Last Updated: April 21, 2026 Effective Date: April 21, 2026
Welcome
Spirit Of Shabbat is a private, invite-only community for Torah study and meaningful Jewish learning. These Guidelines define how we treat each other. They are part of our and work alongside our and .
The standard is simple: be the community member you would want to learn beside.
Our Values
These are not aspirations. They are the baseline — the healthy state. When we are living these values, the community needs no rules.
Kavod (Honor) — Treat every person with dignity. Every person is created b'tselem Elohim.
Emet (Truth) — Be honest. Acknowledge when you are uncertain.
Chesed (Loving-Kindness) — Lead with compassion. Give the benefit of the doubt.
Shalom (Peace) — Seek harmony. Disagreement is welcome; hostility is not.
Talmud Torah (Learning) — Prioritize genuine learning and intellectual growth.
Tzedek (Justice) — Act with fairness. Stand against injustice.
Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) — Use your voice constructively.
Ethical Commitments
By participating, you commit to:
Non-discrimination — treating all members fairly regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, national origin, or other protected characteristics.
Honesty — truthful, non-deceptive communication.
Confidentiality — protecting private information shared within the community.
Accountability — taking responsibility for your words and actions, acknowledging mistakes, and being open to feedback.
Constructive engagement — contributing positively and remaining open to growth.
Reporting — alerting moderators to serious violations or safety concerns.
How to Be Here
Engage with Substance
Read before responding. Address arguments, not people.
Cite sources. Distinguish opinion from established scholarship.
Make space for others. Acknowledge valid points, even in disagreement.
Use content warnings ("CW: [topic]") for discussions of violence, trauma, self-harm, or potentially distressing material.
Disagree Well
Machloket l'shem shamayim — disagreement for the sake of heaven — is valued. "I see it differently because..." is welcome. "You're completely wrong" is not. Challenge ideas with evidence. Maintain intellectual humility. Know when to disengage.
Respect Boundaries
Honor stated boundaries without requiring justification.
Accept "no" — to continued conversation, to sharing personal information, to any form of contact.
Do not pursue contact through alternate means after being asked to stop or blocked.
Private messages carry the same standards as public interaction, with additional respect for the intimacy of the channel.
Protect Privacy
Do not share others' personal information, private messages, or community content without consent.
Do not attempt to discover or reveal members' identities.
Do not screenshot or share private conversations publicly (except when reporting to moderators).
This is a private, invite-only community. Do not share content, discussions, or invitation links outside the community.
What We Do Not Tolerate
The details prohibited conduct. In this community context, the following deserve emphasis:
Harassment — any unwelcome conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment, in any form: verbal, behavioral, sexual, or identity-based. This includes persistent unwanted contact, coordinated attacks, public shaming, and manipulation (guilt-tripping, gaslighting, coercion). Power dynamics matter — those with greater standing bear greater responsibility.
Hate — content or conduct attacking individuals or groups based on protected characteristics.
Disruption — deliberate derailing, trolling, sea-lioning, brigading, or any conduct designed to undermine healthy discourse rather than participate in it.
Exposure — sharing private messages publicly, doxxing, or outing private information about others.
Sensitive Topics
Torah study involves sensitive and mature themes. Approach them with care:
Use content warnings for discussions of violence, abuse, trauma, self-harm, antisemitism, illness, death, or grief.
Respect diverse perspectives on religious practice, denomination, and political issues connected to Jewish values.
Never diagnose others' mental health. Share crisis resources responsibly.
Crisis Resources:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
When Harm Occurs
If You See It
Report to moderators using in-app reporting or safety@spiritofshabbat.org. Do not amplify harmful content. Support affected members privately. Let the moderation process work.
If You've Been Harmed
Your feelings are valid. You decide how to proceed. Reporting is an option, not an obligation. Support is available.
If You've Caused Harm
Listen without defensiveness. Acknowledge impact regardless of intent. Take responsibility. Ask what repair looks like. Genuine teshuvah (repentance and return) is valued.
We favor restorative approaches — focusing on repairing harm, creating accountability, centering those who were harmed, and supporting community healing.
Moderation
Our moderators enforce these Guidelines fairly, proportionally, and with compassion. They consider context, intent, and impact. See our for procedures, enforcement actions, and appeal rights.
Immediate Ban Offenses
The following result in immediate permanent ban and may be reported to law enforcement:
Child exploitation material or behavior
Credible threats of violence
Non-consensual intimate imagery
Doxxing
Severe hate speech or terrorism promotion
Appeals
Submit appeals to appeals@spiritofshabbat.org with your account information, the action taken, and your reasons. Appeals are reviewed independently within 7 business days. Decisions are final.
Accessibility
We are committed to an accessible community:
Use alt text for images. Avoid relying solely on color.
Write clearly. Break up long text. Avoid unnecessary jargon.
Respect stated pronouns and names. Use inclusive language.
Accommodate diverse needs, abilities, and learning styles.