ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alden Nagel is the founder and editor of Nut Hole Publishing, and also a writer. He currently lives in Seattle, where he sits, watches, reads, and writes.
Hello Chaiya,
I trust that you’re well, and that this letter reaches you in good spirits. I cannot help but be impressed by your profound, greatly successful endeavors as a media figure (through Libs of TikTok, among many other presences you presently employ) of note in the time we find ourselves in. This, as you well know (having proven yourself quite knowledgeable), is a time during the course of humankind, of our global society, where we are all confused, distressed, maligned, and put-off by the state of affairs of all things, all the time. I certainly, absolutely do see why people are attracted to you and what you have to preach about a variety of subjects happening within the world now. Even, of course, subjects which are apparently true, and as such, affect many of those around us. Your word is taken into account, and people follow through with its ethical implications; your infamy precedes you. You, as very few people within the course of human history, are someone who by one’s very word, has been seen, time and time again, to have a lifelong impact on. Your words provide avenues for which people fervently walk the talk, or rather, how they hear it. You are not a prophet, to the best of my knowledge. If you are not, people ought to see you as a prophet—I mean that! People of all walks of life need to recognize you for what you are—as a manifestation of a certain prophecy.
What people may not recognize, of course, is that they are not simply “consuming” the idea of you—they are undoubtedly listening and paying attention to you and your word. A certain kind of light, a seemingly everlasting one, shines up at you, showing your big, white face. You are white as the Lamb, Chaiya! I would go the distance to say, that you are a truly behooved figure before those among us who believe in the power of God’s word as it has been written in the Bible. Chaiya, you are a devout woman of the Jewish faith, this is known! You are the author of “Mikvah Stories: A Collection of True Stories of Women Overcoming Today’s Challenges”. This text, as I understand it, is an anthology of stories about Jewish Moroccan women and their stories of their lives as it intersects with conflict, faith, and the Mikvah (for those reading this who do not know, a Mikvah is a traditional Jewish bath wherein women of various backgrounds within a community come together, in a bath). As a registered, baptized and confirmed Catholic, I cannot speak at length regarding the Mikvah tradition, let alone Judaism as a whole in any astute way; it is what it is, to those who happen to be of it; practicing, culturally, matrilineally or otherwise. But, I’d love to write briefly about your book, and its contents, or at least what I cannot help but feel about them, and you. I should note, I can also neither talk about women, let alone one as ardently belief-driven as you are. It would be as if I were lying, which I never do. When others lie, that allows the rest of us to tell the liar truths, truths which pierce the flesh of God’s temple like a sword. Thus, as a believer in the flesh, I can only tell the truth.
Whatever you believe, Chaiya, I know there must truly be something within you. I’d love to get a coffee, and a bagel, and talk with you in person if you so wish. However, I certainly seem to know you from your writings online and in print. Many may say they do, and upon closer inspection, I do believe that you are an authentic person. To quote the beloved author Oscar Wilde, “We are who we are, having secretly decided who we’d like to be.” I know who you’ve decided to be, and it truly is revelatory to know that someone like you can still exist today. In a truly Biblical sense, it is nothing short of awesome, fit for a verse out of the Book of Revelations.
Chaiya, I have never been to the country of Morocco, I must confess. You have been, it appears, and that’s all very well and good. The closest I’ve ever been to Morocco was the city of Boston, Massachusetts! My mother, however, has been. She only went for a day, while on vacation in Italy. Nevertheless, I do know from experience what it is like to be among the baths of members of a community I presently call my own, in a setting worthy of many, many stories — even from my own life! I would like to briefly mention one, called “Club Z”. I have never been to that establishment specifically, but I am curious as to what the “Z” in its name stands for. I believe, given the approximate date of its establishment within the neighborhood it presides within, in the city of Seattle, that it must stand for Zechariah (who I might add, happens to be one of my personal favorite prophets from the Bible, one whom I’m certain you must have a strong relationship with on a very personal level.) Club Zechariah must be a lovely place, welcoming of all walks of life, free of any kind of judgement. In fact, from what I have heard, this seems very well to be true! As such, I would like to personally invite you to come with me to Club Z. I would love to show you what my community has to offer, in all its bountiful assets and events. You may even learn something new! I’d love to hear what you have to say about “Club Zechariah”, Ms. Raichik. If you come with me to Club Z, I’ll gladly help get you in — and I don’t even mean a disguise, let alone anything prosthetic! I’m certain they’d love to have you at Club Zechariah, Ms. Raichik. Trust me, and let them have you, Ms. Raichik. We come with openness, and open arms, among other delights, Ms. Raichik.
As a token of good will, I have included below ten astute verses from the Bible, almost entirely from the Hebrew Bible specifically—except for the very last quote from the Book of Luke—one of my favorites, having affected me deeply through my upbringing within the Catholic church. I hope you find them as affecting and insightful as I have. As someone with many faith-based friendships and associates, I do believe, in my heart of hearts, that you will find them these verses to be as enlightening as that very real, revelatory light which shines on you from below.
In fact, I know you will.
Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
Zechariah 8:14-17
Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.
Titus 1:7-9
Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trust-worthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Leviticus 19:16
Do not go around spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.
Deuteronomy 28:53-57
You’ll eat your own children—the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God gave you—on account of the siege and the distress with which your enemy will oppress you. Even the compassionate man among you—the very sensitive one—will look with evil in his eyes toward his brother, his beloved wife, and his surviving sons, whom he spared. He will withhold from each of them the flesh of his sons that he is eating—since there will be nothing left—on account of the siege and distress with which your enemy will oppress you in all your cities. The most tender and sensitive lady among you, who doesn’t venture to touch the soles of her feet to the ground on account of her daintiness, will look with hostility in her eyes against her beloved husband, her sons, and her daughters. She will eat her afterbirth and her newborn children secretly—since there will be nothing left—on account of the siege and distress with which your enemy will oppress you in your cities.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 57:1-7
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to the God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness. I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path—But they have fallen into it themselves. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast.
2 Chronicles 15:2
The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Now all have been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring each deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Luke 17:1-2
Jesus spoke to his disciples. “Things that make people sin are sure to come,” he said. “But how terrible it will be for anyone who causes those things to come! Suppose people lead one of these little ones to sin. It would be better for those people to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck.”
Signed,
Alden Nagel
P.S. In the languages of Old English and Ashkenazic German, my first and last name would directly translate to “Old Friend” and “Nail”, respectively. Perhaps, you might consider me to be a nail for you, be it on the cross for which you bear. Metaphorically-speaking, of course. All of us bear a metaphorical, even allegorical cross. I do believe you may bear yours well, too. I know what your name means, if at least in terms of what it may translate to directly. And yet, I do not know what you yourself might associate with it, and as such, I shall make no illusion to it. As for my last name, as it is for nails, you know what you must do, Chaiya. It is to bear that very cross, and to do so with your millions of followers watching, as God has gracefully granted you to do. I myself do feel, that you will gladly do so with the utmost ease; you seem to be doing so every day, and, judging by your character, you will do so evermore.
So beautifully written! Bravo!