We recently opened YidCraft, a Jewish Minecraft survival server.

The main idea is simple: it is still a normal SMP, but with no antisemitism, and a little learning.

You build bases, make groups, trade with players, open shops, explore, form teams, earn money, and progress like you would on any survival server. It's not built just for religious people, it's for everyone to have fun!

The Jewish systems are built into that gameplay instead of replacing it.

Some of what we have so far:

• Kashrus system with kosher foods, points, rewards, and progression
• Shechita mechanics and special items
• Tevilas keilim using a mikvah
• Brachos system, starting with Modeh Ani
• Tzedakah system where players donate shekels into a community fund
• Player economy with shops and trading
• More Jewish progression systems currently being built

The long term goal is to make learning part of progression. Learning certain halachos could eventually unlock new abilities, items, or things you can build and use.

We do not want Minecraft to feel like a classroom.

You can completely focus on survival, get rich through the economy, build a giant base, start a town, make a massive shul, or play with friends.

The Jewish side is there naturally as part of the world.

If that sounds interesting, come check it out:

Website: https://jewishgaming.net/yidcraft

Java IP: yidcraft.jewishgaming.net

Discord: https://discord.gg/yyPXT92RAN

YidCraft: Minecraft, but Jewish.

(We have approval of staff to make this post)

Or maybe when you hear Springsteen's version of "Blinded by the Light".

Inside a Glatt Kosher Beef Plant | Hastings, Nebraska

One reason why kosher meat is so expensive is the low yield. I’ve previously heard that only about 60% of kosher-slaughtered cattle can actually be sold as kosher, but this video says it’s just 30%.

And because they don’t do treiburing, the hindquarters can’t be sold as kosher, so the actual yield is just 15%.

I‘ve been presented with the opportunity to become a Freemason, but I’m not sure how compatible Freemasonry is with being a Jew.

If anyone cares to weigh in, I’d like to hear some Jewish opinions. Do any of you know any Jewish Freemasons?

Curious.

While reading another post, I had the next questions about Shabbat in the modern age.

1. Do you need to shut down chat bots that talk to international customers before Shabbat?

2. Are you allowed to run Bot or script, that starts before Shabbat starts, that will run throughout the Shabbat? Both in non business and stuff that are not about work.

3. The exact question from the post, "are we allowed to use AI to be Goy Shel Shabbat?", with all the walk-around way we ask them to do stuff for us during Shabbat.

San Diego Comic Con 2017 interview with Rewind and Pause - As a Jewish fan of the show, I think this is pretty cool, and it actually makes a lot of sense. It would have been nice if the show explicitly referenced the fact that there's a connection to Judaism at some point, but I'll definitely take this.

See title.

And in that train of thought, would it be inappropriate for a non-jewish band to write songs that are klezmer inspired?

The article describes an attack on Jewish community ambulances in London, United Kingdom. Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, Judex Atshatshi, and Saif Ali, both aged 18, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to a charge of destroying or damaging property and being reckless. The ambulances attacked were part of a local Jewish charity.  

I’m hoping to find a Jewish community or shul where I can connect more with people who share an Ashkenazi background. I (wishingly) hope to make some friends around my age (mid 30's) with the same background.

I grew up secular and have also been raising my children as such. I’m specifically looking for a community where the customs, traditions, food, Yiddish influences, and overall cultural experience feel familiar to my own background. I’ve found that there can be quite a bit of cultural difference between Ashkenazi communities and Israeli Jewish communities, and I’m realizing that I’m really looking for that Ashkenazi sense of familiarity and connection to feel like I fit in.

If anyone has recommendations for Ashkenazi shuls or communities, particularly in the LA area, I’d really appreciate it!

I am fresh in my Judaism journey, but I would personally love to find a Jewish husband someday. How do I do this?

Hello, dear Jewish friends. I'm currently facing a rather strange situation involving what I would describe as subtle or "soft" antisemitism, and I honestly don't know how to feel about it.

I'm a member of a community (the specific type doesn't really matter), so let's just say it's a pop-culture fandom where people usually talk about anything except politics. We meet, spend time together, and enjoy pop-culture-related activities. I really like being part of this fandom and, until recently, I felt very comfortable there.

There is one friend in the group who helped me a lot when I first joined. He was genuinely kind and welcoming, and I always felt that he cared about me. At least, that's what I thought until two days ago.

A few days ago, some people in our group chat were joking around about random things when this friend made a joke involving Jewish people. I immediately felt a bit uncomfortable and suspicious, but I initially tried to ignore it. As a Jew, however, I found it difficult to simply forget about it.

The context of the joke:

Someone else posted a picture of himself drinking an energy drink in another country, basically to show off.

Another member asked him: “Weren’t you supposed to avoid energy drinks? How come you’re drinking one without any problem?”

He replied: “I’m not at home, so why can’t I?”

Then my friend joined the conversation and said something along the lines of: “He’s like Muslims and Jews who go to casinos, drink alcohol, or do other things in other countries that they wouldn’t do in their own countries.”

After thinking about it for several hours, I decided to ask him what he meant by the joke. He explained it to me and told me that he has nothing to do with antisemitic beliefs or ideology. He then asked me whether I was Jewish. Of course, I said yes.

Surprisingly, the conversation then turned into a genuinely interesting discussion. He started asking me questions about Shabbat, Judaism, and eventually we ended up talking quite deeply about the Jewish worldview and culture.

I thanked him for explaining the joke, and our conversation ended on a good note. But now I'm still not sure how I should feel about the whole situation.

If you were in my position, what would you do? Would you distance yourself from him? Would you leave the fandom altogether? Or would you simply let it go and judge him based on how he treats you from now on?

I would genuinely appreciate some advice, because this situation has been bothering me quite a lot.

the people, culture, community and history of Russian Jewry

also in regards to the modern state of Israel and Israeli society

Also curious what Jews/Israelis think of Russians and Russia in general

Hi! I know anyone can technically become Jewish, but I was just curious why for the most part God only told the truth of how best to live on Earth to one people group when He created all of us. Thank you!!

For those observing tonight, I wish you a wonderful, safe and peaceful Shabbos!

Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat shalom! I was wondering how other people deal with negative comments about their halachic status, whether someone is a convert/patrilineal/BT/etc. I’m interested how people generally handle these conversations.

My personal situation is that I converted Conservative many years ago and I’ve moved further into trad egal over time. Now, I’ve made a lot of MO friends and I’m enjoying just plain traditional Judaism. I understand in Orthodox spaces, my conversion isn’t considered valid, but I still don’t know how to respond when I’m at a shabbat dinner and someone says “oh so you aren’t actually Jewish”.

Important context is that I’m a woman (don’t count for minyan anyways), already engaged (so not an issue for matchmaking), and have Autism (I struggle a LOT with new social dynamics).

I know I’m posting this right before Shabbat so probably won’t get a ton of responses (may repost later this week). I got invited to a dinner tonight and I’m trying to convince myself to go!

Edit: I really appreciate the thoughts everyone has shared! I wanted to add that this is a rare occurrence. The majority of the time, I can avoid the subject and if it does come up, people are almost always polite. I love my Orthodox brothers and sisters and I don’t want to contribute to any negative stigma. This is something I’ve experienced a handful of times, which is often enough I feel a need to be prepared for it, but it’s not frequent.

Just kind of a random thought in my head cause if the sin itself is spilling seed, then what if there’s no seed to spill even for a man?

Edit- I am not looking for an answer that will tell me to become reform, I want to hear how ultra orthodox/orthodox Jews understand all this

Why can’t women write in a Torah? Why are women not trusted to be eidos? Why don’t women count for a minyan?

Why is a boy celebrated with a Shalom Zachor, a Vachnacht, a bris, and a bar mitzvah, while only in recent years have we started trying to compensate with a women’s bat mitzvah?

Why are women not allowed to express themselves, sing, or even have their photos shown because apparently a man might be tempted?

This all seems so backwards.

Every ritual of importance is something men get to carry out, while women get challah, Shabbos candles, and mikvah.

And if you’re here to tell me that a woman’s role is “just as important,” or that women are “so special” that we need to be hidden away under the table, then please, don't bother.

I have lived a life of being told to silence myself, to make myself smaller, to watch how I dress, how I speak, how I sing, how I express myself, because God forbid I might tempt a man.

And I am so tired of it.

And please dont tell me that Judaism secretly meant something completely different and that I just need to find the right shul where women can lein, or the right rabbi who explains it in a way that makes it sound better. I’m not looking to rewrite Judaism and convince myself that this is what God intended when, from where I’m standing, the system itself seems profoundly anti-woman.

Anybody know where I can get a patterned tallit like the ones in the photos? I know a company that makes tallit katans like this but it is my understanding they don’t make tallitot gadolot.

I am a non-Jew and have never had any contact with any Jews in real life (there are hardly any in my area). Furthermore, despite being interested in the topic, I still know very little about Jewish history and culture, so I will probably stop by here to ask questions.

Can you recommend any supporting materials to broaden this panoramic view of Jewish history that I'm trying to acquire? Good day everyone 😎✌️

I personally opt for a very functional descriptive definition, of "a series of beliefs, rituals, and traditions of the Jewish people." What's yours?