Mastodawn

Stephan Lichtenauer | נח סתו Dec 8, 2023

「 Someone asked, "Are you struggling with your Judaism right now?"

I struggle not with my Judaism, but with others twisting Judaism to fit their goals. Taking Sacred words and making them profane. Taking magic and grinding it beneath their feet. Telling Jews they are not Jewish for not falling in line.

My Judaism will hold me in my last breath, lay me to rest in my shroud, carry my soul to the next life. My Judaism will burn brighter in these moments when people wish it will die out.

Those who wish my Judaism to die will always be disappointed. I understand the feeling of deep betrayal.
I know your loss. Your grief. Our anger. Our rage. Our sanctified fury.

Remember the words of Jewish wisdom: ours souls are like a candle. As they flicker and dance, so do we.
Questioning is normal. Burning brighter at times and smaller in others is part of the process.

Know that we cannot relinquish Judaism to those who wish to turn it to the idolatry of nationalism. Of blood shed. Of horror.

We know of Her magic and wisdom and love. We know of the words written and whispered and carried by those not praised by the regimes in power.

It is okay to struggle. There is no shame in that. 」

Thank you, #maimonides_nutz

Shabbat Shalom.

#judaism #shabbatshalom #jewish #mazeldon #jewishwisdom #jewishwomen #jewishwriter #jewishartist

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Stephan Lichtenauer | נח סתו Dec 2, 2023

「If so, lamah zeh anochi? (translated on #Sefaria as: if so, why do I exist?) #Rivkah asks this when she feels the twins #Esau and #Jacob locked in a struggle in her womb. God answers "two nations are within you, and the older shall serve the younger.”

I keep asking myself: does God truly answer her? Is this all we're meant for in life? To witness the nations that struggle against one another? For one to always triumph over the other? To forget that every single one of us teems with life?

Rivkah's question points out that this struggle harms the very earth we walk on. It damages the hearts and minds of all who carry it.

She deserved a better answer, just like we deserve one now.

But when God is silent, it is the time to create one for ourselves.」

#maimonides_nutz #Mazeldon
#Talmud #JewishWisdom #Judaism

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Stephan Lichtenauer | נח סתו Dec 2, 2023

「When things are getting a little hairy, I like to think to myself “at least I'm not being carried away by a giant bird!" I don't know what I would do if I actually WERE being carried away by a giant bird, | would probably utter the phrase “gam zu I'tovah” — this too is for the good.

Gam zu I'tovah is a phrase attributed to Nachum Ish #Gamzu, a rabbi in the Talmud known for unyielding optimism. In his story, unfortunate things keep happening to him, and to each of them he says “gam zu I'tovah.” As the story progresses, we learn that indeed, each one happens to be for the good.

On a date I explained this design to the guy and he said “oh, so you REALLY hate the phrase" and I laughed, but | don't think that's quite true. It is that I think the story is kind of absurd. Perhaps there's wisdom to it though. 」

#maimonides_nutz #Mazeldon
#Talmud #JewishWisdom #Judaism