Shabbat Gathering: Doikayt?

Dear Chevrei, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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Here we go.

I’ve mentioned before my interest in the Jewish Labor Bund, both the historical group organized at the turn of the 19th century and the modern bund being formed this year. I’ve joined the new Jewish Labor Bund. I participate on its Signal channels and on it’s Discord server. (And if you don’t know what those are, they are ways for us to easily and clearly communicate with each other.)

A defining principle of the Jewish Labor Bund is doikayt (pronounced do-i-kayt) Doikayt is a Yiddish word that is usually translated as “hereness.” I don’t care much for this translation as it isn’t intuitively obvious what it means. My own translation, “Be here now,” isn’t much better. Furthermore, my translation risks confusion with the book of the same name written by Ram Dass that was the hippie bible for years and years after it was published in 1971. But enough of that digression. Onward to the definition.

The Jewish Labor Bund believes that Jewish life can, and should, be lived in the diaspora. It believes Jews have the right to live wherever we are and thrive there. The focus is on solving the challenges facing Jews in the diaspora where they live. The idea is that we should be safe wherever we are. I’m all for that. I think you might be ok with that idea too.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Gut Shabbes!

All my love,
brian.

PS

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