r/Jewish

Good morning everyone, I would like to reflect on a few topics. As many of you well know, at many Pride events there are Palestinian flags. So, as someone who is part of the LGBTQ+ community, a question comes to mind: starting from the premise that it is horrible to see children and people dying, on both sides, and taking into account that in situations of conflict all sides commit serious actions, to varying degrees, does it make sense to support the creation of a state that would try to destroy the gay community?

I repeat, it hurts me to see people dying, but this does not justify the idea that I should support a country which, even if Israel had never existed, would almost certainly exterminate all the people in that march. Also almost 2 weeks ago in Naples, the "Arrevutamm" Pride, that is basically a self-organized Pride that opposes the official organized Pride, has attacked some members of LGBTQIA+ Keshet, tearing off their kippah, beating them, and spitting on them, only because they were Jews.

But this climate of hate is not only in the gay community, because, since I study in Bologna, a city that is very “pro-Palestine” and very liberal, I am sure that if I went out wearing a kippah, someone would beat me up or insult me. Also, yesterday I wanted to go to the synagogue, I mean at least to see it from the outside IN PEACE, but it was closed and there was a checkpoint with three soldiers in front of the door.

I walked away trying not to cry, and I thought for a while. I thought about the fact that, even though I am not Jewish but I am passionate about the history of Jews in Italy, when I talk to others about my passion, they look at me with disgust and say things like: “Why are you interested in them? Are you Jewish? 🤨"

Another time, I was having lunch with my friends and while we were talking about the war in Israel, one of them said to me: “I don’t care about that war, neither about the Arabs nor the Jews. They should all blow up because it’s their fault if the world is like this.” The problem is that, it doesn't matter who I am talking to and their political orientation, they will always find something wrong in what I'm doing. Plus, I saw people commenting under a video about nepotism in Italian universities, saying that nepotism itself and the fact that salaries are low in Italy are the fault of Jews and Freemasons. Under another video explaining why many important people in finance are Jewish, I read comments saying that rich Jews in America did not stop the Holocaust and even wanted it to happen, so that America could take over the world through the war 😭.

What kind of country am I living in? A country where many scientists, writers, and so on were Jewish or of Jewish origin, but if you like studying their works in depth, “you’re disgusting” or “you support genocide,” while apparently I should support those who would kill me or try to make me change my sexual orientation.

Sorry for venting, but I don’t have many people to do it with. Thank you for your attention.

Earlier this week I was in my car, in a parking lot going through some active PTSD symptoms.

When a Mormon missionary came up to me and proselytized a message to help me.

I felt guilty because I know that these young missionaries (19, 20 year olds) get treated badly and have people cuss them out and tell them to go to hell.

I didn’t want to be mean to them and I kind of feel bad for what they have to go through. So I ended up giving my phone number to them.

They are really nice and have been trying to contact me a few times.

But now I feel even more guilty because I’m Jewish and I can’t be a part of this. I have no intention of converting to Latter Day Saints.

I respect them as people and appreciate their kindness but I can’t join because my Jewish identity is more important to me.

I have been dodging their calls and text messages but I will have to tell them that I can’t.

I’m depressed that I can’t find other Jewish people to connect with more consistently.

It’s just really difficult because of my tendency to avoid connection and the issues I have with my PTSD.

A part of me really wants to connect but I feel so overwhelmed and stranded. And I’m really not good at this.

In a 1790 letter, George Washington addressed a Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. He wrote that the new nation he was helping build would give "to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." Today, the letter is considered a stepping stone for the First Amendment that would come the following year, in 1791.

Letter Transcript

Gentlemen:

While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport from all classes of citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security.

If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and happy people.

The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy—a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.

It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity.

May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.

May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.

— G. Washington

Hi everyone! Just for context before I get into everything, I am from Ireland and for a really long time I always took an anti zionist position because that’s what i’ve always been around. Ireland isn’t a very welcoming place to be openly Jewish/Zionist. My dad was Jewish and his mother was in a concentration camp as a girl. I wasn’t raised jewish as my mother is Irish catholic, and I was raised as that too. In the last few months I have really started to identify with my Jewish heritage and it is something I mourn for not having a closer connection to. I’m trying to build that connection now. I really identify and love Jewish people and culture. My dad passed away so I can’t talk to him about it, but when he was alive he always seemed traumatised by his upbringing and what happened to his family, he never wanted to talk about it. My friends (who are all Irish) take a hard pro Palestine stance - one that has no nuance and seems to scream F Israel and F Jewish people.

Last night we were at a bar and talking about someone we knew, someone my friends don’t really like. She made a passing comment that this girl is going on a J1 visa to America and going to work in a ‘Jewish summer camp’ (I’m sure this is a thing in the States but I don’t know much about it). She said it like it was an awful thing to do, and they talked about how awful Israel is and then equated that to how awful Jewish people are. She said the word Jewish like it was a bad word, a dirty one. It really hurt me but regrettably in the moment I never said anything. I’m contemplating bringing it up with her because I don’t want to start a fight, but it felt like a knife in the back. I’ve talked to her before about my Jewish heritage and how desperately I want to connect with it. I am even going to Amsterdam in a few weeks to see where my dad and his family grew up, to get a sense of that half of me. Should I say something to her about her comment? Or am I being too sensitive about all of this?

I really enjoy this group and reading everyone’s posts, thank you for that sense of community. It really has been eye opening. I suppose I want to know how I should approach this with her. I know a pro Zionist and pro Jewish opinion won’t be met with kindness, especially in Ireland, but it is the stance I do take now. It made me feel sick that the word Jewish was said with such venom by her.

So what's your most optimistic take on where things are headed? How and when do you think the tide will turn?

What keeps you going in the face of hatred or ignorance? how do you cope with fear and frustration?

Give me your most positive reasonable Outlooks please

Hubs and I are working on bar/bat mitzvah stuff and wanted to run a question by you fine folks. We have a large class of kids in the bar/bat mitzvah program. Our kids know only a few of those kids. I also know that there are some boys that our son really doesn’t get along with. I know that my daughter gets overwhelmed with too many kids, plus she mostly keeps to herself. Our synagogue requires that we’re do a luncheon after the B’nei mitzvah for the entire congregation and anyone else we choose to invite. Our kids want to do a party afterwards (as we all did). For the party, do we need to invite all 50 some kids? In the grand scheme of things are we expected to invite the whole class? And if so, is reciprocating the invitation expected?

PS I miss the days when we would show dance to Boyz II Men with boys in our class. Slow dancing at that age was the same as a marriage proposal.

Hi everyone,
My husband and I recently discovered through family research and DNA testing that both of our grandfathers were Ashkenazi Jews. This came as a complete surprise to us; we had no idea we had Jewish ancestry growing up.We're both Black, and this discovery has made us curious about our family history as well as Jewish culture, traditions, and Judaism itself. We understand that having Jewish ancestry doesn't automatically make someone Jewish, and we're not trying to claim an identity that isn't ours. We simply want to learn more and better understand this part of our family's history. We're wondering if anyone has advice on where to start. Are there books, websites, or other resources you'd recommend? Has anyone else experienced a similar unexpected discovery about their Jewish ancestry? We'd really appreciate any guidance or suggestions. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

So I'm not Swiftie (except I have two daughters who obsess over her) and it's my understanding that she hasn't taken a public position. However, in the past couple weeks she was courtside with the Haim sisters during the NBA finals. Now, according to the morning news, Adam Sandler officiated her wedding. I wonder if she is publicly aligning herself with certain people for a soft launch of her views. If she were to say some pro-Israel or pro-Jewish things, I think it could go a long way amongst the younger generation.

Happy Birthday! Jews all over the US are celebrating!

I have heard various opinions and personal experiences from different people living there, but I still do not know whether most people actually experience it as complicated. If so, what makes it complicated?

I hope this question fits this subreddit. I recently posted it in the wrong subreddit and got a lot of ragebait, so I hope people here don’t find it offensive. I genuinely don’t mean any offense. I’m simply curious to hear about people’s real experiences.

Maybe you know something about it, or perhaps you’re Jewish and living in Germany yourself. What has growing up there been like?

Has this been going on a while? Of course I've noticed the biased stance in much of National Public Radio (USA radio news outlet) reporting, but this seems like a big language shift. Also pretty sure I heard them call Hezbollah a militant group, same broadcast. This makes me quite sad, albeit feeling vindicated for not donating like I used to. Shalom

I am wondering how people related to the portrayals of Jewishness, culture, family dynamics found in the wider media world of social media skits, TV shows, Movies. Primarily focused on NA here.

I am a product of a parent who immigrated from Israel and who grew up mainly in the Sephardic tradition and my other parent, like many was a child of a holocaust survivor. So they grew up in a more Ashkenazi/eastern European cultural norm of Judaism.

I didn't learn Hebrew growing up (for a different post, but a not an uncommon situation) but we did celebrate holidays and my parents did drag us to shul and I was called to the Torah. Most of our family/holiday gatherings were on my askhenazi side as they were the ones who were closest! We did have a community where I grew up but as a family I don't think we

So all of this context just to say.... It is hard for me to fully relate to the versions of Judaism we see in the movies (think.. Marty Supreme, Long Story Short) or even book written in something like Mordecai Richler's cannon. Yes, there were moments of Judaism in pop culture TV growing up (a Chanukkiah here, or lighting of the shabbat candles there), but nothign felt like my experience.

How do others related to the portrayals of Judaism in their media landscape?

I try to study Hebrew for fun when I’m able to focus.
(I’m very far from fluent and need lots of practice and improvement. Very weak, shaky knowledge.)

And I also like to watch different YouTube videos about Judaism and other topics that I find interesting.

I was randomly watching a video about another middle eastern religion and recognized the word “nefes”.

(It sounded a lot like נפש so I looked up the word and it had roughly similar meanings.)

I felt weirdly excited about this connection between two words in different languages.

And shared it with someone else and it didn’t seem to go ok.

I’m afraid that I might have terribly offended them or committed some kind of cultural taboo.

When that wasn’t my intention at all. I was genuinely excited about the words being somewhat close, definitionally.

Is it any good? That's all I want to know.

I am always down to buy Jewish coffee

Hey Everyone!

So I was totally curious on this from a creative-jewelry perspective to be worn as a pendant? (In order to express your faith - belonging to Judaism).

So for example as we all know there's the Magen David. Other options I've seen are the chamsa, menorah I think (?), and I've seen a woman wear what looks to be like a depiction of the 3rd temple, as a pendant (idk if it was to symbolize her faith like a Magen David does for us Jews in Judaism but I know for sure she's a religious Jewish women, so I thought that was pretty creative imo).

The only idea I could come up with on my own was maybe a lion pendant? Perhaps? But, idk if that's Jewish "enough"?

So, would absolutely love to hear your thoughts & ideas! Thank you 🙏

I’m a second generation (Afro)Caribbean American who’s lurking/creeping around 😅. But I’ve noticed that the histories of (West African) Black and (Ashkenazi) Jewish people alike are discussed in extensive detail in American history classes. I personally didn’t even know who Jewish people were when I was a teen (I clearly didn’t pay attention in APUSH) and I feel like I’m less immersed in American politics in general — but now that I’ve grown I wanted to know what you think about the relationship between Black and Jewish people in the United States and other Western countries.

“Allied” is often a strong and whimsical term — there are surely antisemitic blacks as there are racist Jews. Do you think the relationship between blacks and jews has trended in a positive direction in the past century (or post Civil Rights)? This seems somewhat important to talk about, as Black and Jewish people are both minorities in most Western countries (though blacks do have a large majority on a global scale) and we are both subjected to -extreme- racial hatred in many countries (from the use of Slurs, hate crimes, etc). Also wondering if you can cite examples in our communities as well?