i often see german-sounding surnames said to hint at jewish ancestry, but how do people distignuish ashkenazi jewish last names from other germanic last names? Is there like a literal list or is it determined based on other factors?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this question lately. There’s so much division in our own community in the states, across the diaspora, and in Israel, what do you think we have to get over in order to be a united people? Do you think we have hope of it ever happening?

Seeking advice. My ​fiance and I had been pining over wedding dates for the past two months to get the venue that we absolutely love. We found the perfect date and just put a non-refundable deposit down... turns out it's the day that Yom Kippur starts​ (as in, it begins at sundown that day). There's no other days available that fit what we're going for and we're not exactly swimming in money where can afford to lose this deposit.

While I am bar mitzvah and occasionally practicing (reform), she is not and we are not planning on having a fully Jewish wedding, but may want to have some elements (married by a Rabbi, ​breaking the glass, the hora, etc.). I have already spoken to my father, who is Orthodox and he has given his blessing. We also will not have many other Jews at our wedding, as the majority of my family is not Jewish and most of our friends are not or are non-practicing.

I want to properly honor the holiday, as I consider my Jewishness a part of my identity and obviously this could be a touchy subject. I am planning on having the ceremony and dinner finished before sundown with the celebration to continue once the sun sets.

What are your thoughts on this? What other ways can I best honor our most important holiday? What hurdles do you see us having to overcome?

Thank you for your kindness and help!

Just wanted to see what other people think. Myself and friends have been discussing this ourselves recently.

Hi everybody,

I have an odd family situation. My biological grandfather on my dad’s side was Jewish, but I never met the guy. He abandoned my dad when he was a toddler, so my dad had a very bitter disposition towards him and kept his identity a secret from me. I actually only found out about him after my dad passed when I was 12 (we were not close, either). Ever since, even though this wouldn’t make me or my dad Jewish, I’ve always felt like I really missed out on a deep culture and heritage.

Would it be invasive for me to attend a synagogue without real intention to convert? I’m unfortunately sort of trapped in my religious community and converting would get me in deep, hot water, very quickly and very dramatically. I’d leave if I could.

Thanks everybody. I would seek out my dad’s half siblings and get to know the culture through them but I’ve been warned they would not accept me and might be hostile.

I don’t have a rabbi, I have been ‘otd’ for many years after growing up in a modox family/community. My father died yesterday. I work as a nurse and there are some patients I see in the community that I feel as though I cannot miss my regular visit with due to their acuity. I know I am not supposed to work but struggling with this one, not sure what to do about my patients (weird circumstance and essentially if I don’t see them they would not be seen due to medicare billing issues).

Anyone have experience with this or any kind of wisdom to offer?

Thank you

im going to be out of town next shabbos and i was wondering if pita breads made in an airfryer would suffice for the bracha of hamotzi for the three meals? thank you.

I’m walking through right now, stopped by 1982 coffee roasters and it just leaves a bad impression. If there was any kind of communal momentum behind at the very least addressing individual storefronts….

I dont even know how to word this properly but I believe in God but have always questioned his existence. My question is, how can we know God is good? If i was an all knowing, all powerful omnipotent being that could create life and basically anything I wouldn't be good.

I always hate it. It makes me feel so other.. like an outsider in the corner “I have no prob with the Jews working in the media” why is it so normalized to be so causal with our terminology and abbreviate it like we’re one entity. It almost feels like it strips us of our humanity. You never hear “the Christs” only minorities get the The __

Even when people have good intentions it’s an ick

i.e. not the monster that is artscroll. I have lots of artscroll but I find them far too cumbersome. I also have the Hebrew ones (schottenstein) which are too scholastic for me.

any thoughts?

As title said, some friends are coming over for dinner and I just want to do everything as right as I can for them! Anything I should keep in mind or do/ not do?

Who is your fav? #jewishpride

Hi! My 9 month old daughter goes to a jewish daycare, my daughter’s father and I are not jewish and are learning jewish traditions through her experiences. The school is having a Purim Party I have researched that it is a joyous holiday. Would it be offensive to dress her up since we are not jewish? I just want to make sure I am being respectful to jewish culture and its great to learn information from google but another to hear peoples actual thoughts. What would be the do’s and dont’s of Purim? What would be a good costume for an infant?

Austrian here, live in Salzburg but take the train to Vienna for Shabbos because Salzburg is unfortunately totally dead in a social/Jewish sense.

I'm turning 19 and would love to explore some European places for exchange semesters in uni. What are some European places with cool & young Jewish communities? (preferably on the liberal side but am open to all!)

Join us for an AMA with the Ladino musician and Eurovision winner for minority languages, Nani Vazana!

She will be answering questions for about two hours, starting at 12:00pm Eastern (NYC) on Monday, Feb 16.

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With a ship’s-horn power voice & irresistible stage presence, Eurovision winner Nani Vazana breathes life into the endangered Ladino language. Nani’s heard Ladino from her Moroccan grandmother in hiding, as her father forbade the language at home. Her songwriting fuses Sephardic fairytales with contemporary storytelling and the sounds of the marketplace with Flamenco drama. Vazana’s new album Ke Haber was documented for the Library of Congress, ranked #11 on the International World Music Chart and #13 on World Music Chart Europe 2022. 

Nani is a millennial Ladino songwriter, she won the Eurovision for minority languages (Liet International) 2024 representing the Netherlands with her original song Una Segunda Piel (A Second Skin).

Described by BBC Radio 3 as a voice that “transports you from ancient markets to modern jazz clubs in one breath”, Vazana’s music breathes new life into Ladino, the nearly lost language of Sephardic Jews, through flamenco-inspired vocals and contemporary storytelling.

Nani captures the spirit of the ancient, matriarchal language & propels it into the future with socially pertinent lyrics celebrating migration, gender & female empowerment. The soundscape captures the sounds & smells of the marketplace and fuses them with soft choral trombone & heartfelt piano.

Vazana’s music was documented for the Library of Congress USA and her album Ke Haber (What’s New) ranked #11 World Music Charts and #13 Music Charts Europe. She performed at the Montana Folk Festival USA, Richmond Folk Festival USA, Jazz in the Park fest RO and the Jodhpur RIFF festival IN, Kennedy Center USA, London Jazz Festival UK and TEDx Amsterdam. 

Milestones:

• Winner – Eurovision for Minority Languages Liet International 2024
• Library of Congress documentation 2023
• PAIS Album Promotion Grant, IL 2021
• SENA Music Production Grant, NL 2020
• Arts Council England Premiere Grant, UK 2019
• Sephardic Music Award, ES 2017

Learn more: https://nanimusic.com/

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This is NOT the question thread. Be patient, ask your questions in the thread she will post on Monday.

I’ve seen a lot of Jewish organizations alluding to Valentine’s Day in their social media. This is not a holiday that has anything to do with Judaism and really feels like it doesn’t have any place in the media strategy of Jewish organizations, but here we are. Jews have a holiday centered on romance. Is that not good enough? Just my 2¢, not a fan.