This might be a bit of a weird question, but I’ve been thinking about it lately and I’d love to hear other people’s opinions.
I’ve been dating my boyfriend for about 10 months. He’s Jewish, and since I care about him, I’ve also become more interested in learning about Judaism and understanding that part of his life better. Recently, I’ve noticed that he’s been going to synagogue more often and observing Shabbat every week. He even seems genuinely sad when he can’t go. I don’t remember him doing it quite as much before, so now I’m wondering if he’s become more religious recently, or if he’s just started opening up to me more about something that’s always been important to him. Would it be weird to ask him about it? I was thinking of casually asking something like, “Have you been going to synagogue more often lately?” or just asking if anything has changed for him. At the same time, I don’t want him to feel like I’m questioning or analyzing his religious practices. Maybe he simply feels more comfortable with me now and is showing me more of that side of himself. I also don’t want to make him feel like he has to explain himself every time I notice something.
For example, during Yom Kippur I texted him something like “Have a meaningful Yom Kippur.” He hadn’t really told me anything about Yom Kippur beforehand, and he didn’t respond to the message either. I know he could have been busy or not checking his phone, so I’m probably overthinking it, but it did make me a little hesitant to bring up religion with him.
And another thing i would really like to learn more about Judaism, but I’m not sure where to start. I don’t want to constantly ask him questions and make it feel like homework for him, or come across as trying too hard.
What would be a good way to learn more about it naturally? And would you bring up the change in his religious practice, or just let him share it when he wants to?

The term was created by a jew hater who wanted it to sound more scientific and official and less subjective. Can we stop using that word and start calling it jew-hate again? Which is what it actually is

Modern orthodox living in an area without a strong Jewish community in terms of schools, etc. Any suggestions for good books, versions of chumash, etc for learning parsha with my early-elementary school aged kids? We speak some Hebrew at home but they (and I) are far from fluent, so English would probably be necessary.

I have a job offer for both cities. Late 20’s single male.

Which young Jewish scene is more active and welcoming? Also, any thoughts on Jewish dating in either city?

Thanks!

Hi. I just found out that I'm Jewish.
I'm from Brasil. My grandmother, who passed away months before I was born, is a Jewish woman, and so is the rest of my family from her side. Ashkenazi Jews, from both Poland and Israel.
I thought I had Poland ancestry. But it is actually Jewish (or both, you can say). My dad casually mentioned last week. And I found out today.
Although I'm young, I would like to know that before. I was sad to find out only now.
I've been asked if I'm a Jew my whole life, and I've always said "not that I know of!".
I have a religion and I don't plan to change it.
I don't really know why I'm posting this, but I just really wanted to share that it feels great to finally know where my last name is from, after being asked so many times, and hearing so many family stories about it and not getting it.
I actually can't believe I'm 50% Jewish.
Hope you all have an amazing weekend.

Whenever we say tefilat geshem I am reminded of this Gene Wilder scene from the hilarious 1979 film "The Frisco Kid" .

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tDH3vDLDyiM

Purchased the Koren Bavli and have begun working my way through it. 100 pages into Berakhot so far. But 42 volumes is a bit daunting.

Was chatting with a friend and they are considering sending thier child to Hebrew school but don’t have the time or passion for normal conservative education path. Whats the lightest way for my friend to get their child some understanding and offical connection with Judaism even though they themselves don’t go to synagogue? Thanks

i was born in tishrei 8th.

people in my synagague didn't understand yesterday how "vezot habrakha" is my parasha.

try explain them what happens when pesakh is in tuesday. (happened both when i was born and both in my bar mitzva)

Muslims obviously believe that not only that Mohammed was a Prophet but the last and most perfect of the Prophets who got everything he received from God right in the perfect revelation. We Jews obviously don't believe this or even that Mohammed was a Prophet at all or that the Qu'Ran is a divine book. This seems to be a bit of issue in trying to improve Jewish-Muslim relations.

I’m 21 years old I’m a man. I was dating a Jewish girl for 5 months but she ended it. I go to synagogue but it’s mainly men that go. My synagogue is a store front synagogue in NYC. I’m on Jewish dating apps but I never match. I want to meet Jewish women and build a Jewish family. What should I do.

West coast & central time folks help me out!

I'm not observant or attending any synagogue but like to do the Shabbat blessings periodically.

How is tonight's kiddush prayer structured for both shabbat and Shemeni Atzeret? Regular shabbat? Or special holiday prayers?

EDIT: Thanks for the pointers. Found what I needed on the last page of my only siddur ("Gates of Prayer: The New Union Prayer Book") which is surprisingly difficult to access since it has no index.

This is hysterical

This year, for the first time in my life I think, I purchased a top-tier lulav and etrog set. I know, it’s a weird flex. YOLO.

It was $249 $199 and included a “deri lulav” (a swoll Israeli date palm lulav) and a top grade Moroccan etrog with pitom.

It’s a lovely etrog. The most beautiful etrog I’ve ever seen in person, much less owned. As far as I can tell it passes every standard for an אאא-grade Moroccan etrog, with the exception of “absolutely perfect symmetry from every angle” which just seems impossible anyway. Most of the tapered area around the pitom is straight-line conical, one spot curves the tiniest bit. The girdle and the chartreuse color are very desirable among Sephardim. Don’t come @ me with Yanover beauty standards.

But what insanity is this price tag? What do numbers even mean?

Does this mean that they actually put it on the sales floor thinking there was a chance it would go for that much? And then when it didn’t sell in time they used it for online order fulfillment?

I’ve never lived in NYC or LA and haven’t been ba’aretz for Sukkot yet. So maybe this is some kind of normal in those places?

The price tag is a surreal little detail that keeps itching at my brain.

Filed under look at my sukkah because it’s Sukkot themed. Obligatory Sukkah picture included for the tax.

For context: We live in Canada. I am a convert to Reform from Catholicism. My wife was raised Conservative and attended private Hebrew school and her family attended an Orthodox Shul.

We live in an area that has a small Jewish population, has a small Reform Shul and (of course) a Chabad. Our preference is for our daughter to receive a French education. Our neighbourhood has a public school with a great reputation and has a French Immersion program but it is not a guarantee that she would get into it (you sign up and they pick however many kids). She currently attends a full French daycare that is attached to a Catholic School. All of her friends will be attending the Catholic School, and she absolutely adores them. She talks nonstop about her friends and often asks to use our phones to look at pictures on the daycare app.

We aren’t very observant. We do kiddush every Friday and we observe high holy days and Pesach. My parents are still Catholic and celebrate Christmas, Easter, etc. We allow them to get her gifts and she gets to open them with her cousins. We really balance it.

Has anyone got any experience sending their kid to a Catholic school? Obviously she would be doing religion-based classes and at a young age she wouldn’t understand us telling her to “ignore it” and it could lead to confusion.

We are unsure what to do as we would like to prioritize our child being happy which in our eyes would be continuing to allow her to see her daycare friends as she continues to grow up.

edit to add: she will be going to Hebrew school on the weekend at our Synagogue. Our community is very small, we don’t have many families so no big centre and no, moving is not an option. Wife and I both have careers that we are thriving in.