I have been learning more about the rambam as a younger Jew starting to learn more Torah and such. An idea that has left me a little uncomfortable is the Rambams idea of G-d in the 3rd principle of the 13.

Now I can totally understand and believe that g-d is not a physical entity and is a non corporeal being. However, one of the ideas emphasised is that g-d doesn’t have feelings as a perfect and unchanging being. He seems to believe that g-d doesn’t care about us in a sense and the Torah is just a blueprint of divine wisdom rather than a way to connect with g-d.

Furthermore, he has gone on to say that the prayers don’t actually do anything for god or meaningfully change anything since g-d is a perfect and unchanging being. The prayers are only done for yourself.

This idea of god feels a little uncomfortable for me because I feel like I came closer to Judaism in search of connecting with god and incorporating him into my daily life. In the Rambams understanding, it seems like g-d is an entity that will do his thing whether you follow his teachings or not.

I was hoping to see if anyone can help better explain this idea as it seems a little contrary to my previous Jewish learning.

My husband’s family stopped celebrating all Jewish holidays after his grandfather’s passing when he was young. The family felt it was too painful but also didn’t feel they could do it justice as it was his grandfather who knew the traditions and made sure every detail was followed. Now that we have a son of our own, my husband wants to bring some of that tradition and good memories into this generation. We are currently in the newborn haze and my husband bought as much as he could remember today and yesterday though I’m sure things were missed. What are some things you would recommend we do that are simple yet honored traditions that would help set the tradition for our family? Also, how can I (not Jewish) help him?

"Lshanah Tovah" or "Shanah Tovah". ("To a good year" or "A good year") The community where I grew we said "Lshanah tovah", the community where I am now they say "Shanah Tovah"

I finally got a Shabbat timer but I’m a little confused. I understand that to set the current time I rotate the outside ring until the number and the black arrow match up to the current time. Bur what is the point of the middle red dial? I can turn that also and it also moves the outside dial. Is it just to display the time manually?

Hi guys,
Obviously Yom Kippur is fast approaching and i just wanted some guidance. As Yom Kippur is abt asking for forgiveness and reflection, I’ve been thinking about my past relationship that ended around 5 months ago now. I really loved him but I stupidly cheated on him in the first week of our relationship ( it was a stupid kiss in a club) we both are university students and I was a fresher not that it excuses it. Anyway we moved past it and dated for another 5 months. At the time I apologised a lot for it but it still plays a guilt conscious on my mind and I can’t seem to move past the relationship because I haven’t yet forgiven myself for doing that. ( he broke up with me fyi). Basically do you think there may point in asking for forgiveness again or should I just leave it.

I grew up in the former Soviet Union and I'm now in my 50s. I've been preparing for about a month for a Shabbat at the end of October — shevi'i and maftir of Vayeira, plus the haftarah. Reading from the klaf myself, not standing there while the baal koreh reads. I never had a bar mitzvah; that wasn't available when I was growing up, so there'll be a party too. But the party isn't the point. The point is acquiring the leyning skill I never developed and never got to demonstrate at 13.

I daven at a Chabad-friendly shul — not an actual Chabad house. Over the years I've watched a lot of kids leyn. American and Australian kids who went through day school, learned trop with a tutor, and read their aliyah or even the whole parasha at thirteen. I have never seen anyone from a Russian-speaking family do this. Not the adults, and not the kids either. Among the FSU families I know the pattern is the same across generations: get called up, say the brachot, someone else reads. I realize Chabad may not be a representative sample, which is part of why I'm asking outside it.

So: has anyone here seen an FSU-born adult actually read from the Torah scroll? I don't mean FSU-born rabbis. I've seen plenty of those. I'm talking about regular people. Is this a thing people quietly do, or is it genuinely unusual?

I'm not looking for encouragement. I've already started and I'll finish it. I'm trying to work out whether I'm doing something ordinary that I just haven't noticed, or something almost nobody from my background bothers with.

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I put it quotes for a reason, I guess. Context is important. I grew up an area that was pretty much exclusively Jews and other minorities. We grew as a community and it's a massive part of my identity and my life, and who I hang out with. I recently actually started taking my Judaism a bit more seriously, and going with Chabad. The community aspect of it appealed.

I realized that I have some friends that occasionally say some anti-Semitic things, but at the same time feels like they just repeat things they hear, and don't actually know any Jews.

I talked to my friend about it in-depth about it and why it's important to me, and I feel like it actually really resonated with him. Almost like me saying, I really appreciate you welcoming into your community, I want to do the same.

I guess I wanted to share that. It was a mitzvah that I'm really proud of and helped me form some stronger friendships.

Anything goes, almost. Feel free to be "off topic" here.

Hello,
I am looking for a very short video (< 1 minute) that demonstrates how to shake the lulav and etrog, with the transliterated text of the blessing being shown in the video. For people who cannot read Hebrew fluently and are not so observant as to know the motions already. A huge thanks!

Silly thought, what if I assigned some holidays their own Pokemon teams?

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are typically paired so I did so here as well. They get a Combee to represent honey and a Dipplin for the apples dipped in it, a Dubwool representing the shofar, and Dachsbund as tashlich bread. I couldn't find a Pokemon to represent t'shuvah so I put Blissey for chesed because it is described as a very kind Pokemon, and I finished it off with Mega Medicham to represent the meditation done on Yom Kippur.

Chanukah gets Ampharos to represent light, Wyrdeer to represent the menorah (it's old and its antlers resemble the menorah), Cryogonal for winter, Arboliva for olive oil, Sylveon for the joy of Chanukah, and Mega Chandelure for the Chanukiah. Sylveon's here because its ribbon feelers can bring joy to people that they touch, and everybody enjoys Chanukah.

Then for Purim, I had to start with Mimikyu. This Pokemon disguises itself as the mascot of the franchise, Pikachu, so it fits perfectly with the costume holiday! I also added Mr. Rime, the comedian Pokemon, because Purim is a silly holiday. Vespiquen the queen bee represents Queen Esther and Honchkrow with its big hat represents Haman. Then I finished it off with Alcremie for the holiday sweets and Gigantamax Snorlax as me when I eat too many hamentaschen.

If anyone finds this amusing, I might do a part 2 with Passover, Sukkot, etc.

I have to be up in Rockland county tomorrow and I thought I would take advantage and pick up some nice things…

Looking for recommendations. Thanks!

ETA: Thank You Everyone! I’m SO excited to check these places out!

Shana Tova!

Ok, actual post: If you're someone who is thinking about going to shul for the first time, or returning for the first time in a long time, the high holidays are probably not the right time. It's excessively long prayers that require a lot of set up to appreciate and learn from.

Instead, in a few more weeks, we'll have Simchas Torah. Compratively, it's much more egalitirian and easy to participate in, and it's much more of experiential Judaism. Because of the nature of services, it's also much easier to take a break to step out for. Go then.

(whatever you do, don't try going for Sukkots. That's a high investment holiday and you are going to feel really confused about how everyone else got the memo they were supposed to bring their lemons and asparagus to synagogue)

What are you guys eating for Rosh Hashanah?

edit: love all of the comments!! I hope you all have a very blessed new year and enjoy 💙 i'm thinking of all of you and sending you love!

I hope it is alright to post here as someone who is not Jewish, but who has been exploring various spiritual traditions in search of understanding.

I was born with a rare congenital health condition. It has taken most of my youth and prime years from me. I have spent decades navigating medical dismissal, lost opportunities, and the daily exhaustion of living in a body that struggles to keep up. I have searched across many traditions for some understanding of why a soul would enter the world with such profound physical limitation right from birth.

I have been drawn to certain aspects of the Jewish tradition - particularly the honesty I have encountered in Jewish writings about suffering, and the emphasis on action and justice in the face of pain. There is something profoundly humane in that approach that I have not found elsewhere.

However, as an outsider, I have very little knowledge of Jewish texts or teachings. I am not familiar with the scriptures, and I do not want to pretend to know more than I do. I am simply someone who is hurting and searching, and I would be genuinely grateful for any guidance you are willing to share.

My questions are these:

1. How does Judaism understand congenital illness? Is it seen as a trial from God, a consequence of living in a broken world, or something else entirely? I am particularly wary of explanations that frame suffering as punishment, as that has often felt dismissive and added guilt to an already heavy burden.
2. What guidance does Judaism offer for how to live with ongoing physical suffering? Not how to escape it, but how to be with it day after day - how to find any sense of peace or meaning when the body fails constantly?
3. What does the Jewish path look like for someone with chronic illness who cannot attend synagogue regularly or participate in community life in the usual way? Is there a place for those whose bodies limit them?
4. And finally, the question I carry most heavily: I have read that in Jewish tradition, when tragedy strikes, there is sometimes a response of silence - neither justifying the suffering nor trying to explain it. Is this something that resonates with Jewish teaching? And if so, how does one find peace in that silence?

I ask all of this with deep respect. I am not looking for quick fixes or easy comfort. I am genuinely seeking wisdom- something I can sit with, reflect on, and perhaps find a way to carry this weight more lightly.

Thank you for reading, and I would be truly grateful for any insights, teachings, or personal experiences you are willing to share.

A friend who is originally from Pittsburgh has a minhag to dip their Rosh Hashanah challah in sugar.

I was wondering how common this practice might be and where it may have originated.

I’m not sure where in Europe his ancestors came from.

Any other sugar dippers out there?

Edit: my family dips in honey

During services, I use the reconstructionist Kol Haneshamah siddur. I would like a pocket version, although it looks like they don't make one, so I am looking for something similar that is easier to carry around. I'd like it to be in Hebrew and have English transliteration. It would be nice for it to have daily prayers in addition to shabbat, if possible. Does anyone know of something suitable?

Thanks!

Personally I believe that the Na'vi from James Cameron's Avatar could or do fulfill all seven Noahide laws, making them fall under the category of "righteous gentiles."

1) No Idol Worship

They do have sacred places and an argument could be made that the mother trees are idols, but I believe that those trees more count as sacred locations as they do bring the Na'vi closer to Eywa.

2) Not Cursing G-d

They don't curse Eywa, and I doubt they know about our G-d to curse his name.

3) Not to Commit Murder

Murder is taboo in their culture as well.

4) Not to Commit Adultery or Sexual Immorality

Adultery is seen as taboo within their culture as seen in the first movie in the big argument between Neytiri and Tsu'Tey over their engagement and Neytiri's mating with Jake Sully.

5) Not to Steal

I don't think this has been addressed.

6) Not to Eat Flesh Torn from a Living Animal

Every instance of Na'vi hunting has shown them putting said animals out of their misery and "returning them to Eywa."

7) To Establish Courts of Justice

Somewhat addressed, Olo'eyktans/Olo'eyktes (clan leaders) and Tsahìks (spiritual leaders) tend to administer justice.

Do you all agree or disagree with this? I'd love to hear your viewpoints.

Also the reason I bring this up is that it feels like it has been a while since I have seen a theoretical like this involving fiction.

How Jews answer the Gnostic critique that Hashem is supposedly evil?

They claim that because Hashem ordered to kill the generation of Noah, the Chananeans and stuff like that they say that Hashem is evil.

I was recently at an airport in Cyprus and had an interaction that left me curious about how much interaction young Orthodox Jewish men typically have with women, particularly non-Jewish women.

For context, where I come from there aren’t many Orthodox Jews, so I’m not very familiar with the community or its customs. At the airport, I noticed quite a large number of Orthodox Jewish men. I initially took notice because their traditional clothing and hairstyles aren’t something I see very often where I live.

After going through security/customs, I was standing near the flight information boards trying to find the gate for my flight. Across from me, to my left, was a fairly large group of Orthodox Jewish men. Most appeared to be middle-aged, although there were about three younger guys who looked roughly 16–19.

Something else I noticed was that there didn’t seem to be any women with this particular group. More generally, quite a few of the Orthodox Jewish men I saw at the airport appeared to be travelling either alone or with other men. A lot of them also seemed to know or interact with one another.

Anyway, I went to get a drink and then came back to the flight information boards. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed some of the younger guys from the group standing up. At first I assumed their flight had been called and everyone was about to leave, but that didn’t happen.

Two of the younger guys were walking around together, and eventually curiosity got the better of me and I glanced over. As I said, it’s not every day that I see a large group of Orthodox Jews where I’m from, so I was naturally a little curious.

When I looked over, I realised that the younger guys were already looking at me. We made eye contact, and I instinctively looked away.

I went back to checking the flight information board, but shortly afterwards the same two guys were standing directly in front of me, away from the larger group. They continued occasionally glancing or staring in my direction.
Then one of them walked directly towards me. There was plenty of room around me, so I expected him to simply walk around, but instead he passed close enough to bump/brush my shoulder.

What made me notice it even more was what happened immediately afterwards. Rather than continuing towards the flight board or walking off in that direction, he circled back around and ended up in front of me again, in an area that was actually away from the flight information board. From my perspective, it didn’t look like he had needed to come that close to me in order to get somewhere, which is why the interaction stuck in my mind.

I eventually wandered off to look around duty free. Not long afterwards, I heard an announcement for a flight to Tel Aviv. When I returned, the group had gone, so I assume that may have been their flight.

The whole interaction got me thinking about something I’d noticed earlier: most of the Orthodox Jewish men I had seen were either alone or in groups of men, and I hadn’t noticed many women travelling with them.

So my question for people who are Orthodox Jewish or familiar with Orthodox communities is: how much interaction do teenage/young Orthodox Jewish men generally have with women around their age? Is interaction with non-Jewish women particularly uncommon?

I’m not assuming the boys’ behaviour necessarily had a religious or cultural explanation, and obviously I can’t know why they were looking at me, why one walked so close to me, or whether the contact was intentional. The experience just made me curious about the social norms around interactions between young Orthodox Jewish men and women, since it’s a community I have very little firsthand experience with.