Jewish Orthodox mum AMA

[jewishorthomum]

I'm a 29 yr old Jewish Orthodox religious mum of 2 little boys. Is there anything you'd like to ask about Orthodox Jewish life?
Kill my time whilst I'm waiting to be called in for an appointment.
(When I get called in for my app I'll have to run but will try respond later if there are questions.)

@Windbeneathmybingowings kids are up late? I don't know! Men and boys 13+ pray 3 times a day. Once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once after nightfall. In the summer nightfall can be late. Perhaps they are on the streets for that. But again its only boys 13+.

Also on Shabbos (Saturday) and at festival time, of which there are many throughout the year, we have many late evening family dinners and gatherings, and the kids would stay up for them so perhaps that is when you see them on the streets.

On the topic of electricity and shabbos:

Would you be allowed to have automatic lights that switch on when you enter a room and off after a certain time or would that not be allowed?

And another one regarding shabbos: Would you be able to get on a plane on Friday if it landed after sunset or even on Saturday?

I understand that Jewishness is passed down the female line of the family. If a woman "married out" several generations ago and lived a non practising life, would her (female) descendants still be considered as Jewish? I'm thinking particularly of many generations ago where people were forced to "convert" to Christianity or were unable to admit they were Jews.

No I don't make sweet carrots (Tzimmes) I don't like it!

Hi, I would like to ask you your opinion on the very limited choices many Jewish children, girls especially, are able to follow post secondary school, and also about the limited curriculum many Jewish schools follow, particularly in the sciences and humanities. Do you think this equips young adults to make choices about their lives and also limits their ability to contribute to wider society. I am aware that in other countries this is not an issue, but I believe it is for a number of communities in the UK. Is it right for communities to deliberately cut their ties with wider society in this way?

really enjoying your thread @jewishorthomum thank you for sharing ❤️

Yes, If there is clear maternal lineage, whether practicing or not, the descendants will be considered Jewish.

Is it true you refuse blood transfusions? Even for children?
and why is this please

this is post is fascinating thank you

Following

If somebody dies and you need to travel to their funeral, are you allowed to break the sabbath rules?

@EllaDisenchanted yes that was what I was wondering about, as community is so integral to Orthodox Judaism, the first lockdown really must have been exceptionally hard.

I have no idea why you don't see women there. I definitely shop there together with my husband and I'm ultra orthodox.

@Maerchentante Do you mean on a timer, or a sensor? Timer yes (standard practice), sensor, no (because your action is triggering the light to turn on and off, no different to pressing switch). Plane - no. Unless it was to save a life. E.g. a relative of mine was airlifted on Shabbos for a transplant . parent went with too

Such an interesting thread @jewishorthomum thank you.

Can I ask- living in a modern liberal society like the UK do the rules about not touching post birth/on period seem outdated and a bit offensive to you? It would upset me to be considered ‘dirty’ I think especially as you already feel emotional on your period and post partum!

erm JFS and Hasmonean (both orthodox Jewish schools) are in the top 10 comprehensives in the countries. my DH and his sisters went to these schools, they all got at least 3 As at A level, they all have degrees from Russell Group universities. two of them have masters.

It is true the ultra orthodox jewish schools have a limited curriculum esp for the boys. The girls have a better time as they are expected to earn a living. That is a problem and something that the wider Jewish community is fighting to address.

@Killerqueef no, once they have passed away, you can no longer over ride Shabbos.
@Orangessunshine definitely not true. Saving a life comes first, so blood transfusions would be totally permitted. I have never come across anyone who would refuse a transfusion, and don't know what reason they would have.

Thank you :) I meant a sensor like you often see in "communal" toilets.

me neither 😅

Thanks OP this is a fascinating thread. I lived in Stoke Newington in my early 20s 20 years ago and found the orthodox Jewish community there fascinating and also comforting. A rough area back then but always felt safe around the Jewish families.

Amazing to hear about the kinder transport link to your family. How do you feel when you hear the present Government’s rhetoric on people seeking asylum, genuinely interested. What are the views in your community? Thank you. 🙂

Am allergic to apples 😭

My favourite thing is cold fried fish. I make it with haddock dusted lightly with cayenne pepper before coating it with egg and matzoh meal.

Perhaps it is festivals then. Small children definitely under 13, and it looks like the families are going somewhere specific so I thought it might be prayers etc, mum, dad and all the children are there. It’s after 11pm as I’ve been on the night bus going through and I’ve always wondered where they were going. Thanks for answering.

Would you be 'allowed' to experiment with wigs? Like to have lots of different ones and have a different hairstyle each day? Or go for a pink wig or similar?
@JustFuckingTired
You would be allowed to get creative with hairstyles and we do. Although in the ultra ortho community the pink wig might get you a few raised eyebrows just because its different and more attention grabbing which is against the spirit of modesty.

I mentioned my personal feelings about it earlier, but one of the main things is that we don't see nida (times when there has been uterine bleeding) as 'dirty', this is a mistranslation. Nida literally means separation.

There are times when it can be challenging, for sure, but that doesn't mean it is a negative experience. I see it as worthwhile, and there are aspects that I (and DH) quite enjoy. There is honestly nothing like coming home post mikva, and reuniting 😊

Is it true that Isaiah 53 has been removed from the Hebrew Bible? Did you ever study this passage?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_53

An interesting read in this context is Mary Douglas's 'Purity and Danger' (not from a solely Jewish perspective) which explores the overlap between the concepts of 'sacred' and 'taboo'.