r/Jewish

I know there's a wide range of positions and types of jobs but I'm really just trying to broaden my list of future potential careers. I'm in the US in a state that's relatively "low" in the number of Jews but high enough that there's schools, daycares, organizations (like JFS), and multiple synagogues.

I'm working on my bachelor's right now in social work. I want to help people and I love making connections but there are simply too many domains of social work that I'm interested in to be set on anything right now.

I used to work for a Jewish daycare and loved it. I loved being fully involved in the community, volunteered more, went to synagogue at least 2x/wk but usually more, literally made myself a little Jewish bubble that I loved and thrived in. I love all things Judaism, I love Torah study, I love sharing my knowledge and gaining more knowledge. As much as I think I would love working in a Jewish day school, I don't think that I could be a teacher. Potentially about a specific religious topic but not a regular, everyday studies teacher.

I'm happy with office jobs but I also like to be able to be on my feet if I want. I love working with kids of all ages. While income is part of it, a fulfilling life and career are the true important things to me.

Part of me has always considered becoming a rabbi and the family I used to nanny for once suggested it but I feel nowhere near smart or capable or "good" enough for a title that big. It's not completely off the table but something that I push to the back. It feels unattainable and embarrassing to consider, even though I'm doing so via the internet to a bunch of strangers.

Thank you all if you read this far. It's very appreciated.

The Dinah Project is the leading organization dedicated to getting recognition and justice for victims of conflict related sexual violence on October 7th and afterwards.

If you are able to, please take a look at the book/report the Dinah Project has published. It’s heavy but an important read:

https://thedinahproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Dinah-Project-full-report-A4-pages_web.pdf

“Based on extensive research and analysis, the report establishes that:

- Sexual violence was widespread and systematic during the October 7 attack, occurring across at least six different locations: the Nova music festival, Route 232, Nahal Oz military base, and Kibbutzim Re'im, Nir Oz, and Kfar Aza.

- Clear patterns emerged in how the sexual violence was perpetrated, including victims found partially or fully naked with their hands tied, often to structures like trees or poles; evidence of gang rapes followed by execution; genital mutilation; and public humiliation.

- Sexual violence continued in captivity, with multiple returnees reporting forced nudity, physical and verbal sexual harassment, sexual assaults, and threats of forced marriage.

- Most victims were permanently silenced — either murdered during or after the assaults or remain too traumatized to talk—creating unique evidentiary challenges that require a tailored, context-sensitive evidentiary model adapted to the unique challenges
of CRSV.”

Hope this belongs here as I can’t post this in the NYC subs.

I’m so sick and tired of seeing all these other groups having an outlet to celebrate their culture. The Italians have their feasts (yes I know they are technically catholic but cmon) the different Caribbean groups have their parades and heritage months and so on, the Irish get St Paddy’s day. And almost every group gets a heritage day at our baseball stadiums.

But what do we Jews get, if you are religious you get a lot of celebrations ofc. However in this case I am talking about us “cultural Jews” I would kill for a Feast type thing in the LES (shout out to Egg Creams Empanadas and egg rolls street fair), with rainbow cookies, pastrami, even throw in some Kugel. Just some more recognition for how we have influenced the Culture and Society of my City.

Even in Media, the Jewish guy is in almost every single mafia movie and other NYC centric media, but our actual culture is hardly discussed.

Now this part is a little more personal but still important I think. I personally have kinda an “old NYC” type style. So think leather jackets chains silk shirts ect, and because of this almost everyone thinks I’m Italian, which is fair I guess, but when I saw all types of people including Jews dressed the way I do people don’t believe me.

All in all I wish my culture had just as much representation as the other Big NYC cultures.

Although I grew up Jewish and going to Jewish Day School, my family was not particularly religious, and we did not do weekly Shabbat. I would have loved to, and I tried to start it a few times, but my parents both worked and my home life was tumultuous. Shabbat was always one of my favorite parts of Judaism, and Erev Shabbat was the time I looked forward to the most at school. I have a family of my own now, and I've recently been trying to have a weekly Shabbat. I make Challah and a meal, light the candles, do the Kiddush, and say Hamotzi. We sing a few songs and have a nice meal. We've also made it a family rule to put electronics away during it, and engage together. My 6-year old daughter is really loving it. We've had company over a few times, and we're all really enjoying this new family tradition. Personally, it's given me a way to reconnect with Judaism, and bring the rest of my family (my wife is not Jewish) into the fold. But I'm not sure if there's anything else we should add. My question for other Reform Jews: What traditions and practices do you do for Shabbat at home?

I spoke to my Rabbi today and she suggested that I watch a livestream online first this Friday to see the Synagogue I’ll be attending and then book my first visit for services. I’m actually really excited for this and the Rabbi seemed lovely as well.

She also suggested next time I’m out and about to bring small trinkets of Jewish celebration at home such as pretty candles, prayer etc and I absolutely will. I can’t wait and I love all of you so much. 😊