Why I Wear Tzizit

When I fist decided to wear tzizit, I thought "I dont understand why I cant wear them, I have always wanted to wear them". I have never actually thought that wearing tzizit would change me as much it has done so far. When I first starting wearing tzizit,  I have come to realize that I was a feminist but I never really could put in coherent words that I was one. I always knew that I was very pro egalitarian Judaism.
My boyfriend at the time, also wore tzizit and it was always very intriguing to me.  I asked him more about it and how to wear them etc. and he told me how to do so. so, I stole my brothers tzizit from his drawers (that he was not using) and I wore them during my youth group convention, trying to get a feel for them. At first they felt exceedingly awkward, getting in the way of things. Now, as i get older and this is my whopping second year wearing them, I have realized that this is something that makes me, me.  At first, I had to hide them from my parents because I was afraid of what they would think of me, and then they ended up finding out and they bought me my  first pair of tzizit.

My own view of women wearing tzizit, or any Jewish prayer garments for that matter, is simple; at least to me. It only specifies in the Torah what to do, excluding gender. Thus, I took it as a pathway that I thought I should take. I never thought that i would be an inspiration or that "cool girl wearing tzizit". I just personally believe that women should be able to take on the same mitzvot men can. I have gotten made fun of, and gotten a lot of strange stares and honestly that does not phase me. I just try and represent my Jewish community the way i feel is right and i do what is right for me. One common miss conception is that people think it is a fashion statement or its a way to show off one's feminism. My response is: Yes, and no. I wear them because i personally feel like i can be closer to G-D for wearing them. Everyone has their own journey, mine just includes wearing these fringes to  remind me of His/Her existence. I don't like showing off and i do not see me wearing tzizt as a way for me showing off.
So if you want to start wearing tzizit...Talk to someone about it, preferably your parents and your friends. If you feel so strongly and don't have any supporting people around you, talk to someone in the community. Feel free to comment with any questions that you have! Also, do lots of research. research is very helpful because then you can learn how to perform this mitzvah accurately.
moral of the story: Tzizit is not for everyone. do what makes you happy and what makes you feel holy. In my opinion, holy is such a subjective thing. do what makes you feel closer to G-d. that is all He/She/it asks for. But most importantly, love yourself :)         Click here to get tzitzit designed for females
<3 Jennie

No Shave November

So a while while back I wrote a piece on this blog about body hair. Mainly because it was really late at night and I was angry and not tired. Anyways, since it being november, there are two things that usually go on around this time: 1: NaNoWriMo: a month long challenge where you write a whole novel in a month (and I am participating this year!! WAHOOOO!!!) and 2: No shave November!
See, at my school we have what is called no shave November and what happens is that men don't shave their faces for a month in order to raise awareness for prostate cancer. I personally don't have a problem with this at all but the fact that they are making this a contest and discriminating against men who don't have to shave and women. Also, on my schools announcements, a girl made a joke about not shaving her legs for no shave November and the guy said "No, ladies please shave your legs."
I have many problems with this. Mainly because A, Women should do whatever they want, B, They should have the right to participate in No shave November by not shaving their legs if they want to and C, they should not be seen as gross for not shaving during November. Women are not items, they do not have to be obligated to shave just because their "Man" (Or woman, depending on preference) tells them to do so/wants them too. Body hair is a natural thing, so is belching and farting. they are social taboos and it seems like women in particular are not supposed to be seen doing these natural body things such as pooping, Farting, growing natural body hair etc. But as people, we should not be afraid of these things because they are just apart of how our bodies work. we should feel relieved and happy that our bodies are functioning properly and not just petrified because a female can grow sick leg hair.
so yeah, for these reasons, I, Jennie Paige Rubin, Am participating in no shave November....Please comment and share if you are a girl and do this too. Don't be shy!!!
<3 Jennie
PS: please do not think any less of me

Lets do something fun shall we?

So today, while waiting for my laundry to launder...I am going to try something fun today. So I am going to participate in the favourite things tag (yes, I LOVE BRITISH SPELLING!!!!).
1. What is your favourite food? Well...I really dont have one. My favourite Fruit is a pomegranate and my favorite ice cream is Chocolate chip cookie dough. I have to say...grilled cheese. 
2. What is your favourite movie? This is very very hard. I'll have to say Star wars, A New Hope because its the first movie of the star wars trilogy and its the best one by far. 
3. Who is your favourite actor and actress? I'd have to say Harrison Ford and Morgan Friedman are my favourite actors, and Its a tie between Emma Watson and Anne Hathaway for the Jennie Award for best actress. For musical theatre: Male: Joel Grey, Allan Cummings, Tim Curry Female: Angela Lansbery, Sutton Foster,Bernadette Peters 
4. What is your favourite color? Purple and green
5. What is your favourite nail polish color? Black and plum for winter, pastel mint green for summer
6. What is your favourite brand of makeup? I dont wear much makeup...but My favourite brand is Lush...if that counts
7. What is your favorite song? Right now, its a tie between flaws by Bastille and I'll Follow you Into the Dark by Death Cab For Cutie
8. What is your favourite TV show? Avatar. (Airbender and Kora!!!)
9. What is your favourite book? Series: Harry Potter, Book: Looking for Alaska By John Green
10. Where is your favourite place that you've been to? Tzfat, Israel.
11. Where do you want to go? All over the world. I want to be like the scientist from Around the world in 80 days and travel in a hot air baloon around the world.
12. What is your favourite board game? card game: Magic the gathering or apples to apples. Board game: CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!! and life
13. What is your favourite shopping store? Urban Outfitters, Lush, Anthropologie and thrift stores/savers. I love vintagy artsy clothing. I suck at dressing myself but i can dress others. I also cannot match...at all.
14. What is your favourite thing to do? Too much. I like to do alot of things...blogging/writing, singing, drawing, swimming, reading, doing outdorsy things..and more...like i said...too much. 
15. What is your favourite application on your phone/iPad/iPod?FRUIT NINJAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( i am a ninja of fruits!)
16. What is your favourite animal? Real: Beluga Whales Real, but only to me: Unicorns
17. Do you have any pets? If so, how many, what are their names, and what kind of animal are they? A pet rock named Sergio
18. Who is your favourite YouTuber? This is a very hard thing to say. I have an obsession with Zoella, even though i cannot do makeup or dress myself for my life. I really wish for her to read my blog, but i am not sure if she is into feminism. I also am in love with: Jim Chapman, Alfie Deyes, John Green, Hank Green and all of the channels that hank produces.
19. What is your favourite video game? Sims and Oregon trail. 
20. What is your favourite subject in school/college? My costume design Independant study. I have my Dramaturgy Independant study right before and sewing has been a very effective stress reliever. 
21. What are your life aspirations? To....Make a difference in some way, become a costume designer/writer/dramaturg/maharat/activist/unicorn/sociologist/blogger/youtuber/spoken word poet
22. Who is your favourite Harry Potter character? TONKS!!!!!! she is completly amazing and i want to be like her. yeah...this is my life

So yeah, that is me...comment on what you like!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!! now you have more knowledge...
<3 Jennie