Haveil Havalim No. 343: Alas, Tebow Loses

So maybe now that Tebow's in the off-season he'll considering marrying Katy Perry?

It's that time of the week again, folks, that time when the best and brightest of the Jewish blogosphere come out to play, blog carnival style. If you aren't familiar, here's the 411:

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs — a weekly collection of Jewish & 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. The term "Haveil Havalim," which means “Vanity of Vanities,” is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other "excesses" and realized that it was nothing but "hevel," or in English, "vanity."

Now, the site that runs blog carnival goodness has been wonky as of late and has left those of us hosting relying on the kindness of folks to join the Facebook group and check there for whom is hosting and to whom you need to email your weekly posts. You can still submit them the traditional way, but, well, technology is kind of failing us right now. Also, remember -- only submit posts that fall within the past week. 

That said, let's get to this!

Israel

Evidently, an ark-full of U.S. soldiers ended up in Israel this week. You can read more about it on Esser Agaroth's blog in Thousands of U.S. Troops Land in Israel.

I really enjoyed the Eight Things That Won't Make Headlines from The Real Jerusalem Streets, including No. 5 -- Pink Laundry out to dry ... in Mea Sha'arim! Scandal!

The Torah Revolution posts on Huge Suffering and Anger in the Shomron.

Shiloh Musings ties up the popular TV show 24 with the struggle for peace in With Those Arabs, There Can't Be Peace. Luckily, there's hope, but it takes more than being nice, folks. 

If you haven't heard about -- or you just can't get enough of -- the horrifying abuse scandal in the Nachlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem (which, by the way, is the neighborhood I always stay in when I'm there and absolutely love), check out Esser Agaroth: Haredi Backlash From The Nachla'ot Abuse Cases?

The Real Streets of Jerusalem offers a juxtaposition -- In Two Different Worlds -- of a book signing of a former Chief Rabbi and the reality of getting in and out of Jerusalem and the dangers that exist. If anything, go look at the photos. 

Bat Aliyah offers a bajillion awesome reasons in Dear Dave as to what is super about living in Israel and how it differs from the U.S. I mean, I didn't need to be sold, but ... it's a great list. And Batya over at me-ander responds in suit with her list of "Life in Israel" The View From Here. 

Ooo a trip to the zoo! I'm a sucker for zoos, so Walkable Jerusalem's "Pini's Room" highlights a Hanukkah visit to the "bug" room maintained by well-known zoologist Pinchas Amitai at the Jerusalem Zoo. (Yes, this post is too old to be posted, but I'm looking for meat for this post, so deal with it.)

Judaism

Yoel asks Whose Compassion? when considering an every-day recited bit from the siddur. You don't need patience to read the post, but you should have some compassion. 

Over on the JewishIsrael Ning is a post highlighting Journalist Giulio Meotti who calls for a Rejection of the Judeo-Christian Blend. The article highlights the thoughts of Rav Soleveitchik and it seems that the idea is that the blending doesn't leave room for self-preservation/protection of Jews and Judaism and Israel.

A Simple Jew's much-anticipated new post (okay, well, much-anticipated by those who love the blog and miss his regular posts) went up, and it's all about finding silence when standing before HaShem. He asks poignant questions, inspired by the words of the Sudilkover Rebbe in Do You Really Believe He Hears You?

Torah

Shiloh Musings offers a ditty on the weekly Torah portion, Sh'mot.  

Personal

To Kiss a Mezuzah talks about Adventures in Medical-Land, and we're all wishing her a refuah shelemah!

I love Cleansing River's posting "Merriment Ran High" highlighting a newspaper article about his ancestors' marriage and how big the story was for The Indianapolis Star. I love old things, especially when you read them and giggle at the language. (i.e., being led to the "altar" at the "Orthodox Jewish ceremony.")

Etcetera!

Isramom talks about Feminism, offering what she is for, what she isn't for, and, of course, what she's against.

Häagen-Dazs not kosher!? Oy gevalt! Check out Shiloh Musings find out more, and keep reading to hear about Häagen-Dazs, Faux Mehadrin sic Buses and the Sin of Taking on Nazirut.

Vicki's Friday Links starts off with a Vespa View of Jerusalem and then a bunch of awesome links on Jewish awesomeness. 

Okay, I know you're all sick of the Sh*t XXX Say posts, but you have to go check out Kate's post that includes a video on Sh*t Christians Say to Jews as well as Kate's own laundry list of the things people have actually said to her in Actual Ridiculous Questions That I Have Actually Been Asked.

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For next week, shoot your submissions to Risa at risa dot tzohar at gmail dot com!

Huzzah Huzzah! Haveil Havalim is Live!

Not here, unfortunately, but it is live over at Esser Agaroth. This edition has been deemed the "It's Time to Talk About the Elephant in the Room" edition.

Show him some, comment, and pass on the awesomeness that is Haveil Havalim -- a weekly Jewish blog carnival. (And don't forget to submit your posts, too!)

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 ...

Friendly Reminders

For your (and my) viewing pleasure ...

Haveil Havalim is up on Jack's "Random Thoughts -- Do They Have Meaning?"

Be sure to sign up for a Kosher Advantage card for three free months when you use code "kvetching."

Also, head over to jDeal NY and "like"  my comment for the second week of the Battle of the Bloggers competition. Someone just took the lead from me ... HELP!

HH is Up: The Cold of Tevet

The newest installment of Haveil Havalim -- the Jewish blog "carnival" -- is live over at Letters of Thought, the thoughtful (bada ching!) blog of my good friend @Mottel. Head over and give him some love and enjoy the variety that the Jewish blogosphere has to offer.

And, of course, don't forget to submit for next week's blog carnival. If anything, it's the best way to get your blog's name and content out there in an easy format. I've found some of my favorite blogs that way, and the traffic it's driven here has been great. Another great way to drive people to your blog? Offer to HOST a Haveil Havalim installment! They're always looking for hosts.

Which reminds me ... I should probably volunteer again.

HH #284: No Cholent For You!

It's that time again ... yes, after a year-and-a-half respite, I'm hosting Haveil Havalim again. This time? We're rocking edition No. 284. I've happily named this the "No Cholent for You!" edition, because I know that most of you are deeply depressed that thanks to Yom Kippur falling on Shabbos, you didn't get to indulge in that delicious crock of yummy meaty goodness called cholent! I know you're seriously upset, I mean, my husband has been weeping for the past day (or maybe he's repenting?), so here's a photo of some of the goodness.

Ahh, the traditional Ashkenazi-style stuff: beans, potatoes, meat, and barley. (Gluten free, I rock rice or quinoa.)

For those of you faithful readers who weren't around back in March 2009 when I first hosted who might have zero clue what Haveil Havalim is, it's a really awesome concept.

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. The term "Haveil Havalim," which means "Vanity of Vanities," is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other "excesses" and realized that it was nothing but "hevel" (or in English, "vanity").

I know, right? Super exciting. So I get all of the submissions (three per blogger's the rule!) via the entry form and sort them out and, sometimes, add a bit of commentary, so let's begin.

Grab-Bag Posts!

RickisMom presents Motivation, Discipline, and Willpower posted at Beneath the Wings, saying, the post is a bit personal, but also a bit of teshuva and how we all change.

Mazal tov to Allison Josephs & Jew in the City in honor of JITC Turning 3! at Jew In The City! Also over at Jew in the City is  If I Could Turn Back Time: Teshuvah - the Only Way to Turn Back Time.

You can find a "cynical" set of haikus over at the Selichos Haiku Rant, as well as some Gifts to give your Rabbi posted at The Rebbetzin's Husband.


A binder by any other name by Mrs. S is posted at Our Shiputzim: A Work In Progress.

Ooo! Sephardic cholent. All crazy with the eggs.

Culture

Jacob offers up a video with 25 new Hebrew words around the house over at Good News from Israel.

Israel

Joel Katz presents Religion and State in Israel (Section 1) and Religion and State in Israel  (Section 2) posted at Religion and State in Israel.

Have I Been Mistaken for a Head of Insect-free Lettuce? is up over at Shiloh Musings.

Hadassa DeYoung presents Have I Been Mistaken for a Head of Insect-free Lettuce? posted at Shiloh Musings in which she discusses "uprooting." I'd recommend checking out this post for the comments!

Jewish music

A Jewish Music Insider presents Why do you buy a CD? posted at Jewish Blogmeister. And Risa offers Women and Prayers at Isramom

Judaism

Lady-Light presents Kaparot with Chickens: Custom or Cruelty? posted at Tikkun Olam, asking, "Is this religious and holy, or merely superstitious?"

On Shiloh Musings, Batya presents Israelis Prepare for the Three Day Rosh Hashannah Onslaught, as well as Kol Nidre, Wiping The Slate.

The illustrious Gruven Reuven reflects on his son's taking-on of computers and his own plan of study with Computers and Chassidus at Gruven Reuven.

Elianah-Sharon presents Fill 'Er Up! and The Days of Awe over on Irresistibly Me.


The illustrious Notorious R.A.V. presents My Big, Fat, Middle Aged, Facebook Elul: Teshuva Meets Social Media posted at The Notorious R.A.V. If you read a single post from this carnival, I recommend you read this one, which is chock full of reflection and analysis about who we were and who will are.

Rabbi Oliver presents The Moshiach paradox: Preparing and praying at A Chassidishe farbrengen.


Food Before the Fast by Batya can be found over at me-ander.

Rachel Barenblat presents More Yom Kippur resources: video, liturgy, song posted at Velveteen Rabbi.

A wasted life? Yechezkel offers a message for Yom Kippur with  The Most Terrible Crime a Human Being Can Commit posted at Achas L'Maala V'Sheva L'Matta.

Personal

Another hearty mazal tov, this time to Batya, who has a new granddaughter! Check it out at Thank G-d! A Baby Girl!! and Bitter Sweet posted at me-ander.

Elianah-Sharon presents The Top Five Steps of Crisis Management posted at Irresistably Me.

Everyone's favorite Yiddishe Mama, Dass, presents a very personal and thoughtful Forgiveness is Freeing over on In the Pink.

And, lastly, blog newcomer Ally presents Modesty: My Personal Journey posted at "Modestly Fashioned" in which she explains what brought her to tzniut. As a huge fan of Ally's awesome style, I recommend reading this post to get the 411 on how she got there.

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If you're interested in submitting a post to Haveil Havalim, use the carnival submission form and stay tuned for future blog carnival posts, which, in addition to past posts, can be found on the blog carnival index page.

I hope you all had a meaningful and easy fast (I spent most of the day sick and in bed) and that cholent, truly, is the last thing on your mind! Shavua Tov and Shanah Tovah!

Haveil Havalim No. 281!

Well, I'm not hosting it (I remember how much work it took, and I'm still hesitant about hosting again, but I should, because it's the right thing to do!), but Ki Yachol Nuchal! is hosting it, and it's the Summer's End Edition. Slap me silly and call me stoked, but I'm ready for fall. So go give it a read, and then come back here and give me some love.

Also, just for kicks and giggles I thought I'd share with you a funny verb that y'all should know.

לפסבק

Yes, that's "l'fesbek," which is "to facebook." Thus, I would say, Ani m'fesbeket (אני מפסבקת), which is just hilarious to me. I love the evolution of English words into Hebrew!

Happy trails and a good week!

Haveil Havalim is Up!

Check it out over on Soccer Dad. Good people, good reads, good times.

No. 280!

Haveil Havalim: Oops!

I definitely spaced the posting of the most recent of Haveil Havalim (and this is my reminder to submit for next week, thanks to my Yiddishe Mama). Please, go visit, read, enjoy!

Haveil Havalim at Jewish Boston

Haveil Havalim is LIVE!

This week's Haveil Havalim is UP and at 'em on the Israel Situation.

It's the Tu B'Shevat Edition!

Haveil Havalim is Up!

You can check out the newest edition of Haveil Havalim -- The Sukkot Edition -- at Esser Agaroth.

Enjoy! Chag Sameach! And Shavua tov!

What a Weekend. Wait for the Post!

I'm shocked to say that I lost a follower recently ... I went from 50 (on Google Blogs "follow" function that you see on the right there) to 49. Who did I lose? Why did I lose them? I'm sort of upset.

But on a happier note, I was included in the 231st edition of Haveil Havalim with my "Kosher Catfish" post! What a story to be spread throughout the World Wide Web, eh? (Does anyone say World Wide Web anymore?)

There will be photos and posts coming soon about my weekend here in Olney, MD. I was in town with Tuvia for the wedding of his cousin at an outstanding shul with an amazing community. It was, to be honest, my first Jewish wedding. It was everything I thought it would be and so much more.

Haveil Havalim

The newest edition of Haveil Havalim is up over at one of my top five most favorite blogs, that of the one and only Mottel! I'm super happy he included my first post back in the English-speaking blog-o-verse.

So go over, read his blog, marvel at his amazing photography, and don't forget to wish him many mazels since he's still a newlywed.

Sunday Notes

Just a few short Sunday notes for your information.

• My father, who was diagnosed with large B-cell Lymphoma, a very fast growing cancer, in December, is in REMISSION! We found out this past week, late in the week, and it's really good news. Remission doesn't mean the cancer is gone, but it does mean that it's disappearing. Your prayers and kind words over the past several months have meant so much to me. Todah rabah!
• The newest edition of Haveil Havalim is up over on Shiloh Musings. Seriously, give it a read. You'll find some of my favorite blogs, and there are some new blogs thrown up there in the list, too. If you want to reread my Monsey post, well, it's posted there, too. 

In completely unrelated "of note" notes, and on a pretty personal level, I experienced my recurring dream while napping today. I haven't had my adult recurring dream in months, but for some reason, while napping today, it made an appearance. I had a recurring dream as a child of a skeleton in my children's rocking chair chasing me around my house, but I haven't had that since I was maybe 12 or 13. In my adult years, ever since I was probably 17 or 18, I've had a horrible public bathroom recurring dream. I know the implications of the dream -- you feel exposed, naked, and like your entire personal life is at the whim and fancy of outsiders. My dreams tend to be me using a public bathroom, the stall door disappears, and there are people walking by, talking to me, chatting casually, as if I'm *not* sitting on a toilet attempting to use the facilities. Inevitably, the dream ends with the toilet clogging, a mess being made and everyone laughing or pointing or scolding me for having broken the toilet. This one was a horrible, long, agonizing version of this dream. I'd like to think that it's the result of a previous post this week, but who knows what made my subconscious choose to defragment my mind's thoughts in this way.

Do you have any disturbing or frustrating recurring dreams? 

HH is Up and Functioning!

In case you didn't know ... Haveil Havalim #209 is up and alive over on What War Zone???

HH #208: The Lingering Post-Purim Hangover Edition!

Welcome, one and all, to Haveil Havelim #208, The Lingering Post-Purim Hangover Edition! This is my first time hosting HH, and I couldn't be more excited!

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs — a weekly collection of Jewish & 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. The term "Haveil Havalim," which means “Vanity of Vanities,” is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other "excesses" and realized that it was nothing but "hevel," or in English, "vanity."

I'm pretty sure this edition title applies to many of you, but unfortunately it doesn't apply to me! I was in transit from Chicago this Purim, so I missed a lot of the stellar parties and nifty outfits. Luckily, plenty of bloggers out there offered up pictures of themselves in their RIDICULOUS outfits, so I'm going to pepper this HH with those dashing photos. There were a LOT of submissions, including a lot of folks who, well, sent me more than double the suggested (demanded?) submission amount, so if you don't see something you sent here? Well, I'm anti-Spam and all about brevity. ENJOY!

I can't even begin this edition of HH officially without devoting some space to a hearty MAZEL TOV to the one, the only Mottel of the Letters of Thought Blog. Yes, folks, Mottel is officially engaged and his kallah, Chana Langman, is a beautiful, intelligent gal from Chicago. I had the pleasure of schlepping down to Crown Heights to attend the L'Chaim, and several other bloggers were there. Many have written about the whole announcement, and Mottel did us well to do a round-up! Everyone head on over and give him your mazels, mmk?

Now for Purim! I hope everyone took time during Purim to boycott Starbucks. According to an Egyptian Cleric (and thanks to Aliza Hausman for filling us in), Queen Esther is in the logo! The Basement Bloggers, blogging on the Crown Heights underground, filled us in with a PSA for Purim, while The Real Shliach took time to share his Purim experiences in West Hartford, Connecticut (though he couldn't take a moment to stop by and say hello!? He was in my stomping ground!). Meanwhile, Esser Agaroth let's us know about Purim in Hevron, and thanks to the Rebbetzin's Husband, I now know way more than I wanted to about the Vatican celebrating Purim (who knew?!), and Our Shiputzim gives us another installment of the Heblish-English Dictionary -- I might have to start saying "dress up to," just to be down! And speaking of dressing up ... My Right Word shares a posted flier in Israel of an invitation to a Purim Drag Party. Sounds interesting ...


Susanne gives us a couple of videos that ran during the digital shorts portion of the Purim Spiel at her shul in Washington Heights. One even stars her hubby! Batya poses a question to her readers, who dutifully respond, in an effort to figure out the real point of Purim. I'm on par with Lady Light, who points out that it's a little curious that we celebrate our deliverance from an evil Persian, while Israel discovers that modern-day Persia (Iran) has nuclear capabilities. It is with this that we get a Purim Demise, a Purim Reprise! Rahel over at Elms in the Yard shares the Jewish/Purim connection in the old American folk song "The Cat Came Back," and Sign of the Times posits that the nutrition-label makers of a certain product might have sat down to write it up on Purim. Oy, the editing mistakes! This reminds me of when I was in Israel ... I wonder if the government needs a full-time English editor? I'm prime for the job! Finally, Lionden Landing shares with us some menu planning and mishlach manos goodies and Baila talks about hamantaschen (yum!) and mothering (fun!).

Moving along to Anti-Semitism (with a humorous twist), Barbara's Tchatzkahs gives us some Salty Anti-Semitism, which, for those who haven't heard, features the brand new, holier-than-thou Christian Salt! It hit the market recently. Get your's today! Lady Light shares with us the popular video on how to boycott Israel (I've watched this a dozen times and it STILL makes me giggle with utter delight).

For those in the mood for some Culture, Seraphic Secret gives us Hollywood is Burning, Part I: Trapped, while Barbara discusses the ongoing rape charges with former Israeli president Moshe Katsav. Finally, Lady Light over on Tikkun Olam gives us part four in a continuation of the Zola Levitt Interview of Ms. Joan Peters on her book, "From Time Immemorial," and Mark over at SportsYids shares his thoughts about the first Orthodox woman to play NCAA Division I basketball.

Although a lot of the Humor posts got eaten up by Purim, there are still a few worth mentioning in the "general" humor category! Benji over at What War Zone??? tries to explain American slang to an Israeli, while also musing at American's dealing with the concept of the roundabout. Though, I have to say, this isn't new. Roundabouts have been in the U.S. FOREVER -- just look at Boston and D.C. Moving on, though, we have The Talmudist with a fictional account of two 20-something former yeshiva guys who accidentally rendezvous in a gay bar. Yes, you read that right.

And now we plod along to Israel, everyone's favorite Jewish state! We begin with Jacob, who reports on a salary survey for computer jobs in Eretz Yisrael. Rickismom of Beneath the Wings shares an unfortunate story about the intellectually impaired, as well as a cute quip in "Mommy, You're Different." Over on Religion and State in Israel, we have not one, but two roundups of media coverage on issues involving religion and the state in Israel. The Judeopundit goes all out with foreign policy disasters, progressive insights into the Zionist entity and more! Quite the accomplished blogger, Yisrael Medad's post on "The Green Line" coming and going has landed him among the Jerusalem Post blogs, but he also has a pretty interesting conversation (assault!) with Hillary Clinton on My Right Word. Finally, I throw some money at Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces as I begin my crusade effort to give tzedakah every day.

Judaism. It's the bee's knees, the big kahuna, the big cheese, the next area of the feature! Cynthia at Don't Gel Too Soon writes about attending a party for the presentation of a youngun's first siddur -- a truly moving event, while The Rebbetzin's Husband writes "Rabbi, give me a berachah (blessing)." Meanwhile, the Recovery Rabbi writes about unmasking ourselves from the darkness around us, a really beautiful idea.  The Chabad.org Insider gives up a heads-up on Chabad's new mobile simulator to help acquaint users to the mobile interface, which, as a Blackberry user, I'm pretty stoked about! One of my favorite blogs, A Simple Jew, posted a conversation based on emails between "The Vegetarian Activist & The Vegetarian Chassid," but it's just part one, so stay tuned? The one and only Schvach takes us back to the favorite argument (or not?) on Darwin vs. G-d, while Bar Kochba gives the harrowing numbers on the Vanishing Diaspora Jew. Shiloh Musings reflects on Shabbat Zachor and remembering ...

More of subcategory of Judaism than anything, we now have our Torah posts! Any regular readers of the blog will note my obsession with this week's parshah, Ki Tisa, so I can't help but start off with some d'varim! The Velveteen Rabbi leads us with "Re-Entry," a nice poem about the Golden Calf narrative, while I give some thoughts on my recent paper on Exodus 32, not to mention some thoughts about Tzedakah.

Of course there has to be at least one Politics posts, so why not get it out there now, eh? MyPanim writes about Australia and Nazis in "Atonement for Past Injustices." Well, that was uneventful and brief. Where are all the politics posts!?

Personal posts are always fun, but there aren't that many of them. Luckily, we have some saving graces! Shorty parallels the renewal of the covenant in this week's parshah to her own renewal with HaShem, and Batya writes about her ADHD rearing its ugly head during Megillah readings (darn those toy guns!). Tuvia over at Following My Judaism talks about his first time in Chicago for Shabbat, but also his first time being Shomer Shabbos while traveling. Lastly, the ever-hilarious FrumSatire talks about the toils and fun of having stalkers on Facebook (if only I were so lucky?).

I hate to conclude this week's HH with anything foreboding, but I just can't help it! People are already in full-swing with Pesach blogging, so I have to include Mrs. S's Our Shiputzim "Theory of Pesach Cleaning." I'm *this close* to blogging on Passover, especially after my schlep out to Waldbaum's in West Hartford motzei Shabbos. This place is seriously stacked with Kosher l'Pesach goods. It was hard to walk out without buying up the whole place, but rumor has it I might be heading to Monsey next weekend for some Pesach shopping. Now THAT will be an experience.

So, until then, folks, be sure to check out last week's Haveil Havalim at The Real Shliach, stay tuned for next week's over at What War Zone??? and be sure to stick around my blog and, you know, become a friend and reader! I promise in the next day or so to give you a fun and exciting view of the Shabbos table at my rabbi's place. I've always found it amusing when Jews sit down and talk finances at the Shabbos dinner ... investment advice, anyone!?

Oh, and in case you missed the stellar How Do You Say Shabbat Shalom video put together by the National Jewish Outreach Project, give it a go here. How many bloggers and e-people do YOU know? 

Haveil Havalim is up! The weather is down!

I can't help but make my titles something with "Haveil Havalim is up, ______ is down!" Why? Well, the first time it was an unconscious nod to the rabbi who uses this play on words with the eruv and a current event (this week the eruv was up, Tzipi Livni was down).

But the newest edition, Number 205: From Down Under , is up over on Sarah's blog. I've never been to Sarah's blog, so it's nice to see someone unfamiliar doing this week's blog carnival. In a few weeks, it'll be my turn as the Blog Carnival Compiler. Look out!

Like the eruv on Shabbos, Haveil Havalim is up!

Esser Agaroth is hosting this week's Haveil Havalim -- the Jewish blog carnival -- which is in its 203rd incarnation. I'll be hosting HH in all its splendor in about a month, when I have some Spring Break time at the beginning of March.

So go, read up, and me? I'm going to take a nap.

Haveil Havalim and a Viral Video!

I know, I know -- I'm late to the party. The carnival party, that is! This week's edition of Haveil Havelim, everyone's favorite Jewish blog fete, is out and proud. That is, it's up and over on Jack's blog , which, might I add, is sporting a new handle: "Life is a tale told by an idiot: Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Hopefully, sometime in the not-so-distant future I'll be hosting the carnival, so stay tuned for details!

I have plenty to say, but it's late and I have much to do and laundry to start, because, well, in three nights I'm going to be floating over an ocean somewhere, hopefully asleep (I neglected to visit the clinic to get an in-flight drug, unfortunately). So in the meantime (that is, until tomorrow afternoon), I leave you with this awesome pre-Chanukah Chanukah delight. Be sure to look out for one of my favorite bloggers, the always eloquent Esther K (she's in front of the HOLLYWOOD sign!).

Haveil Havalim #194!

I'm still alive, still suffering through papers and studying for finals. In the meantime, the new edition of Haveil Havalim is up. It's #194, and it's being hosted over at Shiloh Musings, and wow is it a GIGANTIC list of links. It might take you days to weed through the Jewish goodness!

Enjoy!