#rivkah studies

[lizzorasaurus]

tell me more Rivkah deep lore...

OK, YOU ASKED FOR IT.... I'm going to give a run down of her backstory and then some fun facts??? Nothing that hasnt been revealed to other players yet, though, cause they all are in tumblr.

Her parents, devout Pharasmans, ran a funeral home in Caliphas, Ustalav. She eventually picked up the trade of mortician once she was old enough. Her parents ended up in a cycle of blackmail and bad deals with a "local man" who turned out to be a necromancer. Once her parents couldn't pay up, the necromancer had them killed.

Rivkah was spared in the attack and ended up in the care of the Pharasman church, where she became a nun. She learned to fight undead creatures as part of a task force to handle undead. Soon after, the church had a confrontation with the same necromancer and Riv was running support on the mission. It wasn't super successful, as the necromancer did get away.

A professor caught wind of these events and interviewed many of the warpriests for his own studies, and quickly took a shine to Riv and they became friends/penpals.

When news of the death of the professor's untimely death hit, it's where the campaign begins!

Some fun facts!

She has a bag of teeth. She collects them from monsters - beasts, skeletons, and other shitty dudes shes fought - but shes particular in who/what she takes from. Also, her baby teeth are in there, and she's willingly given two of them to Carmine's (the party witch) patron - who turned out to be Nocticula. :)

She's likes to lie for fun - but only if it's relatively harmless and silly.

She is autistic! Her special interests are funeral rights and practices and human(oid) biology.

She's afraid of heights and deep water. She's also nervous around horses - she just hasnt been around them much!

Ok, stopping there - i could talk about her forever if not stopped!!!!

[rivkahstudies]

7.3.2019 2:03 PM | Happy July! I can't wait for what this month will bring in opportunities and experiences.

[smileystudies]

jan 30 2021 // day 25 of 100 days of productivity

today:

finish reading notes on women’s community activism in Venezuela

review consent recordings and send out compensation

send emails to recommenders

take care of cleaning tasks

what a nerve-wracking week! I’ve really earned a break but also I need to keep up with my thesis and clean a bunch. here’s to a productive saturday 🤍✨

[gow0ns]

current song: bang the doldrums - fall out boy

I’m learning Latin to put off every other language that would be more optimal for my life and YET--the demon summoning language is too tempting 

[rivkahstudies]

Blue light glasses didn't eliminate the feeling for me entirely but they DEFINITELY helped, even more so when I switched to a pomodoro-like break schedule (i.e. more breaks and more often). I wish you luck!

1.3.21

It’s a bit of a late epiphany but spending too much time looking at a screen makes me ill. The kind of ill that causes my sensory overload anxiety to spike and spike quickly if I keep ignoring the creeping feeling of a mental shut down coming on. I’ve spoken a little about it on my blog I think but sleep really helps me overcome said feeling. I still can’t fathom how when the world opens up and I secure a potential 9-5 job I’m going to cope. Having struggled with this for years, how I’d cope has always been a fear of mine. Anyway, now that I realise how sensitive and intrinsically linked my screen time and sleep are to my mental health, I think it’s finally time to get some blue light glasses.

[transformativeworksandcultures]

TWC 34: General Issue

Transformative Works and Cultures, No. 34, General Issue, (September 15, 2020)

Editorial

TWC Editor, What's in a Word?

Theory

Olivia Johnston Riley, Podfic: Queer structures of sound

Charlie Ledbetter, The dysphoric body politic, or Seizing the means of imagination

Jennifer Duggan, Who writes Harry Potter fan fiction? Passionate detachment, "zooming out," and fan fiction paratexts on AO3

Jessica Pruett, Lesbian fandom remakes the boy band

Praxis

Kira Deshler, Affective investments, queer archives, and lesbian breakups on YouTube

Lauren Savit, Examining the fan labor of episodic TV podcast hosts

Sreya Mitra, Discourses of Hindi film fandom and the confluence of the popular, the public, and the political

Eriko Yamato,Self-identification in Malaysian cosplay

Fiona Katie Haborak, Identity, curated branding, and the star cosplayer's pursuit of Instagram fame

Symposium

Aya Esther Hayashi, Reimagining fan studies in the age of Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter

JSA Lowe, Toward a queered and/as affective theory of fandom

Stevie Leigh, Fan fiction as a valuable literacy practice

Rivkah Groszman, Revisiting parasocial theory in fan studies: Pathological or (path)illogical?

Janae Phillips & Katie Bowers, Using pop culture authentically

Cailean Alexander McBride, The fight for creative ownership in franchise fiction

Review

Kyra Hunting, "Fake geek girls: Fandom, gender, and the convergence culture industry," by Suzanne Scott

[tetedump]

Study snack and sabbatical! 💙

hehe ty for asking:)

study snack - what kind of learning feeds your brain when you have free time?

language learning! i associate languages with people so strongly and it makes me feel closer to them when I’m far away to learn the languages (french for my high school french teacher/advisor and that group of friends, german for my other high school advisor and this language feels very special to me personally, and spanish for my best friend and for my sister as well)

sabbatical - if you had a year off to do anything, what would it be?

oh wow. rivkah this is a tricky one lol. I think I’d want to do art. if I had a year off and literally just nothing to do, I’d want to travel the world and do figure drawing classes all over, and go to farmer’s markets, maybe with my friends. ❤️

[stone-man-warrior]

January 22: 2021: 3:20 am:

===================================================

From Bing internet search: “Rebecca name meaning”

Rebecca or Rebekah (Hebrew: רִבְקָה (Rivkah)) is a feminine given name originating from the Hebrew language. The name comes from the verb רבק (rbq), meaning "to tie firmly"; Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names and the NOBS Study Bible Name List suggest the name means captivating beauty, or "to tie", "to bind".

============

https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1352358086443495424

https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1352354332654657536

https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1352365808958238723

https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1352379010169368577

The numbers above refer to a two sided record album, such as the one linked below.

2 overturned = 2 sides, turn it over, play the other side = 2 overturns

58 Targeted = Is a reference to the Pope’s Flying V Guitar = “Holy Grail” in Range

144 not yet targeted = 12² = Police Down Range (based on E = MC² where the projectile is a bullet, do your own math)

These are all disturbing when combined.

What to know:

The British have a saying about new born babies.

“They all look like Winston Churchill”

as spoken by two British people talking about the babies in the hospital nursery window while passing in the hallway.

https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1352577113233223685

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESOkNEr1s_8

It’s early (really late). Have to sleep on this more.

That part about Maryland looks like it’s about money to me.

“Delmarva Peninsula”

Search this account for what I already explained about Delmarva, and why it’s important as a money stronghold, and why so many banks are located there.

Billion dollar babies, are the same as Jesus’ on a mast, to catch wind, to move the boat forward, to find more Jesus’, to nail to the mast, to catch wind, to move the boat forward, to find more Jesus’...

In search of land, riches, slaves, and power.

======================

3:47 am:

https://twitter.com/markknoller/status/1352066447888027651

https://twitter.com/i/events/1352520795633815553

The Mark Knoller Tweet is referencing the red stripe on the AF-1 that Trump is said to have suggested is a good idea, to make the airplane stand out in a cloudy day better while traveling over Canada.

The red stripe is a bad joke of course, it was done to get a reaction, and to find out who would respond, and in what way.... a COVID test or sorts.

Those troops in the underground parking are sort of like AF-1.

I don‘t know what to think about this part, because I know the national guard are all dead, but there are some national guard being shown to me on Twitter, so, I’ll just present what I know and let others have a look.

The idea I see in Knoller’s Tweet seems to be that the Red, can turn Green when you flip it like a record album.

Or,

The Green, can turn Red, when you put it underground.

I don‘t know what way is up on this one.

Green is Green Jello terror cell armed w/nitrous gas.

The Red is what happens when “You’ve been made” and they shoot you’re ass out of the sky because you put a big red stripe on your airplane while flying over Canadian airspace in “Peacetime”.

Go figure.

====================

4:13 am:

Maybe you don’t need to know what way is up on this.

Maybe the point is at the hospital nursery, where some of those young men are fathers of infant children, are targets, little Winston Churchills of the future... Billion Dollar Babies all ripe and ready to harvest for the British Still training at SDA nanny school in Arizona, “Intel” (see “Trump seven nano meter wafers” on this account to learn more about nannies, intel, and wafers.

Skip a head to 2:33 in the linked video, it’s about training of terror soldiers, made with kidnapped US Citizens babies, trained by Seventh Day Adventist nannies... unless you want to believe that mirror is a seven nano meter wafer.

I wrote more about this on the day it happened, and again later on a couple of times.

I think the military babies are being stolen by the Christian terror pirates that took over the US Government when SAG news media hijacked the White House.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdRb0wyTbU0

Dog’s & Butterfy’s:

https://twitter.com/AnnWilson/status/1352322462785155072

Truth:

It is far more likely that Ann Wilson is at the White House, or, is acting as US President from a remote Island Volcano Amp Guru location, than is Joe Biden, or was Donald Trump.

Time Warp terror can do that.

I know Ann Wilson enough personally to believe that she is there, not who we think, or who we are told in charge.

The fat lady must sing.

========================================

Giant Bird of Paradise:

These get to be about 30 feet tall on the islands. This one is just a baby:

If you happen to be someone who a terror soldier on the islands wants to talk to, they will point at those Giant Bird’s of Paradise and talk about them all day long, everywhere you go with your terrorist friend, they will be pointing at these big beautiful plants and the flower it makes. They might take you on a private tour to go hunt for as many Giant Bird’s of Paradise as can be found there, and pretty soon you will be looking at giant bamboo, I mean giant too...

... this stuff grows about eight inches taller every day.

Some things to consider, is where you are taking the tour with the terror.

Polynesia.

Polly is the name of the Pope’s bird.

The person who takes you on a hunt for giants, is the Pope’s bird, Polly, there are millions of Polly’s. They are everywhere, you cannot get away from them... so, don‘t be a giant when in Polynesia, it’s bad for you. Polly will make you kneel, to kiss the feet of the Pope’s bird.

=================================================

5:00 am:

If I were secretly running USA from a remote location at Amp Guru, it would be from here:

There, you can find the seven sacred pools of Hana, but if you call them the Seven Sacred Pools of Hana, they will kill you, so, it’s just “Hana”.

Is very beautiful there, I wish is was safe, I would like to go there once more.

I think this is the place where she at:

Mahalo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN7opA1Y6KQ&t=47s

[magicalgirlfumiko]

What was Rivkah's mother like?

“Mother was there. Caring and full of nothing but kindness. She’d said tell me that things always get better, always get better. But then my sister was possessed by a dybbuk and it eventually killed her. Mom was never quite the same the same afterwards. I don’t think she could handle it. I was already a teenager by that point, so I left home to study Kabbalistic texts. Just so no one has to suffer like big sis or my mother did.”

[rivkahstudies]

Rivkah! I saw you wanted to make some posts about Jewish languages and dialects, and I actually have something I had slated for future content previously that I never got to working on—Jewish Amharic. There’s actually a chapter about it in the “Handbook of Jewish Languages” (2015) by Aaron D. Rubin and Lily Kahn; I could give you a PDF for the book if you don’t have it.

There’s also Käyla (it’s a Central Cushitic language spoken historically in Ethiopia’s Qwara region) but it’s status as a Jewish language is a bit more contentious as far as I’m aware since it was spoken primarily before the Rabbinical agreement on the status of Beta Israel as being accepted as a Jewish diaspora community.

But I just wanted to let you know those are definitely things you might be interested in!

👀 I hope this is okay to answer publicly since I'm on mobile! I would LOVE that pdf and anything else you have. Even of Käyla, because I have always wanted to delve more into learning about Ethiopian Judaism. I'd also be happy to work with you on anything you'd like to post too. College is preventing me from delving into my private interests yet, but I am hoping time will open up for me soon because it's been a while since I delved into these topics and I want to expand my foundation.

[smileystudies]

feb 12 2021 // day 37 of 100 days of productivity

today:

review all my lab write-ups from intro stats

make an dplyr and ggplot2 cheat sheet

attend training session

practice arabic on duolingo

in honor of my last weekend of freedom before the spring semester begins, I’m going to take as much time off as I can in the next couple days! between my classes, my thesis, and my job, it’s gonna be a crazy semester. besides, my meeting with my advisor is on monday, and I don’t want to put hours into work before I know exactly what I need to be doing. this would be a good time to continue with relativized minimality, if I could bring myself to do so...

[rivkahstudies]

I have a meeting with my anthropology advisor on Tuesday because my school is in BOSTON, a very diverse place with many immigrants from Central and South America, YET these regions seem to be the ONE place in the world that my university has very little programming for. My Spanish minor almost entirely focuses on literature when I want to focus on the cultures and interdisciplinary approaches to them. I want to be an interpreter, yet I dont have any resources for learning about law, medicine, etc for either immigrants or for the regions themselves. The anthro courses we used to teach are now disbanded because we had only two lecturers specialized in Central/South America. One moved into administration and the other left, and they havent bothered to seek out any more. So this meeting is literally me, a white woman going to another white woman, asking if there are ANY staff at all that could mentor me in a directed study so I'm not training to be an interpreter when I dont fully understand the cultures I want to speak the languages of.

My university always brags about its diversity and global approach but I'm definitely feeling this frustration over the limited ethnic studies.

People at my school have been protesting because some laws are trying to get rid of ethnic studies. Yesterday afternoon they had a protest (which I missed). I end up getting to campus late afternoon and this one guy in my program starts asking me if I know about the protests so I explain it and he basically sums it up as "oh, they're mad at the whites again". This dude is white (like most people in the anthropology department) and he's gonna focus his thesis on latin america. As someone who did their undergrad in one of the ethnic studies that this school has, I totally understand the need to protest and fight to continue these programs. They're honestly so great when academia is so white. The program I did made me feel really connected my culture, surrounded me with academics who understand the struggle of a first generation university student, and made me want to continue my academic career/pushed me into a graduate program and this white guy laughs about like all POC do is get mad at white people.

[gow0ns]

current song: dead mom - beetlejuice soundtrack

like everyone else minecraft is my new coping mechanism & nostalgia feels good, y’all.

[innonurse]

A mix of natural and computer vision could better treat blindness

- By InnoNurse Staff -

Macular degeneration (AMD) causes blindness in millions of people around the globe. It is the most common cause of significant vision loss in the Western world among those aged 50 and over, and its occurrence increases with age. There is no cure for AMD, yet significant recent advancements in artificial retina implants may lead to effective treatment.

Located inside the eye the retina contains light receptors (photoreceptors) which absorb light. Information is then processed and transmitted to the brain. The macula, the central area of the retina, processes most of the information that reaches the brain from the eye, enabling one to see while reading and driving, facial recognition, and any other activity that requires accurate vision. In the peripheral retina, the area of the retina outside the macula that assists mainly with spatial judgment, vision is 10-20 times less precise. In AMD precise vision is impaired due to damage to the center of the retina, while peripheral vision remains normal.

When there is damage to the photoreceptor layers in the retina, an artificial retina -- a device built from tiny electrodes smaller in width than a hair -- may be implanted. Activating these electrodes results in electrical stimulation of the remaining retinal cells and results in visual restoration, albeit partially. AMD patients implanted with an artificial retina possess a combination of artificial central vision and normal peripheral vision. This combination of artificial and natural vision is important to study in order to understand how to help the blind. One of the critical questions in this regard is whether the brain can integrate artificial and natural vision properly.

In a new study published in the journal Current Biology, researchers from Bar-Ilan University and Stanford University report for the first time the discovery of evidence indicating that the brain knows how to integrate natural and artificial vision, while maintaining processing information that is important for vision. "We used a unique projection system which stimulated either natural vision, artificial vision or a combination of natural and artificial vision, while simultaneously recording the cortical responses in rodents implanted with a subretinal implant," said Tamar Arens-Arad, who conducted the experiments as part of her doctoral studies. The implant is composed of dozens of tiny solar cells and electrodes, developed by Prof. Daniel Palanker at Stanford University.

"These pioneering results have implications for better restoration of sight in AMD patients implanted with retinal prosthetic devices and support our hypothesis that prosthetic and natural vision can be integrated in the brain. The results could also have implications for future brain-machine interface applications where artificial and natural processes co-exist," said Prof. Yossi Mandel, Head of Bar-Ilan University's Ophthalmic Science and Engineering Lab and the study's lead author.

The research was carried out in Prof. Mandel's lab at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and the Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA) at Bar-Ilan University's, in collaboration with Prof. Palanker of Stanford University. The study was conducted by Tamar Arens-Arad in collaboration with Dr. Nairouz Farah, Rivkah Lender, Avital Moshkovitz and Thomas Flores.

Source: Bar-Ilan University

Read Also

The Futurism of Sight

[aloeyouveramuchbecca]

for your studying vibe - Rivkah

[progressivejudaism]

It's there a link for the faq in mobile? The Tumblr app is not letting me check it out :(

Hiya anon,

I’m not sure!  There is a good chance that it is, but it’s hard to find on mobile for some reason.  Check it out!  http://progressivejudaism.tumblr.com/faqs

Worse case, here is the text of the entire FAQ page as of right now.  (Every once in a while I will add a new question or two).

What is Judaism?

Judaism is an ethnoreligion, which can be described as a a people with a rich culture, history, a land, languages (Hebrew, Jewish-Aramaic, Yiddish, Ladino…), literature, and a theology/philosophical tradition.

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What is Progressive Judaism?  What is Reform Judaism?

Progressive Judaism is an umbrella term that can be used to describe Jews who understand Jewish tradition from a more progressive perspective (note: not all Progressive Jews self-identify as Progressive politically).  The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) is the ‘international umbrella organization’ for liberal, Reform, Reconstructionist, and Progressive Jewry worldwide.

The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) is the governing body for North-American Reform Jewry. According to URJ.org, Reform Judaism “maintains faith in the Covenant between God and Israel as expressed over the generations in the teachings of an ever-evolving Torah and tradition. Stirred by the mandate of tikkun olam, Reform Judaism seeks to be the living expression of those teachings. It welcomes all who seek Jewish connection to pursue a life of meaning as inspired by the Divine and proclaimed in the truths grasped by Jewish teachers throughout time.”

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Who is considered Jewish?

Jewish identity is an incredibly tricky and charged subject.  There are two basic lines of thought in regard to ‘who is’ and ‘who isn’t’ a Jew.   According to Orthodox, Conservative, non-North American WUPJ Congregations,  and other traditional branches of Judaism: one is Jewish if their biological mother was/is Jewish or if they went through a formal conversion. According to the North American Reform Movement (the URJ), one is a Jew if they have at least one Jewish parent and was raised as a Jew in a Jewish household or through conversion.

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I’m not Jewish.  Can I follow this blog?

Absolutely.  I welcome all people to follow, ask questions, and interact with content!

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Is antisemitism still a problem?

Absolutely.  Antisemitism mainly exists in far-left and far-right communities. While the far-left typically hides their anti-Jewish hate under the masks of being “anti-Zionist” or “anti-Israel,” the far-right (often connected with white supremicists) often uses insane logic to dehumanize the Jewish people.

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How can we combat anti-Semitism?

From our modern perspective, we are living in a truly scary time in our people’s history as anti-Semitism is rising in the United States and around the world.  There are many ways that we as Jews can stand up against this bigotry.  While it is true that we can fight, punch neo-nazis in the face, and spread our anger at these outrageous offenses… I believe that our first task is to, [paraphrased in the words of Michelle Obama] “go high, when they go low”.

Our sage Elie Wiesel wrote: “I know and I speak from experience, that even in the midst of darkness, it is possible to create light and share warmth with one another; that even on the edge of the abyss, it is possible to dream exalted dreams of compassion; that it is possible to be free and strengthen the ideals of freedom, even within prison walls; that even in exile, friendship becomes an anchor.” (source)

By spreading our warmth, our compassion, friendship and our joy, we can create hope within our communities.  When they go low, we must go high. The Jewish people are a special beacon of light throughout the nations and it is our duty to remain moral and upright, even in the face of darkness.  

Although at times it seems like the whole world is against us, we need to realize how far we have come and how the power of the modern Jewish experience has over our autonomy and freedoms around the world.

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When you say message directly, do you mean send a message to this blog?

Yep!  I prefer if people send me a direct message so that we could have a nice conversation.

If anyone ever sees a question that they would like to chat with me about, regardless if you originally asked the question, please feel free to send me a message.  I would love to support you.

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What is the difference between a ‘shul’ a ‘temple’ and a ‘synagogue’?

Jews pray, study, and dwell in Synagogues (a Greek word which means “meeting place”), and called a  (Beit Knesset) בית כנסת in Hebrew.  “Shul” is simply the Yiddish translation of Synagogue. “Temple” is another translation of “Synagogue” that was popularized by the early ‘reformers of Judaism’ (reform as a verb, not the contemporary Movement).  These early maskilim (adherents to the Jewish Enlightenment) felt that it was important to embrace living in the diaspora, and that longing to return to Israel and rebuild the Temple was silly.  They believed wholeheartedly that their Synagogue WAS their own Temple.  The term stuck and we are left with three words interchangeable in English-speaking Jewish communities for the same term!

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Can one be Jewish and agnostic (or an atheist) at the same time?

Many Jews acknowledge that there is more than one way to understand the inner workings of the universe and how God can or cannot play a part in it. Many agnostic theologies fit very cleanly into Jewish philosophy.

But regardless of that, Judaism is a people with a culture, a history, a land, languages, foods… and we happen to have a religious theology.  It is entirely possible to not believe in God and still be a Jew- and an active Jew in the Jewish community!  

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Someone I know is ill (in the mind, body, or spirit) and/or is going in for surgery and/or is having a rough time.  Is there a prayer that I can say for them?  

The Mi Shaberach prayer can be said for anyone in your life, including yourself, who you feel needs a healing of mind, body, and/or spirit.

Mi Shebeirach avoteinu v’imoteinu,Avraham, Yitzchak v’Yaakov, Sarah, Rivkah,Rachel v’Lei-ah, hu y’vareich et hacholim[names]. HaKadosh Baruch Hu yimaleirachamim aleihem, l’hachalimam ul’rapotamul’hachazikam, v’yishlach lahem m’heirahr’fuah, r’fuah shleimah min hashamayim,r’fuat hanefesh ur’fuat haguf, hashtabaagala uviz’man kariv. V’nomar: Amen.

May the one who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bless and heal those who are ill [names]. May the Blessed Holy One be filled with compassion for their health to be restored and their strength to be revived. May God swiftly send them a complete renewal of body and spirit, and let us say, Amen.

Source

If you would prefer to sing the words (or sing them in addition to reciting this version of the prayer), you can use Debbie Friedman’s version as well.

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Are LGBTQA+ folks welcome in Progressive Jewish communities?

Absolutely. As Progressive Jews, we believe that because every human being was created  (Betzelem Elohim - in the Image of God) בצלם אלהים (Gn. 1:27), we must treat everyone with the same respect and compassion that we give to God.  We recognize the wisdom that scientists and researchers of gender and sexuality have given us in order to enhance our society and thus understand that an individual’s sexuality, romantic identity, gender, and gender expression are individual, given by God, and are intrinsic parts of the human experience.  Progressive Jews do indeed believe that LGBTQA+ folks are “born this way.”  

In most major movements, LGBTQA+ families are welcomed into the Jewish community with open arms, same sex/gender couples are married, and rabbis and cantors of all genders and sexualities/romantic identities are ordained.

Although Israel has a long way to go in the name of equality (namely in adoption and marriage rights), she is one of the greatest places on earth for LGBTQA+ folks.  Beyond holding yearly Miss Trans Israel, and Tel Aviv Pride, legislation often favors the LGBTQA+ community.  

In more traditional communities, sexuality and gender identity are charged topics due to two lines in the Torah.  If you are interested in learning about my own personal interpretation of the texts, feel free to check THIS out.

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I’m not cisgender.    What Jewish resources are out there for someone like me?

·       Transtorah (which also has some fantastic resources for various genders) and Keshet (general resources for LGBTQ+ folks) are both fantastic resources.  Unfortunately, there is not a similar resource for nonbinary folks.  Here are two articles that I really like:

·       The Six Genders of Classical Judaism

·       Gender Diversity in Jewish Tradition

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I’m Jewish and I am in a relationship with non-Jew.  Are we welcome in Progressive Jewish spaces?  Can we get married by a rabbi or cantor?

You and your children are absolutely welcome in most Progressive Synagogues and spaces.  Before entering a new community, please contact them beforehand!  Due to anti-Semitism across the United States and around the world, Jewish communities must be careful.  Many non-Jewish spouses get very involved in Synagogue life!

Many Reform and Reconstructionist clergy will marry a Jew to a non-Jew- but everyone feels slightly different about the practice.  For example, many will argue that they will only perform ceremonies for couples who seek to build a Jewish home, based on Jewish values where children will go through Hebrew School and have their Bar or Bat Miztvahs.

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Jews and tattoos: what’s the deal?

Can Jews with tattoos be buried in a Jewish cemetery? Although each burial society can make up their own rules, their is nothing inherently written in Jewish law prohibiting it. (Source)

So where did this rumor come from and why are tattoos in Judaism taboo? It derives from the line: “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.“ (Leviticus 19:28). This pasuk was written among other laws such as shaving and agricultural laws. The Mishneh Torah argues that it was to differentiate the ancient Israelite from Pagan neighbors. The Sifra (Halachic interpretation on Levicius) argues that this law only pertained to the kohanim (ritual priests). But many ancient and medieval scholars (and many contemporary ritually observant scholars) had negative opinions about Jewish tattoos.

But the most important scholar here is you, and how you use the text to understand the narrative (through the lens of other scholars).

For instance, my interpretation of this section of text (which is only my interpretation) is that it was inserted much later than during the time of Moses.  These were laws to keep the community cohesive and ultimately to make their perception of God happy. I believe that this line is incredibly important for learning about ourselves, but I do not necessarily believe that it is banning tattoos in 2016, but rather a communal law for ancient Israel.  

As Reform Jews, we believe that everyone can make choices based off of the information that they know.  I invite you to dive deeper into this issue.

For instance, there is a wonderful understanding that one should only get a tattoo if it makes them feel whole, such as this incredible breast cancer survivor in this article.  The author of *this* article, a rabbi from Texas, has the shema and v’ahavta tattood around his arm like t’fillin and has a very interesting point of view. And *this* is another fascinating understanding of a positive view on tattoos in Judaism from another rabbi.

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Marijuana and Judaism: what do Reform/Progressive Jews believe?

The CCAR as of this moment has only made decrees regarding medical marijuana.  For example in the “Resolution of the Medical Use of Marijuana,” the rabbis (and the Women for Reform Judaism) overwhelmingly taut the benefits of medical marijuana.  This article from Reform Judaism Magazine might be of interest to you as well about its use from the perspective of a Jewish doctor.

Reform Jews believe that all should be done to remove one’s pain or illness (may that be physical or psychological), but that we should not take advantage of drugs that we do not need.  

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How do Reform Jews feel about sex before marriage?

Obviously a contentious issue, we can see the evolution of Reform Jewish thought throughout time via the CCAR Responsas (many are linked here, i highly recomend skimming through them!)

Some of the earliest rabbinic responsa are from the 1970s and 1980s. In “Jewish Attitude Towards Sexual Relations Between Consenting Adults,“ the rabbis prohibit casual sexual relationships and make mention that those who are engaged (to be married) probably also should not engage in sexual intimacy (personally, I think that this is left vague for a reason).  

A few years later in 1984, a fascinating study appeared regarding the language on a ketuba (Jewish wedding contract) referring to the bride as a “virgin” (although she may or may not be a virgin) in “Virginity and the Ketuba”. The rabbis rule that this is an archaic wording choice and that “it would be wise either to refrain from any kind of designation of status for the woman in the ketubah“.  Ultimately, the rabbis understood that not all couples are virgins on their wedding night.  

In the responsa: “Long-Term, Non-Marital Relationships,” the rabbis argue flat out that “marriage should be the goal for our sexuality” because “it is within marriage that the sexual union finds its true home of kedushah” (holiness).  Although the rabbis are not condemning premarital sex, in this instance they argue its aid in creating a marriage.

The latest responsa regarding sexuality (similar to the examples above) comes in the form of the Reform Movement’s commitment to Sex Education in the “Resolution on Sex Education” in 2001.  Again, it does not condemn premarital sex, but encourages comprehensive sex education.  

Ultimately, it seems to me that the CCAR promotes healthy relationships between couples.  Although they do not condemn premarital sex in the later responsas, one can infer that they are hoping to form positive Jewish relationships that will become marriages.  

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Is evolution combatable with Judaism?

Absolutely! Although some more traditional Jews would disagree, I firmly believe that God can only fit within a framework that includes scientific discovery.  Evolution and the Big Bang Theory fit very cleanly into my own theology as I do not believe that the entire Torah was “from Sinai,” thus not entirely Divine.  We have too much evidence that suggests that the Torah was written by various human sources.  

That isn’t to say that there aren’t certain Divine sections.  But who is to say which sections were or weren’t written by God?  

Our Creation accounts  (Genesis 1 and 2) are extremely important as teaching tools, but not necessarily as accurate scientific understandings of the creation of the world. These two accounts were most likely, originally oral stories that taught people how the world functioned, for example why snakes slither and have a split tongue.  

Our ancestors were so curious about how the world was created and functioned on a daily basis.  It is incredible that now we are still trying to understand the origins of life and the universe and that we can continue their vision of understanding how it all works.

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What is Zionism? What is Progressive Zionism?

Zionism is the desire for the Jewish people to have peaceful, sovereignty and/or autonomy in their historic, ancient homeland.  Zionism is an ancient tradition that lives in Jewish liturgy and literature that only became a reality for the Jewish people in the 18th - 20th centuries.   Zionism can be considered a political force, a social force and/or a religious force.

Just like there are many ways to understand various political issues in any country, there is a spectrum of what it means to be a Zionist in the 21st century.  From radical left-wing, right-wing to centrist opinions, there is a tangled political web of different ideas regarding Israeli politics just like those that exist in other countries.

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Isn’t Zionism racist?  

It is not racist to argue for the existence of a Jewish State with a Jewish majority, with laws based on Jewish values, and where holidays and Shabbat are honored.  It is an antisemitic statement to argue any different.

But that being said, it is important that we continue to use our voices against the furthering of the Occupation.  It is clear that we have two nations living in Israel/Palestine.  One could very easily argue that ethnic cleansing is a tremendous component to the Occupation- and the rhetoric that claims that Israel has the sovereign right to the entire land mass is troubling for the future of the Palestinians, the Democratic character of Israel, and the destruction of Jewish values in the Jewish State.  Although Israel does need to defend herself against terror and bigotry, it is important that we reach a solid solution.  The only solution is some form of a two-state solution.  But to get there, we have a lot of work to do.

Zionism is not racist because the Jewish people deserve sovereign control in their historic homeland, just like the Germans, the French and the Turks all have sovereignty in their historic homelands.  The Palestinians ALSO deserve that same dignity.  The core tenet of Zionism (being free in our homeland) must be extended to our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

There are many paths to peace and several end solutions, but my favorite solution is the Confederation model. It is not a true one-state nor two-state solution AND its building blocks require Israelis and Palestinians to find common grounding and humility in one another.

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How does one deal with people that argue that Israel does not have a right to exist and that they stole land from Palestinians?

This is an incredibly important issue that I have a lot of trouble with.  For me, I see two options to your question:

1. Prove Israel’s right to exist using historical information.  Explain to them how the destruction of the 1st Temple (586 BCE), the 2nd Temple (70 CE) and the final expulsion following the Bar Kochba Rebellion (135 CE) transformed Jewish life.  Describe various persecutions throughout our history in the diaspora and our longing to return to our ancient homeland so that we could live a peaceful life.  Discuss how the early immigrants to the Yeshuv purchased land from Ottoman landowners in swampy, infertile areas.

But don’t lie about issues on both sides of the “Conflict” and be extremely transparent about how you feel about the issues and beautiful accomplishments of both sides.

But I warn you: this option can be dangerous. Sadly, there are people on both sides of the Conflict who are very extreme in their views.  For instance, there are some people who only look to the American media (which usually poorly describes the conflict) and view Israel as horrific people.  There are so many arrogant people in the world who do not understand the plight of the Jews or the history of the State of Israel.  But on the other side of the coin, there are those who want to build the Third Temple on the Temple Mount, thus destroying Muslim Holy Sites.  There are those that want there to be a 1-State solution resulting in the displacement of the entire Palestinian population living in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza or a 1-State solution resulting in the displacement of the entirety of Israel.  

There are extremes on both sides that are very scary.

2. This option is the more difficult one, but it is the one in which you stay out of the conversation because your spirit is more important than their ignorance. But for some people who are extreme, this may have to be the answer unfortunately.

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Why is learning Hebrew important?  Where can I learn Hebrew?

Hebrew is the ancient language of the Jewish people.  Not only is it a language of the State of Israel, but also the Hebrew Bible, Jewish prayer and much of Jewish literature.  Once you begin learning Hebrew, you begin to unlock the meaning behind who we are as a people.

·       How to learn Hebrew (MyJewishLearning)

Beginner

·       Hebrew letter chart

·       Learning how to write the Hebrew Alphabet

·       Cartoon Hebrew Letters (fun resource for learning your letters)

·       Hebrew vowels

·       Learn how to read Hebrew online

·       The Aleph Beit Song (Debbie Friedman)

Advanced

·       Duolingo now has Hebrew!

·       Hebrew Learning Masterpost

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What is Birthright and how can I sign up?

Birthright is a free, 10-day trip to Israel for young adults between the ages of 18 and 26.  On the trip, participants have a chance to explore the country while also understanding their Jewish identities as emerging Jewish adults.  Almost all Birthright trips go to the following locations:  the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall, Yad Vashem- Israel’s memorial of the Holocaust, Tel Aviv, the Mystical City of Tzfat, Masada, and the Golan Heights.

Participants for Birthright trips must have at least one Jewish birth parent, was raised Jewish or must have had a formal conversion through one of the major Jewish denominations.

According to their website:

The Birthright Israel gift is open to all Jewish* young adults, ages 18 to 26 who have not participated on a peer educational trip since they turned 18 nor lived in Israel past the age of 12.*Eligible individuals are those who identify as Jewish and are recognized as such by their local community or by one of the recognized denominations of Judaism. Applicants must also have at least one Jewish birth parent, or have completed Jewish conversion through a recognized Jewish denomination. PLEASE NOTE: Those applying for trips leaving from the Former Soviet Union are eligible if they have at least one Jewish birth grandparent. The accuracy of information pertaining to the heritage of an applicant for a trip leaving from the Former Soviet Union is also verified by a local Consul before an applicant is considered eligible.            

If you would like to read some more Frequently Asked Questions, please feel free to check this page out.      

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What expenses does Birthright cover?

Birthright covers everything: a round-trip flight, two meals per day, museum fees etc.

The real question is: what do will you need to pay for? (btw it is all completely worth it!

There is a $250 refundable deposit (upon return to the states)

You will have to pay for 1 meal per day (typically around $10-$15). The only exception is on Shabbat.

Money for souvenirs

Money for snacks and extra food

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Can converts take advantage of Birthright?

Yep!  Assuming they have finished their conversion by the trip and are between the ages of 18-26, a Jew-by-Choice is eligible!

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I’m thinking about conversion.  Where do I begin?

Before contacting a rabbi, I would personally explore and learn as much as you can.  One of the best books on conversion is:  “Choosing a Jewish Life” by Anita Diamant.  There are several free resources online that I highly recommend checking out as well (below).  As always, please feel free to ask me as many questions as you might have.

·         “10 Things to Know Before Conversion”

·       Some recommended reading    

·       “Branches of Judaism”

·       “A Brief History of the Jewish People”      

·       How to pick a Hebrew name

·       When can I call myself a Jew?

·       How do I convert officially?

·       What does a Rabbi expect a convert to know before converting?

·       There isn’t a Synagogue near me, what do I do?

·       What is Reform Judaism?

·       “What to Expect at a Reform Shabbat Service”  

·       A non-Jew attending Shabbat Services

·       Various advice on Conversion

·       How can I convert if I don’t agree with the government of Israel?

·       LGBTQ people in the Reform Movement

·       Conversion for a non-binary person

If you send me a direct message, I would love to help you further with locating a Synagogue to begin conversations with a rabbi or cantor who can help guide you.

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Are Jewish communities welcoming to converts?

Absolutely.  Not only are we welcoming, but we do not see a difference between a person born a Jew and a person who converted.  If anything, we are in awe of the passion and love for Judaism that our convert friends have!

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About how long does it take to convert?

Although every community is different, it will typically take someone anywhere between a year and two years in the Progressive world.

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Where can I learn about the different branches of Judaism?

  Modern Orthodox (The Orthodox Union)

  Conservative Judaism (The United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism)

  Reconstructionist Judaism

  Reform Judaism (The Union for Reform Judaism)

The World Union for Progressive Judaism (representing all Reform and Reconstructionist Congregations around the world)

“ReformJudaism.org” is a fabulous resource

Religious Action Center, the “social justice hub” of the Reform Movement

  Humanistic Judaism

  Jewish Renewal