Jewitches

You’ve probably heard the rumor - maybe you’ve even spread it yourself - Christmas trees are  pagan . This is how it usually goes: when the Christians came to Europe, they wanted to convert pagans to Christianity, so they made a conscious choice to take pagan symbols, like a decorated tree for Yule or Saturnalia or Sol Invictus or Hilaria (it changes on who you ask) and said, “This is Christian no...

It's the New Year which means people are setting goals and resolutions...One common one in my DM's? Prayer. But there's a barrier when people don't feel comfortable praying. Today, we're breaking down the concept of personal prayer and the role of ancestors in it.

In the shadows of history and folklore, a mesmerizing tapestry exists that weaves together Jewish traditions, spine-chilling tales of blood-sucking creatures, and the curious connection to one seemingly ordinary kitchen staple - garlic. Vampires, of course, are now culturally commonplace, lighting up the silver screen, and gracing the cover of everything from romance novels to horror stories. Desp...

They told you that you shouldn't study Kabbalah until you're forty...But I'm here to break this down because the lack of nuance (and general Christian-hegemonic paradigms we carry with us) means that we interpret this in strange ways.. Have a topic you want me to cover? Leave a comment over on our instagram @jewitches Come visit our shop, Diasporic Magic, in Los Angeles!

Have you ever heard the term "closed practice"? In this episode of Jewitches , Zohare Jacobi explores the origins and rise in popularity of this term and how we define it. Unpack what it means for a practice to be considered "closed," who gets to define it, and why this conversation is so important in today’s world of spiritual exploration. jewitches.com instagram.com/jewitches

Purim is one of my favorite holidays...So let's chat all about it! This is a casual sit down episode with discussions surrounding the spirituality of Purim, our requirements of giving, and much more! Find the Jewitches podcast: instagram @jewitches twitter @thejewitches and subscribe at jewitches.com/subscribe

You've been asking since my first day posting about Jewish magic & witchcraft...This episode is casual -- an ode to conversations around the Shabbat candles and the hearths of old. Learn why I use the term witch, when I use it, and why this might sound a bit different than previous episodes you've heard... Find the Jewitches podcast:instagram @jewitchesthreads @jewitches and subscribe at jewit...

The more wives, the more witchcraft - and yet, we are constantly scrutinized and demeaned by men within our communities. Jewish women are responsible for building the practices and traditions that we have today; and yet, Jewish women face the brunt of the ire from both within and outside of the community. Why is that? In the first episode of our new season, Zohare Jacobi of Jewitches tackles this...

This podcast is the audio version of an infographic created for Instagram, with minor tweaks to formatting. It is meant to serve as a jumping off point for research, as one post can only hold so much. We encourage you to check out the citations. There was so much that simply couldn’t be covered in such a short post; not to mention a breadth of research that feels like it should be must read materi...

Embark on a captivating journey with us on our latest episode, where we dive deep into the enchanting realm where garlic, magic, medicine, and Jewish heritage intertwine. Unveil the hidden layers of significance that garlic holds in both ancient Jewish texts and modern-day practices. Intrigued by the magical properties attributed to garlic? We uncover how this humble bulb has been regarded as a pr...

Get ready to dive into the captivating world of the evil eye within Jewish culture in our newest episode. We unpack the secrets, tales, and traditions surrounding this mystical phenomenon with protective practices and beliefs rooted in Jewish folklore. We spill the beans on amulets, rituals, and powerful symbols like the Hamsa and fish! So grab your favorite drink, sit back, and listen and learn!...

In today’s long-awaited episode, we will be debunking common myths and misconceptions about Ostara! We separate fact from fiction and explore the true origins of the holiday, going back to the 725 with the monk Bede. We discuss everything from the significance of eggs and rabbits in Christian mythology to why Easter is definitely not stolen from the Goddess Ishtar.  To help us with this discussion...

Let's explore the traditions and customs of Passover, our first ever episode dedicated to just one Jewish holiday! Join us as we retell the Pesach story as you may have never heard it before, delve into the history, rituals, and modern-day celebrations of this magical holiday....Giant frog and magical matzah amulets included. Make sure to rate, review & subscribe wherever you're listening! Instagr...

Do you blow out your birthday candles? You may not know that Judaism has special traditions about blowing out candles...Learn all about why! Make sure to rate, review & subscribe wherever you're listening! Patreon | Instagram | Tumblr | Shop Instagram  Support the Podcast BuyMeACoffee KoFi

For those seeking spirituality, crystals have become almost synonymous with mystical wisdom, but almost exclusively through New Age lenses. It is therefore not surprising that so many are shocked by the presence of wisdom surrounding stones in Judaism, but it has existed here since before the time of the Exodus. Make sure to rate, review & subscribe wherever you're listening! Instagram | Tumblr |...

Did you know that Jews LOVE garlic? Like...Love garlic? So much that there are antisemitic caricatures of Jews holding them? All that and more in this weeks mini-episode! Make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review. Patreon.com/jewitches instagram.com/jewitches twitter.com/thejewitches jewitches.com https://www.jewitches.com/post/herbs-judaism Sefaria A brief histor...

So why does it seem like Jewish holidays keep moving around? How many birthdays do Jews get? How many New Years do Jews have (spoiler it is more than 3!) All that & more in our newest episode! Sources: For qualities, elements, astrology & angels: The Sefer Yetzirah Above the Zodiac, Matityahu Glazerson https://www.aish.com/jl/hol/hm/48924027.html https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/artic...

Let's learn about the book of Shadows...Where did that name come from? Why do people use it? Citations: Doreen Valiente's The Rebirth of Witchcraft(1989) http://iapsop.com/archive/materials/occult_observer/occult_observer_v1_n3_1949.pdf

Angels: we can't get enough of them. Learn all about angels in Judaism as we discuss all the basics for the last big episode of the year! https://etzion.org.il/en/philosophy/great-thinkers/ramban/vayera-angels-and-prophecy Henoch, C. J. "THE RELIGIOUS THOUGHT OF NACHMANIDES — FROM HIS EXEGESIS OF THE MITZVOT." Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought , vol. 11, no. 1, 1970, pp. 64–83. JSTOR...

Our very first mini-episode! Make sure to rate & subscribe, wherever you listen! Make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review. Patreon.com/jewitches instagram.com/jewitches twitter.com/thejewitches thejewitches.tumblr.com jewitches.com

Lavender for sleep. Rosemary for clarity. Rose for love. Those are the basics, according to the Internet. But there is so much more to herbalism, and the use of herbs, especially in the Jewish tradition. Today we're discussing the use of herbs and plants within Judaism.  Make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review. Patreon.com/jewitches instagram.com/jewitches...

Dragons, mermaids, vampires...Those are old news! Let's talk about the lesser known Jewish creatures of the Mud Mice, Vegetable Men, and the Tree Geese...All of which sound as fantastical as they are!  Make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review. Patreon.com/jewitches instagram.com/jewitches twitter.com/thejewitches jewitches.com Sacred Monsters: Mysterious and...

As long as we have been dreaming, we have been wondering what they could mean. Today we dive into dream divination, interpretation, and dream work with incredible guest, Rabbi Jill Hammer, PHD. Co-founder of the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute and the Director of Spiritual Education at the Academy for Jewish Religion, her most recent books are Undertorah: An Earth-Based Kabbalah of Dreams and R...

Arguably the most popular of all Jewish folk creatures, today we're discussing all things Golem. From depictions in media like Supernatural to whether or not you could eat a Golem, we take a dive into its history and modern occurences.  Make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review. Patreon.com/jewitches instagram.com/jewitches twitter.com/thejewitches jewitches....

Tichels ( Yiddish) or mitpachat ( Hebrew) are Jewish terms for headscarves. You may have grown up with your mother, aunts, grandmothers, cousins, family, etc, wearing them. Or you may not have known there is a history of Jews covering their hair with headscarves. But there is a modern resurgence, and it isn't just amongst the married women of Orthodox communities. Jews of all communities, national...