Haveil Havalim #269

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.’”

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A lot going on this past week in the world of Jewish blogs. So I’ll cut right to the chase.

Torah

Each person has certain parashiyot that hold special meaning. This is Geshmack Torah’s lucky week! Parashat B’haalosecha (that’s B’haalotecha for the rest of us) is one of his favourites and he shares some insights in “Drawing Conclusions.” Parshablog offers his perspective in “Ibn Caspi and the Magic Trumpets.”

The Velveteen Rabbi recounts the 4am lesson taught by Reb Zalman Shachter-Shalomi at the Elat Chayyim/Isabella Freedman Shavuot retreat. Using Mishlei 1:8 as a starting point, Reb Zalman examined some gender differences in approach in “The Torah of our Mothers: Reb Zalman, Shavuot 5660, 4am.”

Israel

Catch up on the latest media coverage of religious issues in Israel here and here, thanks to Religion and State in Israel.

Speaking of media coverage, The Israel Situation takes a look at Israel’s constant public relations predicament in “Israel is Always Playing PR Catch Up.”

Taking a close look at language, My Right Word wishes that the NY Times would read itself in “The NY Times Repudiates Its William Safire.” He also shares “A Picture of Hareidim on the Temple Mount.”

It is hard to argue with the logic presented by Eretz Avot in “Red Lines and the Green Line.”

Israelity reports a huge fashion shout-out in T, the NYT Style Magazine and favourable odds for winning the Eurovision finals in Oslo. And did you know that Hebrew is offered at Bagdad University despite a Jewish population that hovers around ten??

Another current fashion trend was spotted in Jerusalem by My Right Word. “The Modern Hareidi Feminine Fashion” might cause you to do a double-take.

A taste of the Gush: home-made, home-baked, and home-brewed. Yum. Live vicariously by sharing Ruti’s visit to the Gush Etzion Farmers’ Market in “A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey.”

Batya, over at Shiloh Musings, shares her thoughts about illegal immigrants in “If It’s So Bad Here, Why are There So Many Illegals?”

A weekly interview of fellow bloggers. What a great idea! This week, Ilana-Davita has a chat with Mrs. S.

Looking for an engaging conversation of your own? Dan has a chatroom set up and ready to go. More info in “Jewish Chat or Israel Chat.”

Couldn’t make it to the Salute to Israel parade? View these photos Jacob and Leora and feel a part of the magic.

Over at What War Zone, we find Benji’s “First Book Review.”

Making aliyah can be a difficult transition under the very best circumstances. One thing is for sure; “No [one takes a] Vow of Poverty” to do so, says Elms in the Yard.

I share the following post by Marjorie Ingall with some trepidation. I disagree with much of what she writes. However, that is not the cause of my trepidation. Choosing to share her own misgivings about how to talk about Israel with her children, she has received a tremendous amount of vitriolic and heinous comments. Rather than see this as a starting point for a fruitful dialogue, many have chosen to hurl hateful statements. If you take the time to read Marjorie’s post, I ask that you return to the site in the upcoming week to read the follow-up. I ask also that if you choose to respond, follow the rules of derech eretz, etc.

Judaism

Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall. Isramom asks what does it mean today in “The Emanuel Family’s Bar Mitzvah — Not Your Father’s ‘Today I am a Fountain Pen.'”

“Living with the Host Majority” is the topic for the day, thanks to not one, but TWO experiences I had this week.

In “Thinking about Caring for Dead People,” Susan shares her discomfort at participating in taharah.

Please enjoy Jessica’s account of a new mitzvah that she and her husband have taken on as their own. How wonderful it will be for future congregants to learn from their Rebbetzin that ritual decisions can change and evolve as we change and evolve.

What is it like to “Stand at Again at Sinai — For the First Time”? Sara shares her experience. It is an honour to be a part of her journey…

A teacher gives the following assignment: Write a diary entry as if you were Moshe at the end of the forty years. This is what one student wrote in Moshe’s Log: End of Year Forty.

The same teacher ended the year with a special art project. Students were asked to artistically represent something they had learned from the Gemorrah they’d studied the past year. Take a look at one interpretation entitled KeVatikin (at sunrise).

A Chassidishe Farbrengen beautifully explains the resistance to move from the mundane to the sacred in “A Difficult Transition.”

When Leora says “better late than never,” boy is she right! Thought she posted “Kosher Cooking Carnival: Dairy, Meat, OR Pareve” just before Shavuos, the offerings are as fresh as ever.

“And You Think *Synagogue Dues* are Expensive?!” On The Fringe takes a look at the cost of participating in the Temple rites. Even more interesting are the comments about the costs of being a Jew in contemporary times.

I am so excited for my friend, Amy. Her blog, Homeshuling, is now over at Beliefnet. Which is a very big deal. Please go over and say hello.

See if you can read “Smile!” by The Rebbetzin’s Husband without…smiling.

Humour

Wondering what type of picture to use on your online dating profile? Wonder no more, thanks to TellAviva. She offers sage advice in “Rouge or Ruse? How to Choose an Online Dating Photo.”

Tzedek-Tzedek regales us with his tale of a recent, high-drama visit to the Bet Shemesh town council meeting. Hold on to your hats, folks!

Jacob’s got a new website. This one is devoted to learning through humour. “Hebrew Jokes — Learn Hebrew and Laugh.” GREAT idea.

Here’s a way to support a worthy organization AND enjoy an evening of humour. Get the deets for “Comedy for Koby” over at What War Zone.

Oh thank goodness! FrumSatire has discovered the cause of the Shidduch crisis…and its solution.

Personal

The Minnesota Mamaleh considers the messages we send to our children in “About Raising Girls.”

NY’s Funniest Rabbi shares his more serious side with Personified Poems.

If you will it…Leah, over at Accidentally Jewish, created and expertly executed an enjoyable evening that raised $14,000 for her shul. Kol HaKavod!

Batya is getting used to Facebook as well as getting some Divine Intervention.

JaneTheWriter addresses her absence in “Letter to My Blog.” Pay special attention to the link that will take you to her article at Reform Judaism Magazine.

Having just passed the 1,500th post mark on Israel Situation, Eric shares his thoughts and what he’s learned from a few years of blogging. Mazal tov!

Isramom takes a moment to spotlight other bloggers in a “say thank you” meme in “Blogsphere Thank Yous.”

Speaking of thank you…a shout-out to my bosom friend, the Ima, who constantly provides me with inspiration. She shares the beautiful “Faces” of her three children. With God’s Help, there will be FOUR faces at the end of the secular year. B’shaah Tovah, love.

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And that concludes this week’s edition of Haveil Havalim. I hope that you enjoy these varied posts!!

Next week will be hosted by What War Zone???. 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.