Abby Chava Stein
@abbystein
parent, activist, speaker, author (Becoming Eve, Sources of Pride), ordained rabbi, woman of trans experience. Linktr.ee/abbystein (She/Her)
In a more teachable way, I love one of the reasons given as to way it's such an important holiday: For on this day, "the daughters of Jerusalem would go out in borrowed white clothes. They did this so as not to embarrass one who did not have her own white garments."
I hate when people say Tu B'Av (today) is like the Jewish Valentine's day. It's far older, and higher regarded 🤷♀️ According to the Mishna (2nd century), it's as big as Yom Kippur, and no other holidays are as big! "There were no holidays for the Jewish people as great as TU B'Av and as Yom Kippur!"
We have literally set the world on fire, and climate deniers are still screaming "don't look up!"
Don't know what your nerdy, simple, cozy Shabbos morning pleasures are. Mine are simple: Coffee, cake, and the longest (non holiday) traditional Ashkenazi Yotzer (liturgical poetry) of the year 🤔 Git Shabbos Nachmu, a great weekend of comfort you all ❤️ שבת שלום - תנחמו בכפליים 💞 w.wiki/Sm9x
It's the "let's eat eggs spiced with ash" time of year 😭🥚🔥 On a serious note: may we have a meaningful Tisha B’Av, whether through fast, mourning, and any other way we mark this day. May we remember what the rabbis teach us (ER 4:14), that this isn't just about the destruction of the temple.
Some thoughts on mourning 🧵 There is a Hasidic story from my childhood that has been on my mind over the past few weeks - and, well, years. For centuries, kids would throw fuzzy burrs at mourners who cried too deeply on Tisha B’Av. Mourning has its place. But let’s not let it consume us. 1/7
"איך בין דיין פעטער!..." "I am your uncle!..." That is my earliest memory of my great-great-uncle, Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam—Reb Shloimele, the Bobover Rebbe 💝 Today is his 26th yahrzeit, and I am feeling a tad nostalgic, so I guess it’s story time 🧵 1/11
My Shabbos menu this week. What am I missing you all?! Partially serious: If you think of a fully traditional Hasidic Friday night dinner, what other dishes would you expect?
From the past few days in DC. Joined @rabbis4ceasefire.bsky.social at Interfaith Action for Palestine. WHY WE SHOW UP: Hear from participants in yesterday’s action on what we did, and why opposing CUFI and Christian Zionism is a core part of our diverse faith practices.
Looks like the weather does keep Shabbos. As soon as Shabbos began, the cooking ended (paused) 🤷♀️ Git Shabbos Yiddelech 💞
At first, in practice, it largely meant white men with property. For almost a century, it excluded Black people, while so many were still enslaved. It took another century for civil rights to become the law of the land, and still, racism remains deeply systemic. 2/10
Shabbat Shalom - Happy Interdependence! “WE THE PEOPLE DECLARE OUR INTERDEPENDENCE” ✊️ My full remarks last week at the #Next250 rally and national mobilization. 250 years ago, “we the people” declared independence. But that “we” left out far too many. 1/10
"I said at Sinai: do not murder and spill blood, And they in Zion, their hands are filled with blood. I said at Sinai: do not covet fields and houses, And they in Zion, they coveted fields and stole houses." - circa 6th century Piyyut (poem) for today, found in the Cairo Geniza 1/8
Tomorrow has a Reel Feel of 107°, and it's also a Jewish fast day (only for men, in my family 🤷♀️). I'm objectively terrified for people fasting - including my 14-year-old son. It's already one of the hardest fast days every year, with the latest break fast time of any fast days. Stay safe you all.
Transphobia and discrimination against Transgender, nonbinary, GNC, and intersex people is immoral and evil everywhere. In NYC and NYS, it's also illegal 🏳️⚧️🗽
As someone who grew up in NYC speaking "a language other than English" as my primary language, and lacking English proficiency, let me say: גיי שטופ דיר (אין גיהנום אויב דו ווילסט), און זאלן נאר בייזע גזירות דיר אקעגן קומען. קיינע אנטשולדיגונגען.
Stop pretending NY Jews are outsiders to the progressive/socialist movement behind last night's wins. So many of us are a proud, integral part of this movement, in coalition with fellow NYers of every background 🗽 Nothing "happened to us" yesterday. We helped make it happen. 1/4
WE DID IT!!! GO NY GO 🗽🗽🗽 Scene at the NY-7 joint election night party as race is called fot @claireforny.bsky.social 🌹
After dozens of canvass shifts, rallies, house parties, and fundraisers, finally #IVoted in the NYC Democratic Primary today. I’m in NY-7, so of course I voted for my friend @bradlander.bsky.social. NYC feels more alive than ever. We’ve already accomplished so much, > 🗳🗽 1/
You know very well that 85% of Jews don't support AIPAC, not even close. You also know that AIPAC doesn't even claim to be a Jewish group. You also know that there are more "Christian Zionists" in the US, than there are Jews, of any beliefs. You are making US Jews less safe.
Health "care" (it isn't doing much care) insurance profiteering is evil, plain and simple. It shouldn't exist.
Brooklyn #Pride with @christopherstreet.bsky.social and @claireforny.bsky.social 🗽🏳️🌈
LA: welcome to the Socialist revolution. From experience: Winning the primary is euphoric, but now the work begins. Republican AND Democratic establishments will throw everything they got, and more, to prevent a Democratic Socialist Mayor. You can defeat them, but it takes tireless organizing!!!