Incorporating Judaism into everyday life for liberal Jews

humanisticjudaism:

Liberal Jewish practice is notoriously lax outside of synagogue settings. Here are some tips for liberal Jews to incorporate more Jewish practices in their lives. Utilize as many or as few as you like. 

1. Say a blessing. Whether it’s some form of modeh ani when you wake up, the shema before going to bed, a blessing over your meal, or a simple “blessed are you Adonai”… when something strikes you as beautiful or worth marking. Pray one of the weekday prayer services like shacharit if you have time. Say the prayers in English if you don’t know the Hebrew, or make something up if you don’t know the traditional blessing for something. What’s important is the sanctification of life through noticing the little miracles of every day life, not reciting Hebrew sentences perfectly.

2. Try to keep kosher-ish. You may not be able to be full on kosher, but try to avoid foods that are obviously treif such as pork, shellfish, and meat and dairy mixtures (like cheeseburgers and chicken parmesan). If you’re able, try to increase your observance of kashrut as you get more used to it. And if your health allows, try to give up meat altogether to fulfill the mitzvah of preventing tza’ar ba’alei chayim, the suffering of living creature. A vegetarian or vegan diet greatly simplifies kosher observance as it entirely eliminates the need to keep meat and dairy separate. 

3. Read a book about Judaism or Jewish history, or commit to reading one book of the Tanakh at regular intervals (e.g. one book per week/month/year), or read the entire parsha for the week to increase your knowledge of the foundational texts of Judaism. If possible, try to do this with other people so that you can discuss your reading material afterward.

4. Set aside a little money for tzedakah. No matter how much it is, it could be pocket change, set it aside in a tzedakah box (it doesn’t have to be fancy). Donate the money that accumulates to a worthy cause of your choice. 

5. Acknowledge Shabbat at home. Even if you can’t keep the entire Shabbat because you have to work, try to acknowledge it in some way. Go to a synagogue service or pray on your own, put on a tallit, light candles, have a glass of wine, eat some bread, or do havdalah. If you’re able, try to set aside time on Shabbat to spend time with your family and rest from everyday chores and duties, even if only for a few hours. 

6. Put a mezuzah on your door. You can get a cover and printed scroll for cheap on Amazon, although it isn’t technically kosher, and put them on the main door of your house. Even if you can’t afford to do every door or get a kosher handwritten scroll, it can be an effective reminder of your Jewish obligations as you come and go nonetheless. 

Jumblr, feel free to add to this list any other suggestions you might have for increasing liberal Jewish practices.