I am Jewish AMA

[Bells3032]

Following answering some Q&As on a thread about the programme Unorthodox thought i'd do an AMA here. I have looked and don't think there's been one since like 2018.

I am a traditional/modern orthodox Jew so not Hasidic like the show but I actually do talks on Judaism as part of my job and I so my knowledge is fairly good and I am rarely embarrassed or offended by questions.

So go ahead AMA

שבת שלום

I'm in Manchester

Oh do you know any of the ones that were in Strictly Kosher? Bernadette was amazing, I'm sure everyone knows her. Also the Rabbi who got married, who was, emm...in his own words quite intense and overbearing.

And the guy who said he's not religious and has a clothing business and was getting hate mail for opening his shop on shabbat, can't remember his name.

Thank you for this thread it has been enlightening!

My grandad was born into a Jewish family, not sure when he stopped practising (is that the right word) but he married out - my gran was Christian and didn't go to synagogue and even ate pork and shellfish (he loved a bacon sandwich). My mum and her 3 siblings were not christened and are not remotely religious. My grandads family are about 50:50 practicing / not.

I myself was christened but my brother wasn't (my dad's side are Christian) and I count myself as an atheist but because of my grandad I have always been interested in Jewish culture and ways. So Id like to thank all of you who have contributed to this thread as I have a learnt a lot more! (I also apologise if my language / words are 'clumsy')

To add grandads family are Ashkenazi Jews from Poland.

I loved strictly kosher. I wish they would do a follow up.

I didn't watch the show-- too cringy for me but my husband did.

I know of bernette - she's a lot older than me but she'd know my parents. She had a daughter 2 years above me in primary school. Bernette is definitely a character!

I know of the shop you mean @paininthepoinsettia it's not far from me. I don't shop there,way too expensive.

My husband would know rabbi zevi Saunders from school as they attended the same schoola a couple of years apart.

@claireb707 hi!

Good shabbos pikes and desiring :) I'm turning my phone off at about 830 tonight

What was the general community feeling in Manchester about Strictly Kosher? Were people against it?

I don't know generally. I thought it was cringy and wouldn't watch it (think I saw bits when I walked in the room and he was watching) my husband thought it was hilarious and I think I remember talking to my friends and they thought it was both hilarious and cringy!

A lot of the Ulpan on my kibbutz were from Prestwich (isn't that where Strictly kosher was set?)

I thought it showed a great window into that world.

Thank you for the thread.

I've just caught up and found it fascinating.

The documentary Strictly Kosher was mentioned. It's available for free on YouTube if anyone is interested.

Most of the questions I would have asked have been answered already but I do have one (and it comes from watching Bernadette doing a demonstration of how she prepares for Shabbos).

She was shown preparing the toilet with tissues (as opposed to toilet roll) and pre-separating sheets of kitchen roll explaining you can't tear anything during shabbos.

I already knew about carrying and use of electricity but this was new to me.

Can anyone explain the origins of this please?

Basically the things we are not allowed to do fall under 39 categories called the avos melachos. These are things that were done to construct the mishkan (pre temple, used by moses in the desert). We worked for 6 days and on the 7th(shabbos) work halted and we rested. We don't do any of the things that were done to create the mishkan. One of the categories is koreiah (tearing) tearing toilet paper falls into this category. I pre tear toilet paper and buy baby wipes and cotton wool that is already detached (huggies wipes are all slightly attached for example). Others buy ready torn/folded toilet paper in packets.

If you forget to pre tear toilet paper and need some, there are things you can do as a second best scenario. You would not leave yourself unclean.

Have a lovely and peaceful shabbos everyone and thanks for sharing so freely about your faith and culture.

I also pre tear paper towel, solver foil if I think I'll need and the waste food bags. There's a lot of prep that goes into shabbos beyond the food and the electricity.

The end result of everything being done before though is its peaceful in a way unlike anything else. Phones and devices are all off for 25 hours. We are with our families undistracted by anything outside and it's even more intensely so in lockdown because there are no guests. The kids play with non electric toys, loads of imagination games, board games etc.

Thanks @missconductus... Have a lovely weekend!

How do you pronounce frum? Is it just like drum?

Thank you for the explanations!

Enjoy your shabbos!

It's pronounced froom like cook

In the US it would rhyme with drum.

From watching tv, women seem to wear tights, even to bed?? Is this just for tv show?

The men wear black and white, is there a particular reason for this or is just a type of uniform?

Thanks so much for answering previous questions,it's been really interesting.

@ShoppingBasket
You probably won't get a reply till Sunday now as it's Shabbat.

Sorry don't want this to get political but just have to say that Muslims, Christians and Jews co-existed very peacefully in Palestine (a Muslim country) for millennia. The problems started AFTER the occupation
Agreed @paininthepoinsettia

@emojisarentwords

The Balfour agreement? I listened to something last night that said the UK abstained from the vote on the creation of the State of Israel?

I realise the conversation has moved on, but it took me a long while to rtft! Agree with PP's - disagreeing with the actions of a government doesn't equal being against the people. You can want peace, love and security for all without bias.

Sorry don't want this to get political

Then don't mention politics.