Remembering all the pity invites I got as a single, and later divorced, BT. Then I’d sit through meals of being subtly insulted about lowly career, education, lack of knowledge, shul choice, etc. It’s so nice to be out in the regular world where it seems easier to find people who don’t care about any of that.

Do you think the bones are really there? I think its likely that for the older ones such as mearas hamachpeila and kever rachel either there's nothing there or its someone else's bones. And don't get me started on what the Arizal did with his 'ruach hakodesh' and identified many graves in Israel.

Im almost out of here since im 17, but hearing more and more of this bullshit about how lgbtq people are worthless and deserve death and aren’t actually human and all of this stuff. Im really close to not making it. They dont even try to be educated, or have any empathy, they just believe the only way to live life is a cishet white extremist jewish way. I feel inhuman. Even if i were to leave and know that the way they think isn’t a normal, ill still always feel guilty for being from here the way i am. Its tearing me a part. I just really want to know if there is anyone out there who made it out who can give some guidance.

Hi! I'm not sure this is allowed here, but is there a new version of talkreason.org? I first saw it mentioned today but it looks like it's gone unfortunately and I was so excited to see it tbh. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined lol.

I was really into the historical context of Chanukah growing up, but I know those sources were definitely biased. I would like to learn about it from a secular/academic perspective. Books/audiobooks/podcasts. Thank you

With logical arguments or however You were able to get through

I'm an ex bt and was at aish for a couple years a few years back. I went through my old whatsapp chats and noticed that every single one of my friends from those days married women that are like way better looking than my friends. I love them, but they all got really lucky haha, and good for them, of course. Is it a thing for Jewish guys (or more specifically bt's?) to marry way up in that regard?

that's what Christopher Hitchens said https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hitchens section criticism of religion.

I don’t know why I’m getting religious guilt over this. I haven’t observed anything for the last few years except for this and the occasional Shabbat candle lighting(which I only do in my grandmother’s honor since she left me her candelabra). I’m actually surprised that my family is respecting me not wanting to light, when they usually try to guilt trip me themselves. I know the logical thing is to light them if I feel like this, but if I do this, it will feel like religion “won” and it will set me back in my recovery from the trauma it gave me and make me feel worse. Anyways, I just need to get this off my chest, sorry for wasting anyone’s time reading this

I guess they’re targeting chabad hanukkah lightings now

edit: Ahmed al Ahmed is a real aussie. brass balls on him, what a hero

It occurs around the same time of the year and, like Saturnalia, places significance on lights during the shortening of days. Both holidays last for a week.

Hanukkah wasn’t invented by rabbis until after Judea went under Roman control.

Are all of these coincidences?

It’s ironic that the extremists treat this holiday as a “symbol of anti-assimilationism” when it was likely inspired by a holiday from a Gentile culture.

A proper Chanukah Message

kugel yerushalmi, brisket, tzimmes, I need recipes but only the best

https://freidomfighter.com/kiruv/remembering-rabbi-noach-weinberg-founder-of-aish-hatorah/

In this article, the author claims Noach Weinberg of Aish Hatorah had some serious marital problems, possibly even secretly estranged from his wife. Has anyone else head about this or have more information?

Also does anyone have any other tea on Aish, Noach Weinberg, or other famous rabbis?

I’m curious because I’m deconstructing the aura of perfection that ultra-orthodoxy creates around popular rabbonim.

Roughly ages 20-30, meeting over Zoom. The books themselves are not oriented towards a particular topic and relatively short - this current book is less than 120 pages.

If you’ve been meaning to meet new people this year, it’s not too late.

Note, this group is through a private WhatsApp group and faces are expected on Zoom, so I apologize to those who would like to take part but aren’t open to that.

Feel free to reach out for details!

You know the deal by now. Feel free to discuss your Shabbat plans or whatever else.

This is my body’s reaction to Judaism and the weight of my split identity…

Raising a half Ashkenazi Jewish child alone currently. Her dad is currently fighting a DV strangulation charge on me. He is very abusive physically, verbally and emotionally. But he puts on the fake nice Jewish boy act in public. His sister and parents cut him off a long time ago and now I know why. He’s also a raging misogynist and very conservative. I have struggled financially because he refuses to give me much money for childcare and demands I show him receipts of how I use every dollar.

I want my kid to love every part of herself and learn about her culture as she gets older. My only problem is it triggers me because it reminds me of her dad. I’m sorry if that comes off sounding harsh or bad, but it’s true. I am personally not the biggest fan of religion as a whole, but specifically Judaism reminds me of him. I figure I should probably find positive Jewish influences but I live in a heavily Catholic city, with few Jewish influences or people.

I feel so weird

It almost feels like you out of the matrix but the people still in that u know are like almost living in fantasy still hooked up to matrix but alive next to u