Beach Blanket Havalim!

15 of the Third Month 5769



I was going to introduce this week's edition of Haveil Havalim with some summer safety tips from yours truly, a former Southern California lifeguard and swimming instructor. If you want you can check them out here.

There is an expression: "We plan, and God laughs."

Here's what happened instead...

Dear Jack,

I am truly nuts. I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

I haven't been at home for Shabbath for four months, and now all of a sudden I have three guests coming. Thank goodness they'll eat our meat (or else!). They want to know why I don't have a gun (that's the last thing I need to worry about! Besides, they'll get to see plenty of guns on Shabbath). They (Vizhnitz, Tzanz, & Belz - sssshhh! Don't tell! I don't want anyone getting kicked out of yeshivah.) don't quite understand that we will be praying in close proximity to three Arab villages, and will probably flip out. I have to do lots of laundry (no machine, so by hand) so they'll have sheets, which are going on 3 mattresses in the tiny living room (let's hope no one gets injure when someone has to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom). I'm hoping they won't mind the light on in the kitchen (No luxury full-house Shabbath clocks for us hicks. Oh, well.),... cooking extra food in case they feel like staying home, instead of going to a place where we're invited with 40 others (I just found out). My landlady, whom I have never met, from the U. S. is staying next door. The last thing I need is for her to want to do an inspection of the house (OY!).

I also hope my guests will want hot water in the morning. The plata heats up the tiny house too much in the summer (It's ice coffee or NO coffee).

I haven't had computer access for the last few days, so there are 30 more submissions which require my attention.

I went to a brith milah today. It was crazy mix of Haredim and Kahahistim, a lethal combination, figuratively, not literally. Although everyone almost killed the lone Chabbad messianic. I will get hassled for the next week for not making to an important wedding in Hevron. What can I say? Duty calls. I had to shop and work on this week's HH.

Oh, yeah, and I am moving on Monday, and haven't started packing (Sssshhh! The landlady nextdoor doesn't know yet).

Thank God for "luxury problems."

(sigh)

Never a dull moment in Shomron & Yehudah.... And you thought LA was exciting.

You get the picture.

Ya'aqov

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, without further adieu, I would like to present the Shechted Chicken Edition of Haveil Havalim.... (Yeah, I did it again. It's a bit long. Hopefully, my annotations will save you some time...and, don't worry. Photos of shechted chickens will not be found here.)

Torah

Mr. Cosmic X starts us off with some Thoughts On Receiving The Torah.

Yechezkel at Achas l'Ma'alah v'Sheva l'Matta asks about Evolution - Fact or Mishu-Gosse? He also gives us his take on why some people have trouble believing in G-d and others don't in Doubting Thomases,...And Yosselas.

Velveteen Rabbi provides her poem on the parsha, Nazir, which reminds us that Jews outside of Israel are behind those of us in Israel in Torah reading, due to the second day of Shavu'oth in hutz la'Aretz falling on Shabbath this year. We read B'ha'aloth'kha, while you read Naso.

The Rebbetzin's Husband makes a connection between Parshath Naso with the "Big Speech." (The meaning of "Big Speech" is revealed below.)

Josh Waxman's Parsha Blog also covers Parshath Naso with Poisonous Sota Water?!

Now I've seen everything. Check out Rafi at Life In Israel's report The Supreme Court Paskens The Bracha For Pringles. What??!!

Finally, I tell Religious Zionists, Make Up Your Minds!

Israel

News

Well, Daled Amos has some unpleasant news to report. Lt. General Keith Dayton: US Trained Palestinians Could Start Killing Israelis.

Abbas, "Weak Leader," Oxymoron carries Batya's comments on a New York Times piece at Shiloh Musings.

The Torah Revolution comments on the violence against Jews in the Shomron (Samaria) with Who Started It? And How Can It End? and his sarcastic Yes, Of Course.

In Virtual Medinat Yehudah's report, he asks Are We Having Fun Yet?

The Jewish Fist expresses his outrage over the government's actions and the subsequent media coverage with May They Be Strengthened! Watch out for The Jewish Fist!

Speaking of so-called "settlers," Batya at Shiloh Musings asks What's "Natural Growth?"

Tomer Devorah shows how Jews Are Being Forced To Face the Truth.

I wonder what Joel Katz thinks of settlers. Our head cheerleader for the probagation of non-orthodox Judaism in Israel presents his coverage of Religion And State in Israel here and here.

"Israel is the most important/intractable problem in the Muslim world." The Rebbetzin's Husband is none too pleased with CNN's point of view and presentation.

Joe Settler , posting at The Muqata, has an interesting take on activism, reporting on the recent vigil outside of the U. S. Consulate in Jerusalem with The Left Is Furious.

The story of the false "Ephraimites" (Christians in disguise) being "welcomed home" in Israel seemed to fly under the Israeli news media's radar. Geulah Girl at The Key To Redemption has the full story, as well as background information here. Where is the outrage?

Shmu'el Sokol as the Torat Yisrael Blog wants to know where the outrage is over MK Zoabi's Support For Terror.

Rachel Neiman at Israelity eulogizes Israel's Fourth President Ephraim Katzir. Did anyone even know that he died? Where was the coverage?

Occidental Israeli gives his take on IDF operations in his report on two, new immigrant brothers from the U.S., and model soldiers, in Every Hebrew Mother.

Finally, my neighbor responds to being banned from entering the United Kingdom in I'm No Terrorist.

Opinion

Yip Bop at News Beyond News says that Partition Is A No, No.

Batya at Shiloh Musings does not discriminate when she takes on a Jewish organization to criticize. Now, For Young Israel.

Yoel Meltzer recommends that we move Towards A Jewish Mindset. Check out what he means by this.

Life In Israel

Rafi provides us with a regular Life In Israel feature "Interesting Posts." It's a wrap-up the posts which succeed in catching Rafi's eye. He also gives us Are You Ready For Nuclear War? about last week's drill. Oy! You'd better read it.

Mrs. S. at Our Shiputzim reveals what the "drill" was really about in Yisrabluff?

A Living Nadnedna makes a shiva call in Into Another World.

Isramom mourns the loss of Yona Baumel.

Ricki's Mom at Beneath The Wings Comments On Inclusion.

The Israel-U. S. cultural connection is covered by Jessica with American Apparel In The Holy City, and David with Angels, Demons, and Israelis, both posting at Israelity.

More culture is found at How To Be Israeli, where Maya reports on Pride And Prejudice In Israel?? (...as in the book by Jane Austen)

Toby at A Time Of The Signs never fails to make me laugh. Check out Anyone Need A Steticist? (By the way, she doesn't know this but a bizillion years ago, her brother-in-law and I were hevrutha (study partners) for a couple of weeks. Small world, no?)

I invite people to join an Israeli English Book Exchange, and In The Middle, On The Right's Pesky Settler describes what she and her family were able to do for an outing in her neighborhood in Visiting Yehoshua.

Not sure that he will be blogging too much this summer Benji at What War Zone??? leaves us with a letter he sent to his parents from Jewish summer camp 25 years ago, as well as a last minute post from Ben-Gurion Airport.

Hutz la'Aretz
(Outside of the Land)

Avi at Tel-Chai Nation reports on Obama's Belated And Weak Statement On The Jihadi Attack In Arkansas.

According to Occidental Israeli, Jews in the diaspora have No Right in influencing the direction of Israeli policies. Do you agree?

Of course, they DO have a right to make an Israel Day Parade 2009. Check out Leora's fantastic photo record of this year's parade at Here In HP. Jacob Richman posts Pictures of the Salute to Israel Parade as well.


Politics

Russell at BaLev V'Nefesh, none too happy with where the Obama administration is taking the U. S., brings us Here Comes the Pain Again. I wonder if he thinks that Jews should get out?

Occidental Israeli gives us a peek behind the scenes in Washington with Bad News, Rahm. More on the Obama Administration and it's reliationship with Israel comes from Marty Peretz at The Spine with An Inconvenient Truth.

Daled Amos asks How Much Does Bush's Commitment To Israel's Settlements Count For Now? Eric at The Israel Situation reports some good news. There is Israel Support From Both Sides Of The Aisle. But, is that really good news?

Elder Of Ziyon reminds us that They Just Don't Get It, that is the U. S. doesn't get the point of Hizbollah.

"The Big Speech"

The "Big News" this week seemed to be Obama's "Big Speech." The news was a flurry with the "Big Speech." Of course, the first thing that came to MY mind was the "Big Meeting." Check out the video, if you don't remember, or are too young to recognize the reference. You will see someone talking about "something very important," like Obama, yet a lot more knowledgeable about his chosen topic than the U. S. President is about his.

However, if you are actually interested in the JBlogging World's take on the "Big Speech," Tomer Devorah preps us before the "Big Speech" in A New King Arose, part 2. You'll see how is Obama like Pharoah.

Soccer Dad also preps us beforehand with The Questionable Centrality Of Palestine. You'll be surprised to found out what Muslims think President Obama's message to the Muslim world should be.

Sultan Knish, also before the "Big Speech" gives us Israeli To Obama: "No, You Can't!" in which he expresses a more optimistic attitude than mine about my fellow "settlers" and "Israelis." Don't forget to read what the Sultan says after the "Big Speech" in The Evil That Obama Speaks.

Debbie Schlussel provides us with The Obama Apologist Speech to Islam & Al-Azhar; CAIR and Faux-Conservative Ignoramus Loved the Speech.

Mr. Cosmic X gives us The "Israel Post" Promotes the Latest False Messiah.

DovBear says that Right Wing Jews Were Wrong about the "Big Speech." The other side of the coin can be found at Yeshiva World's More Hussein Than Obama. The full text is here. You be the judge. Personally, I think they're both off the mark. DB, IMHO, you and the rest of the JBlogosphere, are being imprecise with the use of the terms "right" and "left." YW, the Yesha Council is more accurately described when calling it the Pesha Council or Resha Council, or, yes, even the YeSh"W Council.

The Jewish Fist gives us his take on the "Big Speech" in President Hussein's Cairo Speech. Bar-Kokhba at For Zion's Sake gives us his take on it in The Cairo Obamination. You can find The Hashmonean's take in Dhimmi In Chief's Troof To Power.

Obama claims that Islam in Cardoba in the Middle Ages was a source of enlightenment. The Ramba"m tells a different story. Check out Daled Amos's Who Are You Going To Believe: Obama...Or Maimonides?

Last, but definitely not least, comes Lady-Light at Tikkun Olam with We Were All Duped..., a very good overall analysis of Obama's approach juxopposed to the history and reality in Israel.


Education & Other Personal Experiences

Robert at Seraphic Secret's lovely post in honor of his Father's 90th Birthday (Ad Me'ah we'Esrim) not only acts upon the misswah of kibud av (honoring ones father), but also provides a bit of interesting Jewish American history.

Why Do Shuls Eat Their Rabbis? Ask the Rebbetzin's Husband. Eliyahu Fink ("The Rabbi On The Beach") asks about Athletes As Role Models.

This Frum Teanick Dentist On Al-Jazeera is a role model. Lion Of Zion looks into what he's doing on Al-Jazeera. He also presents How To Shop For A Yeshiva For Your Child.

Chana Weisberg at Let's Go For Coffee gives a very interesting take on the generally overly written about subject of Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD] in Does G-d Have ADD?. It's a worthwhile read. So is It’s the economy, stupid. (I SAID, don’t say “stupid!”) from Amy Meltzer at Homeschuling.

Ilana-Davita gives her First Impressions of the new Koren Siddur. Chabbad.org announces its new Jewish Prayer Section.

Child Ish Behavior, posting at Not Just Typical, gets philosophical on us in For Those That Come After Us: Humanity's Striving for Eternity.

Maya from How To Be Israeli in Israel but comments on ex-pat Israelis in the U. S. and the similarities of their experiences to those of U. S. olim in For some balance... "What's Missing in America."

A Simple Jew shares something with us From The Archives Of Memory.

Leora at Here In HP presents Nature Notes: New Moon. What do you see in nature?

Jacob Da Jew seems to think there's something rotten in Lakevood in Hey Lady, Cover Your Nees!

Last but not least It's Like, OMG! The Real Shaliach is getting married! Yechezkel's daughter is too. Check out Matter-o-money Leave. Wait a minute. So is Mottel at Letters Of Thought!

Mazal Tov to all of our fellow JBloggers!

Humor

Mike In Midwood brings us some Jewish "cultural observations" with A Frum Guide To Chullent Eating.

Meta-Blogging

Toby at A Time Of The Signs explains Those Funky Hebrew Signs At The Top Of Her Blog, now featured in her blog's title banner. Toby, trust me, there are no such things as coincidences. Check it out to see what I am talking about.

The Israel Situation is Looking For A Blogger Or Two to help out the team.

Last, but certainly not least, it looks like we have the makings of an all-out blog war on our hands in the JBlogosphere. Jack does not like that Benji gets top ranking on searches for "Chumus" (AKA: Humous), and so has started the all-important, not in the least bit petty nor envious, Chumus Wars. Watch out, Benji! You do not want to cross Fearless Leader Jack!

Wrap-Up

Well, that's a wrap for Edition #220! Don't forget that you can already begin submitting your posts for next week's edition which will be hosted by Ima On And Off The Bima. For your convenience, bookmark this link to Haveil Havalim's on-line submission form. See past editions and who is hosting future editions by clicking here. If you would like to host, contact Jack at talktojacknow (at) sbcglobal (dot) net.

Also, don't forget to check out, and participate in the Kosher Cooking Carnival and the JPix Carnival.

...and, by the way, my guests said they had an awesome time this Shabbath in the heart of the Jewish Homeland, K'far Tapu'ah (See Joshua 17:8-9), thanks to my friends and neighbors!