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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   1893 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 3, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Do you consider Israel culturally part of the West? Partially part of the West?

I've been thinking about this, and I think it's an interesting and not necessarily straight forwards question. I think secular Jews and those in the Reform tradition are undeniably Western; one of the core points of the Reform tradition was to integrate Judaism into Western Traditions and vice versa. The Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox I think are their own distinct, more ancient civilization. My answer to the above question is I think Israel is mostly Western, given the cultural roots of the Reform/Seculars, but not entirely.

Do other Western countries have signs like this in public neighborhoods?

I'm pretty sure the Vatican has similar signs, as do some cultural sites (cathedrals) across the EU. Also occasional bans on specific types of garments: Switzerland bans face-covering headwear.

I've definitely encountered my share of "tourists go away" graffiti in a few EU countries with lots of tourism, which seems like the subtext of the sign there too.

You can just look up the signs at the entrance to the Vatican banning tank tops and shorts.

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