Tbh This Has Been My Experience Trying To Observe Shabbat More Traditionally So Far Lmao. We Tear So

this take on the Binding of Isaac is quite insightful I think; it maintains the traditional interpretation of the story as an act of supreme trust while subverting the idea that unjust actions for the sake of God are morally correct. (i apologise for lack of ALT text it's quite long and I couldn't copy-paste)

from Bodoff, L. (1993). "The Real Test of the Akedah: Blind Obedience Versus Moral Choice." Judaism: a Journal of Jewish Life & Thought 42(1): 71-92.

Person with no whimsy: Why are you trying to trick g-d with loopholes? 🙄🙄🙄🙄

this is genuinely so helpful i need to look at this every day lol

I'm autistic and I currently feel like shit checklist

Hi there. Are you autistic? Do you currently feel like shit and don't know why? Try this checklist to see if you can Fix The Problem!

When was the last time you used the bathroom? If you answered "I don't know" or "at least 3 hours ago", go now!

Do you need a drink? Go get one if you don't have one in front of you.

When was the last time you ate? If you haven't eaten yet today, consider eating A Meal, or perhaps A Snack. Something is better than nothing, eat whatever you feel able to!

Is there something in your immediate surroundings that is bothering you? If the light is too bright, turn it off. If there is an annoying sound, make the sound stop or reduce your ability to hear it (earplugs, headphones, etc.). If your clothes are bothering you, change them.

Is your space messy? Pick one area of your room and clean it up as best you can. Clean your whole room if you have the energy!

When was the last time you did An Activity? Scrolling on social media doesn't count. Try actively doing something fun! Play a game you like, read a book, make something, or go for a walk.

When was the last time you Spoke to a Person? Consider talking to a person you like if it has been a while.

How long has it been since you did something Special Interest related? Make some time to do that today. Infodump to a friend, have a nice long research session, look at related images or gifs, make art about it, whatever works best for you!

Try stimming actively! Put on some music and dance, spin in circles, go to the park and use the swings!

If you still feel like shit after trying all of these things, you might be tired or sick. Go to bed early and get some rest. Hopefully you will feel better tomorrow!

Hope that helps :)

a common syncretism question

i get asked often how i syncretize judaism and islam (understandably!) but probably my least favorite "question" is when people say "well you can't syncretize that because X and Y beliefs are different." i fear people don't know that syncretism isn't just simultaneous practice of several beliefs but is indeed the forming of new beliefs/traditions from those original ones.

also, if religions A and B had no differing beliefs, they would be the same religion!! thus making syncretism impossible in the minds of some people. i respect the confusion but it gets so tiring to explain this specific thing lol

shavua tov to my trad-egal jewish siblings!! do any of yall have resource recommendations on trad-egal practices/halakha/etc? can be websites, videos, articles, books....

tysm!!

To me, being trans is one of the most incredible blessings a human can receive from HaShem. From the moment we take our first breath, we are given the wondrous opportunity to mould ourselves b'tzelem Elohim–in the image of G-d. Every day we get to decide what b'tzelem Elohim means for us; we get to lovingly form ourselves like clay, every iteration a reflection of the Divine all on its own, into the image… the person that HaShem always knew we could become.

—G-J-B (Queer & Jewish Musings)

gender and religion...

tell me about the ways your religious or spiritual identity is connected to your gender!! do you have seperate religious and secular genders? is your gender represented through scripture? do you share a gender with an important figure in your spiritual tradition? feel free to share! :D

this one. this one right here.

I hate you "Abrahamic", I hate you "Judeo-Christian", I hate you Protestant interpretations being the academic standard, I hate you "BC/AD", I hate you "X amount of years before Chr*st", I hate you academic supercessionism, I hate you ignoring Jewish translations and interpretations, I hate you "The Bible", I hate you making sweeping statements about Judaism even though you have no authority to, I hate you "expert in religion", I hate you casual academic antisemitism.

so many people arent ready for this one. . .

the thing about the R slur is i do think its technically reclaimable- if youre a person with an intelectual disability, disagnosed learning difficulty, downs syndrome, or anything else that wouldve been historically categorized under that label and you want to say "fuck it, i am that label, i'm gonna own it" then like. fine, thats your prerogative. you'll probably get some weird looks but i don't think anybody can police what you call yourself. the problem is literally every instance ive seen of someone 'reclaiming' the R slur has been using it to insult someone else and then pulling the "im allowed to say it because i'm neurospicy" card and like. thats not how this works. thats not how any of this works.

im not crying you are crying!

The golem is too small - but the children who make him, who hand him to their baby siblings to hold who have shaped him with small hands - they make a friend. From the very first children of exile, little ones yearning for their home - they wished for a friend - these small babies - toddlers with halting steps and little tiny children. And so he is shaped to them - to be held.

From all soils but home, he is reshaped - small hands and prayers and hopes - little wishes along with them - from Shiraz to London to Aksum to those that remain in Yerushaláyim - children add buttons, beads, colours and love - the warmth of small hands no matter what happens.

The Golem wishes he was large, that he could protect them - but he can be with them, all the children who are lost to an endless ancient hate - a hand to hold at the end, perhaps a shield from pain.

He lives in a bright place - filled with paints, with colour and toys and he will protect it always and always - though he is very small, he can protect this place now, this little haven and the little ones who pass through the doors.

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