I lived in Europe in Summer 2017, a whirlwind of experiences and attempted-expat life (not meant-to-be at the time) that often seems like a three-month, 10-country dream. It was that summer I first visited Berlin, some 25 years after first trip to Europe. That summer, 1997, I landed in Frankfurt…

From the Right and the Left, Rewriting History and Antisemitism Amid Russia’s Rush to Ignite WWIII My heart breaks for Ukraine right now. A reckless, lying dictator trying to hold onto power and restore a Soviet empire has invaded a beautiful, independent country—one with a long history of violence, specifically…

Today and every day, #fuckantisemitism. And because you can’t even say that without hostility in response, also fuck: occupation, nationalism, racism, Hamas, rockets, and Netanyahu. Shabbat Shalom. Peace. Stay safe. T-shirt by Noah McBride. https://www.facebook.com/doingjewish/posts/319948876167337

Part of a series on my Jewish Journey, by Bobby Apperson Nefesh of Los Angeles and the Nefesh Band; our spring fundraiser includes funding for our DEBUT ALBUM of beloved music and you can help make that happen! TAP THE IMAGE TO DONATE In 2019 I wrote on picking a…

Earth Day: We are all stewards. Happy Earth Day, and take care of her, not just because Torah says to. Over at the Instagram: give us a follow there if you haven’t yet! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Newish Jewish | Amos (@doingjewish)

American Genocides: Native American genocide (continual, unacknowledged)African slave trade and Black oppression (unacknowledged, as of yet atoned)Unnecessary nuclear bombings of Japan used solely as tests and a warning to Russia, 1945D*n*ld Tr*mp’s ignoring a pandemic to let it kill his political enemies, then actively spreading it, 2020 (emphasis on highly…

We need this reminder right now: Post-Election Slow-Motion Coup Madness Trump’s face says it all here. Not only couldn’t he make eye contact 4 years ago, he’s making “apology face” and pursing his lips. He’s ashamed, and he knows what he really is. Obama, meanwhile, looked him in the eye…

Well, I did it! I had my Beit Din a couple weeks ago. I’ve been slammed since with these High Holy Days and all the work that entails with Nefesh, my buoyant, vibrant, supportive eastside Los Angeles community. After being slightly anxious way back in March to do this thing…

Passover is one of the highlights of the Jewish calendar and nearing the home stretch of my Jewish journey to conversion, I was truly looking forward to experiencing it for the first time as an adult. The banter, the torah, the weird foods—the gathering is the biggest thing American Jews…

It’s peak Netflix in general, but also for Jewish and Haredi content. Here’s what I learned. One of Us Netflix, 2017 (Yiddish, English) Netflix documentary One of Us highlights the plights of ultraorthodox Jews who fled the community and like Esty in Unorthodox (below), didn’t exactly leave easily. One lives…

A great activist I know on another great activist’s passing. I feel so much this even as a not-quite-officially Jew, but a practicing one on the cusp of making it official. Shabbat shalom, article link below. https://twitter.com/doingjewish/status/1266106245880016897?s=20

A little torah (study) for Shavuot follows; Shavuot is the Jewish holiday that once was a harvest festival and now is an all-night, dairy-binging, torah-studying celebration of Sinai, learning, and Jewish converts. That’s me! And this will complete a full year’s cycle of Jewish holidays for me. Conversion date: TBD!…

Listening to people steeped in privilege complain of their oppression and compare it to slavery is particularly hard if you’re a person of color. It’s difficult to process, too, as a queer person, or a Jewish or Muslim person. Freedom ends when you harm others. “Freedom” means something radically different…

Today marks 40 days in quarantine for me give or take Trader Joe’s visits, a small work move, a big house move to a different county, and a couple clients at the very start. And like many I’m anxious, angry, tired all the time, and trying to accept the new…

Just about the last big in-person event I went to PC / BC* was Purim with my Nefesh community. What is Purim? I’m glad you asked! PC / BC Pre-/Before Corona Purim is the springtime festival celebrating the story in the Torah’s Book of Esther about the near destruction of…

Looking for somewhere to “go” for Pesach? Maybe you’ve heard of Nefesh in LA but it was too far? It’s my amazing community and I’m glad and honored to be helping them out with social media and support. We come together a week from tonight on Zoom. Kids Jam 5pm,…

https://twitter.com/HillelIntl/status/1243247079755075586?s=20 Link: https://www.heyalma.com/how-to-make-your-quarantine-as-jewish-as-possible/

Uncertainty. We’re all united in it right now, are we not? My Rabbi Susan Goldberg spoke so well of it from our recent Nefesh community Zoom call. Uncertainty is bewildering and draining and we’re all going through it right now, for a very long period of time. We don’t know…

Post from 2019, way back yonder before we nearly had WW3 with Iran and a President was impeached but nothing happened Community Mikveh at American Jewish University Highlights! Toured the mikvah where I convert in March, the day after my 40thLots of feels about itFinished my required Intro to Judaism…

Danielle: Wait so, are you converting? Yes. Eat this giant picnic.

A lovely Sunday stroll on the westside resulted in a series of serendipitous events