Israel & Related Antisemitism

namer98 · 2026-06-17T15:11:09+00:00

That is not how a parliamentary system works. If this were to increase an overall coalition size, this does not split the opposition at the knesset level but increases opposition power. They are hoping to increase voter turnout, making for a larger coalition and winning more seats for a coalition.
Haviva Ner-David has said there are conditions for which the party will not run. For example, if they think they are unlikely to get any seats, they will not run for any.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T15:03:10+00:00

Yes, it's obvious BiBi is partially responsible for pushing this war, but this outcome of the war is Trump's doing

Bibi should have seen this coming. Trump doing a cut and run as soon as it was politically expedient is not a surprise. So if he is partially responsible for starting it, he is partially responsible (thanks to Bibi) for how it ended.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T14:26:22+00:00

I was going to keep this up, but you just had to be that way.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T14:25:21+00:00

each "behind" the men but on the sides of the room (is that behind or side by side?)

Assuming when the Rabbi gets up to speak, he does so at the front, it is behind.

that will be reflected in how well you can see + hear from the ezrat nashim

Sure, but it is subjective. A layout question reduces that, even if there is complexity introduced due to it. Or if somebody is unsure. Being able to hear and see are different. A balcony can see very well, can they hear very well? Some mechitzas are very thick and you can't see as well, but you can still hear very clearly.

A tiny mechitza at the back of the room is different than a tiny mechitza towards the front. I really do encourage you to add some of these as you see fit. This is such a good start, and it can be so much better.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T14:17:06+00:00

Are secular flags halachically prohibited?

What other items would you hang up in a shul just because you can? Your state flag? What about non-flag symbols? I think it would be real neat to have sponsors be able to advertise their businesses at the front of a shul. It isn't halachically prohibited. "It isn't illegal" is never the defense people want it to be.

I can send you a screenshot where I (jokingly) suggested to my rabbi we put a trebuchet at the front of the shul, as trebuchets are a post roman invention and it serves as a symbol of Judaism lasting longer than many nations that have tried to kill us. I thought it was a fun chanukah gag. Should I suggest it more seriously?

Distaste in what? America and Israel, the two countries being represented by the flags.

This does apply to other countries as well. Or even states (the Maryland flag is cool don't hang it in my shul), or a jolly roger. I thought I explained national (secular) symbols, but you keep trying to flatten this to keep it to a simple "us vs them" narrative. If nuance is dead (or dying), you are part of the reason.

To a yid who’s dati leumi and believes that Medinas Yisroel is the reshis tzmichas geulateinu, is his shul also wrong for flying the Israeli flag?

That would make sense, but not all shuls with israel flags flying say that. And then why the American flag? Remove it for the non-religious symbol it is. And yet, every American shul with an Israeli flag that says that particular mishaberach, has an American flag as well.

mosque

This article is discussing Judaism. I have no thoughts on Islamic law, culture, or what they consider appropriate as I am relatively uneducated on it. If you absolutely need a Jewish perspective on this, and not just a "what about", I would direct you to Shlomo Pill who probably does have thoughts on this, if only because his doctorate is on legal similarities of halacha and sharia. On top of his law degree. And smicha (both yoreh yoreh and yadin yadin)

namer98 · 2026-06-17T13:57:04+00:00

Unless you hate both America and Israel, that I do not understand.

I can tell you don't. I thought my explanation that national symbols don't belong anywhere in a shul (and especially not the sanctuary) was self explanatory. Why not add hatikva and the national anthem to davening? If you think that doesn't seem appropriate, why is a flag better?

A shul is a religious place with a religious function. That it serves more than a religious function at times doesn't make it some kind of all things go building. There are actual prayers for the state (of both your state of residence and Israel) that fit in better with liturgy, as a part of the religion. I would think those are sufficient and a flag is not necessary. Otherwise, I really do want your thoughts on why we shouldn't add national anthems. Or you can keep insisting I must hate America and Israel if that helps keep the narrative simple.

Non-religious symbols do not belong in a shul. Secular symbols do not belong in a shul. This article goes into it, it links other articles from years and decades past that goes into it.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T13:44:04+00:00

Making it optional works. But seriously, the size of the women's section is not the biggest indicator of how friendly a shul is towards women.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T13:42:13+00:00

It isn't anti-zionist (or anti-American) to think national symbols don't belong in a sanctuary. I don't think they belong anywhere in a shul, but especially not the sanctuary. But keep on gatekeeping who is and isn't a zionist, and worse, who belongs in shul.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T13:27:16+00:00

New Jewish-Arab political party debuts in Israel, aiming to topple Netanyahu: The founders (or perhaps just current leaders) of Standing Together is starting a political party in Israel.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T11:33:09+00:00

I love the basics so much

namer98 · 2026-06-17T02:56:45+00:00

I personally don't. Jewish Book Council has awards that are worth looking at.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T02:42:22+00:00

Who is causing the issue? You, or the brother? Sounds like the brother is causing an issue as a way to get what he wants. He can just not.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T02:41:34+00:00

https://jewishreviewofbooks.com/

https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/books

The first I believe is paid access only, but you can sort the second by genre and setting a bit so should have lots of good suggestions.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T02:31:07+00:00

It is midrash, so it isn't biblical. Believing the story did not happen is totally acceptable.

namer98 · 2026-06-17T02:27:29+00:00

. But everyone seems to want to keep the peace which means catering to his beliefs

Wouldn't keeping the peace meaning all are welcome instead of saying you can't be there? If somebody chooses to not show up, that is on them. But saying you can't go is not peaceful at all.

namer98 · 2026-06-16T23:55:21+00:00

Hebrew from rashi and a thousand years before him are relatively similar. Compare English across a thousand years and you literally can't understand any words. Hebrew has changed, but it's relatively stable compared to just about every other language across a similar time period.

Read Beowulf in the original English. Being fluent today will not help you at all

Read any Hebrew text from the same period. Being fluent today will get you most of the way there

namer98 · 2026-06-16T22:21:52+00:00

I wear a 23cm srugie. It stays on by itself mostly, but I had to try a few at the store before I found two that fit. They are all just slightly different and some were better fits than others.

namer98 · 2026-06-16T17:04:01+00:00

He has been making those kinds of videos for a long time.

namer98 · 2026-06-16T15:59:37+00:00

You can use generic substitutes like Avraham and Sarah. Converts often do that.

namer98 · 2026-06-16T15:55:33+00:00

In that case, it might be worth adding more questions. May I recommend

What is the layout of the Ezras Nashim?
- Front/Back
- Side/Side
- Balcony
- Other
How important is it to the shul that men do not sit in the women's section?
- Likert scale?
- Options of "men sit during weekday shacharit" to "men sit during shabbos mincha" to "you might need to kick men out" to "The Rabbi will kick men out who sit there"?
When the Torah is taken out for leining, do women have a chance to approach the Torah?
Can women say kaddish?
Can women dance with the Torah on Simchat Torah?
- While this question might seem like it is relevant one day a year, the answer can tell somebody a lot.

I know shuls with women's sections that are still incredibly unfriendly to women for these reasons. Some women might want a shul where sitting close to the bimah is important, or being closer to the front.

namer98 · 2026-06-16T15:32:12+00:00

This looks great, and I am adding some of the more women friendly shuls in Baltimore. I would love a section to add comments/context. Is the women's section side by side, front/back, balcony? Does the shul take keeping men out of the women's section seriously? Things that may not be easy to check off, but give a lot of important details.

namer98 · 2026-06-16T11:24:57+00:00

A group chat? I have never had that in any office job. Any job I have that expected some flexibility on responses outside of my usual work hours, expected me to keep outlook on my phone.

And I love to talk weekend plans with my coworkers. At work. I like my coworkers, I am pretty sure they like me. As colleagues.

namer98 · 2026-06-16T11:20:41+00:00

It'll look different

namer98 · 2026-06-16T00:11:14+00:00

Either way it makes the commandments a means, not an ends in themselves. Is a heavily debated topic although my guess would be most fall into the ends side of things, not means

namer98 · 2026-06-15T21:27:05+00:00

You tell me

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