Thank you. I'm one of your new subscribers. Eight years ago I discovered I was donor conceived and that my deceased biological father was Jewish. So I am not Jewish but my paternal heritage is. I am very lucky that my late bioDad's family have accepted me wholeheartedly and with a love that I fully return. I don't take it for granted. I now class myself as having three families -my maternal family, the family of the lovely (deceased) Dad who brought me up as his own, and my new biological paternal family. The years since discovery have been spent learning with unquenchable thirst about my surprise heritage and about Judaism. My "new family" have been more than generous in helping me to learn - including me and my husband at a glorious Passover seder and on a wonderful occasion while travelling in the USA, over Shabbat. On both occasions I was moved to tears... But we all live far from each other and in some cases on different continents, so these things cannot be regular events. The family I have raised with my husband ( three adult children) isn't really interested in knowing more about this heritage which is also theirs, so this is something I largely have to do on my own even though, as you rightly say Judaism is so much about family life. I live in the UK and there is no Jewish community anywhere near me either. Coming to all this in my 50's has been a thing! So anything - anything you care to talk about is great as far as I am concerned. Thanks once again!
Dear Jo, what an incredible story - and of course, not an unusual one. Reconstituting your identity at this point of your life (and in the lives of your family and loved ones) is both an incredible challenge and opportunity. I am so proud of you for moving into this with such wisdom and grace. Isolation from Jewish community can be so hard and yet it is a reality for so many and I hope we can support each other here ❤️ Feel free to put any questions in the comments - I happily answer any where I can. I look forward to getting to know you better! Thank you for joining A Small Sanctuary.
I'm not Jewish myself, but your videos have been a huge help in understanding my friend's path in returning to Judaism. I have enjoyed learning so many things and concepts that are completely new to me. Where I live in rural Oklahoma it is extremely rare to encounter anyone that is Jewish, and I have had very little exposure to it.
Thank you so much - I am so glad my videos are helpful for understanding your friend. I’m glad to have you follow along and learn more. Say Hi to Oklahoma for me :-)
This is nice - in that I know nothing/not much/not enough about the Jewish community, but you seem like the person to enlighten me! For me - a mix of the contents you describe. Interested to learn more about Judaism, but also how that translates into actually living in a Jewish life.
This is super helpful feedback - thank you! I’m so glad people who are curious about Judaism are finding the channel. Makes my work worthwhile. I am very grateful for your comment and glad you’re here.
I really enjoy your channels. Right now I'm a bit disconnected from jewish community due to the lack of inclusivity for disabled people, family deaths and a feeling of meh. Do you miss Europe? I spent 2.5 years in the USA back in 2001 but missed being able to walk or cycle places! We were in DC suburbia and the synagogue didnt have a bus or safe route for non drivers. I'm glad we experienced it mind. Love watching and maybe one day I will refind my Jewishness 🙂
I am sorry you feel disconnected - it sounds like you have a lot to ‘hold’ so to say. Treat yourself with grace and take from this channel what speaks to you and inspires you ❤️ I am glad you are here ✨ Do I miss Europe? Yes; there are elements I miss a lot - as you say: pedestrian opportunities, public transport, European food and beautiful old architecture and city scapes is what I miss most. And oh, affordable and (more) equitable healthcare 😆 I don’t really talk politics on this channel for good reason but I’m willing to go out on a limb and share my disdain for the financial aspects of the US healthcare system ;-) (the nurses, doctors and staff are great, as is the healthcare itself). Thanks for asking the question!
I'm so glad that I found your channel, because it's exactly what I needed last few years. It's complicated, why, but... Really appreciate your videos, it's make easier to read and learn about Judaism, when someone let you know that female can be not only wife and mother, and that not all people around you hate you just because you are you. Again, it's complicated. Sorry for a little bit personal comment, and not perfect english. Thank you for your videos anyway :)
Thank you so much for sharing this. I so appreciate your honesty and vulnerability. I am so sorry that you are in a position where you feel hated 💔 I don’t know anything about your personal situation but I hope you can find acceptance and love and know that you are loved here ❤️ And thank you for writing about seeing female leadership roles. It’s so important to see that representation. I know that when I was a younger woman and a younger Jew, I had fewer role models so I am glad I can provide that for others. Sending you shalom!
I don't like complain about something, but... Personal situation is sucks. I realise that my grandgrandmother and her mother was Jewish, and I am not just because my mom and her mother think that it's not important, only in 29 years old. And only in that time I start learning about all this stuff by myself, slowly. And only in 32 years old (a year ago) I hear about female rabbis for the first time. And in my town we have only one synagogue. And no one, I think, expect people who regularly go, have any chance to know when and how it's working. And even address not clear. And I am queer woman. And all religions and many people my country is very conservative. And most of people have many common antisemitism. And sometimes I sitting in my room and think "what can I do to live my life and not going to jail because my country loose its mind". In this circumstances your channel is blessing, and I was really happy to find it. Hope that it's not too much for public space and you, i don't like to bother people, and that my english is... understandable.
Not at all - I am glad you shared and your English is great! I am so sorry - it is so hard when we feel unsafe both on the ‘inside’ of our own identity and on the ‘outside’ of the world we live in with antisemitism and such things. Is there a local rabbi you can talk to? If you are in Europe or Russia, I know there are progressive, female rabbis and LGBTQ affirming communities but I do know they are much harder to find. I am glad you find comfort in my content - there’s a lot of wonderful, embracing ‘Torah’ out there in the English language and I hope you can find the resources you need to find peace in yourself ❤
About local rabbi. I don't know if he regularly do something in my town or just in holidays, because... Synagogue here working only god knows how. Well. It's not big city, and Russia, so, I not surprised. Here is catholic church that works exactly the same, and some other religious organisation (that works, you guess already, the same). Only one mosque have understandable and available time of works, that right on its gate. And, of course, orthodox churches. So, I really don't know where can I find someone. But fortunately, I know english :)
Shalom Rabbi Esther. I'd like to convert to Judaism.from Protestant Christianity. I love your videos, they are really informative. By the way i'm celebrating my birthday today. So Mazel Tov.Yom Huledet Sameach to me. 😊
Yom huledet sameach! Happy birthday to you! I hope the decision to convert is the right one for you and I wish you so much good luck on your spiritual journey. I hope my channel is a good resource for you. Welcome aboard!
I'd really love a reform or progressive perspective on taharat mishpacha. I've tried looking but everything is from an orthodox perspective considering it's not a very common practice in reform circles.
Thank you. I'm one of your new subscribers. Eight years ago I discovered I was donor conceived and that my deceased biological father was Jewish. So I am not Jewish but my paternal heritage is. I am very lucky that my late bioDad's family have accepted me wholeheartedly and with a love that I fully return. I don't take it for granted. I now class myself as having three families -my maternal family, the family of the lovely (deceased) Dad who brought me up as his own, and my new biological paternal family. The years since discovery have been spent learning with unquenchable thirst about my surprise heritage and about Judaism. My "new family" have been more than generous in helping me to learn - including me and my husband at a glorious Passover seder and on a wonderful occasion while travelling in the USA, over Shabbat. On both occasions I was moved to tears... But we all live far from each other and in some cases on different continents, so these things cannot be regular events. The family I have raised with my husband ( three adult children) isn't really interested in knowing more about this heritage which is also theirs, so this is something I largely have to do on my own even though, as you rightly say Judaism is so much about family life. I live in the UK and there is no Jewish community anywhere near me either. Coming to all this in my 50's has been a thing! So anything - anything you care to talk about is great as far as I am concerned. Thanks once again!
Dear Jo, what an incredible story - and of course, not an unusual one. Reconstituting your identity at this point of your life (and in the lives of your family and loved ones) is both an incredible challenge and opportunity. I am so proud of you for moving into this with such wisdom and grace. Isolation from Jewish community can be so hard and yet it is a reality for so many and I hope we can support each other here ❤️
Feel free to put any questions in the comments - I happily answer any where I can. I look forward to getting to know you better! Thank you for joining A Small Sanctuary.
I’m so happy that you took on this project, it’s nice to still be connected to your wisdom and teachings from the west coast 😊
Thank you so much, Meadow! ❤️ Your support means so very much to me!
I'm not Jewish myself, but your videos have been a huge help in understanding my friend's path in returning to Judaism. I have enjoyed learning so many things and concepts that are completely new to me. Where I live in rural Oklahoma it is extremely rare to encounter anyone that is Jewish, and I have had very little exposure to it.
Thank you so much - I am so glad my videos are helpful for understanding your friend. I’m glad to have you follow along and learn more. Say Hi to Oklahoma for me :-)
This is nice - in that I know nothing/not much/not enough about the Jewish community, but you seem like the person to enlighten me! For me - a mix of the contents you describe. Interested to learn more about Judaism, but also how that translates into actually living in a Jewish life.
This is super helpful feedback - thank you! I’m so glad people who are curious about Judaism are finding the channel. Makes my work worthwhile. I am very grateful for your comment and glad you’re here.
I really enjoy your channels. Right now I'm a bit disconnected from jewish community due to the lack of inclusivity for disabled people, family deaths and a feeling of meh.
Do you miss Europe? I spent 2.5 years in the USA back in 2001 but missed being able to walk or cycle places! We were in DC suburbia and the synagogue didnt have a bus or safe route for non drivers. I'm glad we experienced it mind.
Love watching and maybe one day I will refind my Jewishness 🙂
I am sorry you feel disconnected - it sounds like you have a lot to ‘hold’ so to say. Treat yourself with grace and take from this channel what speaks to you and inspires you ❤️ I am glad you are here ✨
Do I miss Europe? Yes; there are elements I miss a lot - as you say: pedestrian opportunities, public transport, European food and beautiful old architecture and city scapes is what I miss most. And oh, affordable and (more) equitable healthcare 😆 I don’t really talk politics on this channel for good reason but I’m willing to go out on a limb and share my disdain for the financial aspects of the US healthcare system ;-) (the nurses, doctors and staff are great, as is the healthcare itself).
Thanks for asking the question!
I'm so glad that I found your channel, because it's exactly what I needed last few years. It's complicated, why, but... Really appreciate your videos, it's make easier to read and learn about Judaism, when someone let you know that female can be not only wife and mother, and that not all people around you hate you just because you are you. Again, it's complicated. Sorry for a little bit personal comment, and not perfect english. Thank you for your videos anyway :)
Thank you so much for sharing this. I so appreciate your honesty and vulnerability. I am so sorry that you are in a position where you feel hated 💔 I don’t know anything about your personal situation but I hope you can find acceptance and love and know that you are loved here ❤️
And thank you for writing about seeing female leadership roles. It’s so important to see that representation. I know that when I was a younger woman and a younger Jew, I had fewer role models so I am glad I can provide that for others. Sending you shalom!
I don't like complain about something, but... Personal situation is sucks. I realise that my grandgrandmother and her mother was Jewish, and I am not just because my mom and her mother think that it's not important, only in 29 years old. And only in that time I start learning about all this stuff by myself, slowly. And only in 32 years old (a year ago) I hear about female rabbis for the first time. And in my town we have only one synagogue. And no one, I think, expect people who regularly go, have any chance to know when and how it's working. And even address not clear. And I am queer woman. And all religions and many people my country is very conservative. And most of people have many common antisemitism. And sometimes I sitting in my room and think "what can I do to live my life and not going to jail because my country loose its mind". In this circumstances your channel is blessing, and I was really happy to find it. Hope that it's not too much for public space and you, i don't like to bother people, and that my english is... understandable.
Not at all - I am glad you shared and your English is great! I am so sorry - it is so hard when we feel unsafe both on the ‘inside’ of our own identity and on the ‘outside’ of the world we live in with antisemitism and such things. Is there a local rabbi you can talk to? If you are in Europe or Russia, I know there are progressive, female rabbis and LGBTQ affirming communities but I do know they are much harder to find.
I am glad you find comfort in my content - there’s a lot of wonderful, embracing ‘Torah’ out there in the English language and I hope you can find the resources you need to find peace in yourself ❤
About local rabbi. I don't know if he regularly do something in my town or just in holidays, because... Synagogue here working only god knows how. Well. It's not big city, and Russia, so, I not surprised. Here is catholic church that works exactly the same, and some other religious organisation (that works, you guess already, the same). Only one mosque have understandable and available time of works, that right on its gate. And, of course, orthodox churches. So, I really don't know where can I find someone. But fortunately, I know english :)
Shalom Rabbi Esther. I'd like to convert to Judaism.from Protestant Christianity. I love your videos, they are really informative. By the way i'm celebrating my birthday today. So Mazel Tov.Yom Huledet Sameach to me. 😊
Yom huledet sameach! Happy birthday to you! I hope the decision to convert is the right one for you and I wish you so much good luck on your spiritual journey. I hope my channel is a good resource for you. Welcome aboard!
I'd really love a reform or progressive perspective on taharat mishpacha. I've tried looking but everything is from an orthodox perspective considering it's not a very common practice in reform circles.
Absolutely! Go to my playlist and check out the ‘Mikveh’ series - I’ve addressed it quite a bit there. Let me know what you think!
@@asmallsanctuary great thanks. I’ll definitely check it out.