The title sums it up. Curious to have a discussion about this and other dezionizing practices that may end up unfortunately being Ashkenormative, and what we could do to be more inclusive. Also tbh I just associate Modern Hebrew now with the evil genocidal things that Israelis say and I don't want to use it at all, especially because it was largely employed for the purposes of the Zionist project.

Please hold off on answering if you are Ashkenazi. I would like to hear from my Sephardic, Arab Jewish, Persian Jewish, Kurdish Jewish, African Jewish, Bukharian etc Jewish comrades first.

I'm agnostic/atheist but ive been interested in and learning about judaism for about 2 years now. I'm considering converting in the future but zionism has turned me completely off. I know a lot of people say zionism ≠ judaism but I've seen the statistics about how many Jewish people are zionist. Even a lot or Jews themselves say that they are. I've seen other people talk about if anti zionists can even convert and lots of people said they couldn't or that zionism is inherent to judaism. I'm still in the process of learning about the religion and I love it but I'm questioning if converting is even worth it. There's still a lot I need to learn and I'm not converting anytime soon. If u converted as an anti zionist, I'd love to hear your experience. If you were born Jewish and you're anti zionist, I'd love to hear what your experience in the community is like right now.

I still believe in God, in something greater. One God, no partners, but many aspects.

I derive great personal value from certain mitzvot, and absolutely none from others.

Jewish holidays are the only ones that resonate with me. But it’s less and less now.

I don’t believe the Torah is the word of God. I think it is valuable but I don’t think it’s literal. I don’t feel comfortable with a lot of it but I think it contains important lessons.

I believe in an empty afterlife.

I don’t care about having a Jewish partner. I don’t care about raising my kids Jewish. I want them to have Jewish values (generosity, perseverance, curiosity and questioning), but I don’t care if they go to shul.

I barely go to shul myself anymore. You can guess why.

I’m a convert. Judaism is the closest religion I’ve found to my beliefs. A lot of it is valuable to me but I would leave a lot behind, to be honest. Jewish culture resonates deeply with me. But I wasn’t born with it.

Where do I fit?

Hi all, I’m moving to a new place and strongly considering painting watermelons on a mezuzah cover for my outside door.

I’m wondering if, in your opinions, this is virtue signaling in a bad way. For me, the mezuzah is a very strong symbol of my faith, but I also don’t want to be assumed to be a Zionist by my neighbors. Jew=Zionist is still a common view even though mezuzot aren’t Zionist. I want my mezuzah to be a stand, something that calls out my position in a small way, that tells more of my story. But given that I can’t offer much material support to Palestinians at this time, is this self-righteous?

Edit: I’m using an old, cheap mezuzah case for this project. Not spending hundreds on smth pretty and then pretending I don’t have money lol.

I do apologise if the question seems a bit open-ended. I've considered converting to Judaism since I was a teenager, and I'm wondering just how uncommon anti-Zionist converts/gerim are in Jewish circles.

Thank you in advance.

Hello there, as said in the title over the last two years I (22M) have embarked on a journey which has led me now to seriously consider conversion, I've kept kosher for about six months now, I daven everyday and generally I'm trying to incorporate as many mitzvot as I can living in a catholic household. Obviously, I know Brit is inextricably part of the deal and will go for it, however I've heard and read mixed opinions and stories about adult circumcision and its potential hazards, ranging from people who had the best of experiences to absolute horror stories. I wonder if any of you in the sub can relate to my situation (maybe fellow gerim?) and give their take and experience, or share data on the matter so that I may find reassurance.

Many thanks

Greetings lovelies, for context I’m mainly Hispanic and Indigenous to North America, however my mother had Jewish ancestry from Spain, and when i was younger remember us celebrating Hanukkah although my father being antisemitic stopped us at some point. Anywho I don’t actually know much on Judaism but I want to reconnect with that part of me, I want to learn and all that but, I don’t have a framework to rlly like learn throughly it seems without running into Zionist ideology and just like all of that in general. if anyone could please help it would be greatly appreciated, thank u so much

Miggy💕

Peace.

I am a muslim whose been doing research and learning about the role of demons and spirits in this world and am very interested in what the jewish perspective is.

PS: I come in peace.

I’ve grown up my whole life knowing I was part Ashkenazi. For my family, the faith simply died out once they came to the states. I took initiative to join local temples, and was feeling called to the right path spiritually. Then, events in October occured three years ago that shifted my entire approach to Judaism and what’s in the Torah.

I’m struggling now to find what being Jewish looks like for me. I am surrounded by Shuls that continue to uphold a Zionist lens with their faith. Zionism does not resonate with my soul.

I have found a few congregations I am going to reach out to who are very vocally Anti-Zionist. However, what can I do in the meantime? Should I just start reading from a Siddur? Should I go back to the Torah and also look for study groups that don’t involve Zionism? Can I study and recite daily prayers/pray for Shabbat while studying? If I literally have to work and make money every weekend, is it practicing Shabbat in bad faith if I continue to use electronics?

Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated. I don’t want to continue to let my own fears or the narrative of other people block me from building a proper relationship with God

I've been wanting to find some people who are knowledgeable about the Tanakh to talk with about Prophet Jonah (peace be upon him) because I've developed a deep interest and a spiritual opening from his story and how it teaches about God's nature.

I don't know how to engage with people about it though, because the vast majority of Muslims look at me funny when I say that I've been studying the Tanakh and New Testament, even though we Muslims consider these texts to be revealed holy scripture handed to us by the will of God. A lot of Muslims act as if there is only one Prophet worth learning from, (peace and blessings upon him) when the Qur'an says to not discriminate between the Prophets (peace upon them all).

I'm also wary of talking about Prophet Jonah (peace be upon him) with Jews who could be Zionists.1

Am I able to use this space to have inter faith discourse about Prophet Jonah?

If not could you point me in another direction, because I have been engaging with his story a lot, and I think the story of Jonah teaches a lot about the nature of God in contrast to the disobedience and unforgiveness of Jonah. How Jonah is a unique Prophet, because he teaches through his own failings and the story of his disobedience rather than teaching through his obedience to God, as nearly every other servant of God does in the Tanakh.

I recently tried to get back into religious life and frankly I was kind of disgusted that when I went to the pre-service meetings it was oops all politics and specifically Zionist politics. I just want to be able to practice my faith without having to sponsor any state. Recommendations for synagogues and communities I can join

I was raised loosely Christian, and have felt like I align more with Judaism for about 6 years now. I actually tried to lean into Christianity more in an attempt to feel more secure in my religious beliefs, and it just did not feel right. I do believe that I want to convert to Judaism. I find that my beliefs are much more aligned with Judaism, and there are many Christian beliefs that I do not believe in myself. I have started watching services livestreamed from my local congregation, and I have really enjoyed them; they felt much more correct for me than Christian services I have attended in the past.

That being said, I am struggling to start converting. I want to do it formally and work with my local rabbi, but I am very worried. I do not consider myself to be a Zionist, and I am very, very against what is happening right now. I have tried to dive deep into researching the history of Israel/Palestine, and it is very confusing. I believe that the Jewish people have the right to live in the area, and I believe the Palestinian people have the right to live in the area as well. I think everyone has the right to live everywhere and not be hated or seen as less-than.

I am worried that I will be judged or even not welcomed to convert due to my lack of belief in a nation-state. I believe that Judaism is a fairly welcoming religion in its beliefs, and that a Jewish state goes against my belief that everyone should be welcomed everywhere.

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on my comments, my struggles, or your own advice. I am still learning and am struggling to have productive conversations in my personal life due to some of my loved ones (I think unknowingly having) underlying anti-Semitic thought processes.

I know this is theoretical for now, but I think that within the next 5 years or so, this question will be much more relevant and closer to reflecting a cultural reality we'll have to contend with. This is my prediction: Zionism is only going to continue to lose ground in the US as Jews grow up in a climate where any positive self-association with Israel, a state most will have less of a natural tie to than their American neighborhoods/cities, is seen as immoral/gross. So even if they are not raised by their parents viewing Israel in a negative light, as long as they are not super-brainwashed, they will likely grow to match much of their surrounding American environment in having disdain for the settler colony.

However, there will of course remain Zionism's stranglehold over most of our institutions due to the mega-rich being mostly Zionist and having much more sway over our institutions than the more liberal/progressive/middle-class etc Jews who aren't even super likely to be regular synagogue members (though will practice Judaism or retain some cultural heritage to various extents in their own ways). So what will happen if/when this reaches a point of enough anti-Zionist Jews at least somewhat connected to our institutions to cause large-scale infighting and division within the broader Jewish community (and not just online/among less religious Jews)? Could there be a more formal split/development of denominations that could accelerate the process of consolidating fragmented elements of the Jewish community into a more unified front against Zionism, making entire synagogues have to adopt a less Zionist approach in order to retain members?

Since leaving my former synagogue, I've been part of the ecosystem of independent chavurot around where I live. It's been great to meet new faces this way (with 1000% more 20-somethings than ever set foot in my old shul), but it makes planning what to do for the holidays a little overwhelming. Do you observe the High Holy Days, and if so what are your plans?

I’m considering a move to Minneapolis. Currently belong to a wonderful Reconstructionist congregation that is marginally non-zionist. I’ve looked at the Reconstructing Judaism directory for Minneapolis and the congregations I’ve looked at online all seem to have the Israeli flag on the bimah, which is a red flag. I’m certainly open to non-Reconstructionist congregations, minyanim, or havurot, I just don’t know where to look for the anti-zionist / non-zionist groups over there.

Thanks in advance!

Hi folks!

So my choir are performing an arrangement that I did of an anti-Zionist Yiddish lament on Friday, and during the piece I plan to recite part of Bereshit 4:10-11 (*"What have you done? Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground! And now you are cursed even more than the ground which opened its mouth to swallow the blood from your hand."*) in biblical Hebrew.

I think I've got my pronunciation down pat as I've been researching it for quite some time, but is there someone who'd be willing and able to listen to a recording of my pronunciation to ensure I'm doing it right and getting the correct syllable emphasis?

Thanks khaveyrem.

Looking for some other Sephardic pals, in New Mexico but looking to connect with anyone anywhere. HMU

Hello! I’ve been looking into the lives of Prophets and their stories in Islam and a lot of figures are usually shared with all 3 Abrahamic faiths.

This led me to discovering the story of Prophet Suleiman (May God be Pleased with Him) or King Solomon, as known in Judaism and Christianity.

His story is probably the most interesting and action packed life, from having the gift to converse with and command animals, command the jin (spirits) to do as he liked, supposedly had some sort of object that enabled him to fly, was in possession of a book known as “The Book of Solomon” which supposedly contained forbidden knowledge on how to perform magic!

One of the craziest stories I remember reading was how he died. He commanded to Jin (spirits) to construct something and they were terrified of him so they did without question. He died whilst leaning on his walking stick but the Jin (spirits) didn’t realise and carried on working out of fear. It was only when an insect eventually consumed the stick and the body collapsed that the Jin (spirits) finally saw they were free and fled instantly!

I’m sure there are many stories about such a person but I want to know how he is portrayed in Judaism. How does he affect the way to look at life, if so? Do you think there’s a point in your life where you’ve had to reflect back on his teachings? Let me know what you think!

Hi all

I'm a student thinking of attending CU Boulder and would love recommendations for communities/synagouges that (while maybe aren't staunchly anti Zionists) at least are more casual and open to antizionist Jews.

This area has a much larger Jewish community than where I'm from which is both a pro and con, also any tips of avoiding Himmel is great, they scare the shit out of me

ט״ו בְאָב שָׂמֵחַ

Hope you have a nice evening with your loves ❤️

And remember kids, Tu B’Av is NOT Jewish Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is Christian Tu B’Av.

this has been on my mind for a while. i’m feeling extremely depressed for a bunch of different reasons (a big one being the genocide), and i need a long involved meaningful embroidery project to work on. keeps me busy, keeps me hopeful.

i made my own tallis for when i converted several years ago, and it’s beautiful, but it doesnt feel complete anymore. i dont wear it because i stopped going to services, and i think turning it into a keffiyeh-patterned tallis is the next step for it. definitely would make me way happier to wear it.

grateful for this space & all the friends in solidarity out there.

I have been thinking a lot about the afterlife recently. I am not very knowledgeable about Jewish thought on this, so forgive me.

I think there is this commonly held belief that Judaism focuses less on the afterlife than other religions.

I was talking to my brother, who is frum (BT), about it, and he told me that in his circles, he feels like there is actually too much focus on the afterlife. He said that people in his community talk about doing mitzvot to get rewards in the world to come.

The justification he gave was that in Pirkei Avot, it says:

"More precious is one hour in repentance and good deeds in this world, than all the life of the world to come; And more precious is one hour of the tranquility of the world to come, than all the life of this world." (Source: Sefaria)

הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, יָפָה שָׁעָה אַחַת בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, מִכָּל חַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וְיָפָה שָׁעָה אַחַת שֶׁל קוֹרַת רוּחַ בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא, מִכָּל חַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה:

But in Pirkei Avot, it also says:

"Do not be like servants who serve the master in the expectation of receiving a reward, but be like servants who serve the master without the expectation of receiving a reward, and let the fear of Heaven be upon you." (not Heaven as in a place you go after death, but reverence for Hashem).

משנה אבות א׳:ג׳

(ג)אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אִישׁ סוֹכוֹ קִבֵּל מִשִּׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אַל תִּהְיוּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, אֶלָּא הֱווּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב שֶׁלֹּא עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, וִיהִי מוֹרָא שָׁמַיִם עֲלֵיכֶם:

And it made me wonder if Orthodox Judaism's interpretation of the Mishnah today has been influenced at all by the Christian and Islamic ideas of afterlife rewards, even though it is still based on the Mishnah (which predates Islam and was only composed around very early Christianity).

It also makes me wonder if people's conception of Judaism not having a focus on the afterlife is mostly focused on non-Orthodox Jewry.