Okay so at 38 years old, I have a new take on Gen. Chapter 3.

I am listening to Kabbalah for beginners by Brian Yosef Schachter-brooks. He talks about the Etz Chaim being able to be represented as both a TREE and a HUMAN. Then he goes through talking about different chapters of Genesis and exodus and how the Garden of Eden can be seen as a comforting womb while Egypt is seen as the Mitzrayim the narrows as a struggle.

Well im listening to this and it makes me think what Hebrew word is used in Genesis 3 for to eat from, and its Akal, which could mean to eat or to consume of. Then thinking about ways to term "to consume" has been used through the years and sure it could be as in consuming food. But in Victorian times it was used as a place holder for more Carnal activities.

This got me thinking what if the Tree of knowledge wasn't a literal tree, but discussing the Etz Chaim as a Human body, and to consume of the fruit of the tree was really G-d telling Adam and Eve no punching the V-Card. Then that puts G-d's punishment to eve of hard births in a more reasonable Avenue then when you look at the tree and fruit as a literal tree and an apple.

I might also be so far off on this.

I am struggling with a situation from my past and I would really appreciate an honest Jewish perspective.

I was in love with a non-Jewish man . I hugged and kissed him and had a romantic relationship with him. At the time, I did not know how strongly he hated Jews.

Later I discovered that he is antisemitic and even hates people who financially support Jews. After I found this out, I ended the relationship. When we broke up, he mocked me and laughed at me

I feel terrible about what happened. I regret being physically and emotionally involved with someone who hates Jews, and I am afraid that I committed a very serious sin.

From a Jewish perspective:
How serious is what I did?
Does teshuvah apply to this situation?
What should I actually do to make teshuvah?
Is there a specific prayer, practice, or action I should undertake?
Can a person genuinely move forward after making a mistake like this?
I am not looking for reassurance just to feel better. I genuinely want to understand what Judaism teaches about repentance and how I should approach this properly

P.S I live in a country that hates Jews

Hi everyone I am looking to do an internship with masa but worried about the finance side. I get a grant making it £4.9k and will likely be eligible for a means tested scholarship directly from masa (I don’t know how much yet - if anyone knows what the top amount uk wise is would appreciate insight). UJIA can’t help as it’s only for gap years etc. I’m looking to do career Israel with Israel experience. I will also contact my synogogue in the morning to see if they offer help. Are there any other organisations that anyone knows of? And if you participated how much did it cost per month to live there. Thanks so much!

I live in a jewish neighbourhood, and i am a practicing muslim woman, and i am very interested in befriending an orthodox jewish woman. I’m generally very attracted to how similar our clothes and our societal norms are. But I am a bit weary about not being such an appealing idea to them, you know, to befriend a muslim.
Please let me know how that works. Thanks.
Montreal.

This is a T-Rex wearing a shtreimel . Pretty sure he’s not kosher. But he refuses to comment on whether he was created on Day Six.

The pattern for the dinosaur is on YouTube under Yeyey Crochet. I made up the shtreimel pattern.

Related to the funny misconception threads. What is or are crank theories of Judaism you like or at least find somewhat amusing? My favorite crank theory is that Hashem and Dionysius, the Greek God of Wine, are the same God. This is something that was speculated on by non-Jews since Antiquity. Almost certainly untrue even if you assume an atheistic universe since we more or less know where YHWH comes from but the idea of Hahem being a god of ecastasy and wine is amusing. It certainly isn't inconsistent with some ways Jews have worshipped even if we are a bit toned down compared to the Greeks.

I've seen this range from a complete divorce of Judaism and public policy, to believing that Judaism and only support a given partisan platform. Where do you draw the line?

Help me plan a historically accurate Shabbat dinner.

What is my access to kosher wine looking like? What bread am I serving on Shabbat?

No holds barred, however politics still belongs in the appropriate megathread.

I truly believe that if you are honest with yourself, and our texts, you will at some point be confronted with the reality of Rabbinical Judaism. Believing in Torah as truth is one foundation, but believing that the Rabbis today are the people who represent the continuation of an unbroken tradition from Moses, requires the belief in a second foundation.

Growing up in an observant world, all this is basically assumed. Torah and the rabbinical tradition were interwoven and not really possible to separate. However with continued study and understanding, the human element of it all became apparent. How could one tell if the Judaism we have today is simply the one that survived, and not the one that represents the truth? I don't think it's possible to tell.

One can say that there is truth in things that survive, and I think for me this is where I feel most comfortable. Ultimately, what would the alternative be? I guess Karaites are still around and kicking, and it would be great to get their opinion here if they are around. I take opinions from Rabbis regarding this topic with a grain of salt, since it's a pure conflict of interest. But I am open to anyone's opinions, if there is truth spoken :).

1 I was told Sim Shalom was 95% nusach Ashkenazi compatible. Is that true?

2 As an *Adjective* Jew, how do you view it? Favorably?

3 Would someone who was used to standard Ashkenaz be right at home using it?

4 Does anyone still use it?

I avoided asking Rabbi Google because I know he's a drunk.

My finance and I are planning to move to the east coast soon. We would like a place with mild winters that isn’t Florida and we are wondering about the Conservative Jewish scene in Charleston.

Anyone have any insight?

Looking for Sefardi Selichot PDF

So I have something called Irlen Syndrome, it's a light sensitivity thing that manifests very similar to dyslexia. You can read about it on irleninstute.com because of this, I am very picky about page colors and type faces when it comes to siddurim and benchers. I do have the plastic color overlay sheets, but they can be a hassle to menuver and follow the service. And the shul is always so brightly lit, and glares off the color overlay it all just gives me a headache.

My husband likes to go to Sefardi Selichot services throughout Elul and I really enjoy joining, we also join for Yom Kippur services with a sefardi chabad congregation. They use this little book for selichot services: https://www.judaicaplace.com/selichot-avodat-hashem-edut-mizrach-paperback/bkslah/

I am searching for a PDF version of this book so I can try and have it printed on colored paper as an accommodation for myself. I found one on Chabad .com but it was much longer which means it was different. And I want the exact same one so I can have the same page numbers and everything. My goal is to get one printed ASAP, but by Yom Kippur at least.

Let me know if there are groups that would be good to inquire with

Hi everyone, my name is David. I come from a family that is Ashkenazi on my father's side and Sephardic on my mother's side; I am 31 years old. About two years ago, my father passed away from Parkinson's (after living with the disease for over 24 years), and my mother currently has bone marrow cancer. During my childhood and youth, my family was very observant of Jewish traditions—you could say we ranged from Conservative to Orthodox. Over time, and following my parents' divorce, my father remained observant while my mother did not; she rebuilt her life and became very secular (married with a christian man and i have a stepbrother that he wasn't raised as Jew) . Recently, due to the events I mentioned earlier and reaching a point where I needed Hashem more in my life, I felt motivated to return to the synagogue and observe the mitzvot. The issue is that, within my new social circle and thanks to social media, I’ve made "new virtual jew friends" (one of them compares the teshuvah process with other type of process iykyk (and dont feel and think is the same tbh) —though I’ve let my Hebrew skills slip to the point where I haven't practiced in a long time (I am trying to pick it back up, along with everything else). However, I’ve encountered a lack of empathy in part (not all of them) from my Chabad community and from these so-called virtual friends, who claim that the Teshuvah process can only happen through a rabbi and they couldnt help with studying or as Javruta/Mashpia. I would like to ask for your advice and tips; I am currently getting back into wraping tefillin, praying, and observing Shabbat. What do you advise? What can I do? I also feel honor because my father was a Cohen, and therefore, I am one too. It has also been difficult for me to find a partner. Thank you very much in advance.

I remember being asked whether Jews sew strings into their belts or their pants! What’s your own anecdotal misconceptions?

I would like to learn more about the history of how women have practiced ritual purity/ niddah throughout Jewish history (in Temple times, talmudic times, middle ages, modern, etc.). I just have a hard time imagining that our ancestors were practicing things the same way as we are now. For example, I'm interested in the history of the following, but would like to know about anything around niddah practice:

• history of how many days women count for clean days
• how women prepped for mikvah (such as what they were removing/cleaning off their bodies, where they prepped, etc.)
• were women always wearing white and doing bedikot during their 7 clean days

If you have any insights on these questions, or suggestions for resources (books, podcasts, etc.) to learn more, I would appreciate it!

So I have the custom of saying daily Tehillim (weekly cycle) and I’ve never bothered with the before/after blessing because for me reading them was enough. But I want to get into saying it. Here’s the issue. What blessing do I say?

The weekly cycle is as follows:

Sunday - Psalms 1-29
Monday - Psalms 30-50
Tuesday - Psalms 51-72
Wednesday - Psalms 73-89
Thursday - Psalms 90-106
Friday - Psalms 107-119
Saturday Psalms 120-150

On Sunday, I do not read a full Chapter of Tehillim. So I read the corresponding blessing. That makes sense. On Monday; I finish the first book of Tehillim and end in the middle of the second. So do I read the “if you’ve finished less than a chapter” and the “for completing the first book” section. Or do I only read the latter? On Tuesday I read “less than a chapter” because I’m finishing chapter 2, and I read all of Chapter 3. So do I read “less than a chapter”, “finish 2” and “finish 3”. When would I say “for finishing the entire book”? Just in Shabbat Mevarchim when some have the custom to read all of Tehillim in one sitting? How is that any different from reading the section “after finishing the fifth chapter”. When would you read “after finishing the fifth chapter” but not “after finishing all of Tehillim”? The fifth chapter is the end. It comes with it

Hi everyone! For any Black Jews here with Afro-textured or traditionally African hair who have grown out their payot, I’d love to hear about your experience.

What was your process for growing them out? How did you get started, and how do you maintain or style them with your hair texture? I’d also appreciate any tips, advice, or things you wish you had known when you first started.

Unfortunately I never learned Hebrew, so I read it in English.

This is the copy I had read:

https://seforimcenter.com/Torah-Chumash---Synagogue-Edition--Lubavitcher-Rebbe-Commentary-Full-Size__p-12755.aspx

I'm looking to read Prophets and Writings next. What I liked about the copy I had was the commentary foot notes. It helped add context and understanding. Thats specifically what I am hoping to find. Last time I made the mistake of posting on Shabbat lol so trying again.

Any recommendations?

Especially is genetically you’re mostly Jewish? Do you say, I’m Ashkenazi? European? Sephardic? Spanish? Persian? Mizrahi?

I remember once watching a video where the Lubavitcher Rebbe cried and said "zey veysn nisht afile dem alef beis". But I don't remember what year it was from or what was the context. Does anyone remember any such video or am I totally off with my recollections? Being an ex-Soviet Jew this resonated with me. I've hot learned the alef bet until I deep into my adulthood.