Haveil Havalim #347: The Post Tu b'Shevat/Post Primaries Edition

20 of the Eleventh Month 5772

It has become increasingly difficult for me to create new and exciting names for the editions of Haveil Havalim I host. If you have any suggestions for how you continue to keep the spark in edition names, then BY ALL MEANS leave them below as comments.

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.'

This name came from the obvious Tu b'Shevat of last week. Last week was also filled with party primaries. In Israel, the Mere"tz and Likud Parties held their primaries. Zahava Gal-On was elected as the new leader of Mere"tz, and, well, in the words of one Likud Party member, "We will never know the actual results of the Likud Primaries." Although, Binyamin Netanyahu appears to have retained his power leadership of that party.

Meanwhile, in the U. S., Republicans were battling out. I have yet to take a close look at this week's submissions, so I have yet to know if anyone covered any of the primaries. Let's take a look....

But, first, I just wanted to let you know that I did not receive that many submissions this week. We have been operating a bit differently lately, communicating primarily through our new Facebook Group, and allowing each carnival host to choose the method(s) for receiving carnival submissions. So, that must be why I only received a handful of submissions.

Usually, I have to remind bloggers to keep their submissions to a maximum of three. Now, I am happy to remind you that you may, indeed, submit up to three, and should feel limited to only one submission. I suppose that lately you have been wanting to go easy on the carnival hosts, until we get the kinks worked out. Actually, there did not seem to be any kinks at all this week, save for the usual lack of enough hours in a day.

Well, that's enough chit-chat from my end. Let's get on with the show!

Torah

Joshua Waxman at the Parsha Blog brings us a collection of posts on last week's parasha, Yisro.

Yoel Meltzer presents Thoughts On The Sh'ma.

Tu b'Shevat

"I am the Lorax! I speak for the trees! I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues!"

-from The Lorax by Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Geisel

Sharon at The Real Jerusalem Streets presents Tu b'Shevat In Jerusalem.

Samantha at The Israel Situation provides us with A Zionist Perspective On Tu b'Shevat.

I provide my Esser Agaroth in The Legend Of Dried Fruit On Tu b'Shevat.

Israel

Baruch Dov Bear at Israel, Jews, and Judaism brings us The History Of the Words "Palestine" And "Palestinians."

Has anyone been keeping track of the "Iran Situation?" Tomer Devorah has been. See her Fallout From Iran, as well as a Special Guest Post.

Ruti at Ki Yachol Nuchal! has been, too. Check out Iran And The Bomb -- What, Me Worry?

Elder Of Ziyon asks "Why Is Gaza Running Out Of Fuel?"

Rivka at Bat Aliyah asks "Is Aliyah Really A Personal Choice?"

Ricki's Mom at Beneath The Wings recounts her unique and inconvenient experience, dealing with the Israeli Army in The Next Soldier (Obsessing Over Options).

My Esser Agaroth and I take you to The Most Dangerous Wedding In The World.

Jewish Israel attempts to warn us, and especially "right-wing" Jews friendly with Christians, of the dangers of so-called "Messianics" and Christian Evangelists in The Ultimate Desecration of the Torah performed by messianic Ralph Messer (Warning: Obscene). Shiloh residents are warned that this nut is on his way to visit you!

Batya at Me-Ander brings us a Reflecting Lucky Shot.of the Kotel, then at Shiloh Musings, she tells us of Settling On "Second Best," A Visit To The Kotel.

Robin at Around The Island presents Making History Come Alive In Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter.

Sharon at The Real Jerusalem Streets brings us Finds In The Old City.

Yocheved invites us to check out her blog It's My Crisis And I'll Cry If I Need To, which includes the post Here's How to Minimize the Pain, Embarrassment and/or Fear of Your Medical and Disability Life!

Last, but definitely not least, Jacob Richman from Good News From Israel submitted this link to 20 Hebrew Language Funny Videos.

Outside Of Israel

Susan at to Kiss A Mezuzah tells us about the classes she is taking to train to be a volunteer at the Jewish Home in San Francisco in Bay Area JHC Kol Haneshama - Class 1.

Ariel at The Torah Revolution believes that Nothing Is By Accident. Daled Amos provides the background information here in Why Does EU Impose Austerity On Greece, But Give Millions To Palestinians?

Sultan Knish tells us about A Farce In Syria.


Well, that's a wrap!

Connect with the Haveil Havalim community through our Facebook Group! There, you can find out how to submit posts to the carnival, and even volunteer to host. It's really not that hard!

Next week, Susan at To Kiss A Mezuzah will be hosting Haveil Havalim.