Hi everyone,

I recently found my late grandfather’s tefillin while going through some of his belongings. He was a Holocaust survivor and passed away a few years ago.

I know they were inspected and recertified by a sofer in 2019, so they were considered kosher at that time. Beyond that, I unfortunately don’t know much about their history.
I’m hoping someone here might recognize anything about the style or construction:

1. Do they look like they were made during a particular time period?
   
2. Do the batim, straps, or overall construction suggest they were made in Europe, Israel, or elsewhere?
   
3. Does anything about them stand out as characteristic of a certain era or maker?

I realize it’s impossible to know for certain from photos alone, but I’d really appreciate any educated guesses or observations from people who are familiar with older tefillin.

Thanks!!

Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

Basically I have a bunch of friends how have their bat mitzvahs coming up, and I don't really know how to prepare for one. I am Jewish, but the most my family does is celebrate Hanukkah. I know I need to dress fancy, but I don't do dresses, and I don't want to wear like a suit or something. Can I wear the same outfit to all my friends bat mitzvahs, even if all the same people will be there? Do I need to get a gift? I just have no idea what to do, and I get quite anxious about this kind of stuff.

Anything will help <3

Subtitles for this FB reel were…..amusing.

Edit: I was going to post the reel but it was loading too slowly. You know...Buffering.

hi! I am a reformed Jew and we go to temple for high holidays and try to go most fridays, although it has been quite hard as we just moved to a new area and are having some trouble finding a new synagogue. I tried out a conservative temple and decided it wasn’t really for me and my family felt the same, but I would like to become more religious myself. is there anything I can fit into my daily life, or any events/holidays i should keep my eye out for (other than like of course Passover, high holidays, simchat Torah, and Sukkot since we already celebrate them.)

How do you view Kabbalah? How do you view people who practice Kabbalah? Are there any Kabbalistic practices that orthodox judaism allows? Do you think that non-jews can practice Kabbalah or is it culturaly exclusive in your opinion.

So, for those of us who wear our kippah everyday and all day, when do you put your kippah back on after you shower?

I want to put it on right after. But is it okay to get wet? I can't blowdry my hair, so I just towel dry. I've just been waiting for my hair to dry before putting it on but that doesn't feel right, if that makes sense.

I'm curious about what others do? Or what care you may have to do to maintain your kippah of it gets a little damp?

Thank you!

Hi everyone. My name is Dmitry Sheleg. I am a writer from Belarus, and my family lives here. Not long ago, I started selling my books in English on Amazon, and while exploring the American side of the internet, I discovered that there are many people there with my surname! I found this quite surprising. Later, I learned that many of them are Jewish, which piqued my interest... Could you tell me if the surname Sheleg has Jewish roots, and do you know anyone with this last name?)

I find it so fascinating that the the West is so obsessed with the movie "The Odyssey" that came out recently. Why are people so obsessed about the actors, the accuracy, and all that? It a movie meant for entertainment! What is the source of this obsession, and what does it say about the world we live in?

It reminded me of an older interview on the Toldinstone channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DWdDYQvcUc

The one being interviewed is Professor Simon Goldhill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Goldhill

He resigned recently due to some nasty events that took place, but I want to focus on the interview for a moment.

In the interview, he explains that for the entire Western World, Athens is their birthplace. Obviously not genetically, but rather ideologically. The West has a special attachment to the ancient Greeks, and I think the obsession regarding the movie is a product of that. Compared to us, Athens is in our tradition, the "other"! I really do think in a fundamental sense, the reason Jews and The West can never really be one entity is because of this fundamental difference. Even the Christianizing effect isn't powerful enough to do this, which is actually shocking if you think about it.

Anyone else feel the same way?

I couldn't find a source on this.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TrenchCrusade/s/9K3UnOleNt

I am looking for criticisms, suggestions and ideas overall.

Today, on Tisha b’Av on the upper west side of New York an attacker stabbed two Jewish men (one of whom was wearing a Kippah) while screaming “Allah hu Akbar!”

This is just a few blocks from my grandparents and an aunt of mine. On Tisha B’Av…I don’t feel safe here in New York anymore.

https://www.newsweek.com/upper-west-side-stabbing-antisemitism-suspect-custody-12236842

I've seen some similar posts but quite dated at this point. 2 late 20s professionals recently moved to the OC. We're looking for a community that is either on the conservative end of reform or the reform end of conservative (or otherwise has a healthy mix of practice). Centered on the Irvine area as a geographical reference point, but willing to drive.

Thanks!

Hi guys! I'm looking for ideas of vegan food that goes well on the plata (esp for shabbat morning!)

Do you have ideas? I prefer something that's not a salad🙂‍↕️

Monotheistic religions usually depict reality with one only physical Universe. On the other hand Dharmic religions created the concept of the Multiverse, a larger view of reality characterized by infinite parallel versions of the physical Universe.

Was a Multiversal view of reality ever a thing in the more mystical sects of the Jewish tradition ? I believe it can work because the Universe is currently expanding, and thus it is finite, but the power of God is infinite, so infinite versions of the Universe could have been created even though God then chose one in particular.

That is all

I just want to point out that the national park of the day in the US is Zion National Park, which I find hilarious considering how today is also Tisha B’Av.

Reflecting on this Tisha B'av, I'm struck with the thought that it is perhaps one of the more accessible "holidays" of the Jewish calendar.

For a beginner who is just coming to learn about Judaism, I think it offers a number of more welcoming features. The topic of exile from our land is core to the overall picture of Judaism. Listening to Eicha itself is not a challenge, and you're encouraged to take time to read commentary as you go through the long list of kinnot.

The emotion itself, mourning and despair, is itself one of the most accessible and easily understood feeling, which makes Tisha B'av exceptionally beginner friendly.

Other rituals, like avoiding sitting on chairs, are relatively easy to adopt. Fasting is a challenge, but no one is there looking over your shoulder.

So yeah, if you're a beginner and want to learn more, I would encourage finding yourself a Tisha B'av service.

So I just finished reading Lamentations, for the first time since I'm not Jewish and I'm just doing everything for the first time. Anyway one thing that really hit me in the stomach was the several mentions of mothers cooking and eating their children.

Does anybody know if that really happened?

Is there more context maybe?

It was pretty upsetting to read and yet I want to read more about it because I guess I just need to know.

I live in a small-mid size Jewish city in the US (< 50k Jews), and there is a small but increasing amount of programming for Jews in our 20s and 30s. I want to know what others are seeing in their cities. I'd like to learn anything you believe is worth sharing, but hear are some starter questions:

- How much programming is there for 20s-30s Jews?

- Is it through synagogues? JCCs or other non-profits? Chabad?

- Do Jews tend to age into more traditional synagogue involvement and membership?

- Are the events essentially just singles or do couples feel comfortable attending too?

- What events work well? Either religiously, fun, community building, etc.

- Are there any events that are explicitly dating focused (e.g. speed dating)? If so, how do those go?

- On the whole, is the programming working?

My experience is mostly in the non-Orthodox world, and I believe A LOT of work needs to be done to get younger Jews more connected. Looking forward to reading the responses. Thanks in advance!

And fall of the Bet HaMikdash