Haveil Havalim No. 302: A McFalafel w/Mustard

Welcome to the newest edition of Haveil Havalim, which I've hosted twice before, I believe: Once in September 2010 and once in March 2009. I recall the fondness of June 2008 when I first made the Haveil Havalim blog carnival. I was seriously kvelling -- I made it big time, I thought! And here I am, nearly three years later, still singing the praises of the awesomeness that is this blog carnival. Not sure what Haveil Havalim is? Well, I'll tell you!

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs — a weekly collection of Jewish and Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It’s hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by Jack.

Are you ready? It's time to get your J-blogosphere love on!

Someone mentioned to me that Torah is always the last topic listed each week on Haveil Havalim, so I decided to promote it to spot Numero Uno this week. What do we have to offer?

Netanel presents Derech Eretz posted at Geshmack Torah, and also wants y'all to know that there's a new iPhone app that downloads all the Divrei Torah for you! No more excuses for not being up on the parshah, right?  The question is: When will there be one for the Android?

Kochava (aka the other Chavi, but let's call her Kochava so y'all don't get us confused) at You're Not Crazy presents Halachic Discussion: Converts Can't Be Prophets?

Adventures in Mama-Lan presents a very creative (and easy way to get your learning in) Adventures in Mama-Land: Parsha Poem on Mishpatim.

And The Gelt gives us Longhorns + Egyptians, which is a slight nod to what's going on in the Middle East right now. Short and sweet. 

It seems we're lacking in Culture this week. What's that say about us? Well, at least we have Izgad, who presents G. K. Chesterton and Jewish Hats, which is a non-Jew's take on the importance of Jewish dress.

History too takes a back seat. Luckily, I'm planning some fun Jewish-American history posts in the coming weeks. Why? Because I can! Until then? Carry on.

Next up? Israel! Israel At Level Ground presents Probe Clears Israel in Flotilla Raid (Exclusive audio report), which features an exclusive interview/report from June 2010 on the Flotilla incident.

Lady-Light presents Israel Within International Law in Actions Against Turkish Flotilla posted at Tikkun Olam, as well as Given Current Reality, Peace in Middle East is a Fantasy.

Yisrael Medad offers up How Do You Advertise a Gym in Israel? and My Right Word: Looking at the Reality on the Ground - The Topography of Judea & Samaria.

Mc anything is good for me!

Joel Katz presents January 24th's Section 1 and Section 2 posted at Religion and State in Israel. My favorite from Section 2? A piece about the McFalafel. Nom nom nom. Probably not gluten-free, but seriously.

Harry presents Religious mustard and other Hebrew acronyms, where the Israeli obsession with acronym-izing everything means that you can be a Mustard. Don't believe me? As Harry says, some call themselves "Hardal (an acronym for “haredi leumi” – for those ultra-Orthodox who also serve in the army). The funny part is that the word in modern Hebrew also means “mustard.” Loving it! Put some of that on my McFalafel, will you?! Also from Harry? Goodbye GPS, hello Comodo and Nostalgia Sunday – Jerusalem City Center -- all posted at Israelity.

Ben-Yehudah presents What's Really Been Happening To Ya'akov Teitel? at Esser Agaroth, and Cosmic X presents Rabbi Yisrael Rosen: Ban MK Einat Wilf! And, lastly, we have Rachel Barenblat, who presents On the Palestine Papers over on Velveteen Rabbi.

I don't know why, but if you search "Jewish Coffee" you get lots of pictures of cake and Jewish coffee cake recipes. What makes coffee cake Jewish, seriously? Anyway ... 

Ahh, Judaism. You are my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My coffee, too. So what do we have this week? 


On Esser Agaroth, Ben-Yehudah presents Jewish Family Planning on long engagements. I'm wholly opposed to long engagements ... but, well, that's just me. I was sort of without an option. Conversions man, they're nuts!

The lovely Kochava presents The Conversion Mikvah Visit in a Nutshell posted at You're Not Crazy. I'm really waiting for her to release her book on all things Orthodox conversion. I was never one for writing the "how to" but man alive does Kochava sock it to us. Know someone who needs info? Send them there!

Lastly, I give you Susan Barnes, who presents Is Giffords a Jew, or is She Just Jew-ish? posted at To Kiss A Mezuzah. It's an interesting testament to acceptance of converts, a topic close to my heart.

I must begin the Personal category with the illustrious Benji. Why? Just look at the post: My Apartment Burned. And How Was Your Weekend? 'Nuff said. Batya presents ... And I Walked... posted at me-ander and From The Other Side Looking In posted at Shiloh Musings.


Don't forget to read my Being Married and Finding Time post. Life hands us lemons and we put them in a box and hope to make lemonade someday. Why?


Mottel gives us a really touching daddy piece that I just have to share, called Child on a Mobius Strip.

David Levy presents My Miracle Story posted at JewishBoston.com Blogs, saying, "One of our readers blogged for the first time on our site to share this beautiful and inspiring story." I'd tell you what the post really says, but, well, you have to log-in to read it and that's not my style.


Everyone's favorite pinktastic blogger, Hadassah offers some thoughts on the 18th anniversary of her father's passing at 18 Years.

And, hopefully feeling fully better, Lady-Light presents A Rant: Sick, and Haveil Havalim #301 (not sick of) posted at Tikkun Olam. 

Politics ... What a week. Geez. Where do we begin? Let's just toss 'em out there. 


Ben-Yehudah presents I'm Shocked That Hizbullah Is Taking Over Lebanon! at Esser Agaroth.

Elise/ Independent Patriot presents Obama, Islamists and a New Middle East posted at Liberty's Spirit.
 
Batya presents Report Card: The Israeli Government, Ministers and MK's, Knesset Members posted at Shiloh Musings.

Cosmic X presents Former Deputy Attorney General Philip B. Heymann to Obama: Release Pollard posted at ****** Cosmic X in Jerusalem ******.

SnoopyTheGoon presents The Guardian, Jonathan Freedland and Karma Nabulsi: now we know... posted at SimplyJews.

And Everything Else is just what you think it is: The hodge-podge of randomness from some of our favorite J-Bloggers.

Yisrael Medad presents  Herb Zweibon z"l, posted at My Right Word. Also from Yisrael is  Who's that knocking on his door? posted at Yes Hillary, There Is A Congress. 

A blog I've never seen before is Ingathered by Leah Aharoni, who this week presents Does Jewish Feminism Empower Women? Thought-provoking and very well written.

Risa presents One Melody - Two Renditions posted at Isramom, saying, "The real thing?" and Mrs. S. presents Borei pri ha’etz posted at Our Shiputzim: A Work In Progress.

Mordechai Torczyner presents Jewish Honeymoons? and Why it comes out backwards posted at The Rebbetzin's Husband.

Yisroel presents The Perils of Facebook (Is Aliyah Really a Good Thing?) posted at Artzeinu. Very, very interesting post here folks. Read it!

And, our last piece of Haveil Havalim goodness comes to us from Chabad who offers Places: Kraków Then and Now posted at lubavitch.com Chabad-Lubavitch news site.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of haveil havalim using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page. Volunteer! I promise it's totally gratifying ...