Return to the Wilderness

Judaism rooted in love, equity, justice, and a free Palestine Forging a new path in the wilderness and not looking back

[returntothewilderness]

An Introduction

I’m Jamie! I'm a chronically ill, non-binary transmasc, Arab-Amazigh Anti-Zionist Jew. I want to partake in a Judaism created by those who have been left out. That makes loving space for Jews of color, disabled folks, and the Queer community.

I've met people forging new paths and questioning the status quo. People investigating ancient texts and languages to make them more accessible and gender neutral. Jews creating Queer, Anti-Zionist texts and rituals. Queer Talmud study groups. Anti-Zionists speaking out against the occupation of Palestine. These people and communities showed me I do belong, that the Judaism I’ve been searching for does in fact exist. That we’re creating this tapestry together from all different walks of lives and cultures. They brought me back to my faith in a deeper way; they made me realize I have a spiritual and ethical duty to add my voice to the choir of people searching for a Judaism beyond borders and nations. To give my eternal gratitude to those who got me here by hopefully helping even just one person out there feel like they have someone in solidarity with them. That there is in fact a Judaism for them too. 

I chose the name of this blog through a couple of things that inspired me deeply. The idea that we don’t need a promised land to be a community, that we can leave the land stolen from Palestinians and return to the proverbial “wilderness” of the unknown and create our own new paths separate from colonialism, patriarchy, ableism, classism, white supremacy, cis/heteronormativity. It makes me wonder what Judaism will look like as we continue fighting against apartheid, as we fight for Palestinian reparations, and equity for all those who wish to commune with us. That thought and all those I’ve met on my own journey keep my spiritual candle eternally lit.

I hope if you’re here looking for solidarity and new ways of approaching Torah and the Tanakh, that you find some comfort and community with me. If this resonates with you, I’m so happy to know you. To know all the beautifully ill, disabled, trans, queer, working class, bipoc, marginalized souls out there. Thank you for existing and rekindling my faith by simply being. Shalom.

[livethrushit]

HEY!! are YOU a queer & disabled jew who believes in a free palestine? do you wish you could attend pride events but can't because they are somehow, in the year of our fucking lord 2026, still not fully accessible? i'm collecting art submissions for the third year of Pride Signs by the Disabled Community.

submit your posters (photo or scan of traditional media or a digital poster) to me over at @queer_disabledjews on IG or dm me here for more information. submissions open until the end of july. examples from previous years can be seen above & on the IG account. i'm working on moving the works to the low-income queer disabled jews patreon.

[livethrushit]

Can you match my $10 to Gaza's Roots? While the intentional famine continues, it's crucial we support groups connected to those on the ground who are able to distribute food when they have enough funds to do so. Funds are quite low & the demand keeps getting more dire. Any amount helps & amplifying does too. To learn more, you can visit Gaza' Roots on Instagram where they have FAQs and videos discussing the initiative.

Gaza's Roots' Initiatives

We are Gaza’s Roots, a team of Palestinians in and out of Gaza, 

It's also important to know about the long term & generational impact famine and starvation have on populations. Not only is it a way to further disable Palestinians, but it creates lasting poor health outcomes that can lead to infertility. Ethnic cleansing doesn't stop with the current generation, it aims to erase future generations. We can't let this keep happening, we have to do what we're able for these Gazans.

No amount is too small, and don't let guilt over wanting to give more but not being able to stop you. People are starving, people are losing their lives en masse. Even $1 and a share can go far, it's a cumulative effort.

[returntothewilderness]

PQDJ Archive Pride Signs Project 2024

Queer, disabled artists in solidarity with Palestine submitted artwork/signs they would have carried at Pride events had they been accessible. Each submission was paired with a fundraiser for Gaza.

To read what the artists said about their pieces, you can visit the PQDJ Archive IG.

https://www.instagram.com/pqdj_archive

Artists' IG Handles:

zinefag, ratsupport, little_glimmers_creations, printingworldstocome, rosesarespread, witchcripisthis, yaakov.akiva, sunnivainnstrand, maghrebipunk

[livethrushit]

during my Rage And Depression nap i had a dream that i was asking why we didnt have a manga version of the talmud. so now i must ask: WHY DONT WE HAVE A MANGA VERSION OF THE TALMUD

[livethrushit]

i became the change i wanted to see in the world

ging vs pariston vs bava batra 3a

there are like 3 ppl on this site who would want this content and this is for you babes

[returntothewilderness]

hey there! since comments are turned off i figured i'd send an ask instead. i was tagged in this post: tumblr(dot)com/returntothewilderness/754374576605200384/submitted-by-stevie-hehim-for-the-pride-signs, but i'm sadly not the person you think i am. i think someone else shares my username on another site (potentially instagram? based on some other posts), which is probably why this happened! i don't want to take credit for something i didn't do haha, especially when it's something like this. <3

hi!! thank you for sending this bc 1. i had no idea i had comments turned off lmao and 2. youre absolutely right, this is all from instagram (the submission & the fundraising posts) including the user who shares your username. i will edit the post + reblog and clarify.

thanks again <3

[schoolhater]

following this dude on insta who only has 5k of 35k on his sons evac fund and im so confused cuz he has multiple microinfluencers making videos abt him, hes been consistently posting and asking for donations for at least two months, hes DMing everyone he sees, he's even got ppl printing his story out and pasting it up apparently. yet only at 5k? after all that time and effort?

here he is

Donate to Help new widower Khaled provide for his children after war, organized by Khaled Almedna

Hello beloveds, I am Rosie from Wales and I am… Khaled Almedna needs your support for Help new widower Khaled provide for his

[schoolhater]

btw i have actually been in touch with him for a few weeks now and i would really appreciate if everyone could share and donate

the fund is at $5,082USD of $35,000USD as of june 18th

HIS BABY IS STUCK IN NORTH GAZA 😭

[returntothewilderness]

Submitted by Stevie (he/him) for the Pride Signs project.

From user deestracted(on IG) about the food program: Thanks to your previous support towards our food program, we were able to feed 2000 people in Northern Gaz za, where starvation is at its worst. We are now aiming to feed 5000 people. Our goal is $45k with 20% commission. While we send the full amount to Gaz za, the only way for people to withdraw any funds right now is by paying a fee on the transaction. If you want to keep supporting this initiative coordinated with tareqshajjaj(IG) please use the accounts listed at the end of the video (pinned first on deestracted's profile).

Please share widely & if you can, match up to my $10!

People who identify as Queer and disabled can submit signs they would have carried at pride events if these events were made accessible. All submissions must have a reference to f@lastine. Fundraisers will be included in every post. Submissions open through the end of July.

[returntothewilderness]

Submitted by ck (she/they) for the Pride Signs project.

ck on her piece: a protection spell - rainbow as in covenant with divinity, queer as in support the resistance

People who identify as Queer and disabled can submit signs they would have carried at pride events if these events were made accessible. All submissions must have a reference to f@lastine. Fundraisers will be included in every post. Submissions open through the end of July.

[returntothewilderness]

Submitted by Andromedae System (they) for the Pride Signs project.

Andromedae System on their piece: It feels so difficult to fight for human rights when you're already locked out of spaces of protest and pride. It's essential to make your events as accessible as possible so that truly everyone can participate in the liberation of all people. Until that day, I will keep fighting with my pen and keyboard.

A falastinian woman sits in a manual wheelchair with the push handles removed, an act demanding independence. The woman wears a black and white keffiyeh and raises her fist in defiance. she wears a thobe decorated with tatreez, intricate storytelling embroidery. The tatreez design is based off the work of famous Falastinian artist Sliman Mansour's 1979 painting "Jerusalem, Falastinian Heritage" depicting a quilt like tapestry of symbols like pottery, half moons, open eyes, keys, etc. instead of the rich colorful rainbow this painting is in, i've chosen to limit the colors to red, green, white, and black - the colors of the Falastin flag, as israel banned artwork using these four colors together in 1980.

People who identify as Queer and disabled can submit signs they would have carried at pride events if these events were made accessible. All submissions must have a reference to f@lastine. Fundraisers will be included in every post. Submissions open through the end of July.

[returntothewilderness]

there are a lot of fundraisers circulating, and if you're like me you are having a hard time staying organized and on top of consistent donations. so!! here are some things i've found that have helped ease the overwhelming amount of information.

Weekly budgets

Set aside a feasible amount to donate weekly.

If you don’t have much disposable income, consider between $1-$5. If you have more disposable income and aren’t wanting for any basic necessities, consider between $10-$50.

Set an alarm to go off once a week to remind you to stop and pay. Figure out which payment apps work best for you and choose funds accordingly (if they ask for venmo & you’re outside of the US, choose funds that have paypal

Staying organized

There are many wonderful accounts dedicated to posting fundraising efforts. Stick to a handful that you will save posts from as to not get overwhelmed.

Make a folder somewhere and save only as many as you want to donate to that week. Decide how you want to split up your week’s donation: are you giving it all to one fundraiser or splitting it over more?

Once you have donated to a fund, you can keep it in your folder (if you’re watching to see when they reach their goal) or you can save new posts.

If it helps, keep a record of your donations with the links (if able) and fund name. Can be more in depth, written or typed.

If you’re a visual person, instead of a written record, save your receipts and screenshots. Share the posts you donate to on your accounts so it can circulate more.

See if a small group of friends want to donate together once a month to the same fund to increase impact.

It may be a good idea to have a folder for funds by cause. For example: a folder for Congo, a folder for local mutual aid, etc.

[returntothewilderness]

[livethrushit]

Submitted by Jamie Aster (they/them) for the Pride Signs project. People who identify as Queer and disabled can submit signs they would have carried at pride events if these events were made accessible. All submissions must have a reference to f@lastine. Fundraisers will be included in every post.

Jamie on their piece: Silence = Death. We have seen this reflected in both queer and Pali struggles with how our elected officials choose to deal with our communities. During this month in particular, the zionist entity loves to claim equality while weaponizing queerness to blackmail queer Palis and outing them to their families. This is how a colonial entity "cares" for queers. Smoke and mirrors as they strip other queer communities of their humanity, using their queerness to cause further disenfranchisement. We refuse pinkwashing, we refuse gncid, we refuse to ignore or contribute towards disabled suffering, we refuse to be silent.

Follow me, this project, and other queer anti-zionist jewish disability advocacy at pqdj_archive on ig

Donate to the fund:

Help a Queer Gazan and His Family to Safety

Hi Friends,

[returntothewilderness]

Submitted by Tonya (she/her/they/them) for the Pride Signs project.

People who identify as Queer and disabled can submit signs they would have carried at pride events if these events were made accessible. All submissions must have a reference to f@lastine. Fundraisers will be included in every post.

These patches are 5x7" and can be purchased from Tonya with the proceeds going to this fund for AC. You can follow Tonya at Little_Glimmer_Creations on IG.

The red triangle symbolizes Anti-Zionism while the pink triangles and 'silence = death' acknowledge our queer history and the need for anti-imperialist informed solidarity.

To send a submission for this project, please DM me.

I will be donating $10 and would love if anyone could match up to it by donating between $1-$10

To follow this project along with more queer, disability, and anti-zionist Jewish advocacy, follow pqdj_archive on IG.

[returntothewilderness]

Submitted by Yaakov Akiva (they/them) for the Pride Signs project. People who identify as Queer and disabled can submit signs they would have carried at pride events if these events were made accessible. All submissions must have a reference to f@lastine. Fundraisers will be included in every post.

Yaakov on their piece:

I’ve seen folks say in recent days that if their rescue would cost hundreds of people their lives, they don’t want it, and yet some of those same folks live without proper Covid precautions and risk costing countless people their health and lives through unmitigated spread every day.

If pride events or local protests were safe and accessible for me, this is the sign I wish I could be holding.

You can follow Yaakov on IG at yaakov.akiva

Please amplify and share the second and third slides, and donate if you can! I will be donating $10 and I want to see if anyone is able to match it or up to it by donating between $1-$10. any amount helps and it does add up.

When donating do not say what it's about. Either leave a thank you note or use a food emoji.

To follow this project along with other queer, disability, and anti-zionist Jewish advocacy, follow pqdj_archive on IG.

[returntothewilderness]

if you are queer & disabled, im accepting submissions for protest signs for pride and palestine. im jewish & this is a jewish group i run, but i will keep submissions open to non-jews. queer & disabled jews for palestine are highly encouraged to submit.

these are signs you would carry at rallies or pride events but can't due to accessibility issues

when you submit, your piece will be given a fundraiser to amplify.

if you want to sell your print to raise funds for the fundraiser as well, we can do that!!

dm me w Qs, submissions accepted all month for pride

these will be posted here & over at pqdj_archive on ig

[ayin-me-yesh]

Ok I've decided to make some basic resources for anti-Zionist Jews who feel really alone and want to connect with each other or with our culture or history.

Reading List

Traces of History: Elementary Structures of Race

The Making of Jewish Revolutionaries in the Pale of Settlement

Twenty Years with the Jewish Labor Bund A Memoir of Interwar Poland

Crisis, Revolution, and Russian Jews

Colonial Paradigms of Violence: Comparative Analysis of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Mass Killing

The Holocaust and the Nakba: A New Grammar of Trauma and History

With Freedom in Our Ears: Histories of Jewish Anarchism

A Fire in Their Hearts: Yiddish Socialists in New York

How Jews Became White Folks: And What That Says About Race in America

Modern Middle Eastern Jewish Thought: Writings on Identity, Politics, and Culture, 1893–1958

A History of Egyptian Communism Jews and Their Compatriots in Quest of Revolution

The Sultan's Communists: Moroccan Jews and the Politics of Belonging

On the Arab-Jew, Palestine, and Other Displacements: Selected Writings of Ella Shohat

Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew

When We Were Arabs: A Jewish Family’s Forgotten History

The Arab Jews: A Postcolonial Reading of Nationalism, Religion, and Ethnicity

(Do also check out Decolonize Palestine for the original resources as well as the reading list that centres Palestinians themselves)

News and Magazines

Jewish Currents [United States]

Treyf Podcast [Montreal, Quebec, Canada] (sadly defunct but you can listen to their older, archived podcasts which include some great interviews)

Edit: I think it's also worth adding The Electronic Intifada. It's not explicitly Jewish, but it often features interviews with and opinion pieces by anti-Zionist Jews while primarily being an outlet for Palestinians themselves.

Organisations

Jewish Voice for Peace [United States]

IfNotNow [United States]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada [Canada]

Jewdas [United Kingdom]

Jews Against Fascism [Australia]

Dayenu: New Zealand Jews Against Occupation [Aotearoa / New Zealand]

Sh'ma Koleinu – Alternative Jewish Voices [Aotearoa / New Zealand]

Synagogues

Tzedek [Chicago, Illinois, United States]

Chavurah For A Free Palestine at Kehilla Community Synagogue [Piedmont, California, United States]

Edit: Have also been told I can add Kadima Reconstructionist Community [Seattle, Washington, United States] to the list!

[pozechka-deactivated20250429]

if I may, I would also add:

Reading List

Antisionisme, une histoire juive

A Threat from Within: A Century of Jewish Opposition to Zionism

There Is Nothing So Whole as a Broken Heart: Mending the World as Jewish Anarchists

"Not by Might, Nor by Power:" The Zionist Betrayal of Judaism

Jewish Identity and Palestinian Rights: Diaspora Jewish Opposition to Israel

Reclaiming Judaism from Zionism: Stories of Personal Transformation

Parting Ways: Jewishness and the Critique of Zionism

Wrestling with Zionism: Jewish Voices of Dissent

Jews Against Zionism: The American Council for Judaism, 1942-1948

Organizations &c.

Jews Against White Supremacy [international]

Judaism On Our Own Terms [North America]

Kavod Boston [United States]

Loud Jew Collective [Australia]

Een Andere Joodse Stem - Another Jewish Voice [Belgium]

Shabbes 24/7 Collective [Belgium]

Junts - Associació catalana de jueus i palestins [Catalonia]

Tsedek ! Collectif juif décolonial [France]

Jüdische Stimme [Germany]

Jüdisch Antikolonial [Switzerland]

TzedekUKI [United Kingdom & Ireland]

while some of these do not describe themselves as anti-zionist, I think it can nevertheless be a good start to meeting like-minded people and building explicitly anti-zionist alliances

Miscellaneous

Disillusioned [podcast]

Matzpen [website, documents, videos]

Radical Jewish Calendar

Making Mensches

Queer Mikveh Project

[pozechka-deactivated20250429]

Organizations &c.

Center for Jewish Nonviolence [international]

Nashville Jews for Justice [United States]

Ratzon: Center for Healing & Resistance (x) [Pittsburgh, United States]

Jewish Solidarity Caucus (affiliated to DSA) [United States]

Mending Minyan [New Haven, CT, United States]

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice [NYC, United States]

LəA - Laboratorio Ebraico Antirazzista [Italy]

Jewish Bund [Germany]

Jüdisch-Israelischer Dissens [Leipzig, Germany]

Judeobolschewiener*innen [Vienna, Austria]

Union Juive Française pour la Paix [France]

Na'amod [United Kingdom]

Swiss Jews Against the Occupation [Switzerland]

Mesarvot [Israel]

Zochrot [Israel/Palestine]

Tzedek Collective [Australia]

Organizations at Universities / for Students

CUNY Jewish Antizionist Collective [NY, United States]

CUNY Jewish Law Students Association [NY, United States]

Jews for Palestine UIUC [Illinois, United States]

Jews Givin’ A Fuck @ Clark U [United States]

Harvard Jews4Liberation [United States]

Jewish Students' Kehillah [Manchester, United Kingdom]

Jewish Students For Justice [Oxford, UK] [inactive since Feb 2023]

Miscellaneous

The PQDJ Archive [art & advocacy]

Beyond the Pale FM

Shel Maala Yeshiva [online-centered]

The Queer Yeshiva [Europe]

LINKלינק [Bundist zine, Naarm/Melbourne, Australia]

Shomrim Media [podcast]

Synagogues

Synagogues Rising statement: "The inherent kedusha / sacredness of all life is the foundation of our commitments to antiracism, disability justice, trans and gender justice, Indigenous solidarity, Palestinian liberation, and combatting antisemitism"

as of October 2023, these are the communities in the network (besides Kadima RC and Kehilla CS in the original post):

Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebel [Baltimore, MD]

Kol Tzedek [Philadelphia, PA]

The New Synagogue Project [Washington D.C.]

Congregation T'chiyah [Detroit, MI]