#*GOYIM PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OR DO NOT INTERACT WITH THIS POST

[simcha-is-a-mitzvah]

Intro and Rules

Welcome! I made this blog to help provide Jewish people with joy and happiness. Especially lately, these have been hard times, and everywhere I've seen people express that they feel themselves drowning in so much negativity.

As the name of the blog says, I believe holding space for Simcha, even in dark times, is a very special mitzvah.

This isn't to say you shouldn't feel sad or angry or upset ever. It's normal to sometimes not be able to find joy. So allow yourself to not feel happy all the time, but also allow yourself to be happy sometimes.

About me: I am currently in the process of converting and have been for almost 2 years. So while I'm not technically Jewish yet, I love this community more than I will ever be able to express. I want to make it very clear that I do not speak for the Jewish community as a whole, nor do I claim to. I'm just here to share other people's joyous moments to maybe help others cope with life.

You can call me Simcha, as that is probably the Hebrew name I'm picking. I'm in my 20s, and I'm queer and neurodivergent.

If you need to vent, or are going through a rough time, don't hesitate to visit @jewish-vents instead, a blog similar to this one where Jewish people can vent. Like I said, there is no shame in feeling less pleasant emotions and you're not alone in feeling them.

Rules

This is a space curated specifically for Jewish people. We need a space that is safe and joyful. Goyim/gentiles/non-jews, please respect that and don't try to center yourself here. You can interact respectfully, and show your support by uplifting Jewish voices, not center your own. Unless we decide to change the rules, do not send submissions.

IF YOU'RE JEWISH feel free to send an ask, anonymously or not, about anything happy you might want to share. It can be big or small, as long as it is somewhat related to being Jewish and it makes you happy!

To clarify: when we say submissions should be related to Judaism, it can be just tangentially. Something funny that happened at shul, a recipe your family likes making, a Jewish wedding you went to, a friend who is a good ally. We're not too restrictive here!

If anyone, for any reason, submits something hateful, that is discriminatory to anyone at all or wishing people suffering, you will be BLOCKED and your ask will be DELETED. Yes that works for antisemites, but it also works for anyone coming here expressing happiness for the death or harm of anyone.

If you're submitting something involving other people, please make sure to not give identifying information to avoid doxxing and harassment. We need to be keeping each other safe.

If you want to submit something that for some reason can't be done anonymously, but you still would like it to be, submit it and state IN THE SUBMISSION that you want it to be posted anonymously. I will make a separate post and not mention your identity, and then delete the original.

For the sake of simplicity and anonymity, you are a Jew if you consider yourself a Jew. This includes Jews from any movement, background, color, nationality, patrilineal Jews, people that are still converting, etc. This does NOT include Messianics or Black Hebrew Israelites (not to be confused with just Black Jewish people in general, Jews come in all colors like I said)

#jumblr #intro post #rules #pinned post

[bear-of-mirrors]

This is your periodic reminder that the story of Jesus flipping over tables in the Temple is inherently antisemitic and holding it up as a great example of “fighting capitalism” or some such in the modern day is also antisemitic because those people in the Temple were doing what they were instructed to do in the Torah (in Deuteronomy) to help make the Temple more accessible to those who lived far away. The story frames the fulfillment of this commandment from Gd as Jews being greedy, opportunistic, schemers and I’m so tired of people talking about it like it’s a good thing.

Goyim please reblog, and if you interact with this post please just be respectful.

#antisemitism #Christian antisemitism

[draculastits]

In the spirit of that gatekeep gaslight girlboss post that keeps going around I wanna say something controversial: we need to gatekeep judaism on tumblr more.

Full stop. Im so tired of seeing goyim say things like "im in the middle of the conversion process so I experience antisemitism" but they haven't even spoken to a rabbi yet or read jewish lit that wasn't in a text post. Like there really are goyim on this site who believe reading and reblogging a few posts about jewish beliefs makes them part of the religion. I truly believe speaking with a rabbi is the bare minimum someone can do before being considered a convert and jewish.

I think people forget that judaism is, for the most part, a closed religion and that interacting exclusively with an online community is not the same as actually being in the irl community

I'm personally very weirded out by people who convert or plan to convert to judaism but only seem to do so to talk about it online. If you are not going to interact with the community outside of reblogging about anti semitism, pretty quotes, and aesthetic boards why are you planning on converting?

Having a judaism tag is Not a substitute for actually practicing judaism.

To those who haven't been able to interact with their community because of covid/ location or have taken actual steps of the conversion process: this is not about you. I love you.

To those considering converting: it is a serious issue to convert. Please approach it with respect. Please do so for the right reasons. When it comes to discussions and shared experiences about anti semitism please do not speak over those already speaking or derail those discussions to be about you.

To the person who said they wanna convert but still mainly worship pagan gods: 1. you are a clown. 2. your parents aren't committing an anti semitic hate crime by making you be a part of family Christmas celebrations.

Goyim can reblog but don't clown

Other jews you can obviously reblog and add commentary id love to hear all your opinions

#charlie this is not about you #you are taking your conversion process so respectfully #i feel nothing but pride and love in regards to you and your judaism #yes this is kinda targeted at one person #but! its also an issue ive seen multiple times on this site #jewblr #jewish tumblr

[luckys-last-brain-cell]

This one s more directed at goyim than I usually post. I know most of my stuff is for Jewish audiences and I encourage gentiles to softly boost the message without adding their voices to the mix. Here I’m directing this towards those of you who find yourselves in Jewish spaces or with Jewish friends. Especially if you have very little experience with a non-WASP world.

Your words matter. Your actions matter. Your behaviour matters. When you interact with us, or discuss us, or seek to amplify our voices, think about why. Do you tag every post about Jewish people with trigger warnings, even when the content is not frightening, upsetting, or difficult? Do you find yourself falling into antisemitic patterns behind closed doors and overcompensating by inserting yourself into Jewish spaces when you’re in the open? Are you seeking out Jewish friendship because you like us as individuals, or are we another minority to add to your token collection?

This isn’t out of anger, but out of a place of hurt and confusion. Often, antisemitism comes from people we know and thought we could trust, or from sources we respected and platforms we elevated. Just, be careful. Please, come talk to us. Celebrate with us when you’re invited. But think hard about your motivations.

#jumblr #goyim #Jewish #Judaism

[atheostic]

Hey you really shouldn't put the uncensored Tetragrammaton out there and then tag it with Judaism. It's incredibly disrespectful to Jewish ppl who are browsing their own tag. Regardless of your views, you're essentially disrespecting our religion right in our faces. I understand if you didn't know or weren't aware but please don't do it again. Thank you

Hi Anon,

I've been working on my answer off and on whenever I have a few minutes so it doesn't take forever for me to get to this, so please feel free to let me know if I failed to complete a thought or something was unclear and you'd like me to go into further detail or want me to explain it in a different way.

Thanks again for being understanding about irl stuff getting in the way of a prompt reply.

And extra thanks for being polite in all your asks, even when you thought I was ignoring you. Being in anon mode often brings out the worst in people (especially when dealing with touchy subjects) and I think that the way you reacted and interacted is very commendable. Give yourself a pat on the back and a kosher cookie.

Now, without further ado, the long-awaited answer:

First off, thank you for parting from a "teachable moment" perspective rather than an assumption that I used the Tetragrammaton out of an intent to antagonize Jewish people. As a fellow minority, I know how annoying & irritating it can get having to educate people repeatedly, especially when people outright ignore the points you're making rather than take the time to listen.

I wholeheartedly acknowledge that you make a valid point, made even more valid due to the loooong and very real history of antisemitism and persecution in mainstream culture. I wouldn't be surprised if antisemite asshats go out of their way to disrespect Jewish culture and religion on its own tag on a regular basis.

While I am aware that you're not supposed to use an uncensored version of the Tetragrammaton in Judaism (Hell, many Jews won't even write down the word "God" without censoring it as "G-d"!), please know that I do not do so out of malicious intent and that I am keenly aware that my actions could be perceived as further victimizing an already persecuted group..

If I could have a moment of your time, I'd like to explain my reasons and point of view (and I'd love to hear your thoughts on what I have to say).

1. I took Jewish perspectives into account when weighing my decision on whether using the uncensored Tetragrammaton was okay.

They just weren't religiously Jewish Jews (I primarily took my cues from Russel and Karyn Glasser, though not solely from them). All the Jews I listened to were definitely culturally Jewish (one was an Israeli while Karyn even attends Temple on occasion as a way to connect with her ancestors and cultural history) but they were atheists like myself. And according to them, they do not believe that goyim (or indeed atheist Jews) should have to refrain from using the uncensored name of God. Their reasoning being that...

2. I'm not a member of your religion, and as such am not required to follow its rules.

I feel at this point it's worth mentioning that I don't ignore just Jewish religious rules -- I make a point of ignoring the rules in every religion.

=-=-=

Sidenote: that being said, I do respect other people's right to worship as they will.

I would do my best to follow the rules if I were a guest at someone's house or place of worship, and would do my best to refrain from using certain terminology if someone asked me to refrain from doing so when talking to them (note that I've gone out of my way to not use the word you do not want me to say in interactions with you).

I also take people's religious dietary restrictions seriously and would happily go out of my way to accommodate a guest who could only eat kosher or halal. If faced with someone who had their religious clothing ripped away by some douchenozzle, I'd immediately offer whatever I had on hand to help them cover up.

=-=-=

3. Not all religiously Jewish Jews refrain from using the Tetragrammaton.

Whenever I tag Judaism when using the Tetragrammaton I repeatedly get responses from Jews who use the word in the process of claiming that it's not God's name. That God's name in Judaism is *insert various different titles, such as Adonai and Elohim*.

For example, @daloy-politsey had no qualms in using the Tetragrammaton and claimed that it isn't God's name.

As did @dutchbag

and @entanglingbriars

4. I am using the Judaism tag for its utilitarian purpose.

If my post references something to do with a certain religion, I tag it in order for me and people searching my blog to be able to find blog posts related to the tag's topic. If I use a euphemism instead of the word people actually use, they won't be able to find posts on the topic.

#tetragammaton #abrahamic religions #god of abraham #god of israel #Judaism

[laineystein]

why is interfaith marriages not believed in? sorry for the bad grammar and if this is an obvious question.

Alright. So I’ve sat on this for a bit because I know how some of you absolutely lose your minds when I talk about this - goyim and Jews, apparently. So if you’re here to listen and engage civilly, by all means. If you’re here to tell me I’m a terrible person (without reading my post and trying to reason with what I’m saying), please continue scrolling.

Now that we’re past that…

A few things:

There’s what my faith tells me

There’s what I was raised on

There’s what I believe

THESE ARE THREE VERY DIFFERENT NUANCES.

1. Judaism, and the Talmud specifically, does not recognize marriage between a Jew and a gentile. Jewish law does not recognize any such marriage as a legal marriage. If a man has children by a gentile woman, he has no claim to those children. Them’s the rules.

2. I was raised Conservative. To us, it was not just about Jewish law. - though that was certainly important. I was raised to believe in the importance of having Jewish children and bringing those children up in the Jewish faith. I was taught that the best home for Jewish children (because any children I have will be Jewish because I am Jewish - Judaism is passed matrilineally) is a home where both parents are Jewish. My father’s side of the family survived the Shoah so the continuation of our Jewishness was stressed as being essential. It was not just enough for Jews to survive - we need to fall in love with other Jews, create families and homes with other Jews, and attend shul in the face of hatred. Surviving shows hatred that it lost, living our best Jewish lives shows hatred that we won. But at it’s base level, no, Conservative Judaism does not recognize intermarriages. If they do, it is only if the spouse is willing to convert and be an active member of the community. Even then it gets dicey - which I’ll maybe get to in another post - we don’t have time to unpack all of that right now. And some of y’all are about to absolutely lose it over the following commentary so I don’t want to overwhelm you.

3. Now as far as what I believe…technically I consider myself Reform now but I genuinely hate the stream labels. I’m a practicing Jew. That’s all that matters in my world. But! Do Reform Jews sometimes recognize interfaith marriages? Sure! Is it something I want for myself? Never. Is my boyfriend a Jew? Yes. All of the men I’ve ever dated/slept with have been Jewish. Listen. What I’m about to say is going to be controversial but oh well. Judaism, unlike some other religions, teaches the importance of women. Women are respected. That is absolutely clear in how Jewish men treat the Jewish women in their lives. Jewish men, in my experience, are raised differently - just as all people across different cultures have different teachings and traditions, so do Jews and this is one of them. The gentile men I’ve ever interacted with have almost always been derogatory with me and have almost always sexualized my Jewishness. When they find out I was in the army I’m immediately sexualized, when they find out that army was the IDF, I’m suddenly a k*ke. In med school I was called a “fucking k*ke whore” by an asshole wearing a cross around his neck because I consistently scored better than him on my exams…that was over 6 years ago and I’m still not over it.

I’ll remind everyone that it is not just Judaism that cautions against interfaith marriages - Xtians used to put people engaged in intermarriage to death. Islam has similar attitudes toward it. But do I want anyone to effing die?! NO. I want everyone to do what they want to do — and what I want to do is not date/marry goyim.

Marriage is meant to be a partnership of equals based on trust and respect…I’m sorry but as a Jew I struggle to trust gentiles. If that chaps your ass so much then maybe work on being an ally to the Jewish people. Gentiles don’t want to hear that but also do nothing to stop the cause. I’m not going to lie and say that I will date gentile men to make y’all comfortable when no gentile cares about my basic right to exist and take up space as a Jewish woman. You want to know who does care about that and who works to ensure that is a possibility and works to support ALL of the Jewish women in his life? A Jewish man.

Again, it is so incredibly nuanced and I can’t get into every problematic aspect of intermarriage, nor can I take the time to defend everything that deserves to be defended - I just don’t have the emotional energy. Unfortunately I think people will believe what they choose to believe. My hope is that this post makes people think. I have always struggled with this idea of being against intermarriage because the main thing I was raised on is tolerance and accepting others and being a kind person. But I can be those things (and am those things!) and still not want to date/marry goy men.

Die mad about it.

#I’m not tagging this #because I really don’t want people attacking me #i honestly just *don’t care* #I stand by my opinion #I have a right to think what I think just like y’all can believe what you believe #anyway! thanks for the question nonny #no need to ever apologize for grammar! it’s tumblr and so appreciate you asking

[supercantaloupe]

Hi there! Please ignore this if I’m asking too much or you’re not interested, I don’t want to impose. I live somewhere with a very small Jewish population & haven’t met many Jewish people. I really want to educate myself so I can be a better ‘neighbour’ as it were & so I can more proactively work against antisemitism, but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any advice about good resources or even specific things you want non-Jewish people to educate themselves on? (1/2)

I don’t want to saddle someone with the job of teaching me but I’m also keen to avoid misleading information. I have studied ww2 & read Jewish authors on that period. Again, apologies if this is asking too much, hope you have a good day! (2/2)

anon i’m really glad you care enough about being respectful and informed to have the courage and instinct to reach out and ask! 

a great place to start would be checking out myjewishlearning.com -- they have tons of articles both on practical jewish life like prayer and food, as well as articles on halakha (jewish law) and history, explaining why we do and believe what we do. it’s a great resource for both jews and goyim to learn! the organization chabad also has some good resources, but it should be mentioned that chabad is a more orthodox organization and not all jews adhere to the same degrees of observance. 

on tumblr, you might check out @ask-jumblr, where people send in questions related to judaism and then other jewish users can respond in the notes. you can also browse in the jumblr and judaism tags for other jewish users who post a lot about jewish-related things; just know that a lot of us may not be writing for/speaking to nonjewish audiences with every post, and there is a lot of intercommunity discussion of issues within judaism and with antisemitism in general. however if you get confused or want to learn more, generally i’ve found that if you interact with them politely, most people are more than happy to explain things!

generally, i think the best way to both learn about judaism and to be respectful of it is to listen to the voices of jewish people. read books and articles by jewish authors, watch videos and movies and tv shows about jews and made by jews, talk to jews! there are plenty of us out there who are happy to chat!

#sasha answers #anon #judaism #jumblr