‎שנה טובה ומתוקה!

שבת שלום

shabbat shalom

have a wonderful shabbos

I was just thinking about the term "two Jews three opinions" (as I frequently do, I love that phrase).

There is frequent division and debate within our community. We are by no means homogeneous in our views, but we still hurt and cry and care for each other.

And that's just so beautiful and amazing.

Our views expand far beyond the binary of black and white, unlike the frosting on a halfmoon cookie!

So enjoy this little doodle appreciating our diversity of views, hopefully it brings a little joy into your day.

a hanukkiah bouquet . ݁₊᪥⋆. ݁

Someone shared this in my conversion groupchat and I thought y'all would appreciate it too.

A Simchat Torah we can never forget

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Simchat Torah, the Jewish community faced its most horrific day since the Holocaust, with over 1,200 lives cruelly taken and many more held hostage. This tragedy has bonded us in deep collective sorrow.

As the Jewish world remains united in grief, we are challenged with the difficult question:

How do we move forward from such profound loss?

Can we dance? Should we dance?

October 2024 will mark the first Simchat Torah since the devastating events of October 7, 2023. Traditionally a day of joy, dancing, and celebration, this Simchat Torah will also serve as the first yahrzeit for the 1,200 victims and a time to honor the hostages and soldiers who have passed since that day.

Now the Jewish community faces profound questions: How should we respond? Is it possible to celebrate as we once did?

With tears in our eyes we will dance

The words of King Solomon in Kohelet, that we will read on Sukkot, offer us guidance: “There is a time for everything under the Heavens… a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Simchat Torah 2024 will be that time.

A Simchat Torah shared throughout the world

Synagogues around the world will open their Aron HaKodesh (Torah Ark) on Simchat Torah night and take out several Torah scrolls. One, or more, will be adorned with a new me’il (Torah cover), designed to mark the first yahrzeit of October 7th. This me’il will be identical to the ones which will be created for 1600 synagogues across the world. This beautifully designed me’il will proclaim that this Torah is dedicated in memory of the 1200 souls and the many soldiers and hostages who have since died, Al Kiddush Hashem.

Every Single Soul is an Entire Torah

Each Torah me'il will feature the name of one of the kedoshim (holy souls/victims) embroidered onto it. Communities around the world will dance with these Torah scrolls – thousands of communities, with hundreds of thousands if not millions of Jews being connected through this project.Each me’il (Torah cover) is embroidered with the flag of Israel along with the Pasuk from Kohelet, “There is a time to mourn, and a time to dance”The Front of the me’il (Torah cover) for both Ashkenazi and Sephardi TorahsThe Back is embroidered with the name of one of the souls of the many soldiers and hostages who have died, Al Kiddush Hashem since the events of October 7th.

United in sorrow. United in celebration.

The Jewish world will be unified, knowing that across the globe, Jews are dancing with Torah scrolls that collectively link us all with the events of October 7th, and inspire us to realize that “Am Yisrael Chai.” Synagogues will encourage their members to come and dance with the newly robed scroll, to remember the fallen, by holding their Torah high, so that they can say: “We will not forget what happened on Simchat Torah last year, but we are determined to dispel the darkness with light.”

This project will symbolize the Jewish People’s resilience, our ability to find hope in the face of tragedy.

Over 1600 communities across the globe will unite for Israel and the Jewish people.

My shul is partcipating in this. Thought I'd spread the word.

“I don’t hate Jews, I just hate Israelis!” I don’t know how to tell you this. But hating someone because of their nationality or national origin is still a textbook form of bigotry…

Here's a controversial opinion that really shouldn't be:

Palestinians have the right to live in their homeland (or any other land) with security and dignity.

Israelis and Diaspora Jews also have the right to live in their homeland (or any other land) with security and dignity.

These need not and should not be contradictory positions, because the entire point of human rights is that they're universal, and if they're not, then they're not rights, just privileges, and you don't really believe in human rights at all.

Pomegranate Tree in Neot Kedumim, Israel. October, 1998. Photographer: Moshe Milner. (GPO/לע''מ)

Well you should’ve named yourself something else then