#@raevenlywrites

The unrivalled @raevenlywrites asked me a very interesting question, so now they get to suffer through any and all notes this generates along with me, by being tagged in this.

The question boiled down to “is shapeshifting allowed on Shabbat,” and I feel like there are a lot of interesting considerations to think about in answering this question. Obviously, this depends on factors which will vary widely depending on how shapeshifting works in a given magic system, but here are my initial thoughts of potential arguments:

One could say that by shapeshifting, you are converting something (yourself) from one form to another, in a manner reminiscent of a melacha, and therefore it shouldn’t be allowed.

On the other hand, you are shifting into your own (other) form, and you had that form already, and the shift is by definition not permanent, therefore it should be no problem.

(Corollory to the above: if the shift is permanent, it is definitely forbidden)

Similarly, if you had that form already, it’s not boneh (and if you can change back, it’s not soter), but if this is your first time ever shapeshifting into it, then there is a strong argument that that first shift is makeh bapatish

Other considerations depending on how “separate” from you your animal form is: are you essentially subordinating a separate animal to take its form? then you’re going against the directive to let your animals rest!

Likewise, if you’re essentially “capturing” a separate animal to take its form, then even if you’re not doing any melacha with its body, you are arguably doing tzad (hunting), so, not allowed

And connected to the above, even if your animal form is absolutely you just in a different shape, if it’s a predator animal, then possibly it’s not allowed because of the risk that you might give in to your instinct to hunt.

And likewise, if your animal form is an animal prone to running fast / across long distances, it may not be allowed due to the risk that you might accidentally travel outside the t’chum

Pack animal? maybe not allowed due to the risk that you might accidentally carry from reshut to reshut outside the eruv

Thank you for the question, Raeven! (also, note: it was still Chanukah when this question was sent in, I just saved it up for now because I like answering questions on Tuesdays)

So I was GOING to be like “I don’t know anything about menorahs resembling trees???” but then I remembered that MY OWN Chanukiyah which I have been lighting for the past 15 years has a distinctly stylized-tree design so I must recognize that this is a thing that happens.

In light of that, I can offer three possible answers:

(answers below the cut because I am pathologically incapable of brevity)

HI THANK YOU FOR THIS REMINDER

Okay so for this first post of SOLICITED Judaism facts, I have to say: the answer is surprisingly more complicated than one would expect.

To start with, differing days on the Jewish calendar* IN GENERAL:

Many Jewish holidays last a different number of days depending on where you are. Specifically, Pesach, Shavuot, and Shmini Atzeret / Simchat Torah each last for one day longer outside of Israel.

This is because...

The Jewish calendar is mostly a lunar calendar. New months begin on/immediately following the new moon. And the start of the month determines when the holidays in that month will be. Back in ancient times, months didn’t start on a set lunar-based calendar; rather, witnesses who saw the very first tiny sliver of moon following the new-moon-lack-of-moon would come to a Jewish court of law in Jerusalem and give testimony about having seen the moon. The witnesses, who had to come in pairs, would be interrogated separately, and if their story checked out, the court would then send out messengers to let people in the surrounding area know that a new month was starting.

They would also light bonfires on a specific set of hills - with people posted on the next hills in the “set” watching for the fires, and who would in turn light bonfires of their own to send the message to the people watching on the “next” hill - to spread the message throughout the rest of the country about the new month starting.

This system worked for getting out the message inside of Israel, but obviously, once there was a Jewish diaspora outside of Israel, it would be unwieldy and (especially in a pre-digital, pre-motorized transportation era) often impossible to get the word out in a timely manner.

As such, there was concern that people in the diaspora would not know for sure when the month started - but since the moon has a fairly regular cycle, and months in the Hebrew calendar can only be either 29 or 30 days long, they would be able to narrow any given date down to a 2-day window. In order to avoid the problem of not celebrating a holiday on the right day, it was instituted* that in the Diaspora, these important holidays* would last for a second day to cover our bases.

This explains why the holiday that should technically be known as Shemini Atzeret lasts for two days in the Diaspora, and one day in Israel. But as for Raeven’s question about Simchat Torah specifically, it gets wilder:

Simchat Torah is not a “real holiday.” Okay that is a misleading statement too, I’m sorry. What I mean is that while the holiday of Succot (which leads up to Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah) and the holiday of Shemini Atzeret are both mandated in the Torah, there is nothing about Simchat Torah or what we do for it. This is actually a celebration that was initiated in the Diaspora - partly (I believe) connecting with the Temple tradition of reading the entire Torah every seven years on the holiday of Succot, and partly to, you know, give us something to do on the second day of a holiday which is already extremely thin on Things That Make It Unique. Shemini Atzeret* got the extended prayer for rain, and the Yizkor prayer of remembering the souls of departed loved ones, so that’s all old hat by the next day. So how about we all party since we’re reaching the end of our Torah reading cycle, and add in some prayers and traditions focused on that?

Simchat Torah is a very worthwhile holiday and tradition, so it was adopted into the calendar in Israel, too - except since Israel never needed a second day of Shemini Atzeret, it’s all celebrated together on the same one day.

*Note 1: The Jewish calendar differs significantly from the Gregorian calendar, both in length and start/end date and in basic functionality. Maybe I will make an (un)solicited post with more details about it in future but basically it’s a lunarsolar calendar with between 354 and 384 days, depending on the year.

*Note 2: We now have a set calendar based on forecasting the phases of the moon and do not need new moon testimony / messengers. However, the one day vs two days thing is still our system because it was our system for a long time and now it’s tradition.

*Note 3: The holiday of Rosh Hashanah is two days both in and out of Israel because it’s the only holiday that falls on the first of a month, and it is literally impossible even inside of Israel to get the witnesses’ testimony and get the message out for a holiday that takes place ON the day the month begins, so that same “cover our bases and keep both days” system is implemented everywhere. The holiday of Yom Kipur lasts for only one day both in and out of Israel because it’s a fast day and Judaism says it is unhealthy to fast for more than about 25 hours straight. Shabbat is determined by day of the week, not day of the month, so is exempt from “when does the month begin” concerns, and the other holidays, while important, are not “holy” in the same way for these concerns to be necessitated. Though the holiday of Purim falls on different days depending on where you for entirely different reasons (which maybe I will elaborate on in the future one day).

Could you give a brief (I know you, good luck lol) overview of the general themes/vibe of each month/whatever best division of time there is. Like how for me as a pagan its seasonal: fall is generally generous/grateful harvest vibes, winter is family/love/introspective holidays, spring is rejuvenating/cleaning, and summer is bbq's and gardening and relaxing. Are there major vibe markers on the Jewish calendar?

Thank you for the question, Raeven!

First, a big disclaimer: I am a super nonspiritual person, so I am not at all tapped into the actual zodiac of the Jewish calendar or other actual spiritual vibe things (open call to the more calendrically spiritual on #jumblr to chime in / correct me where I am wrong!); that said, I will never turn down the opportunity to answer a question so below is a mish-mash of my own associations with months and the vibes associated with their holidays and things:

Tishrei (an autumn month) - this is the Jewish HOLIDAY SEASON, beginning with and dominated by Rosh Hashanah. Big "sweet foods" vibes, also has Succot, the Jewish Thanksgiving holiday. New beginnings, crunching leaves underfoot, squash pies and apple cakes and honeycake. Reflecting on the year past and hopes for the year ahead.

Cheshvan (also autumn) - Cheshvan has a weird bad rap due to a folk etymology that has it sometimes (incorrectly) referred to as "Mar Cheshvan" ("Bitter Cheshvan"); it also is (arguably, the calendar is complicated) the one month with ZERO holidays / significant dates in it. This is also when we expect more rain, so........ rainy vibes?

Kislev (a winter month) - Kislev is when Chanukah begins! Light in the darkness, strength in the face of adversity, we are few but we are mighty. I have snow associations, along with OIL AND MAKING YOUR ENTIRE HOUSE SMELL LIKE POTATOES AND DOUGHNUTS. Latkas and more latkas. Fire and lots of it, flickering bravely in a window.

Tevet (also winter) - Chanukah continues in Tevet, but it's not the main association. Tevet is short, dark days, sombre memory and bright snow. There is a fast day in Tevet that is so short (as a daylight fast) that it's allowed to be on Friday, even though it cuts into Shabbat (normally can't fast on Shabbat!) because it's SO SHORT that it barely matters. I am always grumpy about it when this happens, such as this year.

Shvat (winter but it pretends to be spring, what even are seasons) - I know in my head that it is always snowy here in Shvat, but it doesn't FEEL like it, because it is dominated by Tu B'Shvat, or Judaism Fruit Day. Big fruit vibes!!! Fruity jewel tones and fruit leather and pictures of flowering trees even though we KNOW they are still snowy and bare, especially almond trees with their pink buds. (also my birthday is in Shvat but that is a Personal Association and not a Judaism Thing)

Adar (winterspring SEASONS AREN'T REAL AND THEY CAN'T HURT ME) - OKAY I KNOW THIS ONE Adar is the month that has Purim in it (a month celebrated with great levity) and the vibe of Adar is "April Fools Day, But Make It A Whole Month." Clowns (but the cheerful dancing kind, not the creepy kind); parties, singing, wine, pranks and jokes and silliness.

Nisan (spring FOR REAL THIS TIME) - this is the month that Pesach is in and it shows! Rebirth and new life and freedom and family, telling our story and reflecting, going from slavery to freedom and nationhood. Playing outside with waterguns and being up all night at the Seder and asking questions.

Iyar (also spring!) - Iyar is the month that has Yom HaAtzmaut AND Lag BaOmer, so think barbeques and dancing and outdoor celebrations! Also lots of blue and white and hard-won home, hard-won freedom. Flowers and friendly feelings!!

Sivan (early summer!) - Sivan is when we celebrate Shavuot; first fruits and babies and cheesecake! Excitement and learning and ALL NIGHT LEARNING and flowers everywhere. Ice cream party vibes and picnics in the park.

Tamuz (also summer) - It is getting HOT in Tamuz and it has the longest daylight fast, which at this point of year is LONG. Long, hot days, blazing sun, bright outside but dark inside. The second half of the month is part of the Three Weeks between the fast of Tamuz 17 and the fast of Av 9 so it's like waiting waiting waiting for the other shoe to drop with the bad news.

Av (stillllll summerrrrrrrrrr) - Av starts off sombre and sad, fire and ruin and destruction and exile, but then it gets to the 15th of the month and what do you know, it's Romance Time, dancing in the fields in white dresses as summer wanes, vibes of fireflies and lanterns and late summer nights (because the night only BEGINS when it's already so late).

oh my goodness. I am going to assign this to Kevin and Ben, because they are both mine. chaos ensues.

Ben: *sticks it in an egg carton in the fridge* there. done. taken care of.

Kevin: *removes egg from fridge* Ben, this is our child. You cannot put our child in the fridge.

Ben: IT IS AN EGG, KEVIN. IT IS NOT A HUMAN CHILD.

Kevin: Okay but we need to take care of it as if it IS our child.

Ben: this is stupid. we’re both like, EXTREMELY gay. we are never going to be caring for a human child together*.

Kevin: If we pass this assignment, I will let you practice fencing on me.

Ben: OKAY IT’S OUR CHILD and since this child is made out of raw egg, it needs to be refrigerated.

Kevin: ...you know, I can’t fault that logic.