James Acaster

Ancient Torah of the Samaritans housed in the synagogue of Nablus, Palestine

Israeli vintage postcard

TW suicide

my biggest conspiracy theory is that suicide helpline/crisis lines are purposely obtuse / useless, so that you’re so baffled by their advice that you forget that you wanted to die in the first place

Correction: in the last population concensus, there were 865 samaritans. I think that includes the priests who live in nablus but I cant tell.

Do with this what you will

Well, yeah, that’s not that far off from 1,000. Or do you mean that’s just in the West Bank, with significantly more in Israel?

שמע ישראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה ׀ אחד / ואהבת את יהוה אלהיך בכל־לבבך ובכל־נפשך ובכל־מאדך

اِسمعْ يا إسرائيل: يهوه إلهُنا يهوه واحد / فتُحبُّ يهوه إلهك من كلّ قلبك و من كلّ نفسك و من كلّ قوّتك

Hear, O Israel: The Yahweh our God is one Yahweh / And you shall love the Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6: 4-5 / التثنية / דברים

Family of the High Priest of the Samaritans

Photos from The Samaritans: A Biblical People (2022); edited by: Steven Fine

"Samaritans believe that before 1624, when the last descendant of Aaron died, the high priests were physical descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses. Scrolls and codices were written on animal skins prepared by priests who needed to be purified of contact with the dead through the ashes of the biblical red heifer (Numbers 19:2–6). Since then, without Aaronite priests, this mode of purification has ended. All books are written on paper, making scrolls and codices copied before 1624 all the more precious. In that year, Levitical families that trace themselves to the biblical Uziel son of Kehat, Aaron’s uncle, took up the priesthood. The “priest” photographed, then, is not from the family of Aaron and Moses. He is not a linear descendant of Abisha, Aaron’s grandson. Contemporary high priests are stand-ins, the oldest Levites of a particular family. This distinction, obvious to all Samaritans, is often unclear to outsiders—adding yet another difference between what Westerners and Samaritans “see” when they look upon the venerated priests. In reality, Samaritans downplay this inferior lineage. The disruption of the priestly line of Aaron is another result of the current age of divine Fanuta (“disfavor”) and awaits redemption in a restored Radwan, a “time of favor.” Still, the priest’s authority comes with his high Levitical lineage, learning, liturgical function, and communal standing. While not a descendant of Aaron, the high priest acts and looks the part, and, most importantly, he is treated accordingly. (Fine, pg. 20)

Today is Samaritans Awareness Day - Listening Service

Today is Samaritans Awareness Day The Samaritans of Liverpool and Merseyside – Listening Service.

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Nablus, West Bank: Members of the Samaritan sect take part in a traditional pilgrimage to Mount Gerizim on the holiday of Shavuot.

Photograph: Raneen Sawafta/Reuters

'Help' is not a Dirty Word

'Help' is not a Dirty Word A Poem #amwriting #WritingCommunity #poem #poetry #writerslife #anxiety #MentalHealth #MentalIllness #SuicidePrevention #SuicideAwareness #PoetryCommunity #WriterCommunity #PoetryLovers

Hi everyone, I really should have posted this poem yesterday for Suicide Prevention day, but I suppose a day late is better than never. The rate of suicide is currently on the rise. In the UK & Republic of Ireland in 2018, there were 6,859 cases of suicide. In the UK, there were 6,507 suicides. In the Republic of Ireland, there were 352 suicides. Depression can be debilitating and it’s important…

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To celebrate their 70th anniversary, I’m raising money for the Samaritans by joining their 70 miles in March campaign. This past month, I and other fundraisers committed to walking 70 miles to honour the Samaritans’ past 70 years.

The Samaritans is a brilliant, important charity that I have personally used several times in my life. Every 10 seconds, Samaritans responds to a call for help.

If you’re able to donate any money to help keep them going it’d mean the world to me. Thanks 🙏

Christian Dominionism, White Supremacy, and Yeshua's Law of Love

Christian Dominionism, White Supremacy, and Yeshua’s Law of Love

Readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time: DT 30: 10-14; PS 69: 14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37; COL 1:15-20; LK 10: 25-37 Recently, Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor and current Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley published an article called “The Ideology of Christian Nationalism.” The piece reviewed the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s “Road to…

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The Samaritans offer emotional support 24 hours a day - in full confidence. Call 116 123 - it's FREE

For support in a crisis, Text Shout to 85258.

You can call the Rethink advice and information line Monday to Friday, 10am-2pm for practical advice on: 0300 5000 927

Mind - 0300 123 3393 or http://[email protected]/

Tell someone you trust, a friend, family member or teacher/ trusted adult.

Talk to your GP.

Specialist mental health services such as CMHT, counsellors or therapists.

Getting help for your mental health and how to access support.

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Samaritans / السامريون