburnsides]

Hi! Obviously ignore this if I'm asking something too personal, but you've mentioned that you're in the process of converting to judaism and I've been wondering how did you start? I've done a good bit of research and think it's something I'm interested in, but I have no idea what the actual process of conversion looks like, much less where to begin. Obviously feel free to ignore, or send me towards someone else, but thought I'd ask!

Hey no worries, anon! So, I will preface this by being forthcoming and saying I got partway through the conversion process, was forced to move, and ended up in a different part of the country with only one shul nearby whose rabbi (and community) are… very unfriendly to converts. They don’t SAY they are, but a few months of attendance and a handful of meetings with the rabbi with regards to conversion really hammered home that neither my wife nor I felt even remotely comfortable converting here, considering it’s a very personal and often vulnerable process, and wherein you have to actually like… trust and communicate with the rabbi you’re working with. So my conversion, while I still consider it “in progress”, is in an indefinite stall until we can move somewhere else or can reliably get to the next closest shul, which we currently cannot for various reasons.

ANYWAY. I started by doing a lot of research. Mostly I was just looking into… all kinds of religion, including Islam actually, because I missed the community and the structure and the spiritual anchors of my very conservative evangelical christian upbringing, but I didn’t like or want to return to the actual, y’know…. beliefs and tenets of Christianity. I found Judaism and just… the more I read and researched about the beliefs and the general culture of questioning and grappling with things within it, the more I felt like I’d found a people who I could understand, and a religion that understood me and would allow for me to be uncomfortable and question why things are taught certain ways and so forth. Which was one of many things that drove me away from Christianity, as I was not good at the whole “blind faith” thing. (they insist it’s not blind, but if you’re not supposed to question god then… what else IS it?)

At that point we were living in upstate new york, and the nearest reform shul was very small, did not have a permanent rabbi (there was one for a number of local communities that cycled around every few weeks), and really while they were officially reform they seemed to as a community have a practice and beliefs a lot closer to something like reconstructionist or humanist Judaism. I went to shabbat services on fridays there for a few months, and they were very nice but said they were very much not a usual reform congregation and that I should probably actually convert somewhere with a permanent rabbi and that was a bit more traditional, but that in the meantime they were more than happy to have me attend services and events with them. They were very sweet and I did appreciate that opportunity to accustom myself to the general pacing and content of a friday night shabbat service.

At that point we get to the part that you’re actually asking about, and I’m sorry if you’re just like “OH MY GOSH MAGS PLS JUST GET TO THE POINT” which is when we moved back down to Florida and I actually properly started the conversion process with a rabbi! I started out emailing the local shul and saying that I had just moved to the area, I was not Jewish but was interested in possibly converting and had been attending services at a very small shul up north, and is it all right if I attend a few shabbat services while I consider converting? I will say, I have never been told “no please don’t attend” about going to shabbat services, but especially with the world the way it is, and me being new and not knowing anyone in the community or having anyone to vouch for me, I prefer to ask beforehand so that they know to expect someone new who is reaching out and less likely to be a threat.

Anyway after a couple of weeks at that shul, I already loved the people and could tell I would get on pretty well with the rabbi, so I emailed her again about setting up a meeting to discuss converting. We had the meeting, talked about why I wanted to convert, what would be required of me, etc. She got me set up with a book list and some books from the shul library, gave me a reading assignment and asked me to write down any thoughts or questions I had, along with some other things that were kind of reading comprehension stuff, and told me to email her when I had finished so we could have another meeting. She also stipulated that she would have me live and practice through a full year of the Jewish calendar at minimum before she’d declare me ready to go to the mikvah, and we’d meet regularly, I’d do a lot of reading, I needed to attend a beginning hebrew class for adults that would be starting again over the summer, attend services (both weekly and holiday) as much as possible, and engage as much as possible in the community. (I really loved them. I was a soloist in the Purim spiel that year and I had friends and once I’d finished converting and could join the synagogue I’d already been needled to join their tiny choir and it was just a great group of people.)

Aaaand then we had to move due to things outside our control, and I couldn’t attend as often due to being a heck of a drive away (in a car with no A/C, in Florida, in the summer) so I tried to shift over to a closer shul whose rabbi my old rabbi knew, but it was High Holy Days and then he was travelling for some studies and couldn’t start doing anything like conversion until that was all over, and then we had to move again and now we’re here and have a very unfriendly rabbi and congregation, so we don’t attend services right now.

…………all this to say: you’ve done some research and you think you’re interested. Next step is to find the nearest shul that is of the movement you want to convert in, and call or email them and just let the rabbi know where you’re at and ask if you can attend some services respectfully to see if you still feel drawn to Judaism when engaging with it directly. If so, let the rabbi know, set up a meeting, and go from there. It’ll take time, a year at the LEAST and usually longer even if you DON’T have the sort of issues I’m currently having, but if HaShem is calling you home, it’s worth it.

(and if your rabbi requires to you take any classes or what-not, most organizations that run them that require you to pay some kind of fee offer scholarships or reduced tuition if you’re not financially able to enroll in them initially, so be sure to reach out about stuff like that, too.)

[roostertuftart]

Hi! So I know this ask is kind of spoilery,but can we hear your thoughts some time on the post covid episode? Your analysis’s are my favourite❤️ (no pressure though)

Aww thank you!! I’m sorry this took so long, I really appreciate the asks I get and want to answer, but I’m super busy and trying to formulate organized responses in the way I’d like to is difficult right now. For that reason, this is gonna be kinda rambly, and hopefully I can expand in the future- feel free to ask if there’s anything specific you’re curious about here.

Um but, long story short I loved it. Absolutely loved it.

Stan is kinda set up to be this alcoholic asshole who’s a piece of shit to his wife but we later find out that he doesn’t actually have a wife (it’s his Alexa) and while he is definitely an asshole at times, he’s genuinely just sad and lonely and angry and full of guilt and trauma from what happened on the farm and his father blaming him for all of it. I really just loved Stan in this episode and the twist of how they originally presented him vs how he turns out to actually be and why he’s like that. Also Stan is my fav adult? Kyle’s still best boy but got how can I not like this depressed bitter king the most???

Kyle is also clearly miserable, though it felt a lot like he’s sort of learned to control his anger- there’s one scene where he seems really patient and almost robotic with how he speaks to Stan, like he’s controlling himself from snapping at Stan who’s being sorta snippy. And then cartman comes along and Kyle loses all of that control and is just… So (justifiably in many parts) angry and bitchy for the rest of the episode. He seems lonely like Stan, though he’s more accepting of it. Getting into HC but I don’t think he knows how to be close and trust people, and he just doesn’t try very hard. He seemed sad when Stan was disinterested in making up at all though. I think he misses their broship the most out of all of the boys (besides Kenny ofc) but he’s still too stubborn to let go of things. I talked about it more in an art post but I think Kyle really is just… He has no idea what to do with his life now that he’s accomplished the things he was kinda set to do- Go to college, get a good career… He just seems lost and alone. Out of all of the boys, He makes me saddest.

Cartman is. Okay. Well. Honestly?? I think he’s being truthful, and there’s a few reasons for that but to start, him being Jewish, as unexpected as it was, isn’t all the out of the realm of possibility for me. Idk. Call me crazy, but Cartman is so obsessed with judaism, I don’t know if this is really something that could almost ever be expected of reality, but Cartman makes sense to be the one person who’d have fucking converted despite everything. But my main reasoning for thinking he’s gen? His kids. At the end of the episode, we have a moment of Cartman talking to them about how he doesn’t want to change things back, and I just find this whole scene to be really unlikely if Cartman didn’t actually have these kids he cared about, and a life he was happy with. It seems likely this might have just been some weird ploy he pulled until it went too far and became his life. Idk, either way he’s still showing signs he’s a selfish prick who’s barely changed- especially in the way he just expect Kyle to be over things and trust him.

Kenny is… I’m so satisfied with Kenny. Like- Ask any of my friends, my biggest fear when the premiere came out was Kenny. What were they going to do with Kenny? Was he going to be like his dad? Was he going to be a joke? Was he going to just be dead??? And uh- Yeah. The last part- Though I was really satisfied with where they went with his death- But moreover, Kenny went far beyond the bounds of what I ever expected, and yet all of it was so satisfying and made sense!! I’m loving the idea that Kenny grew up to be smart and successful and still oh so caring about his friends despite his frustration with them. And the fact that he did all of this with BUTTERS. It’s such a satisfying concept??? Honestly none of this feels real but I’m so happy and it makes me so goddamn happy that this movie so clearly was made because Trey and Matt had ideas and inspiration and just WANTED to!! They clearly care about this and it came out so well and I’m so happy but- I need to slow down haha.

On Butters- Well, we can’t say much, but I’m really excited about the reveal of who he’s become and how he got to this point.

I could go on about the others too, and there’s no one that disappoints me, but I don’t have too much more to say. Other notable favs for me though were Wendy, Clyde, Token, and Scott, all of them just- I don’t know, I was super happy with how they turned out. Also, getting a “Craig’s gang” episode in this was really fun.

I really like the designs- I like that they’re sorta a mix of the new and old art style- Well, none of them the ugly new one but basically just a more updated version of the older one with slightly more dynamic/detailed parts. I saw someone pointing out how Kyle still sort of has Sheila’s nose, it’s just in a newer art style, and that’s kinda what I’m getting at here. I like that the kids look like their parents but still unique.

Idk, there’s not a lot I don’t like?? Some of the dialogue was a little weird but that’s probably my only criticism. I really want more of this. I wouldn’t mind the rest of the movies being like this, though I’m doubtful of that.

Ummm. Trying to think of more but I think that’s all I’ve got for now. I might add onto this or make another post later. Idk, there’s a lot I have to say but it’s been hard to actually write anything organized out so I hope this mess of a response suffices.

[cosmik-homo]

for your consideration: jewish holmes and watson (which would also blend nicely with a modern fuck the police, stick up for the little guy interpretation)

Ok, this is going to be an interesting one to answer, cuz i just learned i had some opinions i did not know about before and can not explain? So this is equally both a Friendly Geekout with your idea and Introspecting My Gut Feelings Together.

EDIT: oh my fucking god this got SO long it's like seven posts i'm sorry.... I'll put it under a cut and i'm not really in the mindspace to Trim but i'll try format it more. readable. but no one alive should have to read this if you don't feel like it haha it is WORDY

I love Jewish Watson :D idk why i just do. look at him he's such a mensch <3

Actually a while back @two-nipples-maybe-more and I discussed possibilities for Jewish Watson in the victorian setting, including "Mary Is Actually Miriam*, And he initially wants to convert to marry her and gets Attached to both some of the ideas and v much the COMMUNITY of it all." they even made me this coolest art ever for my birthday!!

*(there WAS a fairly assimilated, middle-class community of sepharadic jews in victorian london even before all the Eastern Europe Ashki emigration, and it might even be possible to wiggle in Non-Orthodoxism too)

Anyways i have a lot of thoughts about jewish Watson (and jewish Watsons plural. in this house we love Mary) in various historical, half historical, and modern variations, and just to top it off I'll mention- I watched Great Mouse Detective for the first time this week and I was overjoyed that.... well. I know Christians Can Be Called David Too and it's Not Actually A Jewish Name but doctor David W. Dawson is a jewish mouse and you cant change my mind.

ok now we reach the more, Introspective part because for some reason I personally not only can't entirely envision a jewish Holmes- i have NO idea why my brain/gut just insists something is off with the vibes- I think i am kind of attached to exploring how Holmes is not only culturally christian but seems to, like, underneath It All, kinda cares about it too.

I read him as christian in canon and fro mthe way he talks about his belief**, and I am kinda, happy with it and interested in seeing more of it? Like, Actual Christian Spirituality as more than default-settings is cool and worthy and interesting, especially from a complex, queer, place and honestly the idea of an analytical and logical character who is Religious With Little Question And Little Struggle is an interesting and entirely realistic one that doesn't get done nearly enough.

I love the Thinky, Analytical aspects of judaism but they're not right for everyone, even not analytic people, and i don't think he would vibe with the philosophizing-ness of talmud, asking for asking's sake, thinking in god.

(Which! btw! I think Watson would end up enjoying! he's a people person and a storyteller and canonically is interested in philosophy stuff and i think he would enjoy participating in Shiurim!)

I guess I am personally more interested in he possibilities of exploring the Religiously Christian potential already in Holmes more than a Jewish one, so cheers if that's your cup of tea but idk, for some reason I don't feel about this as much as I thought I would.

**(here's a batch of quotes i found on the web- ignore the writer's opinions, i just like it as a neat reminder and collection of little things in the books that helps see the bigger picture.)

He would be a good Ally And Friend tho, and i think would vibe with some very very handpicked ideas. Once again I am super sorry for this getting so long haha. Have this for a nice dessert:

[ID: a screenshot of a discord message by me, titled simply "Emil". The message reads: "Mary tried to get Holmes to be a Goy Shel Shabbat (Shabbos goy) once- because goyim are allowed to do a service for a jew during shabbat that a jew is forbidden from doing by hallacha, but you're not allowed to ask them directly, and it was just 2 AND A HALF HOURS OF WORLD'S BEST DETECTIVE NOT TAKING A HINT" /end ID]

***I know that's a shaky description of shabbos goy works. it was late at night and google exsists

[maxdemianfangirl]

So...Lilith

So I did not think my responses would be reblogged by @veiledlight-blog and @ohmourningstar but I want to continue the discussion on Lilith which isn’t a reblog chain but instead a full post.

So, why not use Lilith in your practice?

Because you’re not Jewish. Lilith is Jewish. You are not. Judaism is a closed practice for a reason. You aren’t supposed to use the stuff there if you aren’t Jewish. Maybe I have to explain why it’s closed.

Anti-semitism is a big issue. It’s everywhere all around the globe. Closed practices are closed to keep the practice how it is without being colonized, and Judaism is no exception. The Jewish people are often discriminated against. I could go on a full rant on how.

My Sunday school classmates have found nazi symbols spray painted onto walls near their homes. My Jewish friends have been made fun of for being Jewish. I’ve personally been threatened with violence and possible death for being Jewish. It’s caused a long issue with my self identity and my religious beliefs which I still struggle with now. I have often not wanted to be Jewish because I felt so ashamed and bad about it. I didn’t want a Bat Mitzvah in case others found out because I knew telling my friends might bring up a side of them I had no clue about or letting others who would also harm me know about my Judaism. It worsened my mental health which was already not good. And guess what? I was a kid. Not even thirteen when this all happened. No kid should go through that. No kid should hate who they are and what they believe because of others and their hate.

Judaism at its root is meant to protect its people from those who want to harm those who practice it. The whole book of Exodus was about escaping the Pharaoh who enslaved us and finding a new home. We have countless stories about it (the Prague Golem is an amazing one). We have the Holocaust. We’ve been taught by the world to keep closed to ourselves. Its figures like Lilith are not for those who are not Jewish. 

Now, Lilith has become so popular because her whole concept has been changed from what it once was. Lilith was a high figure, not to be messed with and a literal demon who could and would harm babies and their mothers. Now she’s all succubus queen empowering women. While I am very happy that women, especially young witches, can feel empowered, there’s many, many ladies in other pantheons who are more appropriate for goyim (those who are not Jewish). Honestly, if i were a non-Jewish witch I would love Eve and even as a Jewish witch I still love her. Like your free will? Thank her. Stay away from the lady who was written to eat babies. 

Also, young witches are also a big problem when it comes to this. You're naive. Hell I’m still young I’m definitely still naive. But I’m learning. You should be too, learning what you shouldn’t use in your practice because it’s appropriation. 

And I mentioned before in my responses that some people have deities and entities come to them, not the other way around. I’ve dealt with this situation with another involving Lilith as said deity/entity before. Let’s have a hypothetical situation. You see Loki in your dreams. You’re not a Norse Pagan. He talks to you. When you wake up you feel this connection between you and him. You research. You find out about Norse Paganism and since you feel so connected to one of its deities, you study more of it and eventually become a Norse Pagan. People can get involved in certain religions or practices because of such experiences. Why can’t the same be done with Liltih and Judaism?

Now, Norse Paganism is an open practice. With closed ones it’s different, especially with African and Native American practices. But I say the underlying concepts and ideas still apply in concerns to Judaism. You’re free to join us. If you actually really feel connected to her, then I bet you 9/10 you’ll feel connected to Judaism and its concepts as well and end up converting. It’s a long process and yes, it’ll require a lot of work. But if you really want it you’ll do it. Getting into studying magic in itself is a massive undertaking. If you want it, you can do it. And if you want to become Jewish you can do it if you really want it.

I know many young witches who want to work with Lilith will say “but I’m too young I can’t convert!” Well guess what? If you really want it you can sit down and wait and when you’re 18 you can convert. Study Judaism in the meanwhile. Help out your local Jewish community. Be an ally to us. We’ll greatly appreciate it and it’ll help with the conversion. If it’s too much of a hassle to wait, hopefully you’ll learn you made a mistake as your young naive self and have more wisdom for your practice, because we all make mistakes and we all should learn from them. And definitely still stand with us as an ally against anti-semitism! And if you still work with and worship her after all that without the conversion, then you’re just an approperiating asshole. Why she would want to work with you is beyond me. Even being “against anti-semitism” is a futile effort because clearly no you’re not. 

Also, please do not work with Lilith while you’re converting. Wait till after. You made it so far doing it all right only to ruin it by doing that. Plus by doing so you’re honestly just showing 1) you only converted for Lilith 2) you don’t actually respect the rest of Judaism and 3) Honestly you’re just an asshole trying to cover your tracks.

For any witches who do fully convert or those thinking on it: you can still be a witch and do pagan things as a Jew! Look at me. Look at my mom. Look at @will-o-the-witch. Nobody will judge you for it (you’ll find we’re a very open-minded and accepting community). Even rabbis will be open to it and might give you resources! So don’t be scared. We’ll welcome you.

One big thing, don’t just do nothing when you are officially Jewish. Attend services at a synagogue. Help out at your local JCC. Celebrate the holidays. Don’t just turn Jewish because some kid on Tumblr told you to if you wanted to work with Lilith. If you’re just going to ignore all of it when it’s done, then why even bother? It makes you another asshole just covering their tracks. If this is what you’re gonna do, don’t do it.

Also, please note my whole ramble on conversion is meant for people who genuinely feel a powerful connection to Lilith which should extend to the whole of Judaism. Don’t convert or even consider it if you’re only vaguely interested in her and the religion. Research is fine but active practice is a whole new bucket of worms. You’ll waste your time and everyone else’s time with a conversion if you’re not fully involved and into it. Attend or watch (with the pandemic and that) a service or two and see how you think of it. Research research research as well and decide after you’ve done the two. It’ll likely be a no at the end if you are not genuinely interested. Or you may end up genuinely interested in Judaism by doing those things. Just always make sure you’re 100% confident in your choice for this if you’re going to actually convert. It’s a big move and not one to be taken lightly. 

So, TLDR for the whole conversion thing: you either end up realizing your mistake and growing as a person and witch, you reveal yourself as a true asshole, or you end up in a community you’re happy in. Think hard and long. Question your interest and connections. Don’t not get involved in Jewish things if you do convert.

I didn’t expect this to end up mostly about conversion at the end but oh well. I hope this helps or provides some insight. For any questions please just dm or send me an ask. Any anti-semitism or hate will be ignored because I don’t have time for your shit.

[heretherebedork]

I am here to hurt myself by watching WBL2. I know it ends in a reward but the beginning is nothing but agony and why I haven't watched it before. I am already in pain just from watching any tiny amount of pain of these boys.

lol I am literally refering to this as my day of atonement.

... I did make a very nice Rosh Hashanah post but that doesn't make me particularly religious, tbh. Cultural Judaism, yo.

Also, pain. Hi pain.

Ugh, I avoided this pain for so long. Now I'm here for it. One post. I'm only making this one post. @absolutebl I'm doing it! I know how much you love this, though.

Oh, fuck it, if I'm trying to limit all my rambling to one post I might as well read more it. I ramble so much.

Ep 1:

Oh look pain. Pain. And more pain. Yup. Yup. I hate this kind of plot even if I know it resolves well. At least it's not cheating but STILL hi dying. Shu Yi is a darling boy who deserved better than five years of nothing for any reason and Gao Shi De should have been better than that. Even knowing it ends well doesn't make this easier. dgkldf GODDAMN IT SELF. Just watch the show and stop being a baby about emotional pain.

Awww, the matching ties! I've seen that post a dozen times and love it every time and it's good to see.

The fucking way Gao Shi De just tries to walk back into his life without a second word or hesitation or thought makes me SO DAMN TWITCHY. Poor Shu Yi. Also, Gao Shi De deserves every punch and slap and uuughhh this show was designed to hurt me. I HATE relationships falling apart. Absolutely my least favorite trope/plot point of practically all time.I hate it I hate iiiit I hate it so muuuuuch.

I mean, damn, the acting here is amazing beyond words, obviously. But that just makes it hurt more. Especially Shu Yi's pain that he's put behind so much anger and work just to keep himself functional and it's damn gorgeous DAMNit.

Ep 2:

Darling Shu Yi deserved so much better. Even though Gao Shi De wasn't cheating on him, he deserved better than the silence and disappearance and he deserves the goddamn world. Ugh literally like a minute into the episode and already there is so much pain. I know they end up happy but I almost want to just tell Shu Yi to tell Gao Shi De to fuck off forever.

Nope, Gao Shi De, you deserve the pain. Shu Yi does't, you do, your upset doesn't get me upset. Shu Yi's pain is the only one I regret in this show. But, seriously, doing all this in front of the whole company is such a bastard move in his part honestly. Poor Shu Yi, seriously.

I do love my tiny obviously favorite character, though, and his tiny inability to sit and his tiny double hands for everything and I adore him beyond measure.

Ugh, Shu Yi choosing to fake the return of trust and friendship and love and I am proud of him for doing that and no, I don't care, Gao Shi De deserves it. I mean, it's not a good or healthy choice but, you know what, I'm okay with that.

But seriously. Poor Shu Yi. Has to deal with being ghosted and then Gao Shi De's return and then an extremely drunk ex crying on him when he's just trying to go to work... at midnight, okay, maybe not healthy either.

Ep 3:

Oh, Gao Shi De. You're an idiot. I mean that... only with a tiny bit of affection and mostly with me rolling my eyes. Making a promise to his dad wasn't bright of you. I mean, seriously, 5 years without contacting him, telling him what happened and on the condition that Shu Yi doesn't try to move on in five years of being completely ghosted. That's just dumb to an astonishingly level of dumb.

Ugh, poor Shu Yi. Your dad and your ex are both idiots and they deserve to get away from you just like you want. Seriously. You poor young man. You deserved so much better from the people you love.

But seriously fuck Gao Shi De and Shu Yi's dad. You're both idiots who don't deserve him. Especially his dad. But also especially Gao Shi De. Seriously. This is why we talk to people, damnit. Poor Shu Yi.

Why, yes, that's my main take away from this show. Shu Yi deserved so much better. Gao Shi De's need to constantly solve everything by himself is the biggest problem in the show, oy vey.

OF COURSE he wants to go back to that time. He was loved and loved and trusted you and happy and comfortable and who wouldn't want to go back to that?

Yu Zhen Xuan is my darling, obviously, and Pei Shou Yi's wanting to take care of him but also to stay away from him for his own sake. Oh, boys.

Ep 4:

I know they get better at some point. I really do. Shu Yi is still breaking my heart, though. I just want to see the poor darling smile and not in a flashback.

Oh, Shu Yi. You deserve the world, seriously. I mean, I'm glad you've managed to come back around to trying to believe in Gao Shi De. I really am. But man he doesn't deserve it. But also ugh, this embrace, utterly fantastic. Darling Shu Yi is finally smiling!

And poor Yu Zhen Xuan trying to ask about Pei Shou Yi so deseperately and being denied everything... ugh, I love him so much. But mostly just Yu Zhen Xuan wanting that connection so badly but always, again and again, denied and I just want to comfort him so badly. Yes, he's coming to you but, I mean, what is friendship but going to other people for comfort? Awww, the two ramens. The BABY.

But also darling Shu Yi is finally smiling and Gao Shi De does bring him comfort and love and they're genuinely good to and for each other, at least, once they're together. Now they just need to actually talk to each other about what happened.

The simultaneous "DAD" was gorgeous. Okay, that was really good.

Ep 5:

Ah, my long awaited darling boy's backstory that I know and love. The tiny panic and fear and the way he jumps and fights back at the tiniest thing... I love this feral teenager SO MUCH and then he grows up into a CTO for a major company and it's even better.

Plus, Pei Shou Yi looking for him after telling him not to come back because the mug got returned? Ugh, heartbreaking but in like a sad, small kind of way.

And the darling CEOs teasing each other in front of their employees while also in suits and being uplifting and good at supporting them? A+ how does one go about getting bosses like that? Also, how Shu Yi looks at Gao Shi De when he's being a good boss? Also A+.

Okay, yes, they're adorable and tiny and the piggyback ride while also in suits and looking fine is simple the best of the best and Gao Shi De taking care of Shu Yi while also confronting his father is frankly amazing. Oh, darling boys.

Gao Shi De, he already admitted that he did this entirely to trick you and Shu Yi is perfectly willing to take a stand against his father. Stop trying to win him over. Let Shu Yi handle his family. His dad's an idiot and he's not gonna listen to you.

Ep 6:

More backstory for my darling feral teenager and the doctor who took care of him at his lowest. I love them both so much. I wish they'd gotten more of a story but I'm not entirely sure I want a third season about them either.

Portable boyfriend! Well! Portable boy... friend...

Also, Shu Yi and Gao Shi De, you have no right to talk about them not communicating, seriously boys, love you to death but seriously communication... actually, honestly, Shu Yi is great at communication. He can criticize them. Gao Shi De has no right.

Pei Shou Yi, seriously, you say these things about not having any emotion but you also admit that you knew he evoked a response from you. You definitely remembered and had feelings about him when you were separated. I mean, you even saved the ramen that was his favorite. You looked for him. I know it's scary but that's okay.

Shu Yi is just so adorable about meeting the in-laws and being all awkward and adorable and it's beyond cute and then the talk about his dad and family and they're just adorable and domestic and sweet and how dare they.

Literally, Shu Yi is the best person in the world and the two people who love him most can learn a lot from him.

Ugh, Yu Zhen Xuan is my baby and I love him so much and he's just doing his best to be his best and he wants to love and be loved but he's trying so hard and I love him so much. He's just such a darling and he also deserves the world and to be loved just as he loves.

And we had to have another pool kiss, of course, what darlings.

Pei Shou Yei: I don't experience emotions... except the ones involved in protect Yu Zhen Xuan because those aren't emotions, those are just natural urges and don't count.

Awww, proposals are always adorable and sweet.

I did it! I've finally watched the whole thing, between dramacool and dailymotion I've managed to watch this show. Yay for me!

[docholligay]

Shamash answers: Other

It was very very hard to get down to five for this one, and thank you! I don’t know if you know this, but the times when I force y’all to say something nice to me or about my writing--I keep them! I keep them and read them back when I feel low, because even if they were said under duress, they must count for something. 

I know that you feel you struggle with being kind, saying the soft kind thing, and you can absolutely be abrasive, but I think you are often much more kind than you give yourself credit for -- you have an openness and generosity with support and care that I have rarely seen and never experienced in person, despite spending my life in communities that claim an abundance of it. -- @incorrecttact

Thank you! I try, is the best I can say for myself. I’m a naturally sandpapery sort of person, but even sandpaper has its uses, and in the words of Bianca Del Rio, “If you ever need help, ask a hateful bitch like me” I am NOT the woman you go to for emotional support, but I like to think I’m the one who will help you throw out your boyfriend’s shit, move, bring you meals, etc. It’s what I’m basically ‘used for’ in my Jewish community. I’m to “do-it” girl! I’m the “Doc, they’re having like 20 people for shiva and they have someone genuinely allergic to dairy can you help?” and oh yeah, I got this, just don’t ask me to feel feelings with you. 

You're!! Truly amazing!!! And I think except for my close friends and darlings are the person that's helped me the most? Like, legitimately, your liveblogs have helped me get a better sense for finding nuance (Akio!!! has depth???? and can be a deeply fucked person alongside being a symbol of the patriarchy?), and your talking about your faith encouraged me to actually think about if I wanted to find faith again (along with the direct book recs, thank you), and your writing has definitely bled into mine a bit oops but also sorry not sorry you make good shit and I'm gonna steal some of that flair, and then of course there's the diet group, and honestly somehow it feels like you helped me tease out a bit of confidence through our interactions even though I couldn't explain *where* that sense is coming from, and and and.... I just! Feel really grateful that I started following you, and appreciate you being unapologetically you, cause you're great and you truly are a role model. -- @katrani

I’m a big believer that the line between villain and victim is intentionally blurred in Utena and that’s part of its genius, so I’m glad I managed to make that happen for you! ONe of my greatest acts in life, I think, is reshaping people’s ideas of Ruka! ANd I need to send you a million emails re: the Big Reform Book of Belief ahahah, I still have your emails! 

Doc, I am always glad that you live your life so unapologetically as yourself, if that makes sense. I am consistently impressed by how well you navigate giving a lot to those around you while still keeping your own boundaries and enjoyment of life. While it's perhaps impossible for anyone to truly be doing "enough" to help others, you're certainly way closer to that goal than most. Thank you for being here and doing what you do. -- @skylineofspace 

Thank you and yes, I don’t think anyone can ever do enough! It’s about climbing the ladder and not resting on it! But I try to give where I can and hold the line where I need to

I love your sense of style and fashion! It’s no secret I love your writing lmao because I think I spam you every time you post original content. Annnd finally, your Jewish got thoughts give me, a complicated Jew, enrichment and reason to contemplate Judaism in my life — so thank you very much for that! -- @its-decido​

You are not the first Jew to have told me that my approach to Judaism has helped them...I suppose the word I’ll use is renegotiate, the role of Judaism in their lives. It’s a huge and high compliment, especially for someone who did not receive a lot of formal Jewish education, and had to find her own way for much of her life. I love being Jewish, I love what I think Judaism demands of me, I love the heavy discussions and the way I have to wrangle with my choices. And I intensely love the idea of showing other Jews that engaging deeply with Judaism isn’t a fucking Chabadnik thing, that you can approach mitzvot and ethics and prayer and take these things for yourself. I am DEEPLY a Reform Jew, even though my PRACTICE is quite a bit closer to what’s called Conservative Judaism in the US, and I think that’s part of what I’d like to...change, maybe, within the Reform movement, or at least Reform Jews I know, is this idea that having an open-handed approach to Jewish practice means that you yourself can’t, or shouldn’t, take on some of the more traditional practices. Me and my old rabbi were very much of one thought in this, a deeply Reform man who wore a kippah and tzitzit every day. Every mizvot you pick up is a good thing, and this all or nothing approach isn’t, I don’t think, helpful. ANYHOW many words to say, yes, if you ever want to continue to talk about Judaism and your own practice, you know where I live. 

Your writing....just...wow! It's really amazing and has given me a different (and more fun) viewpoint on Haruka and Michiru. Minako has even further cemented herself as my favorite Senshi because of the amazing things you've come up with for her character. Slowly I've been trying to get into writing again (writer's block, lack of motivation and inspiration) and honestly reading some of the things you've written has gotten me back into it. I keep needing to remind myself 'The source material isn't something you need to strictly adhere to.' Keep being amazing Doc~! -- LadyFlare

I’m so glad! ANd yes, when companies own your myths, I think we need to have the right, or maybe even the responsibility, to be “My city now” We tell stories to connect with each other, and anyone who says fanfic can’t also be about like...universal human truths, and ideas, is full of it. If I worried about canon, being into SM and OW, I’d be fucked, because often CANON IN THOSE WORLDS CONTRADICTS ITSELF. And honestly? The characterization in those worlds is inconsistent. I think being true to your own universe is far more important--My Michiru always behaves like my Michiru, which is sometimes like the anime Michiru, and sometimes like myu Michiru, but sometimes not, because the charaterization is all over place. My Tracer is much more the Tracer from early days OW, but it doesn’t matter, because she is consistent to MY tracer. You’re allowed to look at canon and go, ‘That’s just like, your opinion, man.” 

[karliesbuzzcut]

So I don’t know how you guys feel about the ‘Realistic Kaylor Timeline’ that’s been doing the rounds on this corner of the internet. I’m guessing some of you might feel conflicted, others might strongly disagree with some parts of it - but do not worry. I’m here to tell you how to feel about it: you love it. Because it’s mandatory to love anything that can get such a feral reaction out of TTB.

Today I’m bringing you

Top 7 Moments from TTB vs. Swiftiesleuth 2020

Fair wairning: I’m going to be very biased - I’ve not made my adoration for @swiftiesleuth a secret at all.

1. TTB’s grand entrance. LLLLLET’S GET READY TO TUMBLRRRRR!

Her disjointed sentences already let you know she’s a bit shaken “FAKE NEWS! The author admits they do not have inside knowledge like I do! I have all the inside knowledge, they only have outside knowledge, which ew - it’s muddy outside, and there’s bugs.”

2. Married people don’t ‘bonk’ - they make respectful and dignified love to each other. Preferably from opposite sides of the room.

My favourite was definitely when she said “if you’re a queer woman then you should really think about how you talk”. I vote for unpacking this one.

That ‘if’ - because of course, TTB has to perform a background check on you before she allows you to join The Gays.

That ‘should’. Please, TTB, complete that thought for us. Why is it that, as a queer woman, swiftiesleuth should do something in particular? You are not implying that she has to be especially careful about her words because she’s queer, right? I mean, you wouldn’t 😱 you’re a Social Justice Warrior after all.

TTB doesn’t like to be called “dude” either:

Which is why I suggest we all start calling her ‘Our Dude’. She will be our collective dude. And we can all be her little Dudes! It’ll be delightful, I’m telling ya.

3. In the year of our lord 2020, TTB decides it’s a good idea to pull the “I can’t be racist; my best friend is black” - but make it Jewish.

On this one I want to take a bit of a more serious tone, so I’ll limit myself to only one fart joke. I had no idea there were circumstances in which you couldn’t say you ‘converted’ to Judaism. I genuinely love that this seemingly silly passtime of mine actually teaches me new things. Now, I’m going to take a wild-ass guess and say TTB didn’t know that either... but more on this coming up.

Right now, let’s all rejoice at her choice of saying “I have facts” and right afterwards “Kaylor is likely already married”.

Kaylor, the sole entity, is married.

4. TTB tells herself “You know what? I haven’t been racist enough today”

At this point, TTB has become a cautionary tale about what happens to a person when they get married to an idea. It’s genuinely scary for me to think that my brain could trick me to such an extent that I could no longer process information that contradicts my beliefs. Just imagine it, there’s something about someone else’s religion that doesn’t make sense to you, and you decide to draw your conclusions from there. Okay, cool. Then someone from said religion explains that thing that didn’t make sense. And your reaction isn’t “oh, I maybe I should think about that, this person clearly knows more than me about this particular subject”. No. Your reaction instead is “I am entitled to my beliefs”

ISN’T THAT TERRIFYING!?

But more importantly... Isn’t that fucking racist? Wait... what? You are saying that isn’t racist enough? You think TTB should’ve also said that people don’t get to be offended by a word ‘only because it has been used as a slur in the past’? And then suggest to the person who asked her not to use that word - a person who is directly affected by that kind of bigotry - to get a dictionary? Nooo, come on, that’d be overkill. We are not trying to build a cartoon villain here!

5. Whaler and TTB are disappointed parents.

Truly emps, how dare you have a mind of your own. We raised you better than that!

I loooove that this day and age a fucking reblog means unconditional support to the author of the post... I’d watch that Black Mirror episode.

6. Both swiftiesleuth & TTB leave the chat with a motherfucking BANG.

I thought that I had hit comedy nirvana when Swiftiesleuth asked if her LGBTQ flavour bothered TTB and I thought no way in hell would TTB respond to that. BUT SHE DID. Aren’t you glad to be alive to witness that? “I have no knowledge of your flavour” she says. Well, TTB, I have no knowledge of Swiftiesleuth’s flavour either, but I’m working on fixing that *double winky face*

BUT TTB was like “talking about someone’s flavour isn’t hilarious enough, let’s leave this conversation with my best material”. And reminded us all of the percentage of black people she has working for her. I wonder if she decided to do the maths right after assembling her team or after she realised she could use it as an argument. Either way, super normal behaviour.

Also, also. I’d love to know what she considers a minority “well... Gerald has a pet snake... that should bring my minority percentage up by a couple points”

7. Special guests!

You wouldn’t be able to tell by how late to the party I was, but this was a big event here on Tumblr. Everybody was there... I’m told. Because I already feel like I’ve been working on this post for the past decade, I’ll keep it short and cute.

In one corner we have whaler and swift-79,

Obligatory bulletpoint list about all the things I loved about this post:

It wasn’t enought that TTB questioned swiftiesleuth’s queerness. Whaler said “fuck it - I’m questioning this bitch’s name as well” “Nat?” “you don’t look like a Nat” “but if you insist on identifying yourself as a Nat...” “I’ll put it in air quotes though”

I’m sorry... “If we are judging from pictures”? Isn’t that all that Kaylors do in 2020? No. No. I’m sorry. You guys also have emojis, sorry!

“Even Enty has questions about his sexuality” 😱 What? Enty? A blog dedicated to posting a constant stream of celebrity gossip once said that someone, somewhere, might be gay? No! 😱

I think swiftiesleuth was accused again of working for Scooter? Conspiracy Theorists are so adorably predictable, every time anyone disagrees with them (worse if that person seems to have done some research) somebody has to yell “they’re working for the enemy!”

Anyway, time for our final guest: the lovely @youlooklikebadnews , who I could’ve asked to write this whole post for me because they definitely did a better job than me at summarising the whole thing. But not only that, they were lucky enough to get a response from TTB.

...At this point I’m fairly certain that I’ll get invited to a Secret Session before TTB ever acknowledges my existence.

Doesn’t this read like what the villain says at the end of a shitty movie? Teasing a sequel and everything?

“You have not seen the last of TTB! I’ll be back with more proof and no copyright issues! KARLIE AND TAYLOR WILL RISE! Then you will see! YOU WILL ALL SEE!”

*flourishes cape and disappears into the night*