Haveil Havalim #231 - The Rav Kook Memorial Edition

3 of the Sixth Month 5769

74th Anniversary of the death of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhaq Kook ztz"l ("Rav Kook"), first Ashkinazy Chief Rabbi during the British Occupation of Eretz Yisra'el.

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.'

As an azkarah (memorial) for Rav Kook, I have included 74 posts,...well, maybe a little more. Yeah, I know this edition is long. (You'll see below.) What can I say? I just can't say no. (Scroll all the way down to see what I DID exclude.) There was a lot of good stuff submitted week, so I figured that I would err on the side of including too much, and provide enough annotation so that your clicking choices will be easier to make.

I was thinking of hijacking this edition with my own rant about being true to Rav Kook. entitled "Who Is A Kooknik?" (Intrigued?) But instead, I decided to leave it for next week's edition, which will be hosted by West Bank Mama.

Maybe the next time I host, I'll include only the best of the best of the best, but not this time. Enjoy!

Torah

I would like to open this edition with some comments on Parshath Shofetim from Rabbi Chanan Morrison, based on Rav Kook's Igrot HaRe'iyah and Orot. Here are his comments on this week's Parshath Ki Thetze as well.

Josh Waxman provides in-depth and fascinating comments on Parshath Shofetim in Why send back the betrothed man, if all is preordained?

Yisroel at Artzeinu brings us The Holiness of Making a Tiyul In Eretz Yisroel. Rav Kook actually did something similar with Rabbi Ya'aqov Moshe Harla"p and Rabbi Yosef Hayim Sonnenfeld ztz"l almost a hundred years ago.

The "Velveteen Rabbi" and I often (always?) disagree. But, she keeps alive a very important mode of spiritual expression: poetry. So, I like to check out her weekly parsha poem. Here it is.

Jewish Tradition

Avi at The Orthodox In Me takes on the question of... Well, in my opinion, he takes on several questions. His post Where It All Begins... is an interesting read.

Eliyahu Fink, the "Rabbi on the Beach," brings us Brett Favre, Treason and Tshuva.

A Simple Jew brings us The Yetzer Hara & Aleinu.

Allison Josephs of Jew In The City is interviewed by Tamar Yonah. You can listen to the interview here. If you haven't had the chance to check out Jew In The City's video episodes, make sure that you do!

Naomi at Climbing Sinai asks an open question to Jews By Choice, "What’s the best way to approach a Jew By Choice about his or her conversion, if there’s a way to do it at all?"

Hadassah Sabo Milner at In The Pink presents A Piercing Rant (not a screaming rant, but a rant about piercings,...literally).

David Morris at Tzedek-Tzedek addresses the issue of the agunah in Happily Ever After?

Some of you may be wondering why this next post is found here, and not reserved solely for the Kosher Cooking Carnival. Well, this Mock Chopped Liver recipe is presented by Craft Stew in honor of Shabbath, and "...offering a delicious vegetarian alternative to the usually fleishig Shabbat treat." Now, what could be more Jewish than that?! Besides, I was just thinking about searching for this recipe. Craft Stew must have read my mind.

This post by Jewish Side of Baby Sitter at Kosher Cuisine is must, too. C'mon! Bissli Chicken?! You've got to check this one out!

By the way, the next edition of the Kosher Cooking Carnival is due out this Thursday at Healthy Kosher Eating With Chana!

Israel

News

Eric at The Israel Situation would like to know why we hear so little about Guy Hever, who has been missing in action since 1997.

Yekutiel Ben-Ya'akov, guest posting at The Torah Revolution, wants to know Who Murdered Raphael Miriashvili and Leonard Karp?

Find out why The Jewish Fist is unhappy with Yona Metzger: Chief Rabbi/Druze Defender.

Speaking of rabbis, regardless of how you self-identify, you will probably get your blood boiling by reading my With "Zionist" Rabbis Like These, Who Needs Neturei Karta? I also report on this week's Likud Party Drama.

Elder Of Ziyon Scoops The World on the Latest Blood Libel. Meryl Yourish then takes the baton with What If They Published A Blood Libel And Nobody Rioted? Yisrael Medad chimes in with Atrocity You Want? Atrocity You'll Get, posted on From The Hills Of Efraim on Arutz 7 (Israel National News).

Carl at Israel Matzav wants to know, is an Israeli Cabinet Shakeup Coming?

Judeopundit brings us a A "Nachas Note"--from Gideon Levy! ...touching on the issue of the so-called "settlement freeze."

Tomer Devorah reports some important, breaking developments in More Flu News. I am surprised that more bloggers have not been following this.

Current Events

Bar-Kokhba is Proclaiming Zionism at For Zion's Sake. Schvach Yid gives his take, too, in What Treaty?

Batya at Shiloh Musings presents Voted for Feiglin And Got Barak or The Jewish National Psychosis. I think the title here is self-explanatory.

Sultan Knish presents What A Real Middle East Process Would Look Like.

Elder Of Ziyon presents Fatah And Peace Now: It Must Be Love. This title is also self-explanatory.

Soccer Dad provides the perfect analogy in HRW Responds.

Yisrael Medad criticizes the International Red Cross's logic in Does Monsieur Wettach Think We're Idiots? posted on JPost's "Green-Lined" Blog.

Here is Part One of Yisrael Medad's take-down of Rashid Khalidi's academic "Canaanite Eyes" theory. Keep your Jewish eyes out for Part Two, out soon!

Ellen Horowitz of Jewish Israel responds to Jews who "appreciate" Evangelical Christians with Think Like A Jew, posted at Israel Insider.

Jessica, posting at Israelity, reports on the partnership between the Cities of Los Angeles and Tel-Aviv in The Industry, and what happens as a result.

David Morris at Tzedek-Tzedek exposes exploitation of disabled Israelis in Earning One Shekel An Hour.

Miriam at Shearim has the courage to address our serious real estate issues in Israel with Housing For The Rich.

Jacob Richman brings us more Good News From Israel with New Israeli Educational Stamps Posted Online

Exposées

With friends like these, who needs enemies? Ge'ulah Girl at The Key To Redemption exposes so-called "friend of Israel" Jim Vineyard's shady activities. She then goes on to expose the ulterior motives of Christians visiting Karnei Shomron and of the HaYovel Organization implanted in the town of Har Brachah, in other words, right in our backyards.

The New Israel Fund [NIF] has been in the news a lot lately. Batya exposes its shady operations with New Israel Fund, Paving The Road To Hell With "Good Intentions?"

Shmu'el at Torat Yisrael fires back against the NIF's attacks on him for daring to expose where their money's going (ie. your donations),...to groups dangerous to Israel.


Life In Israel

366 olim hadashim (new immigrants) arrived in Israel on 29 b'Av/Aug. 19. Jacob Richman has the photos, all 453 of them! They are open to "Facebook-tagging," too. If you see your self in one of Jacob's photos, give a shout out in the comments section. Several Haveil Havalim participants are veteran olim. Ask us your questions, and access us for additional support.

Although this is response to a "meme," Isramom would like to emphasize that this post of hers is really about some of the things she loves most about her life in Israel.

Gila at My Shrapnel provides us with a quintessential "slice of life" in Israel post with An Urge, so well-described, you'd think you were there with her.

Take a vicarious trip to the North with Rafi and his family, posted at Life In Israel. With his description and photos, you will think you were there with them. (...and I wish I was)

Even though Benji at What War Zone??? didn't bring me anything back from his trip to the U. S., I SUPPOSE I'll have to include his post about a special contest he's holding, anyway.

Mrs. S. at Our Shiputzim presents Heblish: Sefer HaChinuch Edition. I think that all English speakers in Israel will be able to related to this post, one way or another.

You will also be able to relate to this one from Toby at A Sign Of The Times. In What To Choose? Toby reveals all of the horrendous errors in English she found in her local community center's new catalog. This is one time where the huge numbers of English speakers in her town of Efrat need to step up to the plate and the Hebrew speakers need to step aside.

Jacob Richman at Good News From Israel posts links to photos from the Photos of the Emek Refaim Street Fair in Jerusalem. Check out the posted Facebook link as well for "photo tagging" opportunities.

Rachel Neiman at Israelity takes a walk down Memory Lane with Nostalgia Sunday – Young Judaea Year Course 1978-9.

Batya at Me-Ander posts on some local weddings in And While I'm At It... and I Don't Think They Did They "Mezinka," But....

Hey, ever heard of Rusty Mike Radio?? It's an internet radio station for the Anglo-Israeli community. Check it out!

Hutz la'Aretz
(Outside of Israel)

News

The on-going search for Ami-Chai Shtainmitz, an Israeli lost in India, is reported by Levi Pekar at Lubavitch News.

The Jewish Fist provides his Reflections On President "Hussein" Obama, and includes a "land for peace" deal the U. S. President can't refuse.

Meryl Yourish reveals that a Palestinian refugee created the Obama Joker poster.

Someone is being foulmouthed about foulmouthed Rahm Emanuel: the infamous Rahm Emanuel video is here with translation, only at Yisrael Medad's MyRightWord.

Debbie Schussel reveals the truth about recently deceased Robert Novack, as does Sultan Knish.

JewishByte reports that a New Baltimore Yeshiva Gets A New Home.

Life In Hutz la'Aretz

Jack at Random Thoughts tells us about attending his grandparents' 75th wedding anniversary celebration in Save The Last Dance For Me. Wow! 75 years! The Rebbetzin's Husband and his Rebbetzin celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary.

Leora at Here In HP interviews Elke Reva Sudin.

Just Call Me Chaviva shares her summer trials and tribulations (AKA Kosher Catastrophe in Central Vermont) with Kosher Catfish? I Think Not. This one is definitely a jaw-dropper.

Chaya Sara at Inspire Yourself wants you to see the video she posted, The Chinese Bamboo Tree.

On a rather sad note, I am Battling The Erev Rav Mentality,...Again.

In this next post, Harry-er Than Them All seems to be arguing against Big City Life.

The Real Shaliach takes us on a trip, honoring...Minnesota? Hmm... Check out his photos!

Music

David at Israelity wants you to Get Your Israeli ‘Mojo’ Working. Check out his piece on the up and coming Israeli cross-over band the Asaf Avidan and the Mojos.

Movies

What is a movie review doing in Haveil Havalim? Check out Debbie Schussel's Review Of Inglorious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino's latest about Jews getting revenge on Nazis, and you'll see why.

Humor

For years, Jews have gone back and forth on whether "to categorize or not to categorize." Itamar at Jew ✡ News has the answer in Jewish Sects: Are you a DOS, PC, or Mac? By the way, Itamar is getting married in a week! Mazal Tov! What better wedding present is there in the blogosphere than to help him achieve a super spike in hits on his site?! (Hey, Itamar! You didn't even submit this to me. Now, how's THAT for protexia? Don't worry. I'll be coming to collect soon. Just kidding!)

Our resident JBloggers mascot, Heshy warns of the coming haberdashery revolution in Gray, Blue, and Straw Hat Associations Merge, posted at Frum Satire.

While in hutz la'Aretz, Benji at What War Zone??? tried to explain the rules of baseball to an Israeli. Oy!

The Real Shaliach examines your "demons," in Misunderstood. He lists this under "jokes," but take a closer look, and you may find something deeper than a joke.

Lady-Light brings us Let's Hear It For Comic Sans! at Tikkun Olam. Yes, you read correctly. Lady-Light is indeed cheering for,...a font. Just read it. You'll see. Don't skip the video, either.

Meta-Blogging

Jack at Random Thoughts addresses the issue of anonymous blogging in Anonymous Blogging- Pulling Back The Curtain.

Many bloggers are now using Twitter, and even having their "tweets" automatically posted to blogs and Facebook pages. This edition was particularly easy to find posts thanks to Twitter. I just clicked on the links of the bloggers I follow, to check out their posts, much easier that opening up my web-based aggregator (I use Google Reader.)

The Jewish Internet Defense Force brings us the Gilad Shalit Twitter Campaign! Quite a few different organizations are working in support of this project. This Wednesday, 6 Ellul/Aug. 26, tweet 4 shalit by using the hashtag #GiladShalit as much as you can.

Just when you thought you knew everything about "social networking," here comes Twoozer, the "Jewish Twitter." As Bob Martin says, "Twoozer is like Israel; Twitter is like hutz la'Aretz." Don't worry. Your Twoozer posts can be set up to post on Twitter and Facebook automatically. Check it out, and use Twoozer for the #GiladShalit campaign!

Also, check out WeJew, your Jewish YouTube alternative! Check out their special page only for bloggers. It's not yet on the menu, so you'll have to click here.

Wrap-Up
Well, that's a wrap for Edition #231! I excluded a few posts from this edition. That's hard to tell as it's so large, huh? One was spam. One presented a very old item seen previously on HH. One came from a site I just don't get. It seems to try to pass itself off as objective, but I have no doubt that it's not. (For goodness sakes, be proud to be left-wing!)

Don't forget that you can already start submitting your posts for next week's edition which will be hosted, as I said, by West Bank Mama. 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.

And don't forget to submit your favorite photos to the JPix Blog Carnival, to be hosted next by Batya on her Me-Ander blog. You may submit your posts via the on-line submission form.