Without Going Into Too Many Personal Details, My Chronic Illness Has Prevented Me From Attending My Shul

Everybody shut up and look at the Cincinnati zoo Hanukkah otter

A Simchat Torah we can never forget

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Simchat Torah, the Jewish community faced its most horrific day since the Holocaust, with over 1,200 lives cruelly taken and many more held hostage. This tragedy has bonded us in deep collective sorrow.

As the Jewish world remains united in grief, we are challenged with the difficult question:

How do we move forward from such profound loss?

Can we dance? Should we dance?

October 2024 will mark the first Simchat Torah since the devastating events of October 7, 2023. Traditionally a day of joy, dancing, and celebration, this Simchat Torah will also serve as the first yahrzeit for the 1,200 victims and a time to honor the hostages and soldiers who have passed since that day.

Now the Jewish community faces profound questions: How should we respond? Is it possible to celebrate as we once did?

With tears in our eyes we will dance

The words of King Solomon in Kohelet, that we will read on Sukkot, offer us guidance: “There is a time for everything under the Heavens… a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Simchat Torah 2024 will be that time.

A Simchat Torah shared throughout the world

Synagogues around the world will open their Aron HaKodesh (Torah Ark) on Simchat Torah night and take out several Torah scrolls. One, or more, will be adorned with a new me’il (Torah cover), designed to mark the first yahrzeit of October 7th. This me’il will be identical to the ones which will be created for 1600 synagogues across the world. This beautifully designed me’il will proclaim that this Torah is dedicated in memory of the 1200 souls and the many soldiers and hostages who have since died, Al Kiddush Hashem.

Every Single Soul is an Entire Torah

Each Torah me'il will feature the name of one of the kedoshim (holy souls/victims) embroidered onto it. Communities around the world will dance with these Torah scrolls – thousands of communities, with hundreds of thousands if not millions of Jews being connected through this project.Each me’il (Torah cover) is embroidered with the flag of Israel along with the Pasuk from Kohelet, “There is a time to mourn, and a time to dance”The Front of the me’il (Torah cover) for both Ashkenazi and Sephardi TorahsThe Back is embroidered with the name of one of the souls of the many soldiers and hostages who have died, Al Kiddush Hashem since the events of October 7th.

United in sorrow. United in celebration.

The Jewish world will be unified, knowing that across the globe, Jews are dancing with Torah scrolls that collectively link us all with the events of October 7th, and inspire us to realize that “Am Yisrael Chai.” Synagogues will encourage their members to come and dance with the newly robed scroll, to remember the fallen, by holding their Torah high, so that they can say: “We will not forget what happened on Simchat Torah last year, but we are determined to dispel the darkness with light.”

This project will symbolize the Jewish People’s resilience, our ability to find hope in the face of tragedy.

Over 1600 communities across the globe will unite for Israel and the Jewish people.

My shul is partcipating in this. Thought I'd spread the word.

my boss comes up to me and goes “do you want a passover candle holder” and i was like “do you mean shabbat candle sticks?” he said “no for passover. here” and he pulls a menorah

Transmasc Jews where are you at.....

[id in alt text]

credit to @captainlordauditor for the idea haha

you all better still vote democrat I'm serious for the sake of the whole world trump cannot get back into office whoever becomes the new candidate cannot be worse than trump

One thing I’ve realized I love about Judaism is how there is less of a stress on the gender of G-d vs the feeling of G-d. When I think of the divine, I can’t picture a man or a woman but I do know the feeling of wind before a tornado, or seeing a shooting star for the first time, or feeling the first breeze of summer kiss your cheeks or-

Rosh Hashanah is the start of the Jewish new year. We say l'shana tovah, which means have a good year. Apples and challah (dipped in honey) are symbols of hope for a sweet new year. :)

Hand Painted Delft Holland Ceramic Dreidel

Jewishly anthropomorphizing and pitying the final candle on the chanukiah. It's not one of those that goes over and over, that lights up the songs every night, that sees every present and hears every giggle, kids taking turns on alternating nights, its base caked with islands of melted wax. It is left for the very very end and only goes once per year. And maybe by then, people are a bit worn out on dreidels and latkes and gelt and so the last candle never even meets some of its seasonal friends. It's okay, baby, you finally get your turn, we wouldn't forget you. Next year it will be different. Next year you'll meet them too.

It's the exact opposite of Tekiah Gedolah - which also only happens once but is unambiguously the star, the main attraction, all the oodles of Tekiahs seen as warm-ups by comparison for their gigantic grand finale elder brother, everybody's favorite and no one even pretends to hide it. I admire the Tekiahs for sticking to their role without one note of resentment or envy - which they totally absolutely feel, but their devotion to their job is greater.

Trying to remember this