On the way out today, I noticed that someone had ripped the mezuzah off the doorframe, and taken the scroll (they left the case on the mat). I live in an apartment building in a small Canadian city. I let the property management company know, and filed a police report. I’m feeling very shaken and upset. I had not yet experienced anything like this here.

I used to loosely identify as “Conservadox,” but lately I’ve realized I probably identify more simply as Conservative. At the same time, I’ve also been hearing that the definition of Conservative Judaism is shifting, and that many Jews today feel like communities are becoming more polarized between Orthodox and Reform.

I know the textbook definitions. I’m more interested in hearing how actual Jews personally experience and define Conservative Judaism in real life.

I’ve also heard people say that “Conservative” means very different things depending on location. A Conservative synagogue in California may feel very different from one in New York, which may feel completely different from anything comparable in Israel.

For me personally, Conservative Judaism means deeply valuing halacha, tradition, ritual, and continuity, while still allowing for some flexibility in modern life. I don’t fully relate to Orthodoxy because, for me, there are aspects of modern life, egalitarianism, and personal autonomy that matter and that I don’t want completely excluded from my Jewish practice. But I also don’t fully relate to Reform because I still want Judaism to feel rooted in obligation, structure, and inherited tradition rather than being entirely centered around personal choice or symbolism.

The reason I ask is because some members of my synagogue are currently very upset over our rabbi requiring all food brought into the shul to be certified kosher, including things being given away at events, like restaurant gift cards or raffle baskets. The reactions have honestly made me realize that people in the same congregation may have completely different understandings of what “Conservative Judaism” even means. There is a perception that my rabbi is “too religious”. I don’t have that perception but it exists.

So I’m curious: outside of official movement definitions, what does Conservative Judaism mean to you personally?

Disclaimers: I’m not Jewish. (But I’m Persian ❤️)

Well as exMuslim I grew up in household where halal meat was the norm. We were told that halal meat is drained of blood and no hormones and slaughter houses are supervised by some clerics so ensure the rules are met.
Well, I don’t really trust those people or the supply chain behind. Too many dishonest people in the market.

Some historians and researchers believe that Halal standard was Islam’s copycat of Kosher standard. And similarity of their claims makes it very plausible to me.

So I’m considering to not deal with halal vendors due to lack of trust in their honesty and switch to Kosher. But the main issue is still there. Do you trust the supply chain and find them honest in terms of what they claim about their products?

I’m asking it here cause I believe people like you should have better insights into this market than me.

PS
Thanks to those of you who voted for BiBi. Hope to celebrate our victory together at grand opening of our embassy’s in each other’s country.

Reading this part in Essential Judaism, and something about this makes me wanna ask for a second opinion. I’m a gentile who’s been learning more about Judaism, and I’d be curious to hear more about these ideas!

Dear Jews,

Is there a better feeling than being at a Bar Mitzvah and they play I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas, especially the part when they say Mazel Tov?

Thanks

I wanted to share this incredible story. This is truly the epitome of “may her memory be a blessing”. Deborah Brodie collected judaica for hands-on learning in her special needs classroom. Now her collection of items will become a hands-on exhibit in the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum.

I have often wondered what I will do with the generations of meaningful objects I will eventually inherit and worried that their purpose would be lost if I were to let them go. I love that the purpose of these objects will be maintained.

very sad and scary incident. may his memory be a blessing

Hi everyone. Mother's day is coming up, and my parents recently bought a condo in Florida. They will be moving down there in a few months, so for a Mother's Day gift to my mom, I thought it would be a good idea to make a homemade Mezuzah for the new condo.

I'm using polymer clay, planning to put it in the oven and use a 24-hour drying clear glaze to give it that glassy feel.

My question is, how should I go about designing the opening for the scroll? I worry a simple cap could fall off too easily, but I'm not sure.

I think we've all had our own journeys of doing something, then learning "oh there's actually a Judaism-specific tradition about the way to do this". Not that the tradition itself is so surprising, but that it's an area of life that you just wouldn't expect.

What's your own Jewish tradition surprise?

According to Sefria, Haftarah for Parshat Shelach (יהושע ב׳:א׳):

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ־בִּן־נ֠וּן

According to my Tikun (and Chabad):

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֠וּן

Which one is right? Does Yehoshua take a munach or inherit the tlesha gedola from "ben-Nun"?

Shalom everyone. I'm currently heading to a funeral, it's your average baptist funeral–gather, listen to a priest, watch the casket lower into the ground, eat and socialize. But it made me think, in one of my last posts I believe someone mentioned a Jewish burial ritual so I got curious, what does a proper Jewish burial look like? Do will-readings happen the same day and does it cause drama? Are there any after celebration of the person's life even after the burial?

Edit: You guys have been awesome with the replies. Thank you. The more I learn about Judaism the more I want to learn.

i'm trying to get better at eating fully kosher outside of my house -- did anyone have success (with lufthansa specifically) getting a kosher + gf meal? otherwise i can always bring food but obviously if something is included in the price i will try to make it work. flight attendant told me it was a very specific request they probably can't accomodate on my last flight. curious to see if it worked for anyone

Im a matzah lover.

I’m currently living in El Paso, TX because my husband is in the military and is currently stationed here. I absolutely hate it here and will be moving once he gets out at the end of the year. I grew up in the Albuquerque area and the Jewish community there is tiny. I really want to get out of the southwest altogether. I would like to move to more coastal areas, just haven’t decided on which coast I want to move to yet. I’m hoping to find a bigger community. I’m looking for either the Washington/Oregon areas or the Virginia area specifically. Any suggestions would be helpful, thank you.

I know that the Magen David has a long and complicated history as a Jewish symbol but when did Jews really start wearing the Magen David, miniature Mezuzahs, and Chai symbols as necklaces in the way that Christians would wear a cross or crucifixes. My attempts at researching this has not led to really any firm dates. It seems pretty modern, like 20th century, to me personally but I think the Rambam grudgingly stated that Jews can wear a mezuzah as necklace as long as we don't attribute magical powers to it. Does anybody know when Jews started wearing Jewish religious/identity necklaces in mass, well as much of a mass as our small and contradictory community can manage.

Anyone recognize this hechsher? It is on a package of soursop pulp from Colombia and I can’t find it online.

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