"Trapped in the scaffolding of Time, we managed to still float above their imagined borders. We were able to do so, because like a cloud, we are ephemeral phantoms of this world. We are tsvishn tsvey velt*: the world below and the world above. When light speaks to darkness, our hearts fill with Joy, for these are the moments when levone* coos to us. We are timeless, and Time is what chokes us. The world below is not a Hell, it is people and what people make of it. Their Time is not time at all. It is only a tool of punishment. We must strive for that timelessness." - Der Meshunediker, Tohuvabohu Zine 2019
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I want to take this short opportunity to announce that I've begun work on what I hope will become a small zine or series of zines. The focus of this project will be adapting Jewish history, folklore, and culture into a playable old-school D&D setting, with some unique classes, mechanics, and the like. I've already spoken to several people who are interested in assisting me with or contributing to this project, and I hope that together we can produce something interesting, valuable, and that speaks to our experiences as Jews in the modern era. Above all, I want this project to honor the heritage of our people.
Along the way, I'll be posting bits and pieces here, as well as keeping an up-to-date Appendix N with reference materials.
I've decided to call this project Der Shprukh (Yiddish for 'The Incantation') because it speaks to the mysticism/magical qualities that I believe are inherent to much of Jewish life, but also to the mysticism at the root of old-school elfgames. The plan is that all materials produced will be as system-neutral as possible, but definitely skewed towards use in old-school games such as B/X, AD&D, and their retroclones like LotfP, S&W, etc.
Finally, a note on politics. Jews are, obviously, not monolithic: we represent a variety of political opinions. While I (clearly) have my own politics that both inform and are informed by by Jewishness, my goal with this zine is to represent a wide array of our thought - good, bad, ugly, and in-between. However, this project is Diasporic in origin, is set in the Diaspora, and generally skews heavily towards as Diaspora-focused view of Jewish culture and folklore.
If this is a project that potentially interests you, stay tuned to my blog. If you're interested in contributing, reach out.
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*levone = Yid. moon
*tsvishn tsvey velt = Yid. between two worlds
