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aviya | conservative ✡️ | about

[koenji]

Iraqi Jewish heart-shaped Amulet bearing the star of David, flower and star ornaments, inscribed with Shaddai שַׁדַּי, one of the names of G-d in Judaism and on the backside the Shema or Shema Yisrael (שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל "Hear, O Israel"), one of the most central and foundational prayers of Judaism dating to the first millennium B.C.E.. Used to ward off evil spirits (שדים shedim), negative energies, or the "evil eye" (עין הרע ʿayin haraʿ) while honoring the belief that true protection comes from G-d. Iraq, 1910. (png)

[tekhelet]

The Jews at Prayer by Ivan Trutnev. 1911.

[challahbeloved]

fashion tip to immediately elevate your look:

tzitzit strings out

[aprettyjewishyear]

A Happy New Year. Jewish greeting card by Mordecai Menahem Cohen, 5693 / 1932. it seems there is little to no information about the artist available online, but two of his greeting cards are available to view in the Jewish Museum's online collection.

[gliklofhameln]

Pocket watch from Switzerland, early 20th century. Silver; niello; enamel.

[thosefaroffconstellations]

פורים שמח!!

[thosefaroffconstellations]

Figured I should start posting my art here 🫶🏼

[nesyanast]

Early morning light in the synagogue.

Photo: Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation stained glass windows by me

[iliothermia]

Happy Trans Day of Visibility 💗

[yellowmonday-deactivated2022120]

ur pinned is a Leonard Cohen song how r u gonna call Harry styles boring 💀

i don’t think you understand the wave of actual homicidal intent that just washed through my body like if you were standing in front of me right now you would’ve been in real danger. what the fuck are you talking about. this is literally such an evil thing to say. youre literally an evil person. what the fuck is wrong with you im in shock. im in shock. im in shock

[thosefaroffconstellations]

Figured I should start posting my art here 🫶🏼

[starlightomatic]

This poll is for Jews who currently live in North America, and consider it their permanent residence (ie, not people here for a couple years on a work or student visa).

For the Jewish ancestor of yours who moved to North America most recently, what is their relationship to you?

If multiple ancestors arrived together, pick the one the shortest distance from you. For example, my mother came with my grandparents, so I'm going to pick "parent(s)."

so -

No Jewish ancestors (I converted)

My Jewish ancestors are all converts who converted in North America

Self (I am an immigrant/I moved here from elsewhere)

Parent(s)

Grandparent(s)

Great-grandparent(s)

Great-great-grandparent(s)

Great-great-great-grandparent(s)

So long ago we lost track

I don't know

Other/it's complicated

None; I have Jewish ancestry from pre-immigration with which I have reconnected

Voting ended onApr 1, 2024

I don't like see results buttons because they make the results weird, sorry non-Jews and non-North-Americans. You're welcome to reblog for sample size if you'd like.

[edenfenixblogs]

Where Do the Notes In the Western Wall Go? | My Jewish Learning

Each year, countless notes are stuffed into the cracks of the Western Wall, the last remaining wall of the Temple ...

This is so beautiful I’m gonna cry

[purlturtle]

Twice a year — prior to the Jewish holidays of Passover and Rosh Hashanah — the notes are removed from the wall and taken for burial in the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, just across the Kidron Valley from the Old City. Because the notes are prayers and often contain the name of God, Jewish law regards them as holy texts that cannot be simply thrown away. They are treated instead like sacred texts that have fallen into disuse and are buried. The process is overseen by the rabbi of the Western Wall and his staff, all of whom prepare for the task by first immersing in a ritual mikveh bath. They then use wooden poles to gently remove the notes and place them into bags for transport to the Mount of Olives. The notes are not read. 

The gentleness of it all; the deep and loving respect. 🩵

"The notes are not read." - There's a (Christian) tradition in my country for letters to the Christkind or Father Christmas or Santa Claus to be delivered to designated post office, where volunteers read and answer them. Those letters are typically written by children, wishlists for Christmas, for material and immaterial things - and no, the volunteers don't deliver gifts, of course, but they do keep the story alive. It is done in love, with the understanding that the letter-writer will (perhaps not expect, but) appreciate the reply.

This here is different, but driven by love as well - just, there is a respect here that these notes are a matter between the note-leaver and whomever they addressed their note to, not a matter for the people who take care of the notes after they're left. The love that these notes are being given doesn't say, "let's read these and then let's pretend to be G-d and reply;" it says, "this was meaningful for you to leave here, and so it is meaningful for us, and we will consider it sacred." There is the trust that no reply to the note is necessary; that indeed the act of leaving the note is what makes the meaning, not the presence or absenve of a reply (or at least that's how I read this; I am no scholar of any religion, and I hope I'm not overstepping saying this.) (also, impersonating G-d? how about let's not.) (also, who's to say if the note-leaver hasn't already received their reply, in their own soul, in their own conversation with whomever they addressed their note to?)

Anyway, I love this, and I'm thankful to you for sharing this, Eden! 🩵

[edenfenixblogs]

Loving these tags!

[jane-ways]

Hear, O Israel —

[nesyanast]

Some of my favorite Hassidic Purim pictures

[saharathorn]

Tomb of Esther and Mordechai, Hamadan, Iran. Believed by Iranian Jews to be their resting place, and a historic site of pilgrimage.

[matilda-aseo-deactivated2025043]

many such cases