pelicans exist

the year has ended. the new year begins. to be able to change our actions, we have to change our thoughts.

we return by renewal. each moment is a chance to make the mark, instead of miss it. you can choose to value yourself for your potential instead of denigrate yourself for the past.

In times past, did it matter whether it was the mother or father who was Jewish? Yes, but because of societal reasons.

In this era, is there really any reason to be judgemental over which parent is Jewish when being raised in a Jewish household? (Hint, the answer is no)

2) it’s said outright in Gemara (it’s one of the few things in talmud that is agreed upon)

3) it’s in the Shulchan Aruch

the things that are patrilineally decided for a Jew are whether or not you’re a Kohen or a Levi.

Implied in Devarim isn’t good enough (and I’d like to see the verse in question, tbh; I’ve read the Torah multiple times but I don’t have every verse memorized); frankly, we have outright examples of patrilineal descent - both Joseph and Moses marry goyische women, but their children are considered Jewish (to the point of Joseph’s sons being leaders of their own tribes) 

Again, it’s a policy instituted during rabbinical times, for a variety of reasons, but that doesn’t make it Torah. It makes it torah. Which means that it isn’t an endless institution. 

But in more modern times, men take more interest (in general) in raising their kids. So a ruling based on community needs to take this into consideration also.

So by using the excuse of ‘its Halakha and must therefore be right’ it is ignoring the reality of both Judaism and modern day society. It is gate keeping and diminishes the dignity of Jewish children born to Jewish fathers.

And of course, there’s the classic Bava Metzia 59b story of the Ovens of Akhnai.

That’s an… interesting take on Devarim 7:3-4, as it only works if you completely fucking ignore Devarim 7:1-2, ie the parts immediately before that where it is explicitly established that this section is speaking of seven specific nations, none of whom exist any more.

I admit not being fluent in Hebrew, but I’ve just cross-referenced three different translations, and in every one the line isn’t “you shall not intermarry,” but “You shall not intermarry with them.” (Emphasis added.) And frankly, given that 7:2 talks about how we need to fucking kill them all, there’s some pretty strong tensions against this being generally applicable, if we’re looking only at Torah.

Yes, this was expanded to encompass all nations - but it was an expansion, and it was in Mishneh Torah. One Rabbi’s opinion, even a widely influential and popular one, does not Torah make.

it is a harry potter fanfic from like 2009, 160k words, 50 chapters

basically, adult Harry accidentally goes back in time and wakes up on his 11th birthday again, but with all his memories of the future intact

(the way he travels back makes no sense whatsoever but it doesn’t really matter)

harry decides upon 3 goals:

fuck up as much shit as possible

make a shitload of money

save some lives or whatever

it is

H I L A R I O U S

his go-to explanation for how he knows what’s going to happen?

he has a psychic scar

(hermione is SO PISSED about this)

(neville’s like “either he’s psychic, or he’s the greatest conman alive”)

everyone just sort of assumes harry’s insane and he doesn’t do much to dispute this

harry also decides to make it his mission in life to LOSE the house cup every year

“snape is my sole ally”

he also goes out of his way to befriend neville, ginny, and luna earlier this time, so they’re part of the gang throughout and it’s great

even draco is a friend!

(kind of)

(when harry’s not spreading a rumor that draco’s the lovechild of narcissa and snape, anyway)

harry’s motivation for everything he does in this story is basically, “oh, this will be hilarious”

either that or, “it’s probably a tax deductible”

because the way lockhart is written in this story is also amazing and harry ends up teaming up with him to merchandise The Boy Who Lived so he can have cash to burn

(so he gets a LOT of shit done via bribes)

it gets to the point where harry is able to convince everyone that he’s not the heir of slytherin…. because if he was, he’d have found a way to make money off of it

and everyone’s like “yeah ok that checks out”

in this timeline, neville’s boggart isn’t snape…. it’s harry as the minister of magic

harry also decides to make sure cedric lives by quizzing him constantly on what to do if he ends up in a graveyard

harry: by the way, that reminds me – cedric. graveyard.

cedric, not even really listening: run like hell.

the sheer magnitude to which harry does not give a fuck in this timeline is truly awe-inspiring

he mouths off to everyone, and i mean everyone. lockhart, snape, the dursleys, malfoy, friggin’ voldemort

everyone is like “what… what the fuck, harry”

(though by the end of first year it’s more like “… *deep sigh* … fine.

snape is so angry

it’s fucking hysterical and just about everyone ends up better off

here’s the link

Goy/goyim isn’t a slur

Goy/goyim doesn’t mean cattle. I have literally no idea where that came from, but it doesn’t. It technically means other nation. Its the jewish way of referring to non jews. Its not offensive and saying it is, is a form of deflection from anti-semitism. 

a kids sitcom about a jewish family

a channukkah special that pokes fun at the fact that channukkah is even a big thing at all

a kids sitcom that shows that just because you keep kosher or wear tallit doesnt mean youre not normal

a show that has a jewish family that celebrates their heritage, not pokes fun of it

a jewish character on a show that isnt a joke

a jewish character on a show that wears a kippah or only wears skirts down to the knee and doesnt show their shoulders

a jewish character on a show that isnt made fun of becuase theyre jewish

a jewish character on a show that the center of their character isnt their judaism

anons… I’m (not) sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

1. There are jews who look stereotypically Jewish, there are jews who wear head coverings, you can tell that certain people are Jewish by looking at them- but guess what! That doesn’t matter because the privilege of passing as white (if you do pass as white) only protects you until they realize you are a Jew!

2. Not to be rude, but You Dumb Fuck, being viewed in a bad light is basically all we do!! Jewish people are disrespected and constantly have theories made about them that paint us as evil, controlling, greedy sub-humans who are pulling all the strings and control the world. Many of us are poor and constantly scared for our lives! We are oppressed buddy!

Here are some fun jewish reaction images for your use!

thanks to @jedihighcouncil @maxximoffed and @takinom for proofreading this for me. <3

Earlier today the CW announced that Ruby Rose would be playing Kate Kane/Batwoman. Batwoman is the cousin of Bruce Wayne/Batman and a former military cadet who was kicked out after her superior officer found out she was a lesbian.

Rose, a genderfluid lesbian, being cast should be a good thing. Having LGBT people represent LGBT people on television is key to good representation and authentic storytelling. Too bad Rose isn’t Jewish.

Like

Been there done that

Let’s be more creative

It is okay to not understand something, there are some things I don’t understand or don’t agree with in all movements including my own. People can still be respectful of things they don’t understand though and hopefully we can approach not understanding with curiosity and care instead of blatant dismissal. I’m going to respond to the rest of the message breaking it up into chunks because it is just easier.

“God gives you these commandments”Not all Jews believe in divine authorship of the Torah, some believe it was divinely inspired (I fall into that category), and some believe it is completely human made and inspired but because it is culturally important document it still is sacred. Also, how mitzvot are practiced even in normative Halacha is based on rabbinic opinions, and their are conflicting opinions in our own canonical texts. The Talmud is literally a bunch of different opinions, and Gd doesn’t declare one rabbi the winner at the end.

“and you just pick and choose which ones you want to follow” this isn’t accurate even from a reform perspective. Basically since how we (all Jews and movements) decide to follow the mitzvot is based on rabbinic opinions, the reform movement encourages people to learn about different opinions including more recent opinions, decide what personally rings true, and then base your observance around that. There is no rejection, there is just more individuality and varied opinions on specific things.

“even if you apply scholarly thought into understanding them and rationalizing your reasons”People have been doing this since the Torah has existed. Like when the Torah says to cut off someone’s hand as punishment rabbis were like “yikes, I don’t agree with that. How about we charge them a fine that we can argue is comparable to a hand. Or that losing your hand can be interpreted as losing wages.” Jews have always been a scholarly people and have used logic and rationalizing. Again, see the Talmud.

Just some quick  SUPER basics and rough things on drawing eyes and face and noses. Some suggestions if u wanna draw super quick like under a minute or something !