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Reposted by Shamik Dasgupta

Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 1d

Two months ago, my 15-year old daughter left our local temple at around 11pm. The street was quiet and dark. As she left the temple, two men followed her down the road shouting “fuck Israel” at her. (The temple does not fly an Israeli flag.) >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 1d

Just this summer, I have started to notice a worrying decline from where we were even just a year ago. Is it just me, or do others feel the same?

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 1d

His kids are fine, as is my daughter. We agreed that if we *knew for sure* that things would stay like they currently are, then fine, we can deal. But we also acknowledged that things have a habit of declining very quickly. >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 1d

Recently I was talking with another father of Jewish children who lives outside DC. He reported similar things and said he had to lodge formal reports after his kids received antisemitic treatment. On the one hand, we agreed that all these examples are first world problems. >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 1d

It is true that Trump is weaponizing antisemitism to justify all kinds of bullshit. It is also true that antisemitism is real and appears to be getting worse. The first truth should not blind us to the second. >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 1d

This is not regular pro-palestine stuff but full-on blood libel shit recycled for a 2025 audience. This friend is not (was not?) a fringe ultra-right / neo-Nazi kind of guy, but he has apparently been pulled down some disturbing rabbit holes that he now takes seriously. >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 1d

Last week, an old friend of mine approvingly posted this YouTube video of some guy spouting insane antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jews in Israel. He reckons they are doing “ritual child sacrifice" because of some old Jewish doctrine. >>
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS9x...

Israel Wants to Unite Itself by Breaking the World - Prof Jiang Xueqin

YouTube video by Prof. Jiang Clips

www.youtube.com

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 1d

About a month ago, my wife and I were at a night club in SF. We made friends with a young guy in his early 30s and we were getting along great. Then he saw my wife’s necklace, a Star of David, and she said she was Jewish. He froze and walked off without saying a word. >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 1d

Two months ago, my 15-year old daughter left our local temple at around 11pm. The street was quiet and dark. As she left the temple, two men followed her down the road shouting “fuck Israel” at her. (The temple does not fly an Israeli flag.) >>

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Reposted by Shamik Dasgupta

darren32359.bsky.social @darren32359.bsky.social · 5d

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 5d

Wow. Here’s hoping peace sticks this time.

Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 12d

… A time that invites you to dig deep and find the strength of conviction that summons you into action for something greater than yourself. A time that is not confusing or muddy but clear as day. We are living in such a time and we are being called.”

Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 12d

“The first best thing would be to live in a time of peace and prosperity and freedom and compassion and justice for all. That time has not yet come to the earth.

The NEXT BEST THING is to live in a time that calls upon you to rise to your highest self…

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 12d

This is Rabbi Rachel Timona from our previous temple back in Brooklyn, speaking last week at Rosh Hashana. We listened to it yesterday and I found it deeply moving and inspirational. If you only have a few minutes, listen from 8:30. 👇🏽

youtu.be/Q3oj6sjByjQ?...

Rabbi Rachel Timoner | Rosh Hashanah Day 1 5786/2025

YouTube video by cbebk

youtu.be

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 20d

Good to know. I haven't been on here much tbh. A few months ago my feed started to oscillate between the extremely boring and the borderline delusional!

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 20d

The replies on that post are wild, and remind me why I try to stay away from this place.

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · 21d

Just as Goodman predicted!

www.popsci.com/environment/...

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · Aug 7

Film club with the kids has reached a critical moment. I want to drop "Pink Floyd: Live in Pompeii" on them; they are not exactly thrilled and are threatening to reply with "Trolls: World Tour". It's a stand-off.

Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · Mar 29

I have a film club with the kids and these are the films I showed them in March. All three selections landed well!

I was particularly impressed by how open they were to 2001. Dylan loved the Hal sequence and Elowyn was transfixed by the apes.

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · Jul 26

Bhangra night in SF

Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · Jun 30

Just human beings, coming together to acknowledge the transcendent, in whatever way it hits us.

Dig it.

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · Jun 30

Sometimes it is annoyingly shallow and political, other times it is deep and spiritually enlightening.

Either way, there is something very awesome about participating in a spiritual practice stripped of all bells and whistles. >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · Jun 30

What I love about the Quakers is their no-nonsense attitude and egalitarianism.

We are all spiritual equals. We just sit in a circle, in silence, and that’s it. No leader, no robes, no incense, nothing. If anyone has anything to say they can stand up and speak. >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · Jun 30

I am also experimenting with the Berkeley Zen Center on Saturday mornings. Each has their virtues and vices.

The Zen Center offers more in terms of meditation guidance, but one has to put up with a certain degree of costume and pomp and circumstance. >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · Jun 30

It feels a bit weird. I don’t know if I would call myself "a Quaker”. I certainly do not believe in the Christian god, but I don’t think many Quakers at this meeting do.

I’ve always identified as an atheist and ontologically speaking that hasn’t changed, I don’t think. >>

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Shamik Dasgupta @shamikdasgupta.bsky.social · Jun 30

Today marks one year since I started sitting with the Quakers on Sunday mornings.

Coincidentally, while writing out a sticky name tag on the way in I found that they had made me a permanent laminated label to use, just like the regulars. Which I suppose I am at this point? >>

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