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submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

A few weeks ago I asked a Sephardi friend if I could try having an Orthodox style tech break. He generally feels uneasy about us trying to copy rules that aren't for us, but he basically said 'If you want to, sure.' (Later I did try to have this tech break, but I screwed it up after 22 hours.) I wasn't trying to hold my own Shabbat celebration, but some of you might feel a little uneasy anyway because in another respect I'm still being a copycat. What do you think?

I have my own impression for phenomena that are probably okay to borrow and which ones are over the line, but I hesitate to call it reliable. I would appreciate any feedback on the outline.

These are okay:

  • Learning Jewish languages and dialects
  • Following and sharing Jewish recipes
  • Participating in Jews' celebrations, festivals, and other events with their permission
  • Wearing a kippah when a Jewish person requests it
  • Singing Jewish songs
  • Regularly thanking the Almighty for food (and when we relieve ourselves)

These are off-limits:

  • Trying to reuse (biblical) Hebrew for conversational purposes
  • Adding trayf ingredients to Jewish recipes (I actually don't know if you'd care about this, but it still sounds cringe)
  • Holding Jewish celebrations as if they were your own
  • Wearing a kippah whenever you want, and appropriating other ceremonial fashion like streimels and prayer shawls
  • Blowing a shofar whenever you want
  • Giving yourself a secret Hebrew name

Is this about right? Am I missing anything?

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[-] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

Some thought questions:

  1. Does this put me in competition with Jews for a limited resource (example: Eating Matzah on Passover, afixing a mezuzah, blowing a shofar, waving lulav/etrog) ?
  2. Is this a commandment which requires intent or focus that I am not giving? (Assuming responsibility for Jewish holidays or Prayers?)
  3. Is this practice misleading? (Assuming a Jewish name, having a Christian seder)

I think your yes/no list complies with these metrics

this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2024
14 points (100.0% liked)

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