When writing a Falsettos fic im scared to put in Jewish terms in the writing because Im not jewish and I dont know if im using them correctly and I dont know if its right or if its a stereotype. How can I find out if what im writing is actually true and accurate?
Hi! Thank you so much for this ask and for being conscious of this! I know it can be daunting to write about a culture that isn’t yours, but if you do your research, and are aware of harmful stereotypes, you’ll probably be okay!
To aid in this, here are some references you can use when writing Jewish characters and Jewish stories:
Writing Jewish Characters:
How to write Jewish characters (and how not to write them)
Writing POC 101- Jewish Characters
A History of Jewish Stereotypes
22 common Jewish terms and their definitions
40 common Jewish terms and their definitions
10 common Jewish terms and their definitions
Kashrut: Jewish Dietary Laws
Basic explanations of Jewish holidays and celebrations
More in-depth explanations of Jewish holidays
Jewish Holiday Cheat Sheet
I am sure there is more I should add, but that’s all I can think of for now! chabad.org and Judaism 101 are both really great websites to answer any other questions you have!
My biggest suggestion for you, though, is to run your works by someone who is Jewish themselves! We really want to see ourselves represented and represented well, so I’m sure you can find someone who would be willing to help!
Remember, Jews are human beings and we are all different! There is no one correct way to write a Jewish character or Jewish story, and you shouldn’t write them all the same way. Just be respectful and be aware and, when in doubt, just ask!
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