Haveil Havalim #307

Rosh Hodesh of the Twelfth Month (Beth) 5771

Introduction

Welcome to Haveil Havalim Edition #307!

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.'

And now, a note on the Word "Rabbi:"

I am very surprised that over the years, I have receive any questions, complaints, or comments, as to why I do not refer to women as "rabbis," when hosting Haveil Havalim. Maybe contributors do not believe that there isn't any point, so why bother?

It's ashame, because I have the perfect response to such questions, complaints, and comments:

"I don't refer to anyone as rabbi, female or male."

YU? RRC? It doesn't make any difference to me. Perhaps that would be considered as fair treatment, if anything else. I do use the term "rav" when referring to my own rav, or to accepted (not by everyone, I suppose) gedolim.

Of course, if "rabbi" is part of your blog's name, then I guess I technically refer to you as "rabbi."

As a rule, I try to stay far away from "rabbis," and stick close to "rabbanim." For me, that's hard to do, as I work with many "rabbis," along with two or three "rabbanim," and I don't really relish the thought of getting fired.

I do often translate "rav" to "rabbi," which makes the above statement not entirely true. I hope to stop translating "rav," though, to emphasize the difference, I believe exists, between the connotations of these titles.

מי שמבין יבין

(Whoever understands, will understand....)

And now, with that cryptic note, on with the show!

Torah

Although from Parashath Terumah, David Tzohar's post Fringes Of Royal Blue, at Tzohar LaTeiva, is still relevant to Parashath Pequdei, the culmination of the work on the Mishkan, as well as to the present day.

From Parashath Wayaqheil, Josh Waxman at the Parsha Blog shares his, always interesting, commentary, with Betzalel Did All That HaShem Commanded Moshe, pt. 1. He also brings us A Brand New Tale Of Onkelos And The Mezuza.

Comments on Parashath Pequdei are provided by Tomer Devorah, who has receive permission to translate and post Rav Nir Ben-Artzi's Material. Some consider Rabbi Ben-Artzi to be a controversial figure. Nonetheless, his commentary and predictions are fascinating.

Israel

News & Current Events In Israel

(It was hard to distinguish between the two this week, so I combined them.)

West Bank Mama comments on the violence at Gilad Farms in The Forest Is The Politics, The Trees Are Our Children. The Jewish Fist does as well in The Hunting Season Returns.

Speaking of our children, Would You Let Your Child On This Bus? Also, I encountered Another Demonstration: Different Code, Same Old Message.

Joe Settler at The Muqata reports on The Jewish Baby Injured At A Leftwing Protest.

Tomer Devorah reports on the Thousands Who Rallied Against Christian Missionary Activity In Ashdod.

Batya at Shiloh Musings Would Like To Hear These Words From Israel. So what I! Check out her post to see what words she's talking about. Batya politically-incorrect?? Nah! Check out A Leopard Can't Change His Spots, and seee for yourselves.

The Jewish Fist writes about a unique Israeli political party in Meimad Revisited.

Ariel at The Torah Revolution believes that we should Stop Voting For "Them" Now!

Mr. Cosmic X asks, "Is A Jewish Boycott Of Bank Leumi Pending?"

Rafi at Life In Israel reports on the latest incarnation of a two-day weekend proposal in Sunday-less Work Week. (SIGH) No, not that again!

[Just Call Me] Chaviva summarizes the history of German reparations to Israel in Unlikely BFFs: West Germany And Israel.

Jessica at the Israelity Blog reports some kudos for a prominent Israeli in #46. Guess who it is.

News & Current Events Near Israel
Schvach Yid gives his take on what should happen in Jordan in Finally!

Snoopy at Simply Jews takes a look at Iran's leader, and his latest fauz pas in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Another Fine Stand Up Performance. Snoopy is also not too optimistic, having seen this video in Peace In The Middle Now? You Bet....

Brian at the Israelity Blog expresses some concern in Dreaming Of Bahrain. Why he wants to celebrate his son's bar-mitzvah in Nepal? I have no idea. Why not get the cheaper flights, and celebrate it in Israel?

Life In Israel

Ruti at Ki Yachol Nuchal! shares her experience from the perspective of an Israeli football mom in One Man With One Heart. She is also the mom of a soldier(s), and shares some of that experience with us in Band Of Achim.

Batya is also an Israeli football mom. Check out, Mothers See Things Differently at Me-Ander.

Mrs. S. at Our Shiputzim presents Reason #12,902 For Making Aliya. Three words: Destination Siddur Parties.

Batya at Me-Ander describes the town where she lives in What Do People Think Shiloh Is?

Daniela at Isreview probably deserves her own carnival category, but "Life In Israel" will do, because in her unique and helpful blog, you will find reviews of various products found in Israel. This is especially helpful if you are new in the country, and are trying to find products equivalent to what you were used to in the "Old Country." Here are a couple of her reviews: Sano's Vacuum Zip-Lock Food Bags and "Product Of The Year" Winners.

Yisroel at Artzeinu has a product for us in Come To Israel, Where Wafers Are A Food Group!

Hutz la'Aretz

(Outside Of Israel)

Eli at JewTribe connects the dots between news items in Purim Story Comes A Little Early.

Shaun at Letters Of Note presents The Court Would Like To Balance The Scales, a must read for any American Jewish litigator!

David at the Israelity Blog reports on Israel Celebrates Oscar Wins! Debbie Schlussel brings us another side of the Oscars in Natalie Portman's Selective Outrage.

Judaism

Shira at On The Fringe shares her experience with siddurim, and how succeeded in studying and using them in Learning From The Inside Out.

[Just Call Me] Chaviva points us to from very problematic translation problems in It's A Mitzvah not To do What? (Yeah, I know that what I wrote was redundant.)

Velveteen Rabbi comments on the emotional and spiritual impact of planning for death in Planning For The Ultimate Future.

The Rebbetzin's Husband takes a close look at modern orthodoxy in Wanted: A Modern Orthodox Talmud. He also posts an interesting set of memorial notes on Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Orbach ztz"l.

Neil at NY's Funniest Rabbi also has a serious moment with his lovely Remembering Asher Strobel.

Here is Kochava's Proposed Solution regarding the conversion hullabaloo at You're Not Crazy.

Elle at On Becoming Devoted draws parallels between her conversion experience and giving birth in Captivated.

Susan Esther Barnes at To Kiss A Mezuzah takes a look a the Reform Movement in The 613 Commandments - Do We Follow Them?

Carrie at Jewish Boston shares her Journey Of Writing A Megillah. Um,...'K.

Purim

Get ready for Purim with Some Fun And Educational Resources from Jacob Richman at Good News From Israel.

Minnesota Mamaleh shares What We Can Learn From Purim.

Guest post Natural And Organic Purim Baskets From Israel And A Giveaway! is presented by Amy at Homeschuling. I definitely do not see enough health oriented posts on Haveil Havalim, so thank you, Amy! She also points us to her guest's blog On The Lettuce Edge, which I recommend you check out, especially if you have an interest in farming or gardening.

Personal

Neil at NY's Runniest Rabbi just published a book. Can you guess what it's about? He plugs it in Book Him. "You've seen the blog, now read the book." He also touches on some of his experiences, including his book in Somewhere In Time.

Music

Kokhava at You're Not Crazy points us to several "Internet Earworms" of Orthodox Pop Culture. Find out what an "earworm" is, and check out the videos she chose for posting.

I'd like to finish this carnival off with a bang! Check the videos of the Lipa Schmeltzer Concert At The Pomegranate Supermarket that Rafi at Life In Israel posted.

Wrap-Up
1. First off, make sure you visit this month's edition of the Kosher Cooking Carnival, hosted at Miryummy. It's the VeNahafoch Hu Edition.

2. Second, I always take a look at the comments in the submission e-mail, and I recommend that my fellow hosts do the same. I just don't always feel the need to insert those comments verbatim into the HH edition I'm working on.

3. I always like to let you know what I did not include. There was one spam submission, one [attempted] avodah zarah Christian submission, and submissions from a site which is technically a [we]blog, but I don't like posting stam lists of articles, without any commentary.

4. So that this edition's size did not get too out of hand, I also limited most bloggers (per blog) to not more than two submissions each, myself included. Thank you, though, who stuck to the three submissions only guideline, which was all but one of you. Limiting the submissions, and leaving it up to you to judge which of your posts from this week are the best, I find to be particular helpful to the host.

4. Next week's edition is being hosted by Ima On (And Off) The Bima. You can submit posts via the on-line submission form.

5. If you would like to Haveil Havalim, contact Jack at talktojacknow (at) sbcglobal (dot) net.