These are the pieces of writings that people tell me on a regular basis are their favorites or that they keep coming back to again and again. I think they're a good place to start if you are new to my writing.
Lashon Hara
Why the “evil tongue” is forbidden, and why Jews and Non-Jews alike may wish to add a mindfulness of lashon hara to their life.
Shel Raphen
Abuser is Not a Class (AKA “My Least Favorite Word”)
On the ways we talk about abuse, and the people who do it.
Shel Raphen
Zionism is not what people think it is (it’s worse)
A brief history of the Zionist ideology and why it is not necessary for Jews to still live in Israel-Palestine and why Zionism is incompatible with lasting peace.
Shel Raphen
Vulva Shrine Saga
A re-telling of the saga that is *the left-hand chaos magic vulva shrine* that my brother Tom, journalist Samantha Riedel, and I found in our basement back when we all lived together some years ago.
Shel Raphen
Posted to Western Mass Queer Exchange 08/01/2019
A fictional parody of “queer exchange” Facebook groups.
Shel Raphen
Vinyl Records
A short story on data preservation.
Shel Raphen
Anywhere you are is important if you are there long enough
On feeling grateful to bad people for experiences they inexplicably brought into your life.
Shel Raphen
Those who give you life: A dvar on parshat yitro
On “Thou shalt honor thy father and mother” when your father and mother have mistreated you.
Shel Raphen
Chanukah 5783 Nightly Reflections
Nightly personal reflections composed during Chanukah 5783 about what the holiday has meant to me, on the backdrop of the heightened war in Gaza.
Shel Raphen
Appreciating an Elegant Autistic Social Skill
On the double empathy problem and “you share, I share” as a form of emotional support. When talking about yourself is a way of talking about someone else.
Shel Raphen
Detransition, Baby & Vulnerability versus Insularity
A glowing recommendation of Detransition, Baby and exploration of one of its main themes.
Shel Raphen
If they didn’t want to be here, they wouldn’t be—and if they’re here anyway, that’s not my problem
On how overcoming codependency also creates security in relationships
Shel Raphen
Growing Fewer Branches as I Age
On coming to know who you are as you get older and leaving behind the people you never became
Shel Raphen
The Comforting Loneliness of Suburban Anti-Places
On why being in the suburbs feels so bad yet so relaxing at the same time.
Shel Raphen
Heterosexuality is a Fetish and So Can You
On how vanilla straight relationships are actually super kinky
Shel Raphen
Wisdom on Transition, after 10 years of transition
Pieces of advice for early transition people to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the first time I wore a dress in public as an adult
Shel Raphen
Wealth and the Erotic: Labor Exhaustion and Orgasmic Relief
On how socioeconomic powers romance fiction.
Shel Raphen
Telepathy, Astral Projection, and the Time Traveling Transsexual
On seeing other people as your own past self
Shel Raphen
How to Read the Newspaper for Free in the United States
A guide to library newspaper subscriptions and recommendation to read the news without social media
Shel Raphen
My Library Ideology: Everyone Deserves Access to Society’s Creations
On why I believe in the eternal good of the public library as a concept
Shel Raphen
This is just a sample of the 70+ posts on this blog and I only kept the ones I think are pretty good. I highly recommend exploring the tags on posts you enjoy.