there is no old self to get back to there’s a new u to create n nurture

I've significantly changed how much joy Instagram gives me in November by changing my mindset from "Adapting these Christmas suggestions for Chanukah would contribute to the Christmasization of Chanukah and probably make me feel worse" to "Adapting these Christmas suggestions for Purim would knock everyone's socks off and make me feel amazing." I'm taking notes now. I'm making spreadsheets. I'm thinking about replacement flavors for cinnamon.

this shalom aleichem

is shaky and sad

and every verse rhymes

with a tear

the candle flames (lit

seventeen minutes late)

are alight

unlike any hearts here

the angels of shabbos

both look the scene over

then turn to each other

and both heave a sigh

may it be like this next week

the evil one utters

amen

says the good one

the evil asks

why?

this home is a mess

and the people are too

yes, the food is prepared

but that’s all they could do

upset and unsettled

the bed left unmade

the table unset

and the lighting delayed

this shabbos is laden

with hurt and with pain

so how can you see this

and answer ‘amen’?

may it be like this next week

the good one replies

(watching the people

with tears in their eyes)

that candles are kindled

before the sun sets

that through all their struggles

they manage to rest

to honor shabbat

in the ways that they may

they gave it their best

and they got through the day

may it be like this weekly

in every domain

the evil one sighs

and then answers

amen

as shalom aleichem

soon draws to its end

the angels depart

as the lyrics ascend

the house is still filthy

the troubles don’t cease

yet still, here we are

blessing angels of peace

may peace be upon you

they pray in return

perhaps not this week

but the candles still burn

[image text:

“all of the above”

(((I believe You)

gave us bodies)

so that we’d have a {

stomach to drop when we stand near a cliff. |

throat to choke when grief is too much. |

heart to skip in joy and wonder. |

pair of hands to do the work. |

}

)

end of image description]

a few days ago a coworker asked me to explain Hanukkah and I asked her if she knew what a menorah was. She said, “like the Northern Lights?”

I’m simultaneously haunted by and wild about this concept now. instead of aurora borealis, menorah borealis. menorah borealis

i’m not Jewish but now i’m also captivated by the concept of a menorah borealis, and I didn’t see anyone else drawing it. Hope you like it & hope everyone who celebrates has a lovely Hanukkah. <3

edit: now with the correct number of branches for a Hanukkah menorah.

שלום ישראבלר!

אלו ימים לא קלים, ולכן רציתי להפיץ אהבה ומתיקות. אם אתם לבד בבית ומתחשק לכם משהו מתוק, הנה מתכון של פנקייקס של אמא שלי בכמות לאדם אחד!

3/4 כוס קמח (אפילו כוס קמח. )

חצי ביצה (לקשקש ביצה בכוס, להוסיף רק חצי מהכמות )

3 כפות סוכר לבן

1/2 כפית א.אפיה

מעט תמצית וניל

1 כף שמן

1/2 כוס חלב

רבע כוס מי סודה או מים קרים

הוראות הכנה:

המלצה שלי:

אחרי הפנקייק הראשון כבר תדעו כמה זמן צריך והאם להנמיך אש או לא. אני בדרך כלל אחרי שני פנקייקים מנמיכה את האש (3 בכיריים אינדוקציה) נותנת כמעט דקה בכל צד. אני לא מסתמכת על בועות, אלא על הקצוות של הפנקייק. אם אפשר להרים את הקצוות ולהכניס את המרית בלי שהכל נשפך, מעולה!

"אבל לימונה מה לעשות עם החצי ביצה שנשארה?" חביתה! תוסיפו ביצה או שתיים :)

הפנקייקים שלנו לא מאוד מתוקים ומאוד אווריריים אז אפשר לאכול אותם עם תוספות מלוחות!

לארוחת בוקר מלוחה מושלמת:

לארוחת בוקר מתוקה מושלמת:

בתיאבון!

Temple Shaaray Tefila’s sign for Simchat Torah, taken by my friend in NYC.

“The Torah is God’s libretto, and we, the Jewish People, are God’s choir, the performer of God’s choral symphony.” -R’ Lord Jonathan Sacks #SimchatTorah

The image also has NYC skyscrapers and a silhouette of my friend who was taking the picture reflected in it. 

(taken by my friend two years ago on October 6, 2018)

Chag sameach

chag sameach

I know it's a little late for this, and Sukkot is over (I am sad) but this year there were some misunderstandings among Gentiles around the joking phrase "shake a lemon at G-d" week to describe the holiday, specifically in interpreting the phrase to mean that this is some kind of aggressive act, that we are shaking the lemon in rage at G-d or something, so some people started saying it's "shake a lemon for G-d" week.

But I kind of feel that it is absolutely shake a lemon at G-d week, and that the energy we're looking for here is that of a kid shaking the drawing they just did at their teacher.

So I can't help but picture the Jewish community on Sukkot as a bunch of preschool kids crowding around their teacher going, "Mr. Hashem, Mr. Hashem, look at this awesome etrog I found!"

And Mr. Hashem is like, ":DDDDDD That is an awesome etrog, kiddo, let's go show it to the rest of the class, who are all hanging out in the blanket fort we built together!"

-despite everything, there is still love

@arthoesunshine/ @artsheila/ @daisies-on-a-cup/ @gayarsonist / @hjarta/ @yunawinter on twitter/ @bakwaaas/ @death-born-aphrodite/ anon on gentleearth/ @classicnymph on twitter

it’s-friday.avi

Young Jewish woman on Passover in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1984

no yeah my family's reform so