English is not my first language. Im israeli and I was taught that menorah is from the temple and with 7 lights. And that what we light in Hanukkah is hanukkia with 9 lights (8 plus shamash). Yet everywhere in english I do not see this differentiating, why is that?

Hiiii. I'm not Jewish first amd foremost. But I am interested in seeing how the services are. I live in Japan though in the Kansai region and have no idea how to go about finding a Synagogue or Chabad.

Does anyone live in Japan or have been there particularly the Kansai region? Have you been to the Chabad centers there? And how did you go about going there? Do I just go or should I call first or send an email?

Especially for girls. My whole life I’ve been made to feel so ugly and “man-like” for having a big nose, tan skin, frizzy curly hair, small downturned eyes, and a crap ton of thick dark hair everywhere.

Why are these traits in girls like myself considered ugly? Probably because they’re common among Jewish people (like myself). The worst is mean comments from my own family, it’s probably them subconsciously wanting me to appear less visibly Jewish.

I saw something about how stereotypical witches have the features of Jewish women, especially the noses. I still hate myself and think I’m ugly, but I’m trying to learn to love the traits that came from my ancestors and I like seeing my own family in my face. We are not ugly and I love being Jewish. Anyways thanks for coming to my rant.

Politics and the war are inextricably linked for me. I have family on the frontlines and in many live in Tel Aviv. I like in a blue USA state. I go to yoga to escape, meditate and practice asanas. It’s 90 mins 3/4 times per week I don’t have to think. Of course, politics came up and I was once again the 0.2% minority in the room that was not on the same opinion. I felt isolated and mad that the my time was taken from me. Similar experiences? (not looking for political candidate discourse)

Ok I just want to start this off by saying this is not a joke. I play Clash of Clans all the time, and I constantly get kicked out of clans for not being able to attack in war on Shabbat. I know some of you guys play it. If anyone would be willing to join a new clan that doesn’t war on Shabbat, join Kugel Krew (#2RYQGV0J2).

Thank you lol.

My husband (not Jewish) has always known, since dating, that I would not be ok with a Christmas tree in my house. We’ve lived together for eleven years and never had one.

I’m not the most religious person, don’t keep kosher, and I’m not shomer Shabbat. But I’ve always drawn a line at a Christmas tree. To me, it’s a religious symbol and I’ve never had it in my home and have always known I didn’t want it in my home.

Today out of nowhere, he starts pushing the issue and when I gave him a firm no, he got very upset at me.

He begged me to do it for our daughter, but I want to be able to give my daughter Jewishness.

I know I’ve made a bed that I’m now laying in, and I’m not asking for advice. I just need help articulating why it’s so meaningful to me and that it’s not just me being silly and “picking and choosing.” Or maybe I am?

So, please: what would it mean to you, to have a Christmas tree in your home (assuming you don’t have or want one)?

https://www.change.org/p/hold-amazon-accountable-speak-out-for-sasha-troufanov-and-condemn-terrorism

We recently got engaged and are hoping to get married early next year. We have only been in Miami beach for a few months, so I'm unfamiliar with popular koshers wedding venues, wedding vendors etc.

Please share with me any advice or recommendations for planning a small (120 people) kosher wedding in around Miami/Boca/Sunny Isles, etc FL.

Thank you!

I've been curious about this for a while, and I was just wondering if you guys support or can be a part of the lgbtq+ community

We all know the antisemitism state in world right now, and while i wouldnt say im particularly bad at showing facts to try to educate people, im also not the best.

Firstly, its important to know how to pick your "subject", most of these people wont change their opinions no matter what but some of them seem to show critical thinking in their claims insead if just parroting everything and those are the people that i belive are worth spend my time on tryi g to change their ways, this part i belive i have down.

Now as for the actual argueing, so far ive only been able to convince one or two people that they have been wrong in their claims. though i have a fair bit of knowlege, i am lacking in sources to back them up, what are counts as "trusted" sources that i could link to as well and specific articles on the subject of hostages, whom does israel belong to, etc.

One point in particular id lilke to be able to defend better is the previously mentioned "give palestinians their land back", i know the land was ours and then the romans invaded who later turned to christianity and then to islam and became palestine but i dont know how to present that, neither do i know any more details about it, and i have no sources for my claims.

Maybe having "training arguments" with the community would be good too? Thanks for any help :)

Hi everyone! *ೃ༄

I’m not sure if this is strange to post but my friend and I recently had the idea of joining “r / penpals” (just for fun and out of boredom) and I was also thinking it would be a good idea to ask people in the subreddits I’m apart of since clearly we share mutual interests (in this case Judaism)

So I figured I would put myself out there and ask! I’m 23F living in the USA and would love to have a penpal around my age M or F doesn’t matter.

We can discuss Jewish topics, Torah, current events, or topics completely unrelated to religion! I’m open to snail mail or email 📧 ੈ✩‧₊˚

Message me if interested! :)

Mods, feel free to remove this post if it violates anything, I’m not a big redditor and don’t know what the rules are

I'm disheartened here as one of my all-time favorite bands is donating all proceeds of a new album to a charity that provides funds for children in Gaza.

Is this something to boycott? The artist hasn't said anything about being pro-Hamas, and I do feel bad for the kids, but their parents support these terrorists, and those are, unfortunately, the consequences.

Hey everyone. My wife is a designer and is creating Chanukkah-themed patters and pictures, but is not sure what items to apply them to for production. For example, table cloths, pajamas for children, plates or cups, signs(like that goofy live laugh love one), aprons, or something else. What would you buy?

I posted here a few days ago. You guys all gave me so much to think about. Since the break up a week ago, I’ve found myself continuing to learn Judiasm without the pressure to do it. I have been reading the book “How to Raise a Traditional Jewish Household,” and I really do love the idea and spirit of Shabbat. If I’m being honest, as someone who wasn’t raised observant, I am scared of committing to it now and then in my 40s not feeling like continuing to do it or something. It’s hard to really know, as life is always changing. I think a Jewish home is beautiful, and I love the aspect of community. I also spent the past almost 6 years celebrating it with someone, and want to separate to make sure me wanting to practice isn’t only tied to him. I do really like structure, and know the family-oriented aspects of it speak to me more than anything. How do you know that it’s the right choice, and that it’s something you will commit to forever?

Sorry if it’s only a certain sect of Jews, I don’t know much about Judaism

So I live in Canada and I was renewing my US passport a couple months ago and as 2 very clearly Jewish people walked by, 2 women my mom was talking to earlier whispered something to each other while looking at them. I don’t really know any Jewish people so I was wondering if any of you could tell me how often people do stuff like that, and if you’re used to it.

My wife has a person at work who has tried to destroy her career for antisemitic reasons. I don't want to get into any details, but it's been ugly and has taken a very serious toll on her mental health.

Because they work different days, they have not seen each other in the flesh for months. Tomorrow, my wife will have no choice but to see this woman, and it's stressing her out. She doesn't know how to act or what to say.

What does Judaism teach about these kinds of situations? Must she make peace, or smile, or even say hello? Is lying by asking how she is (my wife doesn't care how she is) worse than the hostility implied by the silent treatment? What do the sages advise??

This is a little tongue in cheek but also I think some advice would help put her mind at ease.

Hi all,

New account to be discreat

I need some perspective on a family dynamic I’m navigating while planning our wedding. My fiancé and I have been engaged for six months, and while I’ve generally had a positive relationship with his parents, there have been some challenges.

When we first started planning, his parents strongly pushed for a specific date and venue. While those options weren’t ideal for me or my family, we decided to accommodate their preferences to keep the peace. Now, however, they’ve changed their minds, saying the date and venue no longer work because some of their friends won’t be able to attend. They want us to start over and change everything. The budget is also a very big dealbreaker, I am my parents' only daughter and they want to gift me a nice wedding but my fiances parents have a limited budget. His parents said that we need to align to theirs even though my parents nicely told them it was not a problem and they could fill the budget when we needed more money but they said its to make them look poor.

I’ve shared my feelings with my fiancé, and he’s supportive, but I’m not sure what he tells them when I am not here. I’m also feeling a lot of stress about seeing them this Saturday for lunch. I know its not the best situation but I've avoided them and didn't go to their house these past few weeks. I’m not sure how to approach the conversation or whether I should bring up how all these changes are impacting me. Any advice?

I’d appreciate any advice on how to handle this constructively. Thank you!

TL;DR: My step parents are a nightmare in our wedding planning, it almost seems like they don't want us to get married.

*I meant to write South America, not South Africa

This is something that is very, very rarely spoken about, even in pro-Israel spaces, but Arab countries happily provided wanted Nazis asylum and protection, as well as used their "services".

Several examples:

• Alois Brunner

Brunner was responsible for sending over 100,000 European Jews from Austria, Greece, France and Slovakia to ghettos and concentration camps in eastern Europe. At the start of the war, he oversaw the deportation of 47,000 Austrian Jews to camps. In Greece, 43,000 Jews were deported in two months while he was stationed in Thessaloniki. He then became commander of the Drancy internment camp outside Paris from June 1943 to August 1944, during which nearly 24,000 men, women and children were sent to the gas chambers. His last assignment involved the destruction of the Jewish community of Slovakia.

Brunner served as government advisor to the Syrian government for several decades, reportedly dying in Damascus either in 2001 or 2010.

• Aribert Heim

Aribert Ferdinand Heim, also known as Dr. Death and Butcher of Mauthausen, was an Austrian Schutzstaffel (SS) doctor. During World War II, he served at the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp in Mauthausen, killing and torturing inmates using various methods, such as the direct injection of toxic compounds into the hearts of his victims.

After the war, Heim lived in Cairo, Egypt, under the alias of Tarek Farid Hussein after his conversion to Islam.

He died in Cairo in 1992.

• Franz Stangl

Stangl was the commander of Sobibor and Treblinka.

On 30 May 1948, he escaped to Italy with his colleague from Sobibor, SS sergeant Gustav Wagner. Austrian Roman Catholic Bishop Alois Hudal, a Nazi sympathizer, forced to resign by the Vatican in 1952, helped Stangl to escape through a "ratline", and he reached Syria using a Red Cross passport

He left Syria after 3 years and moved to Brazil. Guess he didn't like the weather.

• Ernst Remer

Dude was a high ranking Wehrmacht officer, devout Nazi and Holocaust denier.

After an arrest warrant was issued against him on these charges, he went into hiding at a chalet belonging to Countess Faber-Castell, an early supporter of the Socialist Reich Party, before subsequently fleeing to Egypt.[4] There, he served as an advisor to Gamal Abdel Nasser, and worked with other expatriate Germans assisting Arab states with the development of their armed forces.[1] He was a frequent acquaintance of Johann von Leers.[4] In 1956, Remer was reported to be in Damascus, engaging in the arms trade; the Algerian National Liberation Front was one of his customers.

• Johann von Leers

He was one of the most important ideologues of the Third Reich, serving as a high-ranking propaganda ministry official. He later served in the Egyptian Information Department, as well as an advisor to Gamal Abdel Nasser.[2] He published for Goebbels, in Peron's Argentina, and for Nasser's Egypt. He converted to Islam, and changed his name to Omar Amin.

• Artur Schmitt

He served as a Wehrmacht general during WW2.

After the victory of Israeli forces in the war of 1948, the Arab League recruited Schmitt to train a pan-Arab army. While living in Cairo, he used the pseudonym/codename "Mr. Goldstein". Schmitt became disaffected with what he saw as machinations against him by some Egyptian generals, which he denounced in 1950, resigned and returned to Germany.

This is a partial list. Egypt also mire famously hired Nazi scientists to build it's missile program, and of course there were Arab Nazis like Amin al-Husseini that obviously lived openly in the Arab world.

Point is? Don't let people fool you about how Jews were "welcome" in those countries where Nazis walked free with government approval, or about how it was just "anti-Zionism". The Assad regime is still in power in Syria, and some of these died not so long ago.

I see so many fellow Jews talking about how Asia is far more peaceful/neutral towards Jews than western counterparts. But why does it still maintain a very minor population in east, central, and south/south east Asia? (Besides Russia)

Hello, anyone have any current insights on being a tourist in Portugal right now? Has been on a wish list for awhile and would like to go in next 6 months. Though I get the sense things are reasonably ok wanted to check regarding extreme antisemitism or anti-Israel sentiment.

Fwiw, our family (2 adults, 2 teens) is American (Ashkenazi origins) and we are each typically likely to be mistaken for Hispanic, Indian or “something else”…thanks and I hate that I have to ask…

https://preview.redd.it/ew6qd1m0xo4e1.png?width=1286&format=png&auto=webp&s=c84cb436b08af31f3451d28efbdf3a0f32b7661d

Hey everyone - on Tuesday, December 10th, I'll be hosting an AMA right here on r/ Jewish from 10AM to 3PM EST! I can't wait to see you all there! Feel free to share the cover (below) and promotional image (above)!

Synopsis -->

"A Modern Fantasy Where Ancient Hebrew Mysticism Comes Alive On The Streets Of New York

College student and certified nerd Arthur Rose has issues: he's estranged from his Jewish faith, needs a recommendation for grad school, and getting back with his ex, Lynn, is going to take more than an apology and chocolate. He's trying to balance it all when he starts seeing shapes in the dark. Soon after, a mysterious young woman approaches him, claiming she killed his father and is searching for a stone blessed by God Himself.

What follows is a tale ripped from Arthur's wildest fantasies: to protect the world from evil, he must join a secret order of Jewish demon-hunters that has spanned millennia. He'll need to master Hebrew magic, uncover the secrets of his past, and embrace his heritage. In doing so, he won't just reclaim his faith but become...

SANHEDRIN."

Links -->

You can purchase the work here on Amazon (or wherever books are sold) --> https://www.amazon.com/Sanhedrin-Chronicles-1-J-S-Gold/dp/1961511886

I did an AMA on r/ Fantasy last week, which you can check out here --> https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/1h0drt9/hey_r_fantasy_this_is_js_gold_author_of_the/

An early review of the work can be found here --> https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/1gvp2j4/arc_review_the_sanhedrin_chronicles_by_js_gold_a/

See everyone in one week!

https://preview.redd.it/xwakxy93xo4e1.jpg?width=1800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b9fad292839d85cd244475500cd3a2d1979c158

https://preview.redd.it/cdryv5sc7p4e1.png?width=334&format=png&auto=webp&s=5251656109bce3bf64b08d8876e67e70c77c45b8

https://youtube.com/shorts/Fl0zYFYh9pw?si=k5UBMu4qDjFZm-In

So within 7 minutes of me getting out of bed, I hear noises at the door and key in lock (narrowed it down to down stairs Jaqueline). And she didn’t say anything except sorry to wake me (I was up but whatevs) and my knocker was gone? Worked when I moved in.

I didn’t say anything. I joke, but when they forcibly Christmas my damn door, too much. So how can I ask a lady who believes all ill peeps do is cuz demons! Demons all around you! Bad actions aren’t your fault! It’s the demons got inside you. And no Halloween deco?! I rock the pumpkin. Nope. And gave weird reasons for. I explained the history w Samhain and everything and harvest festival. Took 10+ minutes. She didn’t believe any of what I said was true. Given all this, should I just come out and tell her my ethnicity? We’re kinda getting some (more) heat with politics, etc…

Ask her if she has a blue one. (Compromise). Or get my own white and blue deco? Stay silent?

How does one come out as a Jew? (Especially atm world politics since Most folks don’t fact check, just whatever they read. Or should I avoid it?

We’re not known for hiding, except That time, and that other time…. But Spanish Inquisition, we hid our candlesticks in the wall, etc. Would I be strong enough to do so? I’ve enough trouble w regular folks. I don’t want to be a jerk or ungrateful, but…it’s really eating at me. FAR more than something of this order usually would.

I’ve really gotten into podcasts recently and want to know what podcasts with Jewish content you like the best, that I need to add to my library. TIA!