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#midrash
neil-gaiman · 7 months
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A lovely article, but it gives me much too much credit. A Companion to Owls was written by my brilliant GO2 co-writer John Finnemore.
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magnetothemagnificent · 6 months
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Not "shake a lemon angrily at G-d" week, but rather;
Gather a citron, an ancient fruit predating the cultivation of lemon. Notice how it has a wonderful aroma, and consider how its flesh is edible. This represents the Jew who is both learned in Judaism and who exhibits kindness and good deeds.
Now gather the closed frond at the center of a palm tree. Consider how sweet the dates of the palm taste, but how the frond exhibits no strong smell like the citron. This represents the Jew who is learned in Judaism, but who does not practice the compassion in the many texts they studied.
Now gather at least three branches from a myrtle bush. Take in the refreshing scent oozing from the branches' thick leaves, but see how it does not bear fruit. This represents the Jew who is not learned in Judaism, but whose good character and actions are exceptional.
Finally, gather two branches from the somber willow. While mighty and enveloping, the willow exhibits no strong aroma, nor does it produce fruit. This represents the Jew who is neither learned in Judaism nor kind in character and deeds.
Appreciate the various textures and shapes of these four species. Feel the weight of them in your hand. Value how different in so many aspects each of them are.
Take them all in your hands, and bind them together like an embrace. Point them in all the corners of the earth- South, North, East, heavenward, downward, and West. Think of all your Jewish brethren scattered around the world, and bring your precious bundle back to your heart with every direction you send it to. Contemplate the place of every Jew in your community, the Etrog, the Lulav, the Hadas, and the Arava, for they all belong.
This is the meaning of Sukkot: coming back to our roots and our bare essence. Erect a temporary dwelling in reminiscence of your wandering ancestors. Come together under the stars, as exposed and unguarded as when we first walked the earth. Welcome guests into your makeshift home, be they family, friends, or the spirits of founding ancestors passed. Surround yourself in your community- and bring it all back to your heart.
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sheydandcherub · 9 months
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“Dearer to God is the proselyte who has come of his [her] own accord than all the crowds of the Israelites who stood at Mt. Sinai. The Israelites witnessed the thunder, lightning, quaking mountains, and the sound of trumpets. But the proselyte, who saw not one of these things, came and surrendered himself [herself] to God and took upon himself [herself] the yoke of Heaven. Can anyone be dearer to God?”
— The Midrash, Tanchuma Lech Lecha 6
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gay-jewish-bucky · 3 months
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uh, mid-drash? nah I'm on that premium-drash
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zooptseyt · 1 year
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This line from a midrash is killing me. Naming my son "See the Normal Man" because he's just so fucking Normal.
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the-garbanzo-annex-jr · 3 months
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by Pini Dunner
But, as it turned out, even though Reb Zushya moved from his spot on the floor to a seat at the table, he still got beaten up. Rather than this monumental change for Jews being the game-changer that neutralized antisemitism, Israel’s existence and actions have been leveraged by those who are drunk with antisemitism as the new justification for their prejudice, and for unleashing more violence against Jews — now called Zionists.
In fact, a critical aspect that is often overlooked in the discourse surrounding Israel and antisemitism is the conflation of the Israeli state’s actions with Jews. I don’t recall, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, that Russians living in the West, along with descendants of Russian immigrants, were targeted by protesters sympathetic to the Ukrainian cause, and nor do I recall Russian Orthodox churches being daubed with swastikas — despite the frequent reports of horrific scenes of death and destruction in Ukraine.
And yet Jews are targeted, vilified, attacked, intimidated, ostracized, threatened with death, and accused of being murderers — British Jews in London, Australian Jews in Sydney, American Jews in New York, and French Jews in Paris — all because Israel is engaged in a war with Hamas in Gaza (after the war was initiated by Hamas attacking Israel).
The facts speak for themselves: criticism of Israel’s policies and military strategy has quickly morphed into undisguised antisemitic rhetoric that employs age-old stereotypes and conspiracy theories, and which calls for Israel’s existence to be undone.
And again, I don’t hear any calls for Russia to be undone as a country, or Syria, or Myanmar, or Zimbabwe, or Sudan — and the list goes on and on — even after tough images emerge from each of these countries, or countries of their foes, because of actions they have taken. Only Israel suffers the indignity of being called illegitimate. This means that the line between political critique and ugly bigotry has become dangerously blurred.
The argument that “Anti-Zionism is Not Antisemitism” is a cornerstone mantra of many anti-Israel groups, who insist that all criticism of Israeli policies and Zionist ideology is entirely separate from antisemitic sentiments.
But surely this distinction is undermined when we witness a marked increase in antisemitic incidents following the October 7 massacre. It all suggests that anti-Zionism either contributes to, or indeed serves as a pretext for, antisemitic attitudes and actions, challenging the clear-cut separation that anti-Israel groups claim to uphold.
Then there is the shocking lack of reaction by progressive groups to allegations of violence against Israeli women by Hamas on October 7, compared to their vocal support for victims of sexual violence during the #MeToo moment. Where was the outrage for Israeli women? And how can that lack of outrage be explained as not being antisemitic? The answer is: it can’t.
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power-chords · 2 months
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Susan Handel, “Freud’s Midrash: The Exile of Interpretation”
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judaicsheyd · 9 months
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Hi there, I first wanted to thank you because I've been trying to find Jewish information on Lilith for years and it's been really hard - though I might just be bad at looking. My shul growing up never really mentioned her much so I didn't know where to even start.
I was wondering about the Jewish feminist reclaimings of Lilith that you've mentioned a few times. Sadly I haven't been able to find them myself (again probably bad at looking) but I was hoping you might be able to point me in the right direction?
The pioneer of all of this is Dr. Judith Plaskow, known as the "first Jewish feminist theologian" (she got her doctorate at Yale, go her!). Plaskow is a wonderful example of someone all for tikkun olam, and stresses the importance of Jewish women's understanding of climate change and support of movements like BLM. She's also a lesbian! **When I have time I will reblog this with sources for the first part of your question.
Her original work reclaiming Lilith appeared in "Four Centuries of Jewish Women’s Spirituality: A Sourcebook", in an essay titled "The Coming of Lilith", published 1992.
This essay later made a reappearance in her 2005 book "The Coming of Lilith: Essays on Feminism, Judaism, and Sexual Ethics", which is an important overall read in understanding her reclamation of Lilith as a whole.
The aforementioned works, however, are far from her most significant or influential, which is often said to be her book "Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective".
She has many other really cool works you should check out, as listed: — Her essay in the anthology "Twice Blessed: On Being Lesbian or Gay and Jewish". — "Goddess and God in the World: Conversations in Embodied Theology" — "Sex, Sin, and Grace"
You should take a look at the Jewish feminist magazine inspired by her, called "Lilith".
The Jewish Women's Archive (which is a super cool source) also has a lesson plan ("Lilith Evolved: Writing Midrash") that revolves around Plaskow's look at Lilith and is a great place to start when it comes to understanding not only Lilith reclaimed, but also women's voices in Judaism as a whole. Plaskow has also authored some articles on the JWA website, and the site itself is one of the best places to learn about her.
I hope this helps! Also, these sources are for Jews ONLY. Goyim can interact respectfully and non-appropriatively. Don't make me turn off reblogs.
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anonymousdandelion · 2 years
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Other people: Midrash is kind of like Jewish fanfiction.
Me: Fanfiction is kind of like fandom Midrash.
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wow another piece titled "jochebed" thats revolutionary
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wrestlingwithtorah · 2 years
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Join Wrestling with Torah on Zoom Wednesday, August 2nd at 4PM PDT / 7PM EDT for an exciting discussion on the gender-expansiveness of Adam.
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I bring a "Esther and Mordechai were secular names the figures took after the Pagan gods Ishtar and Marduk, just like many Jews today have a Hebrew name and a secular name, which is consistent with a diaspora story" vibe to the Purim shiur that Chabad Rabbis really don't like.
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portiafimbriata · 6 months
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And Did He Not Weep For The Fallen Egyptians?
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princesssarisa · 2 years
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I just learned that there's an actual commentary on the Torah, by one Rabbeinu Ephraim, arguing that Benjamin, son of Jacob from the Book of Genesis, was a werewolf.
That when the dying Jacob said "Benjamin is a predatory wolf," he wasn't using a metaphor to predict the future actions of Benjamin's descendants as a tribe, he meant it literally. That Rachel didn't just die in childbirth – her werewolf son mauled her to death as soon as he was born. And that the reason why Jacob was so afraid to let Benjamin go with his brothers to Egypt was because he feared that someone would see him turn into a wolf and kill him.
Judaism is really and truly fascinating!
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principaliteas · 7 months
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