#liberalandobservant

jewish-education:

chal-converts:

jewish-education:

I’ve tagged some (maybe a lot) of personal Jewish journey stuff here as #liberalandobservant lately. I’m a Reform/Conservative area of the spectrum gal increasing my observance, and while I know there are other folks like me out there (I know some of them irl, and have bumped into some on jumblr), it’s hard to connect. 

Unlike baal teshuvot (folks becoming Orthodox) there’s no term for us that lets us find each other and connect about our shared joys and challenges. I’d love for the #liberalandobservant tag to become a place for Jewish folks increasing or maintaining observance while maintaining strong ties to the secular world. This might have some overlap with the journeys of some baal teshuvot, and I’m happy to see their posts in the tag if that’s what works for them.

Right now, I’m like half the tag, but I still encourage folks in this boat who need encouragement to check it out. And maybe next time you’re already posting about studying Sefaria at lunch on your phone or the Shabbat dinner you’ve made after a long week or your first havdala celebration, feel free to tag it as #liberalandobservant if you’re okay with sharing.

I’m curious as to how you’re defining this? Like are you thinking more along the lines of Reform/Conservative/etc. folks who happen to be more observant than is typically expected in those branches, or like, politically/socially liberal observant Jews? Or perhaps traditional egalitarian like Hadar?

(As a side note, I am lucky enough to live in a city now where there’s a not-insignificant number of Jewish folks who self-define as frum Conservative &/or traditional egalitarian, and I’ve been told those labels are gaining some traction if that interests you!)

Not political/social. I figure there’s plenty of connection between politically liberal and social justice-oriented folks on here. This might include folks who identify as Reform, Conservative, Recon, traditional egalitarian, non-denominational, left-wing/liberal Modern Orthodx or maybe your area’s frum Conservative.