#jewish learning

[jewish-hot-takes]

being atheist or areligious should not be an obstacle to studying torah.

torah is our living history, our birthright, it is a dynamic and breathing poetry that is also devastating, brutal, and necessary. every word need not be taken literally, really, you don't need to "believe" any of it, but there is always, always something to be gained from engaging with our text this way.

more jews engaging with torah can only be a good thing as each perspective is wanted and benefits the whole

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[freegazafromhamas]

The Jewish Encyclopedia, which was originally published between 1901-1906 has recently entered the public domain and is now a website

Complete contents the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia.

This website contains the complete contents of the 12-volume Jewish Encyclopedia, which was originally published between 1901-1906. The Jewish Encyclopedia, which recently became part of the public domain, contains over 15,000 articles and illustrations. This online version contains the unedited contents of the original encyclopedia. Since the original work was completed almost 100 years ago, it does not cover a significant portion of modern Jewish History (e.g., the creation of Israel, the Holocaust, etc.). However, it does contain an incredible amount of information that is remarkably relevant today.

Cool stuff!

[mildly-kosher]

Why isn't Hebrew/Sunday school taught during the summer. Everyone tells me it's because of the parents vacation, but with younger kids often needing daycare in the summer wouldn't it be better to offer it during the summer and during the school year only once a week?

And tbh like I can't take the whole summer off to be with my kids for vacay.

Then around 12 kids vacant choose their level of involvement.

It really seems like we are not setting ourselves up for success to make kids go to Hebrew school only during the secular school calendar and then no involvement at all during the summer.

Like we also offer it on Sundays but then we complain about adults not being at services during shabbat. Maybe other synogues this wouldn't work but for Reform why can't we have summer sessions with some breaks for camp, Saturday classes so parents come to shul and when they get older still have Wed night classes?

[mylight-png]

So I saw this post and wanted to take some time to reflect on it.

Lately, the premed student MCAT studying burnout has really been getting to me and my self esteem has taken a major hit.

I constantly feel stupid due to struggling in my classes despite putting in insane amounts of time and effort. At some point, I had a whole spiral over how maybe I've never even been smart.

Self-love felt so far, and I didn't feel worthy or deserving of it.

So then I ended up crying to my friend about. About how I felt stupid. How I'm never going to be anything, let alone a doctor.

And then they mentioned that if, by my logic, I am stupid, then I would have to consider them stupid too. This really shocked me. I have the highest regard for my friend, they're smart in a variety of ways. So how could I be holding myself up to a framework by which this belief about my friend could not be upheld?

If I consider myself stupid, then in order to be consistent in my worldview, I must consider my friend stupid also, which I could not reconcile.

A few days later, I saw this post, and it really helped me understand where I was going wrong.

To be unkind to myself would justify extending that lack of kindness to those around me. I cannot believe that I will be a failure without believing that the people around me will be failures too.

I may care about myself and my own feelings less than I should, but it's good for me to remember that I cannot be kind to others while being unkind to myself.

[jewishpositivity18]

Traditionally, there are two types of Jewish knowledge: Written Law and Oral Law.

Tanach/תנך is written law, passed down over generations through text. It has three main parts:

1. Torah/תורה: The five books of Moses, the oldest and most foundational Jewish text

2. Prophets/נביאים: Stories and prophecies about Ancient Judea

3. Writings/כתובים: Stories and poems, including the megillot (scrolls) like Esther and Ruth

Talmud/תלמוד is oral law, passed down over generations through traditions, customs, and word of mouth (though it's mostly written down now)

There is a lot of Talmud out there, here's some of the important ones:

Mishna/משנה is a commentary on the written law, in which scholars and rabbis try to interpret and apply Tanach to everyday life.

Gemara/גמרה is a commentary on the Mishna, adding a whole new layer of debate and interpretation.

Halacha/הלכה is Jewish law as a whole, and it's derived from both written and oral law. Halacha is the result of millions of Jewish people throughout history trying to make sense of Tanach and figure out how to live Jewish lives.

[torahstudio]

This is an art piece I (liana) made for my course Art Midrash on parshat yitro. It's based on the text below.

“And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lowermost part of (lit: underneath) the mount” (Exodus 19:17).

Rabbi Avdimi bar Ḥama bar Ḥasa said: The verse teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, overturned the mountain above the Jews like a tub, and said to them: If you accept the Torah, excellent, and if not, there will be your burial.

Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said: From here there is a substantial caveat to the obligation to fulfill the Torah. The Jewish people can claim that they were coerced into accepting the Torah, and it is therefore not binding.

Rava said: Even so, they again accepted it willingly in the time of Ahasuerus, as it is written: “The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them” (Esther 9:27), and he taught: The Jews ordained what they had already taken upon themselves through coercion at Sinai.

[wrestlingwithtorah]

Let There Be Light: Where Science, Religion, and Justice Colide

Light has fascinated Jewish storytellers for centuries, and continues to inspire us to build a more just world.

Tuesday, August 1 · 7 - 8:30pm EDT

All are welcome! If you are amazed by science, inspired by light, and find the fight for justice and equity a meaningful part of your life: you should come to this special class.

[nach-yomish]

Announcement!

We will be resuming with chapter 1 of Isaiah on April 15 aka the third day of Passover aka the first day of Chol HaMoed in the Diaspora.

If you want to be a part of the decisions and discussions, message us to join our discord server!

And if you're frum, remember to get a haircut before Pesach starts!