Hi! I'm a conversion candidate using this blog to chronicle my journey learning about Judaism. I do not presume to speak for the Jewish community and I welcome constructive critism.
Can someone with a Jewish themed Redbubble make a t-shirt that says āI ā¤ļø Lashon Haraā and also something along the lines of āMoms Against Lashon Haraā?
Contrasting opinions on Lashon Hara in shirt form, please.
Once upon a time there was a girl whose wicked stepmother forced her to clean the entire house for Pesach all by herself. So while her stepmother and stepsisters left early for the grand seder at the Prince's palace, the girl spent the afternoon sweeping and dusting and washing and polishing. As she finally burned the last crumbs of chametz in the fireplace, she saw the sun setting and knew she would never make it to the Prince's seder on time, so she began to prepare her own meager dinner: a little Passover pizza. But miraculously, her fairy godmother appeared and transformed the pizza into a flying carpet to take her to the palace, and the cheese into a beautiful dress for her to wear. And to commemorate this story, to this very day, that cheese is named after that girl: they called her Matzah-rella.
If you're an American with a disability who receives government assistance, you likely qualify for an ABLE account, or you may starting next
Named for the 2014 law that created them, the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, ABLE accounts have been available since 2016 to individuals identified by a doctor as having a disability before the age of 26. Next year, theyāll become available to those identified before the age of 46, which will increase access to an additional 6 million people, including 1 million veterans, according to Indiana State Treasurer Daniel Elliott, who administers the accounts in his state. An estimated 8 million people nationwide already qualify.
āThe fact that it used to be that individuals could only save up to $2,000 or they could lose benefits ā that was really restricting a lot of families,ā Elliot said. āPeople were forced into a position where they couldnāt save for their futures. Now weāre seeing average account balances of (ABLE accounts) between $11,000 and $12,000.ā
Generally, ABLE accounts may reach totals of $100,000 without affecting Supplemental Security Income. Lifetime balance limits for the various state ABLE accounts can range from around $300,000 to over $500,000. Theyāre administered by state treasurers, and the vast majority can be set up online via their websites. Some ABLE plans accept paper applications as well.
Anyone can contribute to an ABLE account ā including the account owner, friends, family, organizations, nonprofits, and employers ā up to $19,000 per year in 2025. If the account owner is able to work and not already contributing to a workplace retirement plan, they can contribute an additional amount equal to their yearly gross income. For 2025, that amount is up to an additional $15,560 to $18,810, depending on the state administering the account.
There are also tax advantages. Investment earnings from ABLE accounts remain untaxed as long as money taken from the account is used for āqualified disability expenses,ā such as medical treatment, education, tutoring and job training. Account holders may choose from a number of investment options for the funds in their accounts or hold and save the money without investing it further.
Elliot said raising awareness of the accounts is the biggest challenge for the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST), for which heās also the secretary treasurer.
āMany people are used to the idea that, āIf I have a disability or my child has one, it could endanger their benefits to save money,āā he said. āWe as a state and as a country need to start reaching out to people and saying, āLook, you actually can save money now. You could save towards the purchase of a home.ā The hardest thing right now is getting that message out. We need more people to be aware things have changed.ā
According to NASTās data, just 186,641 ABLE accounts existed at the end of 2024, despite an estimated 8 million people qualifying. When the age limit is raised, the accounts will also become available to people whose disabilities may have been the result of an accident in adulthood or developed later in life, such as after a COVID infection.
Andrew Warren, senior associate for policy and research at the Financial Health Network, who studies the financial circumstances of Americans with disabilities, said that the vast majority of peopleĀ surveyed for a 2023 report by the organizationĀ did not know these accounts existed.
āLess than 1% of eligible individuals have these accounts,ā Warren said. āOur research show that one of the major barriers to becoming financially healthy for this vulnerable group is asset limits. But thereās an information disconnect between caseworkers and direct services providers on the ground and (administrators of ABLE accounts).ā
Two online resources āĀ ABLE TodayĀ and theĀ ABLE National Resource CenterĀ ā can guide you through questions to determine if you or a friend or family member qualifies.
my muslim and christian acquaintances must be so sick of me asking them stupid questions like "can muslim veterinarians care for dogs?" or "are sharks considered fish during lent" cause there's no muslim or christian talmud
Keshet and the Hebrew Free Loan Society are partnering to offer interest-free loans of up to $10,000 for individuals and families to support
Need to move states because of anti-LGBTQ+ policies?
Keshet and the Hebrew Free Loan Society are partnering to offer interest-free loans of up to $10,000 for individuals and families to support relocation costs to another state because of anti-LGBTQ+ laws, policies, and climate in their current state of residence.
Applicants do not have to be Jewish and can be moving from any state in the U.S. to any state in the U.S. (but not outside of the country).
Instructions on how to apply are at the above link. š
"Oh but every successive generation is further away from the revelation of Matan Torah, so this current generation doesn't have as much of a right to challenge and reinterpret Halakha as the previous generation!"
Actually every successive generation is closer to the age of Mashiach and therefore closer to G-dliness than its previous generation- if any generation is worthy of transforming Halakha it is the one we are in now. We are not descending further away from holiness- Judaism doesn't count down. We count up, as shown in the fact that we count up to Shavuot. Every generation isn't straying further from the revelation of Har Sinai, it is climbing ever closer to the ultimate revelation of Mashiach.
Check out my shop if you want some nice pretty mainly upcycled jewlery pieces using salvaged beads and parts. I've currently got some nice Jewish pieces and a rainbow one too.
Also this unique beaded lace choker I made. If there's any interest in it I might make more that are similar.
Evangelical Atheists, playing checkers: I donāt believe in God!
Rabbi Sherwin Wine, barely looking up from his 3D Chess: That statement is meaningless because āGodā is a trivial term that lacks any coherent definition.
I know why it is mushrooms (due the original post have to do with the mushrooms speaking on the concept of god), but I want the alternative of it being the rocks left at his grave saying this.
Okay but legitimately this is what drew me into religion. Like I realized the "god" I didn't believe in was not at all comprehensive of what g-d could be and that a connection with the divine is so much more expansive than I ever imagined
@ikeepbeez asked me for our incredible potato kugel recipe about a year ago. At the time I didnāt have to because my husband always made it and it existed only in his head, but I have taken over most Shabbos cooking as of late so now I have it. So, I now present to you
HIPAA Potato Kugel*
*so named because the recipe was given to my husband by a chasidish patient whose name I and the world shall never know due to HIPAA
Ingredients:
1/3 cup canola oil
5 eggs
4 potatoes
2 tsp salt
Black pepper to taste (I recommend a lot)
1 cup hot water
Instructions:
Put oil into baking dish - this recipe is based on using a 5 lb rectangular disposable pan. Your mileage may vary using a pan with different dimensions due to the change in thickness.
Place baking dish in oven and preheat to 400 degrees (this is important - the oil being hot later makes a big difference)
Crack eggs into a mixing bowl and beat
Peel potatoes and grate using either a hand grater or the fine shredding blade of a food processor (the latter will save you significant time and effort)
Place shredded potatoes into bowl with eggs, add salt and pepper, and mix thoroughly with a spoon
Pour hot water into the mixture and stir thoroughly
Remove the baking dish from the oven and carefully spoon the mixture in on top of the oil (care is key, as the oil may splash). Use your spoon to spread the potato mixture evenly over the pan but *do not stir.*
Bake uncovered for 1 hour and 5 minutes.
Tastes best fresh out of the oven so try a piece ASAP even if you arenāt having a full meal right then š
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