Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
@postrafelite.bsky.social
🏳️⚧️ 🎨✍🏻 🦋 Londoner in the Middle West. Historian of late antiquity and Talmud scholar. Comics artist and painter. First Gen x 3.
Also for Chanukah shopping ;-)) get this!
!Restock Alert! just in time for the holidays, we've got Royal Sword by @zootzonk.bsky.social and the Diskette Notebook System. Order by the 15th for Christmas shipping!
December 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Also for Chanukah shopping ;-)) get this!
The things we do to keep our own spirits up, while piously pretending its "for the sake of the children"
Video: grownup and two little ones doing silly dancing on living room floor.
Video: grownup and two little ones doing silly dancing on living room floor.
December 2, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The things we do to keep our own spirits up, while piously pretending its "for the sake of the children"
Video: grownup and two little ones doing silly dancing on living room floor.
Video: grownup and two little ones doing silly dancing on living room floor.
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
Look, there is no way to avoid TPUSA. You can give trolls a C-, B, B+. It won't matter. They can even get an A overall but if you give the feedback the very constructive OU instructor did, you're on the list. The assignment could be 2% of the grade (it might be in that class!). There is no defense.
December 1, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Look, there is no way to avoid TPUSA. You can give trolls a C-, B, B+. It won't matter. They can even get an A overall but if you give the feedback the very constructive OU instructor did, you're on the list. The assignment could be 2% of the grade (it might be in that class!). There is no defense.
Mimesis with 2 y o and stuffed animals. 4 y o does their own thing.
November 28, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Mimesis with 2 y o and stuffed animals. 4 y o does their own thing.
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
Guys, if you haven’t had a chance to read Rafe’s “When a Human Gives Birth to a Raven” (open access with UCP) do it! It’s a game-changer! If you don’t have time for the entire book, my review came out this week with AJS Review.
Thanks @monikaamsler.bsky.social for this iconic pic of the wonderful panel in which #SarahIlesJohnston, #JeremyMcInerney, #KarenBritt, #RaananBoustan, #BlakeLeyerle, and #Denisa Hradilová, engaged my book in dialogue with their own work on art, hybrids, monsters, animals, and menageries! 1/x
November 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Guys, if you haven’t had a chance to read Rafe’s “When a Human Gives Birth to a Raven” (open access with UCP) do it! It’s a game-changer! If you don’t have time for the entire book, my review came out this week with AJS Review.
Thanks @monikaamsler.bsky.social for this iconic pic of the wonderful panel in which #SarahIlesJohnston, #JeremyMcInerney, #KarenBritt, #RaananBoustan, #BlakeLeyerle, and #Denisa Hradilová, engaged my book in dialogue with their own work on art, hybrids, monsters, animals, and menageries! 1/x
November 27, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Thanks @monikaamsler.bsky.social for this iconic pic of the wonderful panel in which #SarahIlesJohnston, #JeremyMcInerney, #KarenBritt, #RaananBoustan, #BlakeLeyerle, and #Denisa Hradilová, engaged my book in dialogue with their own work on art, hybrids, monsters, animals, and menageries! 1/x
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
Gilah Kletenik and Rafael Neis are at it again, in Ep. 5 "Jewish Studies, Naturally." For the full episode, visit the link in bio or click on the link below.
#jewishstudies #aderaba #podcast #nature @postrafelite.bsky.social
youtu.be/p6yp7m-Ob2E?...
#jewishstudies #aderaba #podcast #nature @postrafelite.bsky.social
youtu.be/p6yp7m-Ob2E?...
Jewish Studies, Naturally
YouTube video by Aderaba
youtu.be
October 5, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Gilah Kletenik and Rafael Neis are at it again, in Ep. 5 "Jewish Studies, Naturally." For the full episode, visit the link in bio or click on the link below.
#jewishstudies #aderaba #podcast #nature @postrafelite.bsky.social
youtu.be/p6yp7m-Ob2E?...
#jewishstudies #aderaba #podcast #nature @postrafelite.bsky.social
youtu.be/p6yp7m-Ob2E?...
Am I the only one who pronounces it as Bloo-skee?
September 28, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Am I the only one who pronounces it as Bloo-skee?
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
Season 1, Episode 4: "What's Wrong with the West" just dropped!
Come for the insightful analysis and critique of contemporary investment in a so-called "Western" tradition currently ascendent in right-wing circles, including by specific Jewish groups.
beacons.ai/aderaba
@postrafelite.bsky.social
Come for the insightful analysis and critique of contemporary investment in a so-called "Western" tradition currently ascendent in right-wing circles, including by specific Jewish groups.
beacons.ai/aderaba
@postrafelite.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Season 1, Episode 4: "What's Wrong with the West" just dropped!
Come for the insightful analysis and critique of contemporary investment in a so-called "Western" tradition currently ascendent in right-wing circles, including by specific Jewish groups.
beacons.ai/aderaba
@postrafelite.bsky.social
Come for the insightful analysis and critique of contemporary investment in a so-called "Western" tradition currently ascendent in right-wing circles, including by specific Jewish groups.
beacons.ai/aderaba
@postrafelite.bsky.social
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
Season 1, Ep 2 of ADERABA: What’s Bad about Being in the Image of God?
Hosts Gilah Kletenik & Rafe Neis unpack how this idea shaped Jewish & Christian thought—its dangers, its hierarchies, and its potential for rethinking human dignity & ecology today.
#aderaba #talmud #philosophy #theology
Hosts Gilah Kletenik & Rafe Neis unpack how this idea shaped Jewish & Christian thought—its dangers, its hierarchies, and its potential for rethinking human dignity & ecology today.
#aderaba #talmud #philosophy #theology
September 21, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Season 1, Ep 2 of ADERABA: What’s Bad about Being in the Image of God?
Hosts Gilah Kletenik & Rafe Neis unpack how this idea shaped Jewish & Christian thought—its dangers, its hierarchies, and its potential for rethinking human dignity & ecology today.
#aderaba #talmud #philosophy #theology
Hosts Gilah Kletenik & Rafe Neis unpack how this idea shaped Jewish & Christian thought—its dangers, its hierarchies, and its potential for rethinking human dignity & ecology today.
#aderaba #talmud #philosophy #theology
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
You can now read and download the Introduction to my new book Slavery and the Jews of Medieval Egypt - to be published in January. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
September 22, 2025 at 2:28 PM
You can now read and download the Introduction to my new book Slavery and the Jews of Medieval Egypt - to be published in January. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
Season 1, Ep 3 of ADERABA: Why Halakhah is NOT Law
We unpack the history and politics of reducing halakhah to “Jewish law,” its Christian inflections, and its impact on Jewish legal thought today. Heated (and personal!) lawyer–rabbi debate inside.
#halakhah #jewishstudies #judaism #law #philosophy
We unpack the history and politics of reducing halakhah to “Jewish law,” its Christian inflections, and its impact on Jewish legal thought today. Heated (and personal!) lawyer–rabbi debate inside.
#halakhah #jewishstudies #judaism #law #philosophy
September 21, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Season 1, Ep 3 of ADERABA: Why Halakhah is NOT Law
We unpack the history and politics of reducing halakhah to “Jewish law,” its Christian inflections, and its impact on Jewish legal thought today. Heated (and personal!) lawyer–rabbi debate inside.
#halakhah #jewishstudies #judaism #law #philosophy
We unpack the history and politics of reducing halakhah to “Jewish law,” its Christian inflections, and its impact on Jewish legal thought today. Heated (and personal!) lawyer–rabbi debate inside.
#halakhah #jewishstudies #judaism #law #philosophy
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
Jews and stomach problems have apparently been a theme for a while. (from Berakhot 55a)
September 20, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Jews and stomach problems have apparently been a theme for a while. (from Berakhot 55a)
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
More self-promotion: a lecture I gave earlier this year about radical forms of democracy in antiquity (and the lessons they might offer us) can now be seen on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iluz... #democracy #anarchism #canpol #antiquity
Radical Antiquity: Ancient Lessons for Modern Democracy
YouTube video by Knox College
www.youtube.com
September 2, 2025 at 6:08 PM
More self-promotion: a lecture I gave earlier this year about radical forms of democracy in antiquity (and the lessons they might offer us) can now be seen on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iluz... #democracy #anarchism #canpol #antiquity
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
there is an hour and a half of SPX left so make sure you find all of the clues to discover the true meaning of zines
September 14, 2025 at 8:25 PM
there is an hour and a half of SPX left so make sure you find all of the clues to discover the true meaning of zines
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
what we’ve seen from the right is the most insane case of cancel culture i’ve ever witnessed. the left has never even done close to a fraction of a fraction of what they want to do now
September 13, 2025 at 9:29 PM
what we’ve seen from the right is the most insane case of cancel culture i’ve ever witnessed. the left has never even done close to a fraction of a fraction of what they want to do now
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
Rafael Neis offers a response to panelists, highlighting the unique position of both author and artist.
Author Response | Neis, When a Human Gives Birth to a Raven — ANCIENT JEW REVIEW
“I view my book not only as a celebration of resemblance and its nonsensical relations, but also an interruption of an exceptionalized and recurring image: that of God. The play of resemblances that…
www.ancientjewreview.com
April 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Rafael Neis offers a response to panelists, highlighting the unique position of both author and artist.
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
I am having a hard time reconciling "Charlie Kirk was a fierce advocate of open dialogue and free expression" with "we must identify and persecute everyone who is insufficiently mournful"
After Charlie Kirk's death, teachers and professors nationwide fired or disciplined over social media posts
At least a dozen faculty and staff have faced fallout over insensitive comments online.
www.nbcnews.com
September 13, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I am having a hard time reconciling "Charlie Kirk was a fierce advocate of open dialogue and free expression" with "we must identify and persecute everyone who is insufficiently mournful"
Spoiler: what do Augustine, Hitler, Augustine, Obama and (Mike) Pence have in common?
Gilah Kletenik and I argue about the value of the idea that humans are in the divine image.
Gilah Kletenik and I argue about the value of the idea that humans are in the divine image.
Episode 2 of ADERABA out today!
WHAT IS BAD ABOUT BEING IN THE IMAGE OF GOD?
Two clips below 👇🏻
Full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.
youtube.com/shorts/gK8z5...
youtube.com/shorts/vWyNJ...
WHAT IS BAD ABOUT BEING IN THE IMAGE OF GOD?
Two clips below 👇🏻
Full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.
youtube.com/shorts/gK8z5...
youtube.com/shorts/vWyNJ...
ADERABA S1 E2 CLIP 2 - "What's Bad About Being in the Image of God?"
YouTube video by Aderaba
youtube.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Spoiler: what do Augustine, Hitler, Augustine, Obama and (Mike) Pence have in common?
Gilah Kletenik and I argue about the value of the idea that humans are in the divine image.
Gilah Kletenik and I argue about the value of the idea that humans are in the divine image.
Episode 2 of ADERABA out today!
WHAT IS BAD ABOUT BEING IN THE IMAGE OF GOD?
Two clips below 👇🏻
Full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.
youtube.com/shorts/gK8z5...
youtube.com/shorts/vWyNJ...
WHAT IS BAD ABOUT BEING IN THE IMAGE OF GOD?
Two clips below 👇🏻
Full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.
youtube.com/shorts/gK8z5...
youtube.com/shorts/vWyNJ...
ADERABA S1 E2 CLIP 2 - "What's Bad About Being in the Image of God?"
YouTube video by Aderaba
youtube.com
September 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Episode 2 of ADERABA out today!
WHAT IS BAD ABOUT BEING IN THE IMAGE OF GOD?
Two clips below 👇🏻
Full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.
youtube.com/shorts/gK8z5...
youtube.com/shorts/vWyNJ...
WHAT IS BAD ABOUT BEING IN THE IMAGE OF GOD?
Two clips below 👇🏻
Full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.
youtube.com/shorts/gK8z5...
youtube.com/shorts/vWyNJ...
I am teaching Ancient Law this semester. It's a surprisingly tough subject to teach if you live/are affected in any way by the present.
myriad presumptions we have about law are hard to bear when certain people are criminalized for existing.
myriad presumptions we have about law are hard to bear when certain people are criminalized for existing.
September 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I am teaching Ancient Law this semester. It's a surprisingly tough subject to teach if you live/are affected in any way by the present.
myriad presumptions we have about law are hard to bear when certain people are criminalized for existing.
myriad presumptions we have about law are hard to bear when certain people are criminalized for existing.
Reposted by Rafe Neis (((they/them)))
My hometown school librarian is now being counter-sued... Here's how to donate to the GoFundMe to help legal fees: www.gofundme.com/f/legal-supp...
Donate to Legal Fees for Librarian Christine Beachler, organized by Michelle Vanallsburg
WZZM 13 On Your Side Story
No one should be consistently attacked… Michelle Vanallsburg needs your support for Legal Fees for Librarian Christine Beachler
www.gofundme.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
My hometown school librarian is now being counter-sued... Here's how to donate to the GoFundMe to help legal fees: www.gofundme.com/f/legal-supp...