Welcome!

I was wondering if anyone knew of classes in Toronto to study talmud. Not necessarily in a full religious way, but more of a 'how does this apply to today' kind of thing.

Virtual is fine, but I'd rather in person.

I posted it on r/Israel and they removed it saying "no shit posts or news clippings"

Every now and then I've heard the claim within the orthodox community that "Judaism is the only religion that [insert attribute or behavior]". It's a template that tends to be used as an argument for Judaism's various superiorities over other religions, cultures, and belief systems. Having secularized, reflected deeply over a long time, and learned more about the world outside of the orthodox bubble, I have come to be aware that such claims I've heard in the past in this regard are explicitly incorrect in different ways. Has anyone else encountered this type of statement? If so, what was it? Based on general knowledge of world cultures, are there aspects of Judaism which seem to be genuinely unique?

This rhetoric is one among other inversions of Plato's cave. Authority figures in family and community making claims about Judaism's capacity for intellectual expansion, despite the referenced functions being extremely epistemically constraining.

I was recently gifted a pair of tzitzit tied with murex tekhelet from the Ptil Tekhelet organization, but have seen some conflicting arguments on its legitimacy so I am not sure if I should wear them.

I’ve done my own research and spoken to a rabbi, but some seem to be presenting conflicting information on the Murex being the true chilazon.

I am curious to hear from people in this subreddit who believe it is the true chilazon and those who believe it is not.

Ive been fascinated with Judaism for a long time now and I don't really know where to start. I plan on following the 7 laws of Noah and (hopefully If I do everything right) becoming a "Righteous Gentile". I'm wondering if there is anything else I should know.

I also have a few questions (there probably pretty stupid, my apologies)

If it chet to wear a kippah as a Righteous Gentiles?

What are the best ways to memorize prayers?

What prayers should I learn first?

Please tell me anything else I should know, thank you (:

I’m looking for comedy movies or TV shows that actually do a good job representing Jewish culture, not just the usual stereotypes, but something that feels real and well-written. Bonus points if it explores Jewish identity, history, or just the day-to-day experience in a fun way.

For context, I’ve really enjoyed The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Broad City, and while they’re not all about being Jewish, I love how they weave it in naturally. I also like movies like Clueless and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, not necessarily Jewish-focused, but with great Jewish characters.

Any recommendations? Classics, hidden gems, anything you think is worth watching!

Hi, I'm not Jewish and work in lube analysis. Occasionally I'll come across a Product Data Sheet for a food safe grease that has a Kosher certification on it. Obviously this makes sense, since Lard used to be a common machinery lube.

My question is what is the certification process like? Is it just sending the certifying body a list of the oils, thickeners, and additives used to create the grease, or does someone like a rabbi need to come out and inspect the factory producing the lube?

Also, does this apply to non food safe lube at a food processing plant, would H2 and H3 lubes that are not used in areas that might contact the food also need to be certified as Kosher?

See I just put on tefilin and I think I forgot to say the bracha on the hand and arm. I said it on Tzizit though and I think I also forgot to say Birkat Hashahar

What's the source and reasoning?

I am currently reading an ebook version of Pirke Avot by William Berkson which I'm really enjoying.

However, I want to get a nice paperback/hardcover version with English translation to have at home. What version do you recommend and why?

When the Agunah Problem is discussed, the two alternatives usually proposed are the Lieberman Clause (favored by Conservative Jews) and the Halakhic Pre-Nup (favored by some Orthodox Jews). Here is a clause from a Geonic-period ketubah found in the Cairo Genizah:

https://preview.redd.it/rf22bejzd1he1.png?width=1426&format=png&auto=webp&s=ab066cd1b7ddf16eea758884d6d68eb6d5446d7f

According to Stack Exchange, the translation on that is:

...And if this Maliha [the bride] hates this Sa`id, her husband, and desires to leave his home, she shall lose her ketubbah money, and she shall not take anything except that which she brought in from the house of her father alone; and she shall go out by the authorization of the court and with the consent of our masters, the sages...”

This follows the halacha of both the Geonim and the Rambam, although what I find interesting is that it was included in the ketubah like the Lieberman Clause was. Does this create precedent? Is this a mistranslation? Discuss.

It’s a bit of a dilemma situation, but while I have my own small community in Germany with absolutely no available men around my age and a lot of contact to German, culturally Christian, men it’s hard for me not to engage with them and/or be attracted to them. I then condemn myself for it because I know I’d be better off with a Jewish man, but this double identity thing makes it somewhat tricky. My parents also have certain expectations, although they’re relatively open, I’d say, but it’s definitely vital to them I stay attached to the Jewish community. Recently, though, I’ve developed feelings for a non-Jewish guy and I know he’s wanted to be with me for a long time. Last weekend we kissed for the first time and I know I want to do it again and keep getting to know him. Still, I have this strange feeling of betraying my family, Jewish life in general, and like it’s some kind of Stockholm syndrome, but at the same time, I am German as well, so what’s the big deal. Shlamazel.

I’ll keep it short, I’m an openly Jewish man with a kippah and tzitzit who has to constantly deal with dirty looks, aggressive body language (if you know you know, not here to debate it), general disdain and even slurs on a regular basis from the public. I’m already in therapy and it’s not helping, so please don’t suggest the obvious. Therapy can’t help resolve a regular occurrence of being called slurs while walking to Shul on Shabbat or people being physically and verbally aggressive for 0 reason than me being a Jew.

I don’t really know what to do anymore. I pretty much have given up on public appearances outside of going to Shul for davening and my job. I hope this post doesn’t come off as me whining, I’m just genuinely anxious and on edge 24/7. I’ve learned to ignore news and delete all social media, but everyday pattern recognition gets the better of me. I’m sorry to say it but when I see visibly Muslim or middle eastern men, black men, or Hispanic men I immediately perk on edge and get extremely fearful. I know it’s just pattern recognition and most people of that background aren’t bad people, but when time and again stuff happens and it’s those same people, I constantly am anxious.

I’m talking I’ve been physically assaulted, had slurs said against me and had my life threatened on more than 2 occasions (so multiple) by members of all of those backgrounds and I’m not here trying to justify racism against other groups of people, I just am airing my stream of consciousness.

I hate going in public and don’t know how to deal with the world’s hatred of us. I’m not even Israeli but being a Jew is enough apparently.

As of today I now live in a house in a historically Jewish neighborhood. I saw this on the front of the house. My landlord isn’t Jewish to my knowledge but ir stands to reason that this house was built by Jews. Do I need to put up my own mezuzah?

I was wondering if anyone knew of a public tree planting, ideally in upper Manhattan, on tu bishvat this year?

are there any seminaries/Jewish learning programs for young women for the summer(that are reputable)? post college, inexpensive, and for someone already religious

Hi all I recently had an experience where I was at a restaurant with some friends. We sat down next to a table with a girl with what looked like her Mom, brother and brother's girlfriend/wife. I thought she looked beautiful but considering this is a more religious community (her mom had a shatel) I wasn't sure if this was acceptable.

I know that there are certain restrictions on shaving, especially within more conservative/orthodox circles, but what about waxing? For example, if someone has frequent hemorrhoids when their hair grows out too long, is it permissible to get that area and just that area waxed?

And not considering everything outside the beit midrash as worthless.

Maybe the Lubavitcher Rebbe as I know he studied under Schrödinger, but Rav Kook was Maimonidean re the approach to science as far as I understand, although I am very far from an expert or even learned.

Hey ya'll! For most of my adult life, I have not been a dues paying member of a Synagogue. Being a college grad during the housing market collapse, money was always tight. My wife and I are finally at a point where we can afford to become Synagogue members. But I have to ask, what is everyone's opinion on membership dues? Do you think there's a better way for a Synagogue to raise money? Also, how many of you have had a similar situation where you felt priced out of a congregation?

A Jewish Playwriting fellowship that I'm a part of is looking for stories for our Passover show. The flyer is below, but if you have any story you're dying to tell, please submit it! We'd love to consider it for the performance. And if you have any questions about if your story fits the theme, it does.

https://preview.redd.it/qffbbe698zge1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=3e177332ecd2c38aee74e6c9d1c5b44986651fb0

I do not understand how wrestling with God is doing anything but trying to put yourself above God.

I appreciate these responses, I believe my interpretation of "Wrestling" and "Prevailing" were too literal and focused on the idea of defeating "God" rather than ones lower self.

I do believe however, there is another mindset that has evolved from misunderstanding this, and that is one of attempting to dominate God (through seeing God made in our image instead of vice versa - aka 'magic sky wizard' people), which is likely the one that is the conspiratorial, 'antisemitic' one, that my ideas are founded in

I’m in a small town and want to start going to services again. I am patrilineal and I was raised interfaith so both Jewish and other religions. I’ve only ever been to reform temples. I know this doesn’t match up with what’s need to be considered a Jew in conservative temples but I want to go even if it’s as a non-Jew. The temple itself says anyone interested in Jewish faith welcome. The synagogue here is labeled as conservative but with some reform traditions. It also is so small it currently doesn’t have a rabbi. I’m pretty nervous about going especially since they are the only synagogue where I am so I don’t want to leave a bad impression. Anything that I might not understand about a conservative synagogue that I should know.