#sefaria

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

Shout-out to Sefaria for this beautiful drash. This was a really sweet thing to receive in my inbox, and I thought some of you all might appreciate it, too.

[writer-at-the-table]

[Today's learning is dedicated to the peace and safety for all in Israel. Join Jews around the world who find solace and spiritual power in our tradition with some common prayers and texts for times of uncertainty.]

Sefaria has a banner on the top of the homepage now.

[bubblefemmejewitchery]

cats in the talmuld from sefaria

[geostatonary]

Catch me on sefaria when twitter dies

[ralphdvd]

[arborescent-shadows]

sefaria my beloved

[sagescented]

When a person prays in the fields, all the flora enters into the prayer, helping him and strengthening his prayer. And this is the reason prayer is called a sicha (conversation), as in the concept that comes from "the siach of the field" [translated in context as "shrub," but also means "conversation"] (Genesis 2:5: "When no shrub of the field was yet on earth and no grasses of the field had yet sprouted") - that every "siach of the field" lends help and strength to one's prayer.

This is the concept of “And Yitzchak went out lasuach in the field” (Genesis 24:63: "And Isaac went out lasuach in the field toward evening and, looking up, he saw camels approaching" ); lasuach is often translated as "walking" but this is not the verb one would usually use for "to walk". His prayer was with the help and power of the field. All the flora of the field empowered and assisted his prayer, on account of which prayer is called sichah.

From Likutei Moharan, Part II 11:1; Rabbi Nachman of Breslov via Sefaria; modified slightly for clarity, and to properly include appropriate entries (My Ko-Fi Here)

[unlovablereject]

Favorite Psalm to prep for Teshuva.

Of David.

The LORD is my light and my help

whom should I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my

life,

whom should I dread?

When evil men assail me

to devour my flesh-

it is they, my foes and my enemies

who stumble and fall,

Should an army besiege me,

my heart would have no fear;

should war beset me,

still would I be confident.

One thing I ask of the LORD,

only that do I seek:

to live in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the

LORD,

to frequent His temple.

He will shelter me in His pavilion

on an evil day,

grant me the protection of His

tent,

raise me high upon a rock

Now is my head high

over my enemies round about;

I sacrifice in His tent with shouts

of

joy,

singing and chanting a hymn to the

LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;

have mercy on on me, me, answer me

In Your behalt my heart says:

"Seek My face!"

○ LORD, I seek Your face

Do not hide Your face from me;

do not thrust aside Your servant ir

anger;

You have ever been my help.

Do not forsake me, do not abando

me,

○ God, my deliverer.

Though my father and mother

abandon me,

the LORD will take me in

Show me Your way, O LORD,

and lead me on a level Path

because of my watchful foes.

Do not subject me to the will of

my foes

for false witnesses and unjust

accusers

have appeared against me.

Had I not the assurance

that I would enjoy the goodness of

the LORD

in the land of the living...

Look to the LORD;

be strong and of good courage!

O look to the LORD!

[anniflamma]

So that midrash is in the Sotah, in chapter 1 - 13b

I usually use Sefaria. It's a library with all types of Jewish texts, like the Tanakh, but also the Talmud, Midrash, and even collections from Jewish theologians throughout history. It's a really good site if you want to go on a deep dive.

Midrashes are pretty crazy. It’s like fanfiction.... and sometimes they can really venture into the ArchiveOfOurOwn realm...

Question: How can Potiphar be a eunuch if he’s married to a woman? That doesn’t make any sense!

A midrash: Oh, it’s because Potiphar did have a manhood, but when he bought Joseph as his slave, he intended to buy him as his sex slave. But before he could touch the 17-year-old, an angel came and cut off his manhood! And that’s why Potiphar is a eunuch yet married to a woman!

Me: W H A T ?!?!! (im scared)

[shalom-iamcominghome]

One thing that does mildly annoy me is looking up explicitly jewish queries and the only results are like "KING JAMES BIBLE" "Conference of Catholics"

And then you'll try optimizing your search with "jewish" or "judaism" and it's a 50/50 shot as to if a jewish source will pop up 😭😭😭

[writer-at-the-table]

"It’s been a year unlike any other. Since October 7, 2023, life has been exceptionally challenging in Israel and for Jews worldwide."It’s been a year unlike any other. Since October 7, 2023, life has been exceptionally challenging in Israel and for Jews worldwide.

Through nearly a year of war, many of us have done what Jews have always done: turned to our sacred texts — to make meaning, to seek comfort, and to find strength in the struggles and wisdom of those who came before us. Now, as we enter the holiday season amid escalating violence in and around Israel, that need is as strong as ever.

Below, we’ve compiled a handful of texts and resources from the Sefaria library that may be useful for you during this time."

[judaismandsuch]

The Mourners Kaddish

It is (fairly) well known that after the death of a close relative, one recites the Mourners Kaddish for a period of a up to 11 months.

Now, I don't know if any of you have read the Mourners Kaddish in your venacular (it is in aramaic), but at first glance it is....odd.

It makes no mention of death, dying, the deceased, or really anything to do with mourning.

It is, in fact, a song of praise for HaShem, and nothing else.

So the question is....why?

Why isn't the prayer said by mourners a thing of mourning, why is it one of praise?

Now, there are many very beautiful commentaries that one can make connecting the two, but 1) they aren't the reason and 2) you can make your own.

As much as we don't like to talk about it, Judaism does believe in reward and punishment after Death. What form this takes is unclear, we have a common response, but by design we don't actually know. It could be Gan Eden and nothing, it could be reincarnation, it could be a classic heaven and hell. Who knows? We certainly don't. But we do know that there is some reward and some punishment.

And once you are dead, you are judged for your deeds and can't really change anything, right?

Well.... no. Anything good that happens as a result of you is counted to your merit, hence the Mourners Kaddish.

By praising HaShem in their honor, we lift up the souls of the deceased to some degree.

That is why it is also traditional to learn a tractate of Mishnah or give tzedakah after someone passes.

Because we can't do anything for their body, but who knows what we may do for there soul?

And to those in mourning we say:

"May the Almighty comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem."

Because when one of us is lost, the whole community feels the pain.

[small-witch-big-hat]

Not just your neighbor.

Trans Rights are Human Rights 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

[himehikoshrine]

Biblical Naming Puns in Quartz Plays

Both Levi and Isaac are biblical names whose meaning is explained in the text of Genesis. Shown here in the JPS translation, which includes in line explanations, in Genesis 29:34 we get Levi being given for its meaning as "to attach," or "to join." It shares a route with the word for wreath, so it could be said to have 'to join in a circle' connotation, which works very well with the etymology of kielce and circus, as well as the gear metaphor. He is the ringleader after all, another word that includes the connection to circles and rings.

Isaac comes from the word "to laugh". Shown is Genesis 17:19, though the incident it's referencing happens earlier. A fitting name for a clown, and even more fitting given some lines on Isaac's route, too. But again, this is a name picked based on the pun given in Genesis for it.

These are similar to Jacob in Mary Jane, which, according to Genesis 25:26 is a pun on the word for "heel". Mary names him that after getting the idea to make a doll out of corpse parts after picking up a heel off the beach.

Mary is almost certainly a biblical reference of a name, as well, but it isn't on the origin of the name and explanation for the word play involved.

These are all pretty specific references, but the pattern makes me fairly certain that all three are intentional.

Fun fact - Isaac is the father of Jacob who is the father of Levi, so this also represents three major generations of Genesis.

Whatever else he's got going on or shoved in that weird genius head of his, the Bible is clearly something in Neji's reference pool. Pretty deep-cut references too. With the "Raham" in Jire's poem, these represent some pretty close original textual readings. Some of the phrasing in the Jire poem also suggests at least a passing knowledge with Japanese Catholic liturgical phrasing or at least imitations there of.

But Neji's references don't stop here. The Oh Rama Havenna names seem to be based of Latin instead. He's dabbling in Greco-Roman mythology references elsewhere, Japanese mytho-history in I Am Death, linguistics, latin, possibly middle english, world literature, historical references and beyond. A fascinating place, Neji's mind.

So while I can totally see a reading that there's some religious background Neji is not telling us, I can also see him reading the bible from cover to cover with translation posts just for his reference pool "to make the greatest performance ever!"

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

תהילים צ"ד

אֵל־נְקָמ֥וֹת יְהֹוָ֑ה אֵ֖ל נְקָמ֣וֹת הוֹפִֽיעַ׃ הִ֭נָּשֵׂא שֹׁפֵ֣ט הָאָ֑רֶץ הָשֵׁ֥ב גְּ֝מ֗וּל עַל־גֵּאִֽים׃ עַד־מָתַ֖י רְשָׁעִ֥ים ׀ יְהֹוָ֑ה עַד־מָ֝תַ֗י רְשָׁעִ֥ים יַעֲלֹֽזוּ׃ יַבִּ֣יעוּ יְדַבְּר֣וּ עָתָ֑ק יִ֝תְאַמְּר֗וּ כׇּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃ עַמְּךָ֣ יְהֹוָ֣ה יְדַכְּא֑וּ וְֽנַחֲלָתְךָ֥ יְעַנּֽוּ׃ אַלְמָנָ֣ה וְגֵ֣ר יַהֲרֹ֑גוּ וִ֖יתוֹמִ֣ים יְרַצֵּֽחוּ׃ וַ֭יֹּ֣אמְרוּ לֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־יָּ֑הּ וְלֹא־יָ֝בִ֗ין אֱלֹהֵ֥י יַעֲקֹֽב׃ בִּ֭ינוּ בֹּעֲרִ֣ים בָּעָ֑ם וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים מָתַ֥י תַּשְׂכִּֽילוּ׃ הֲנֹ֣טַֽע אֹ֭זֶן הֲלֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִֽם־יֹ֥צֵֽר עַ֝֗יִן הֲלֹ֣א יַבִּֽיט׃ הֲיֹסֵ֣ר גּ֭וֹיִם הֲלֹ֣א יוֹכִ֑יחַ הַֽמְלַמֵּ֖ד אָדָ֣ם דָּֽעַת׃ יְֽהֹוָ֗ה יֹ֭דֵעַ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת אָדָ֑ם כִּי־הֵ֥מָּה הָֽבֶל׃ אַשְׁרֵ֤י ׀ הַגֶּ֣בֶר אֲשֶׁר־תְּיַסְּרֶ֣נּוּ יָּ֑הּ וּֽמִתּוֹרָתְךָ֥ תְלַמְּדֶֽנּוּ׃ לְהַשְׁקִ֣יט ל֭וֹ מִ֣ימֵי רָ֑ע עַ֤ד יִכָּרֶ֖ה לָרָשָׁ֣ע שָֽׁחַת׃ כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־יִטֹּ֣שׁ יְהֹוָ֣ה עַמּ֑וֹ וְ֝נַחֲלָת֗וֹ לֹ֣א יַעֲזֹֽב׃ כִּֽי־עַד־צֶ֭דֶק יָשׁ֣וּב מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וְ֝אַחֲרָ֗יו כׇּל־יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃ מִֽי־יָק֣וּם לִ֭י עִם־מְרֵעִ֑ים מִי־יִתְיַצֵּ֥ב לִ֝֗י עִם־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃ לוּלֵ֣י יְ֭הֹוָה עֶזְרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י כִּמְעַ֓ט ׀ שָׁכְנָ֖ה דוּמָ֣ה נַפְשִֽׁי׃ אִם־אָ֭מַרְתִּי מָ֣טָה רַגְלִ֑י חַסְדְּךָ֥ יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה יִסְעָדֵֽנִי׃ בְּרֹ֣ב שַׂרְעַפַּ֣י בְּקִרְבִּ֑י תַּ֝נְחוּמֶ֗יךָ יְֽשַׁעַשְׁע֥וּ נַפְשִֽׁי׃ הַֽ֭יְחׇבְרְךָ כִּסֵּ֣א הַוּ֑וֹת יֹצֵ֖ר עָמָ֣ל עֲלֵי־חֹֽק׃ יָ֭גוֹדּוּ עַל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ צַדִּ֑יק וְדָ֖ם נָקִ֣י יַרְשִֽׁיעוּ׃ וַיְהִ֬י יְהֹוָ֣ה לִ֣י לְמִשְׂגָּ֑ב וֵ֝אלֹהַ֗י לְצ֣וּר מַחְסִֽי׃ וַיָּ֤שֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ אֶת־אוֹנָ֗ם וּבְרָעָתָ֥ם יַצְמִיתֵ֑ם יַ֝צְמִיתֵ֗ם יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃