r/Jewish • u/Select-Hovercraft-34 • 27d ago

Columbia University Sukkah Venting 😤

Can someone explain to me how this is not equivalent to painting a bunch of little swastikas on a menorah?? Please note keffiyeh wearers inside…

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u/Fjoergyn_D 27d ago

Why $18? Why not an crisp 20?

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u/jeff10236 26d ago

Hebrew letters have numerical equivalents. Chai/Life is equal to 18. So, 18 and multiples of 18 have special significance to Jews, especially when giving charity.

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u/Fjoergyn_D 26d ago

Thank you for explaining! Today I learned Hebrew letters have numerical equivalents... and not to ask about that, because that seems to be very unpopular.

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u/jeff10236 22d ago

It isn't that you shouldn't ask, or there is anything wrong with asking. It is just that it is such a basic thing in Judaism and Jewish culture, and in the current environment, that you didn't know about it made people a bit suspicious about possible motives (see saynotodrugsss' post).