It's the New Year which means people are setting goals and resolutions...One common one in my DM's? Prayer. But there's a barrier when people don't feel comfortable praying. Today, we're breaking down the concept of personal prayer and the role of ancestors in it.
In the shadows of history and folklore, a mesmerizing tapestry exists that weaves together Jewish traditions, spine-chilling tales of blood-sucking creatures, and the curious connection to one seemingly ordinary kitchen staple - garlic.
Vampires, of course, are now culturally commonplace, lighting up the silver screen, and gracing the cover of everything from romance novels to horror stories. Despite the constant usage of crucifixes to ward them off, Jews have our own folklore surrounding the creatures that now fall beneath the term vampire. Jews also have a curiously long history with garlic. But what ties all three together?
They told you that you shouldn't study Kabbalah until you're forty...But I'm here to break this down because the lack of nuance (and general Christian-hegemonic paradigms we carry with us) means that we interpret this in strange ways..
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Have you ever heard the term "closed practice"? In this episode of Jewitches, Zohare Jacobi explores the origins and rise in popularity of this term and how we define it. Unpack what it means for a practice to be considered "closed," who gets to define it, and why this conversation is so important in today’s world of spiritual exploration.
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Purim is one of my favorite holidays...So let's chat all about it! This is a casual sit down episode with discussions surrounding the spirituality of Purim, our requirements of giving, and much more!
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You've been asking since my first day posting about Jewish magic & witchcraft...This episode is casual -- an ode to conversations around the Shabbat candles and the hearths of old. Learn why I use the term witch, when I use it, and why this might sound a bit different than previous episodes you've heard...
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The more wives, the more witchcraft - and yet, we are constantly scrutinized and demeaned by men within our communities. Jewish women are responsible for building the practices and traditions that we have today; and yet, Jewish women face the brunt of the ire from both within and outside of the community. Why is that?
In the first episode of our new season, Zohare Jacobi of Jewitches tackles this topic through a heart to heart conversation on her own experiences and the experiences of others within her community.
This podcast is the audio version of an infographic created for Instagram, with minor tweaks to formatting. It is meant to serve as a jumping off point for research, as one post can only hold so much. We encourage you to check out the citations. There was so much that simply couldn’t be covered in such a short post; not to mention a breadth of research that feels like it should be must read material for this topic.
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Article: https://jewitches.com/blogs/blog/christian-zionism-101
Citations:
Sturm, Tristan. “God’s just Gaza War: Futurity foreclosed through evangelical apocalypse as orthogonal promise of Eretz Israel.” Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, vol. 103, no. 4, 2021, pp. 301–319, https://doi.org/10.1080/04353684.2021.1891557. “A Land without a People for a People without a Land” By Diana Muir
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rapture-the https://cufi.org/about/mission/
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/05/11/the-size-of-the-u-s-jewish-population/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/30/mainstreaming-christian-zionism-could-warp-foreign-policy/
https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/factsheets/factsheet-christian-zionism/
https://apnews.com/article/christian-zionists-israel-republican-presidential-candidates-97a5bd9359a9af724fb55cfb154007ef
https://cufi.org/issue/mike-pence-to-cufi-i-support-israel-because-i-am-a-christian/
http://www.meforum.org/1877/a-land-without-a-people-for-a-people-without
https://fozmuseum.com/blog/bolsonaro-receives-award/
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/5/26/biden-palestine-and-the-buttressing-of-christian-zionism
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/08/22/trump-sees-all-us-jews-israelis-because-his-christian-zionist-allies-do-too/
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/05/11/u-s-jews-political-views/#:~:text=Overall%2C%20about%20seven%2Din%2D,or%20lean%20toward%20the%20GOP.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-doubles-down-calling-jewish-democrats-disloyal-israel-n1044861
Embark on a captivating journey with us on our latest episode, where we dive deep into the enchanting realm where garlic, magic, medicine, and Jewish heritage intertwine. Unveil the hidden layers of significance that garlic holds in both ancient Jewish texts and modern-day practices.
Intrigued by the magical properties attributed to garlic? We uncover how this humble bulb has been regarded as a protective talisman and a potent ward against malevolent forces in Jewish folklore. Through a casual textual analysis of traditional Jewish texts, we explore the symbolism and rituals where garlic's mystical essence has been harnessed to ward off evil spirits and bring blessings.
But the allure of garlic doesn't end with its mystical aspects. We also delve into its profound medicinal value as recognized in ancient Jewish remedies. From the Talmud to Kabbalistic writings, garlic's therapeutic properties have been lauded for centuries. Our exploration takes us through historical accounts of its use as a natural remedy for various ailments, offering insights into the wisdom passed down through generations.
Whether you're a history aficionado, a believer in the mystical, or simply intrigued by the healing power of nature's gifts, this episode of Jewitches is sure to leave you spellbound, enlightened, and inspired to explore the captivating world of garlic within Jewish traditions.
Get ready to dive into the captivating world of the evil eye within Jewish culture in our newest episode. We unpack the secrets, tales, and traditions surrounding this mystical phenomenon with protective practices and beliefs rooted in Jewish folklore. We spill the beans on amulets, rituals, and powerful symbols like the Hamsa and fish! So grab your favorite drink, sit back, and listen and learn!
1 The Power of the Evil Eye and the Good Eye in Midrashic Literature
2 https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/166909/jewish/What-Is-the-Meaning-of-the-Evil-Eye.htm
https://www-jstor-org.ez.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/stable/1260090?seq=4#metadata_info_tab_contents 3
4 Jewish Magic and Superstition: Joshua Trachtenberg
5 Divination, Magic, and Healing: The Book of Jewish Folklore by Rabbi Ronald H. Isaacs
6 Ritual Medical Lore of Sephardic Women
7 Dazzling Blue: Color Symbolism, Kabbalistic Myth, and the Evil Eye in Judaism
In today’s long-awaited episode, we will be debunking common myths and misconceptions about Ostara! We separate fact from fiction and explore the true origins of the holiday, going back to the 725 with the monk Bede. We discuss everything from the significance of eggs and rabbits in Christian mythology to why Easter is definitely not stolen from the Goddess Ishtar.
To help us with this discussion, we have invited a special guest, A Hearth Witch, who is a German-American folk practitioner and scholar specializing in the study and practice of German Folk practices. You can find their work at their Patreon (https://patreon.com/ahearthwitch), TikTok (tiktok.com/ahearthwitch), Instagram (instagram.com/a.hearth.witch), and YouTube (youtube.com/ahearthwitch).
Citations:
Wolzogen, Wegweiser zu deutschern Galubern, 16, 29.
ISTOR, page 786:
Do you blow out your birthday candles? You may not know that Judaism has special traditions about blowing out candles...Learn all about why!
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Did you know that Jews LOVE garlic? Like...Love garlic? So much that there are antisemitic caricatures of Jews holding them? All that and more in this weeks mini-episode!
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https://www.jewitches.com/post/herbs-judaism
Sefaria
A brief history of Jews and Garlic, Jordan D. Rosenblum
A Frog Under the Tongue: Jewish Folk Medicine in Eastern Europe by Mark Tuszewicki
https://aish.com/garlic-and-jews-6-little-known-jewish-facts/
So why does it seem like Jewish holidays keep moving around? How many birthdays do Jews get? How many New Years do Jews have (spoiler it is more than 3!)
All that & more in our newest episode!
Sources:
For qualities, elements, astrology & angels: The Sefer Yetzirah
Let's learn about the book of Shadows...Where did that name come from? Why do people use it?
Citations:
Doreen Valiente's The Rebirth of Witchcraft(1989)
http://iapsop.com/archive/materials/occult_observer/occult_observer_v1_n3_1949.pdf
Angels: we can't get enough of them. Learn all about angels in Judaism as we discuss all the basics for the last big episode of the year!
Our very first mini-episode! Make sure to rate & subscribe, wherever you listen!
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Lavender for sleep. Rosemary for clarity. Rose for love. Those are the basics, according to the Internet. But there is so much more to herbalism, and the use of herbs, especially in the Jewish tradition. Today we're discussing the use of herbs and plants within Judaism.
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