December 26, 2009

Getting in Step with Footsteps

Over the fall I became aware of Footsteps, a low-key organization that helps people, mostly young, who leave the Hasidic world and need to develop life skills to help them survive outside the frum environment. Having wrenched myself from one faith tradition to another, I can empathize, indirectly, with the challenge of shifting your world view. www.footstepsorg.org is the website.

I read a book that gives excellent details about the difficulties of individuals who leave the from world: "Unchosen: The Hidden Lives of Hasidic Rebels," by Hella Winston, whose name may sound familiar to readers of New York's Jewish Week from her coverage of sexual abuse in Orthodox communities.

The book provides a lot to think about, in how communities control members, how people accept or bridle at these highly structured societies, and difficulty of getting beneath the surface appearance of Chasidic communities. One passage I found particularly fascinating involves sexual abuse. I've never understood how Jewish communities can deny or hush up such behavior against its most helpless members. I know it happens everywhere but the wall of silence that Winston has written about in her journalism always disturbed me greatly. The book provides an explanation:

Indeed, while it is unclear whether or not such abuse exists to a greater degree than it does in the general population, some have theorized that Jewish communities' historical antipathy toward informers has likely played some role in keeping such abuse quiet, when it occurs. The Yiddish word 'moser' is used to describe those who betray the community to outside authorities (historically, the authorities of tsarist Russia or medieval Europe). 'Messira,' or the act of informing, was once punishable by death, and remains a serious sin to this day.

When I read that passage, I thought not only of the pressures on frum young people to accept abuse (or frum approaches to "dealing" with it, as effective as the Catholic Church's past approaches to dealing with pedophile priests), but also of financial scandals. Were the crimes of Bernard Madoff aided, to any degree, by people who had suspicions but didn't want to be a moser? I don't know, but the idea of community standards backfiring in a horrible way came to mind.

Anyway, if you're looking for a worthy group for an end-of-year donation, consider Footsteps. How's this for an endorsement: I sent the group a check.

Van | 12/26/09 at 09:06 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 28, 2009

How is Chabad Like a Denzel Washington Action Movie?

Last November, after Muslim terrorists killed the directors of the Chabad House in Mumbai, India and other Jews, I attended a memorial service for them at Chabad of Stamford, Connecticut. There, I had a unique spiritual experience – and I mean that in the real sense of “unique,” something completely new in my life.

Continue reading "How is Chabad Like a Denzel Washington Action Movie?"

Van | 11/28/09 at 10:38 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 26, 2009

Our Hairy Jewish Bodies, Ourselves

Let’s not beat around the bush. I’m that hairy Jewish guy, built more like Esau than Jacob, who comics and cartoonists love to lampoon. While I’m bald on top, genetics compensated me with swirls of fur everywhere else: arms, legs, shoulders and back. I’d be a terrible criminal because I leave curly DNA evidence everywhere I go.

The look has pleased me since a line of hair first ran down my chest starting in the seventh grade. An early bloomer, I was. I still delight to see the hair poke up at the top of my shirts, like a wash of black foam on a beach of skin. At real beaches, I shuck my shirt to stroll about in my barrel-chested Russian-Jewish glory. At my health club, sleeveless t-shirts display my shoulders and their halo of hair, what I see as a living tattoo of shapes, shadows and textures.

Continue reading "Our Hairy Jewish Bodies, Ourselves"

Van | 04/26/09 at 10:36 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 26, 2009

Idan Raichel Project Rocks the House in Ridgefield

I had never even heard of Israeli musician Idan Raichel until a few weeks ago when a friend tipped me off to Idan and his group, the Idan Raichel Project. Based on the good taste of my music source, I bought the new CD "Within My Walls" at the Virgin Megastore early in its closing sale. I liked the CD, but the mix of languages and styles made it hard for me to get a grip on the music. My image of the music tied very closely to Idan, a fashion-forward looking guy in dreadlocks on the cover of the album.

Still, I jumped at the chance to expand my music horizons last Sunday when the Project played, improbably enough, at the Ridgefield Playhouse here in the Nutmeg State. I snagged second-row seats, which gave me and a friend a fantastic view of what turned out to be an amazingly memorable performance -- one of the bravura music shows I've ever seen.

What the CD barely even hints at is the Project's great stage presence. Looking at the CD, I thought of the group as a one-man sort of operation, Idan center stage, dreadlocks gently swaying like Hebraic seaweed to the tune of mellow Kenny G-like vibes.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. While the group leader, Idan stayed to stage left behind his electric keyboard and let the other nine members of the group carry the show. The musicianship and great vocal power of two women and a man created a varied, propulsive show that I didn't want to see end -- it was that good. Even the pacing worked well, as tempos and moods varied.

The evening ended with enthusiastic standing ovations, lots of picture taking (the Project didn't mind at all), and a real sense of people coming together under a common musical experience. I've listened to the CD more since then and it hangs together much better now that I have visual images to connect to it.

If you see the Idan Raichel Project coming to your town, then run, don't walk, to get tickets. Tell them Van sent you.

Van | 03/26/09 at 10:07 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 20, 2009

Shards of Faith, Reassembled

I wear a chai — the Jewish letter symbolizing life — around my neck. I’ve studied Hebrew and Yiddish, have visited Israel, subscribe to Jewish newspapers, and have been told I look rabbinical. In fact, my great-great-grandfather, Heinrich Schwarz, was the first ordained rabbi in Texas.

Hearing this religious background, you would never imagine my spiritual journey began as a New Testament-reading, hell-fearing member of the First Baptist Church of Mission, Texas. How the heck, so to speak, did that happen? And how did I return to Judaism?

Continue reading "Shards of Faith, Reassembled"

Van | 03/20/09 at 07:06 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 17, 2009

Justice for Bernie: Waterboard Him, Over and Over

The Forward newspaper ran an article recently about possible punishments for Bernard Madoff. It says,

Life in prison is considered probable for Madoff, who pleaded guilty Thursday to 11 criminal charges. But that’s just for starters. How about toilet-cleaning duty in the slammer, a job as a Wal-Mart greeter or simply oblivion?

I found all these suggestions surprisingly pedestrian. I think Madoff should be treated for what he is: a terrorist who undermined the financial system of the United States, especially the Jewish community. In moral terms, he is no different than the worst of the lot at Gitmo.

Like Khalid Sheik Mohammed and others, Madoff has information that the government needs to know. In Madoff's case, we need to know how he pulled the scam off, who helped him and where the money went. It seems like he's not talking.

Fortunately, the U.S. government has ways of making Madoff talk. My idea: Put him in an orange jump suit and pack him off to Guantanamo Bay, where he can hang with his fellow Jew-haters, talk about their big scores and plan their efforts to hire pro-bono lawyers and get more of their rancid poetry published.

Given that Bernie is no doubt a physical and moral puffball, a quick round of waterboard bingo with an experienced interrogator should get him to crack faster than Aunt Goldie's piggy bank, which he probably raided. I have no qualms about using the technique on him, which he might consider an excellent form of penance. Shake every penny out of him, then get him back in the general population, which will revere him as the greatest cause of harm to Jews since . . . oh, you can imagine.

After Bernie spills the beans, occasional waterboard sessions might be good for his moral development, and good practice for newbie interrogators.

May he live to be 120!

Van | 03/17/09 at 10:43 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 21, 2008

Hamas Names Madoff "Financial Jihadist of the Century"

January 1, 2009: The terrorist group Hamas honored financier Bernard Madoff as its "Financial Jihadist of the Century" last night with a gala dinner at the Gaza Conference and Suicide Bomber Training Center. The event celebrated Madoff "for his decades of unstinting and effective service to fulfilling the dictates of the yetzer hara, the Evil Inclination, in destroying Jewish institutions."

The honor capped a whirlwind year for Madoff, whose careful investment strategy paid huge dividends for Hamas and other Islamic terror groups. The U.S. financial crisis led to withdrawals from his investment funds, which, in fact, were in all probability never actually invested. Madoff simply used new investments to pay off earlier investors. His entire financial structure collapsed, taking with it billions of dollars of investments from many Jewish families and organizations.

Due to some passport problems, Madoff was unable to attend the gala, but he appeared via video and simply said, "Thank you for this honor. You're too kind. I couldn't have done it without all the little people, and big people, who blindly trusted me."

Speaker after speaker extolled Madoff's innovative approaches to financial jihad directed against Jewish organizations. One speaker declared, "We have had success in killing and injuring individual Jews -- bus bombings, Chabad in Mumbai, kidnappings. But our friend Bernie has taken jihad to an entirely new level. We killed individuals but he harmed institutions and wounded the entire Jewish communal infrastructure. That takes a true visionary. And most important, Bernie destroyed hope and trust among Klal Yisrael. Families are devastated, institutions and charities are closing, Jewish communities will never recover. What will happen now when solicitation letters and calls go out? Jews will think, 'Am I giving to a cause, or giving to support shmucks who shovel donations to their ganif cronies without a thought for whether the pals are criminals or not? Am I helping the worthy poor, or the yacht industry?' The cause of jihad simply cannot buy that kind of support."

The dinner tribute booklet overflowed with notices from many groups, praising Madoff's accomplishments and pledging funds for Gaza's new Madoff Family Institute of Advanced Financial Jihad. His voice choking, Madoff said, "My only regret is that my beloved mother and father are not alive to see this legacy. They would have been so ashamed of me."

The back cover ad brought tears to the eyes of the hundreds of jihadi dinner guests, clad in their finest evening wear and bomb belts. It simply said,

"Bernie, we deeply appreciate your outstanding disservice to the Jewish community worldwide. Although you're the son of apes and pigs, you are a truly unrighteous man unto our generation. That's why we're going to kill you last. Yasher Koach, Osama."

Van | 12/21/08 at 12:06 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 10, 2008

The Dutch-Jewish Films of Renee Sanders, This Week in NY

Dutch-Jewish film maker Renee Sanders will be screening four of her documentaries this week at "Celebrate Independent Thinking," a series at the Ann Frank Center USA at 38 Crosby Street in New York. The films explore the Holocaust in the Netherlands and its aftermath in the decades that followed. Renee, whose parents were hidden during the war, is a good friend of mine and I've had the honor of seeing several of her films. They are all compelling and blend historical insight with a great feel for the humanity of the subjects.

On Wednesday at 6 pm, the program consists of "Resisting Forces: The Jewish Council in Enschede, 1941-1943" and "A Jewish Counterforce." On Thursday, Renee will screen and discuss "Mink Hides My Misery," about German-Jewish women who moved to the Netherlands and then survived the Holocaust there, and "From 'S Graveland to the Promised Land." They're in Dutch with English subtitles.

The series is part of the "5 Dutch Days, 5 Boroughs" events celebrating New York's Dutch heritage. For more information, go to www.5dutchdaysnyc.org.

Van | 11/10/08 at 09:46 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 09, 2008

Before the Hurricanes: A Trip to Jewish Cuba

The place was jumpin’ in the 1950s. Congregations expanded with new buildings and programs, the community collected funds for Israel, the descendants of Americans, European and Middle Eastern immigrants were respected professionals who built businesses that kept the economy growing.

The United States in the Eisenhower era? No – Cuba, a thriving community of 15,000 Jews until the Revolution of 1959 resulted in 90 percent of the Jewish population fleeing. After the new government takeover, temples closed (for a lack of congregants, leadership and money) and the religious memory withered, kept alive in the immigrant population that settled a world and 90 miles away in South Florida and elsewhere.

Yet like embattled Jewish communities everywhere, a spark remained in Havana and smaller cities. In the 1990s, the government eased restrictions on religious observance and Havana’s Jewish community gradually returned to more open activity. Smaller communities across the island also began to reopen.

The U.S. embargo against Cuba severely restricts Americans’ ability to visit Cuba, but it can be done legally. One way is through a religious mission, licensed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

That’s how I satisfied a long curiosity about Cuba with a week-long trip there in June 2008 with a group led by Miriam Saul, a Cuba native who moved to Atlanta in the early 1960s and has led almost 30 licensed trips in the last eight years for the Cuba-America Jewish Mission, a non-profit group in California. I first contacted Miriam in February 2007, and signed on for the June 2008 mission.

Continue reading "Before the Hurricanes: A Trip to Jewish Cuba"

Van | 11/09/08 at 04:11 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 05, 2008

Tania Grossinger's Wild Catskills Girlhood

If you've ever considered the movie "Dirty Dancing" more a lifestyle template than a movie, then read Tania Grossinger's book Growing Up at Grossinger's for an inside look at the fabled resort -- from the inside. Just reissued after first appearing in 1975, the book combines family and social history, well-polished celebrity sightings and lots of adolescent angst, with a couple of Patrick Swayze types around to keep the narration sweating and the poodle skirts bouncing.

The book provides an especially frank view of the social pressures on young Jews of the 1940s and 1950s. Today's lingering years (or decades) of being single didn't fit the norms then. Grossinger, who actually lived with her mother at the resort, zeroes in on the brute facts of life as existed from a very young age. Writing about "summer seasonal" families that spent weeks on end at the resort, with the fathers schlepping down to Manhattan for the work weeks, she observes

They (the mothers) sent their children to the Day Camp (which is how I met most of them) and on Saturday evenings many would dress their little girls as miniatures of themselves -- bouffant hairdos, spike-heeled shoes, a rhinestone or two, and if the daughter was 11 or 12, perhaps a mink "stolette" (a tinier version of their own full-length model). I remember the first time I overheard a mother asking her 12-year old if she had a date that night. When told no, she chided her unaggressive child and told her in no uncertain terms: "Why do you think I brought you here? it's never too early in life to meet the right kind of people. They boys you are playing with may very well grow up to be doctors and lawyers someday."

Tania worked at the resort in various roles starting when she was 14. Her first job descended to the level of Stephen King-like horror. I lack the stomach to set up the full context, but the passage includes the nightmarish quote, "Don't be afraid to put some on my tushy."

Grossinger headed for Brandeis for college, where she rubbed elbows with Abraham Maslow and other luminaries. Her hierarchy of values led her to journalism and public relations, and the world is a better place for that. The hotel closed in 1986, but this website stands as a picture-packed memorial to it. The condition of the place in "before and after" pictures up to 2006 is horrifying, like photos from abandoned Chernobyl. But the before pictures show it during the glorious era Grossinger writes about.

For a fun beach spin with plenty of name-dropping and gobs of mother-daughter conflict, Tania Grossinger delivers the goods. Care for another helping?

Van | 08/05/08 at 07:10 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 26, 2008

Shouldn't They Be Studying Torah, or Something?

I went to David Broza's free concert in Wilton, Conn., yesterday evening, which drew a huge crowd, by Connecticut standards. That had to be gratifying for the local federations that pitched in on this Israel 60th anniversary event.

What surprised me more than the crowd was who else Broza "attracted." Heading back to my car, who was there waving signs and being annoying but a crew from Neturei Karta -- the last people I would expect to be fans of secular Israeli music.

While they had to listen, the NK nudniks really just wanted to do their little bit to ruin the anniversary celebrations. Fortunately, penned outside the concert area, they were barely visible in the nutmeg darkness. I saw a few people stop to argue with them, and that was the extent of their impact.

Still, the cognitive dissonance of Keturei Karta running amok in bucolic Fairfield County is enough to make my head spin. A shot of Slivovitz set me straight.

Van | 05/26/08 at 10:21 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 16, 2008

Cloverfield (The Chabad Re-Make)

Pedestrians gazed in awe Wednesday at lunch when Chabad unleashed its fearsome 770th Mechanized Cavalry on the streets of Manhattan. Dozens of Mitzvahmobiles thundered up 6th Avenue in a pavement-rattling demonstration of spiritual firepower and amplified music complete with an NYPD escort.

If only Pope Benedict XVI had been around to see it! Perhaps Chabad is planning a repeat performance to get in on the excitement already building at Park East Synagogue, where the Pope will drop by for some Abrahamic shmoozing on Friday.

Van | 04/16/08 at 11:17 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 09, 2008

Raiders of the Lost Menorah

When I visited Rome in 1989, I thrilled at the site of the menorah carried by the victorious legionnaires on the Arch of Titus. It marked a Jewish defeat, to be sure, but the fact that 2,000 years later we are still around to look at it transformed the defeat into a victory. The "Am Yisroel Chai" graffiti on the arch didn't hurt, either.

Now, Meir Soloveichik has a long and riveting article in Commentary on the image and use of the menorah. He writes,

But if the menorah has indeed been returned, and if the defeat wrought by Titus has been reversed, why then do observant Jews continue to mourn what Titus brought about? Why does the ninth of Av, which embodies the twin ideas of exile and dispersion, need to be observed at all?

In answering this question we need to examine the enigmatic image of the menorah more closely, and revisit a mystery that has confounded many over the centuries.

It's well worth printing and reading.

Van | 03/09/08 at 07:09 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 11, 2008

Sex Week at Yale: Jews, Jews and More Jews

Sex Week at Yale burst on to the scene last night in New Haven. It looks like a fine time. The line-up of speakers could practically form its own minyan, with Jewish heavy hitters like Dr. Ruth and that Kesher Talk favorite, the illustrious educator Ron "Hedgehog" Jeremy.

I can't definitely vouch for the religious heritage of other speakers, but some of them sure sound and look MOTish to me: Logan Levkoff, Dr. Helen Fisher, Scott Barry Kauffman, Dr. Susan Block, actor/director Paul Thomas, Dr. Judy Kuriansky and Steven Hirsch, co-founder of Vivid Entertainment, whose contract performers will be appearing at Sex Week events.

This sounds like lots of fun, worth a Kesher Talk field trip up I-95 for in-depth reporting.

Van | 02/11/08 at 06:58 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 07, 2008

Self-Hating Jews: The Envelope, Please . . .

Yid With Lid has announced, to world acclaim, the winners of the Self-Hating Jews. To learn about the people at the pinnacle of Har Self-Hatred, go to this link.

Van | 01/07/08 at 06:59 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 02, 2008

Let's Celebrate Self-Hating Jews

What would a year's end be without acknowledge of the people who made things happen? Who drenched themselves with dishonor as they licked the boots of the enemies of Israel and the Jewish people? So many targets, so little time. . . . more »

Van | 01/02/08 at 07:12 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 29, 2007

A Wee Bit o' Klezmer from Scotland

I've been listening to a klezmer CD that came my way lately, and I like it. "Zing!" by the Yiddish Song Project combines some original tunes, such as "Chicken Soup Freylekhs - A Love Song" with classics like "Bay Mir . . . more »

Van | 12/29/07 at 09:39 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 24, 2007

Scenes from a Demonstration

UPDATE from Judith: Links to other blogs moved here, because that's the post getting the visitors. Another sign from the UN protest above. Van says: I dashed over to the big demonstration today and got some exclusive Kesher Talk . . . more »

Van | 09/24/07 at 08:30 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 23, 2007

Distracting the Terrorists, Part 3: Those Irresistable Israeli MILFs

No sooner had I written about American MILF commandos smashing terrorists than evidence pops up that fans of sophisticated male entertainment in Arab lands have a outright obsession with Israeli pornography that specializes in female action characters. This story in . . . more »

Van | 08/23/07 at 09:08 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 23, 2007

Second Generation Sues Germany: Innocence Against Innocence

This is a guest entry by Ines Weber. Second generation Holocaust survivors plan to file a lawsuit against the German government in order to obtain compensation for an estimated 40,000 persons who claim to have suffered severe mental and psychological . . . more »

Van | 07/23/07 at 09:24 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 13, 2007

Jewish Currents: Hip to be Square

I got a comp copy of Jewish Currents a few days ago, a publication I had heard of but never read. Thanks go to Jews for Racial & Economic Jusitice for the pitch. The magazine, a "progressive, secular bimonthly" published . . . more »

Van | 07/13/07 at 06:54 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 07, 2007

Forward's New Book: Digital Hitler, Yes; Crown Heights Riots, Shhhhhh

The Forward's new book, "A Living Lens: Photographs of Jewish Life from the Pages of the Forward," is a visual treat. Five chapters cover the paper's history and times from the founding in 1897 through the era of Madonna's kabbalah . . . more »

Van | 07/07/07 at 07:07 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 28, 2007

Honoring the Rescuers: Karl Plagge

This entry introduces guest blogger Ines Weber, an independent scholar, former academic, and published German-English translator. Her current research interest involves "Moral Dilemmas, Moral Decisions" - leadership and ethics as exemplified by rescuers during World War II. She can be . . . more »

Van | 06/28/07 at 12:25 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 24, 2007

Hamas, Hartley and the Hedgehog

Are you as sick of reading about Hamas as I am sick of writing about the group? Sure you are. You're a sophisticated adult with a range of interests. You're ready to enjoy morning sunshine with two Jews (degree of . . . more »

Van | 06/24/07 at 12:07 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 20, 2007

Chabad Breaks Out the Pinatas and Party Hats, Metaphorically

The Lubavitcher Rebbe died 13 years ago yesterday. As might be expected, Chabad makes note of his yahrtzeit here. Must-read section: "The Rebbe on Sports and Games." Sandy Koufax is there. . . . more »

Van | 06/20/07 at 07:23 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 15, 2007

Jews With Guns Walking the Mean Streets of New Haven

This article from the New Haven Independent has the details about yeshiva members forming the Edgewood Park Defense Patrol. Since a previous post about Jews with guns got a warm response, this should also be interesting -- and this is . . . more »

Van | 06/15/07 at 07:15 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 31, 2007

JCC Lit Cafe: Growing Up Solo

The JCC in Manhattan is having another Lit Cafe event tonight at 7:30, with editors Daphne Uviller and Deborah Siegel talking about the collection "Only Child: Writers on the Singular Joys and Solitary Sorrows of Growing Up Solo." As the . . . more »

Van | 05/31/07 at 06:42 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 25, 2007

A Jewish soldier KIA

From the YouTube post: It is estimated that around two thousand Jewish soldiers are currently serving in Iraq. Marine Private First Class Colin Joseph Wolfe of Manassas died last Wednesday, August 30, 2006, in the al-Anbar province of Iraq, while . . . more »

Judith | 05/25/07 at 04:47 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 14, 2007

Cyberpunk Jews

The latest compilation of Havel Havelim is so geeky I have no idea what the references are. . . . more »

Judith | 05/14/07 at 09:13 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 20, 2007

'The Last Jew in Europe' -- Still Too Many?

I recently saw the play "The Last Jew in Europe" at the Jewish Theater of New York. It renewed my faith in the ability of theater to create art and engage an audience. While it closed over the weekend, the . . . more »

Van | 04/20/07 at 07:34 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 01, 2007

Relatively Political: Left/Right Debate That's All in the Family

One of the biggest challenges for those of us who live in the left-leaning San Francisco Bay Area and whose political views are right-of-center is navigating the oftentimes treacherous waters of politics and personal relationships. And this difficult situation exists . . . more »

Cinnamon | 04/01/07 at 02:35 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 28, 2007

America's Top 50 . . . Rabbis

Can your rabbi do this? Americans love lists, and this is one I haven't seen before. The Newsweek article explains the methodology behind this list: Last fall, Sony Pictures CEO and Chairman Michael Lynton got together with his good friends . . . more »

Van | 03/28/07 at 07:25 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Age of Consent

Browsing links related to Cathy Siepp's unfortunate passing, I found myself at Luke Ford's blog, where I had not been for several years, I think. Luke is reknown for being provocative, especially toward persons and institutions with which he has . . . more »

Judith | 03/28/07 at 07:08 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 19, 2007

Havel Havelim 110

This week, Soccer Dad - our blog carnival's chief mover and shaper - takes charge again. For the best in Jewish blogs this week, check out Havel Havelim 110. . . . more »

Judith | 03/19/07 at 07:19 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 16, 2007

Calling All KinkyJews for an Evening of Fine Literature

Our fun-loving landsmen at Kinky Jews are having a haimishe literary event on March 22 at the KGB Bar in New York, from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Called "An Evening of Jewish Lit-Erotica," it promises to be an exploration . . . more »

Van | 03/16/07 at 07:20 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 11, 2007

Getcher piping hot Havel Havelim rightchere!

This week's edition of the Jewish blog carnival, Havel Havelim, is up at Life in Israel." Over 100 blogs are represented! Go check it out. . . . more »

Judith | 03/11/07 at 08:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 27, 2007

Lawrence of Arabia Was a Zionist

Watching Peter O'Toole at the Academy Awards on Sunday night, one couldn't help but hearken back to that David Lean film classic, Lawrence of Arabia. O'Toole's T.E. Lawrence was the archetype British Arabist, but, according to historian Sir Martin Gilbert, . . . more »

Cinnamon | 02/27/07 at 01:14 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 26, 2007

Havel Havelim #108

Havel Havelim #108 is up at Life of Rubin. If you want a panoramic tour of the Jewish blogosphere, this is the place to go. . . . more »

Judith | 02/26/07 at 09:39 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 13, 2007

Where Are the Israelis?

Those of us who have written countless opeds and blog posts trying to push Israeli strength only to witness its continued weakness will find expression for their frustration in the words of Dr. Steve Carol: ...Where are the Israelis? Where . . . more »

Cinnamon | 02/13/07 at 07:26 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 07, 2007

Havel Havelim #105

Soccer Dad dreamed I was a contestant on Jeopardy . . . . Alex Trebeck surveyed the contestants curiously. Meryl, Yehudit, Israelly Cool!? He remembered when the contestants all had good Canadian names like Dick, Jane, Sally or Francois. What . . . more »

Judith | 02/07/07 at 08:50 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 04, 2007

More on Abir - the Ancient Jewish Martial Art Form

If anyone was interested in the topic of the original post on Abir - the Ancient Jewish Martial Art form - now undergoing a renaissance, from the beginning of January, but hasn't looked at it in a while since it's . . . more »

Alcibiades | 02/04/07 at 04:01 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 03, 2007

Who Is George Soros?

Perhaps you've heard George Soros' recent comment at Davos. Though, until the last day or two, the comments have received little notice. But if you have not, here they are: "The United States is now recognizing the errors it had . . . more »

Alcibiades | 02/03/07 at 05:50 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 31, 2007

Argument for the sake of Heaven

Two machers of the 20-something New York hipster Jewish cohort square off on the topic of Judaism and "social justice": Steven I Weiss (impresario of Campus-J, blogger of Canonist, founder of seminal Jewish group blog Protocols) and Dan Sieradski aka . . . more »

Judith | 01/31/07 at 10:40 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Three views of Zev Chafets

Also apropos of my thoughts on Christian Zionism, I got three reports on an appearance last week by Zev Chafets, who encourages Jews to support that movement. One is from the Corner (on that whole "minority Republican" thing), the other . . . more »

Judith | 01/31/07 at 07:23 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 28, 2007

Vanity project

This week's version of Havel Havelim, the Jewish Blog Carnival, is up at life of Rubin. This is Havel Havelim #104. #104. Amazing. . . . more »

Judith | 01/28/07 at 01:49 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 27, 2007

A day with the Ishbitzer

Last Sunday I attended a seminar sponsored by the Carlebach Shul, on the Ishbitzer, otherwise known as the Mei haShiloach, otherwise known as Rav Mordechai Yosef (1800-1854, Poland). I like studying Hassidic texts and as they are often not translated . . . more »

Judith | 01/27/07 at 09:08 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 18, 2007

"I'll Try Again:" Reflections on Rabbi Twerski

I became familiar with the thoughts of Rabbi Abraham Twerski in the early 1990s, during a long period of extended personal difficulty. Something drew me to his book "Living Each Day," which I bought on February 15, 1992. I know . . . more »

Van | 01/18/07 at 09:30 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

The Threshold of Soul

In an interview at the Jerusalem Post, Velvel Greene, retired former NASA scientist and professor at Ben Gurion describes the effect of his first meeting with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, before he became religious. It's a transformative moment, a moment of . . . more »

Alcibiades | 01/18/07 at 01:00 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 15, 2007

Krav Maga: Not Competition, But Survival

I had my first Krav Maga class tonight, a 10-week course I'm taking through Stamford Continuing Ed. Taught at the Breakthru fitness center, the class consisted mostly of pairs of students taking turns whomping on each other as one team . . . more »

Van | 01/15/07 at 10:40 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

The Cost of an Infamous Kiss

Remember this? A scion of Naturei Karta kissing up to 'Jad at the world Holocaust Denial Conference. We discussed it here. [Other naturei karta related posts are here.] Turns out that Moshe Aryeh Friedman's wife didn't much like the image . . . more »

Alcibiades | 01/15/07 at 01:28 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 10, 2007

Rabbi Twerski in Stamford

I had the pleasure and honor of hearing rabbi-psychiatrist Abraham Twerski speak tonight at Chabad of Stamford. I've been a fan of Rabbi Twerski's writings for the last 15 years, but never had the chance to hear him. He spoke . . . more »

Van | 01/10/07 at 11:03 PM | 3 Comments | 2 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 09, 2007

Abir: Ancient Jewish Fighting Techniques Made New

In early November, Rabbi Lazar Brody put up a post that discussed the backgroud of the Abir Aluf - the Grandmaster of Abir, Yehoshua Sofer and the historical roots of Abir, the martial art he (re)established. Fascinating stuff. Who . . . more »

Alcibiades | 01/09/07 at 02:00 AM | 38 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 04, 2007

All Manner of Heresy May Arise, Has V'helilah

In an attempt to compete with their Muslim fundamentalist breathren, Ultra Orthodox Rabbis charged with determining education policies in the ultra orthodox community have come out with a Ban on Education for Women.A committee of rabbis formulating the education policy . . . more »

Alcibiades | 01/04/07 at 10:23 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 26, 2006

The Christmas Kerfuffle Revisited

Although I'm a day late, this seemed a good time to revisit an SFGate column I wrote last year providing a Jewish perspective to the kerfuffle over Christmas. It remains sadly relevant and I must say, all the politicizing of . . . more »

Cinnamon | 12/26/06 at 04:39 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 25, 2006

Fantastic Discussion in the Comments

Following from the recent conference in Israel on Israel and media, there is a fantastic conversation going on in the comments on a post by Liza, particularly between Richard Landes and Don Radlauer on the problem of Israel and Israel's . . . more »

Alcibiades | 12/25/06 at 09:12 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 21, 2006

Carter, Baker and The Wahabbi Lobby

It's funny how all those Jimmy Carter fans obsessing about the "Jewish/Israel Lobby" seem to have little to no interest in the Saudi Lobby. Otherwise known as the Wahabbi Lobby, this is the group that truly has its tentacles wrapped . . . more »

Cinnamon | 12/21/06 at 02:12 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 16, 2006

An Anecdote from Natan Sharansky

I'm sure many of us know people who voice opinions just like this. From Powerline: UPDATE: It is well known that President Bush has been inspired by Sharansky's book, The Case for Democracy. Sharansky said today that American Jews (among . . . more »

Alcibiades | 12/16/06 at 11:11 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 14, 2006

Circumcision: Now More Than Ever

Jewish men are feeling pretty cocky these days after the National Institutes of Health released a study indicating that circumcision significantly reduces the risk of acquiring HIV. It's great to know Jews have been on the cutting edge of public . . . more »

Van | 12/14/06 at 09:04 PM | 7 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 12, 2006

A Moment of Infamy

I get why the Ultra Orthodox in general and naturei karta in particular are anti-Zionist, because they believe that God will bring the Messiah and the return of the Jewish people to Israel in his own time and He . . . more »

Alcibiades | 12/12/06 at 02:55 PM | 22 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 11, 2006

Not the same old kugel

See that ad in the left sidebar? Pamphlet Guys took a break from war reporting to offer a palate cleanser (literally) in the form of a blogger cookbook. A Jewish blogger cookbook. It's about 50 black and white pages, no . . . more »

Judith | 12/11/06 at 01:17 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 07, 2006

Jewish bloggers Shabbat schmooze

Sorry I've been AWOL for a week. I have been working on several time-consuming projects. But if you are not busy tomorrow night, join me at Town & Village Synagogue for Shabbat services and a JEWISH BLOGGERS ROUNDTABLE. Jewlicious, Jewschool, . . . more »

Judith | 12/07/06 at 11:51 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 06, 2006

Conservative Rabbis Issue Incoherent Ruling on Gay Rights

It seems like the leaders of the Conservative movement weren't brave enough to bare the full monty, so they came up with a split decision that, in its particulars, is incoherent. With the endorsement Wednesday of three conflicting teshuvot, or . . . more »

Alcibiades | 12/06/06 at 05:25 PM | 7 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 05, 2006

Bring Nina Hartley Home for Hanukkah

Looking for a perfect Hanukkah gift for that special someone? Look no further than my pick for the most exciting book by a Jewish author this season: "Nina Hartley's Guide to Total Sex," by Jewish registered nurse-turned-porn-actress Nina Hartley. I . . . more »

Van | 12/05/06 at 07:00 AM | 7 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 29, 2006

The Bathsheba Deadline: Fiction Straight Out of the Headlines

Political junkies looking for fiction straight out of the headlines should definitely consider gravitating towards Jack Engelhard's serial novel "The Bathsheba Deadline." It's an "Amazon Shorts" novel, which means it's published in installments and touches on real life events as . . . more »

Cinnamon | 11/29/06 at 12:01 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 28, 2006

The Political Question du Jour

The hot new political question - which I imagine will be with us for some time, but there is nothing like getting an early start to sow doubt among what might be his constituency - is: Will Christian conservatives and . . . more »

Alcibiades | 11/28/06 at 09:49 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 24, 2006

Jews Behaving Atrociously in Crown Heights

Some kind of vandalism or riot hit the Chabad headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, earlier this week, but I can't figure out who was doing what from this article, which comes with loads of photos. It sounds like some kind . . . more »

Van | 11/24/06 at 08:42 AM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 22, 2006

Disengagement Article Published In New Book

Forgive the shameless self-promotion, but I wanted to share some good news. I'm pleased to announce that one of my articles is included in a new book, "United States and the World Face to Face: America's Best and Worst: Women, . . . more »

Cinnamon | 10/22/06 at 10:01 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Dating Jewish

Leah Jones says some things which are too true: 3. I dated more Jewish men as a gentile than as a Jew. 4. Before I was Jewish, I was considered too Jewish by Jewish men I dated. 5. Non-Jews are . . . more »

Judith | 10/22/06 at 07:28 AM | 6 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 20, 2006

Bereshith

Rav Kook wrote: The Tree of Knowledge also combined two opposing qualities, knowledge of good and evil. Adam could not grasp how one tree could encompass two contradictory traits. In truth, this combination is the very foundation of our world. . . . more »

Asher Abrams | 10/20/06 at 08:51 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 17, 2006

My Burka Anecdote

Since Jack Straw finally spoke his mind on fully veiled Muslim women a few weeks back, he has now emerged as the most popular politician in the Labour party. And many other politicians in Britain are racing to follow suit. . . . more »

Alcibiades | 10/17/06 at 06:46 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 08, 2006

"Nightline" to Investigate Jewish Child Sexual Abuse Case

(the following information comes from the Jewish Stamford discussion group) "Sexual Abuse in the Jewish Community" will be the focus of ABC's late-night news program Nightline on Monday, October 9 at 11:30 pm. Host Cynthia McFadden will investigate the . . . more »

Van | 10/08/06 at 07:56 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 03, 2006

Scionology

There's going to be a meeting of descendents of King David on October 19th in NYC at the inaugural of the Davidic Dynasty organization. And, then, a mass meeting is planned for May 2007 in Jerusalem. Speaking of which, about . . . more »

Alcibiades | 10/03/06 at 02:41 PM | 10 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 01, 2006

The Kabbalah

You remember how it was when you were a small child? How everything was new and full of wonder? Even if you had a hard childhood, your mind would open from time to time, everything around you would fall away, . . . more »

Asher Abrams | 10/01/06 at 07:06 PM | Categories: Doing Jewish

G'mar hatimah tovah

and an easy fast to all the Jews out there. . . . more »

Alcibiades | 10/01/06 at 02:29 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 29, 2006

Passion Under the Palms: "The Song of Hannah"

If the High Holidays stoke your interest in Jewish fiction about days of old when prophets were bold, consider "The Song of Hannah," a novel about the relationship of Hanna and Pninah, their husband Elkanah, and Hanna's son, who became . . . more »

Van | 09/29/06 at 03:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 25, 2006

The indie minyan experience

This is only slightly exaggerated. . . . more »

Judith | 09/25/06 at 09:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 21, 2006

Bad-Girl Jewish Actress Ellen Barkin Simplifies Her Life a Bit in Preparation for Rosh Hashanah

When we last checked in on the stormy life of Jewish actress Ellen Barkin, she had been brutally dumped by tycoon husband Ron Perelman. KT had the details in an open letter to the Hebraic love goddess. Given her predeliction . . . more »

Van | 09/21/06 at 02:29 PM | 4 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

So George Allen Is Jewish after all

Does it make a difference? Not much, although one day it might to him. Still, at the very least, it's an interesting story. His mother is from the well known Jewish Tunisian Lumbroso family. But after witnessing her father's treatment . . . more »

Alcibiades | 09/21/06 at 11:09 AM | 1 Comments | 2 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 17, 2006

Abraham's Test: A Problem in Jewish Theology

Here's a theological problem that occurred to me after reading part of the Pope's recent speech. The context is the issue of where religion fits between faith and reason. Here is part of that speech. [Emperor Manuel II Paleologus] goes . . . more »

Alcibiades | 09/17/06 at 12:03 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 04, 2006

Blacks and Jews, Blacks and Jews, That's What Makes the World Go 'Round

A new book, "Troubling the Waters: Black-Jewish Relations in the American Century," by Cheryl Lyn Greenberg, a professor of history at Trinity College in Hartford, CT., is getting strong reviews (truth in blogging: Greenberg is a Princeton classmate of mine). . . . more »

Van | 09/04/06 at 01:07 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 26, 2006

Attention, Dreydl Collectors! Martha Stewart Wants YOU

It's never too late to think about the holidays. Martha Stewart is already focusing her eagle vision on the distant shores of the year and is looking into dreydls for a possible holiday show on the topic. Elie Haller, associate . . . more »

Van | 08/26/06 at 01:51 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 23, 2006

KinkyJews: Innovations in Jewish Continuity

[note: links are not work-friendly] A highlight of the Village Voice is the "Lusty Lady" column by the energetic Rachel Kramer Bussel. Her Aug. 16 column, "The Unexpected Orgy: Spending Shabbat with six half-naked new friends -- in one bed," . . . more »

Van | 08/23/06 at 07:43 AM | 4 Comments | 2 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 08, 2006

Russ Lieber, Liberal Jew

I know way too many people like this (and some of them are in Olmert's immediate family). I appreciate the opportunity to make fun of them. Start the video and cringe laugh along with me. You need to see this . . . more »

Judith | 08/08/06 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 06, 2006

Go Ahead, Try Not to Laugh

Poster made by a summer camper at my local JCC: Q: Why did the chicken cross the road? A: To get to the milk side so he wouldn't be eaten. . . . more »

Van | 08/06/06 at 09:36 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 28, 2006

To Be, or Not To Be, Chosen

In the Corner Jonah put up an intriguing quote about chosenness from Leo Strauss, that relates both to history and the current troubles, reconstituting the spiritual notion in historico-political terms. Finite, relative problems can be solved; infinite, absolute problems cannot . . . more »

Alcibiades | 07/28/06 at 10:29 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 12, 2006

Tehillim in Texas

In this difficult time for Israel, vacation notes may not be the most fitting blog topic. However, as I find myself in Mission, Texas today looking forward to my 30th high school reunion this weekend, my Jewishness traveled with me. . . . more »

Van | 07/12/06 at 06:08 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 11, 2006

I Am a Jew and My Father Was A Jew

Many thanks to Judith for inviting me to post on Kesher Talk. My father described his father as mildly anti-Semitic, "not an Archie Bunker type" but not without his prejudices either. Dad was born in 1920 and grew up in . . . more »

Asher Abrams | 07/11/06 at 03:09 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 26, 2006

Today's Chumash Wisdom: Solomon

Sometimes I'll read a passage in the Chumash that jumps out in a special way, that sounds astoundingly fresh and current. That happened today, in my semi-regular morning march through the Chumash. The passage is from I Kings 8: 41-43, . . . more »

Van | 06/26/06 at 10:09 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 24, 2006

Follow the Leader

The Episcopalian Church follows the Presbyterians on renouncing anti-Israel rhetoric. The US Episcopal Church has taken a significant pro-Israel turn at its triennial General Convention, joining the Presbyterians in abandoning pro-Palestinian rhetoric and adopting a resolution repudiating anti-Jewish interpretations of . . . more »

Alcibiades | 06/24/06 at 10:24 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 19, 2006

Amos Oz, Peering Into Germany

A long article in the English edition of Haaretz looks at the new book, "The Slopes of the Volcano," by Israeli writer Amos Oz. Its essays deal with Oz's views on Germany and how they evolved. The article, "Through the . . . more »

Van | 06/19/06 at 12:06 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 06, 2006

Scribblers on the Roof

Every summer Ansche Chesed hosts a series of Jewish writers reading their works, called Scribblers on the Roof. Not surprisingly, this event takes place on the Ansche Chesed roof, a very pleasant place to enjoy summer breezes and watch . . . more »

Judith | 06/06/06 at 06:37 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 16, 2006

Harry Potter and the Halakhic Seal of Approval

Just in case you were worried about it, it turns out, at least according to Prof. Menahem Kellner of the University of Haifa's department of Jewish history and thought, and his daughter Rivka Kellner, who is a doctoral candidate in . . . more »

Alcibiades | 05/16/06 at 09:21 PM | 3 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

News From the Near Future: Enthusiasm Grows for Mass Pali Reversion to Judaism

July 15, 2006: The steady conversion of Palestinians to Judaism, discussed earlier on Kesher Talk, continues to accelerate as more and more Palestinians get in touch with their inner "Yiddishe kup" and revert back to their ancient faith. Evidence of . . . more »

Van | 05/16/06 at 09:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 12, 2006

Tax schmucks

I received this email yesterday, signed by "An Independent Jewish Conservative":The Senate gave final approval Thursday to a $70 billion election-year package of tax cuts that will extend lower rates for investors and also save billions for families that work. . . . more »

Judith | 05/12/06 at 12:31 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 11, 2006

That's My Deutschland!

Wandering into the Goethe-Institut in New York recently, I scooped up brochures promoting all things German. My favorite is "The Counselor's Guide to German," (PDF available here) telling academic and career advisors why they should "pump up" interest in the . . . more »

Van | 05/11/06 at 06:05 PM | 4 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

JDate Shines With "Keeping Up With the Steins" Promotion

JDate sponsored a screening of the new movie "Keeping Up With the Steins" on Tuesday in Manhattan. Chalk it up to JDate's marketing prowess or the chance to see a movie for free, but the theater was jammed to the . . . more »

Van | 05/11/06 at 12:58 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 08, 2006

Shmuley Boteach Goes Stark Raving Meshugenah

The Metro section of today's New York Times has an ad for what's called "The DaVinci Code Debate" next Monday at the NY Hilton. With the hyper-hyped movie release fast approaching, the debate will generate plenty of interest. What drew . . . more »

Van | 05/08/06 at 03:30 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Annals of Mis-Marketing: JDate's Excellent Bikini Adventure

An email promoting a JDate trip to the Dominican Republic in June caught my attention yesterday. The headline on the email sounds like a serious misfire for half of the site's demographics: While men will read it and think, "Bikinis? . . . more »

Van | 05/08/06 at 09:28 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 04, 2006

War, Remembrance, and Wouk

Today's Wall Street Journal has an op-ed piece titled "Dissent in Wartime," by a man who knows the territory: Herman Wouk, author of "The Caine Mutiny" and its theatrical carve-out, "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial," now revived on Broadway. Seeing Wouk . . . more »

Van | 05/04/06 at 05:15 PM | 6 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 01, 2006

Darfur: A feel-good exercise

I may be the only shul-attending Jew on the East Coast who didn't go to the Rally for Darfur yesterday. I first posted about Darfur almost two years ago. I wrote about Charles Jacobs and Simon Deng at the Columbia . . . more »

Judith | 05/01/06 at 02:47 AM | 7 Comments | 3 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 30, 2006

Around the Jewish Blogosphere

I used to do these link roundups regularly and I haven't in a while. But I want to let you know that after a long hiatus, one of our favorite Jewish blogs, Baraita, is back. (She got married, bought and . . . more »

Judith | 04/30/06 at 11:15 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 28, 2006

So That's the Origin of the Pin Test

I heard about the pin test years ago from Rabbi Aryeh Strikovsky in Jerusalem. It's this test whereby you stick a pin in any volume of Talmud, to any depth you like, and tell the person you are testing the . . . more »

Alcibiades | 04/28/06 at 02:45 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

The Missing Paragraphs in the Times' Circumcision Article

Today's New York TImes has a worthy article about rising interest in circumcision as a way to prevent AIDS in Africa. The crux of the matter: The most striking studies suggest that men can lower their own risk of infection . . . more »

Van | 04/28/06 at 01:38 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 24, 2006

Today's Tanakh: David's Message to the Iranians

Lately I've been exploring, for the first time in 30 years, Jewish texts beyond the Torah. After slogging through what I call the "municipal zoning and sanitation code" parashot, the world that follows Devarim has an unfamiliar freshness and poignancy. . . . more »

Van | 04/24/06 at 09:50 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 12, 2006

Recycling Last Year's Passover Hidush

Since recycling old news into big stories is the current style, in lieu of something new, here's last year's thought about the structure of the Haggadah: So last night at the Seder as we were reading through the Haggadah, I . . . more »

Alcibiades | 04/12/06 at 10:40 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 10, 2006

Want to Look Cute n' Funky at the Seder? Diaspora Girl Can Help!

Being a life-long member of the oppressive Jewish patriarchy, I never gave much thought to the fashion implications of kippot. I've got a handful from various weddings and bar mitzvahs; my son has my wedding-day Bukharan kippah. For me, a . . . more »

Van | 04/10/06 at 06:36 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Today in Passover Searches..

I've had some interesting searches recently, including: Passover+Kosher+ Marijuana And various forms of a classic from last year: Why is Coriander Considered Kitniot? Kitniot is an grouping of food that is not chometz, which is forbidden on Passover, but which . . . more »

Alcibiades | 04/10/06 at 11:48 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 09, 2006

An Open Letter to Bad-Girl Jewish Actress Ellen Barkin: The Case for the Blogger Boyfriend

Dear Ellen, That New York Magazine article about your marriage and speedy divorce from Ron Perelman sure was riveting. It reminded me of the Mexican soap opera, "Los Ricos Tambien Lloran" (The Rich Also Cry), with your screaming fights, the . . . more »

Van | 04/09/06 at 12:12 PM | 2 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 27, 2006

Are the AIPAC Charges Unconstitutional?

Judge: AIPAC charges may be based on unconstitutional law . . . more »

Alcibiades | 03/27/06 at 12:36 PM | 3 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 19, 2006

A Light Unto the Nations, Still

This is an amazing story. The text is not available via a link to the Independent in the UK, so I'm placing the text here. The message is that beyond the bickering, the intermarriage, the hyper-organization and sub-organization, Judaism has . . . more »

Van | 03/19/06 at 07:22 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 24, 2006

Good for Sasha Cohen for Winning Silver

That is, since she didn't hit gold. She may have screwed up two jumps in the long program, but I thought her artistry was fantastic, the best by far. The Times seems to disdain her. Typically, I disdain the . . . more »

Alcibiades | 02/24/06 at 12:43 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 23, 2006

Kosher Bigamy - Rabbinic Style - Blessed on High

How is this for a headline: Son of Jerusalem Rabbinic Court head remarries - without a get It turns out, with the right rabbinic family connections in Israel, you can marry a second wife in Los Angeles before the . . . more »

Alcibiades | 02/23/06 at 01:40 AM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 22, 2006

JDate Opens the Kimono

JDate is the site subscribers love to hate -- creaky technology, lackluster customer service, and weak quality control that lets scammers from Ghana (or someplace) send out email after email. But if you're Jewish and not Orthodox, it's just about . . . more »

Van | 02/22/06 at 11:26 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 15, 2006

HUMOR: Orthodox Rabbis Demand Cartoon Characters Observe Laws of Family Purity

Asserting that "those imams are on to something," a radical fringe of Orthodox rabbis rampaged through Brooklyn demanding that married female cartoon characters observe "tohorat ha-mishpacha," These Jewish laws of family purity make couples refrain from sex during a woman's . . . more »

Van | 02/15/06 at 07:36 AM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 10, 2006

Jewish-Israeli Blog Awards

Voting has ended for the Jewish-Israeli Blog Awards and results are here. I am very glad that Seraphic Secret won best personal blog, since I nominated it. Congratulations, Robert! Unfortunately too many other good blogs didn't even make it into . . . more »

Judith | 02/10/06 at 02:20 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 09, 2006

When the going gets tough Jews get funny, part II

Part I here. Neo-neocon wonders about humor in the Arab world, and a commenter says: The Germans were never known for a sense of humor. (See Monty Python on that topic.) After WWII, in the late 1970s or early 1980s, . . . more »

Judith | 02/09/06 at 07:17 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

When the going gets tough Jews get funny

WUJS - The World Union of Jewish Students - is not afraid of fatwas or rioting mobs. The organization has announced an International Editorial Cartoon Competition for students called “Fight Hate with Humor.” Inspired by an Iranian contest where students . . . more »

Judith | 02/09/06 at 02:56 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 30, 2006

Where is Havel Havelim!??!!

Apologies for being late with Havel Havelim. The usual winter cold finally caught up with me, which has slowed me down a bit. I will get it up by tomorrow. Thank you for your patience! . . . more »

Judith | 01/30/06 at 02:02 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 27, 2006

'24' Alert: George Mason is Definitely Jewish

Inspired by the recent essay revealing Jack Bauer's Jewishness, our correspondent Fausta of Bad Hair Blog gazed thoughtfully at the ever-expanding CTU Memorial Wall of Honor in LA and wondered whether the late George Mason might also be Jewish (that's . . . more »

Van | 01/27/06 at 12:03 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 26, 2006

Gene causes Parkinson's in Ashkenazi Jews

Sobering news for Ashkenazi Jews who have Parkinson's in their family: Although Parkinson's disease has not generally been regarded as genetic in origin, researchers at Yeshiva University's Einstein College of Medicine and Beth Israel Medical Center in New York have . . . more »

Alcibiades | 01/26/06 at 04:26 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 20, 2006

Fantasies of a '24' Obsessive: Jack Bauer is Jewish!

The fifth season of “24” blasted off last Sunday and Monday on Fox, packed with four hours of non-stop mayhem. As a 24 obsessive since the very first episode in 2001, I constantly scan the show for any Jewish angle. . . . more »

Van | 01/20/06 at 04:21 PM | 14 Comments | 2 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 17, 2006

Vote early and often

Just a reminder that preliminary voting for the Jewish and Israeli blog awards ends on the 19th. On your right is a list of the categories where Kesher Talk is nominated; if you think we deserve your vote please go . . . more »

Judith | 01/17/06 at 02:26 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 10, 2006

GOTV

Jewish-Israeli Blog Awards: Preliminary Voting Round January 9th — January 19th, 2006 . . . 3. Readers may vote once in each poll group every three days (eg: once in Best Post Group A, and also once in Best Post . . . more »

Judith | 01/10/06 at 12:05 AM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 06, 2006

Did Emotional Stress Help Destroy Sharon?

UPDATES: 19:38 (Israel time): Top Haddassah hospital official: Last operation increased chances PM will live (Ch. 1) 19:00 (Israel time): Sharon's condition deteriorates (according to the headline in the JP) 19:00 W. House criticizes Robertson for suggesting PM`s stroke . . . more »

Alcibiades | 01/06/06 at 01:48 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 05, 2006

Thoughts on Sharon's Health and Political Legacy

Health UPDATES: 21:29pm (Israel Time) Hadassah officials: Sharon has suffered immense brain damage (Haaretz) 19:45pm (Israel Time) Sharon not in vegetative state, has retained brain and heart functions (Channel 2) 19:23 Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he wishes for Sharon`s . . . more »

Alcibiades | 01/05/06 at 11:13 AM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 04, 2006

Jewish blog roundup

Look who's back! On the Face has traded up to a sharp-looking 3-column layout. Serandez hosted the first anniversary edition of Havel Havelim. We were all asked for retrospective posts, and he did a great job of arranging the links. . . . more »

Judith | 01/04/06 at 11:22 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 03, 2006

Every Right Wing Jewish Mother's Nightmare!

"You had to become a leftist?" she shouted. "You couldn't just be a murderer or a homosexual?" Great Line! . . . more »

Alcibiades | 01/03/06 at 02:49 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 30, 2005

The Property Rights Controversy Over "Ushpizin"

Two Saturdays ago I saw that the "Israeli Club" at a large synagogue in Fairfield County, Conn., would be screening the hit movie Ushpizin. I showed up, only to find a bar mitzvah party ending and no movie screening -- . . . more »

Van | 12/30/05 at 08:47 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 29, 2005

Hasidic Comings And Goings

On the recommendation of Robert Avrech at Seraphic Secret, two nights ago I went to see Ushpizin. Ushpizin, an odd sounding word to ears accustomed to English, simply means guests in Aramaic. Anyway, I loved the film, which does . . . more »

Alcibiades | 12/29/05 at 12:49 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 26, 2005

"I Am Jewish": One of Many Answers

A rabbinical friend recently forwarded a thought-provoking email to me. It came from Rabbi Carol Stein in California and read, in part, I am preparing to teach a course at the High School for Jewish Studies in San Diego this . . . more »

Van | 12/26/05 at 07:23 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 21, 2005

"and the men that were at the door of the house were struck with blindness . . ."

I see the Williamsburg Chassid-Hipster war is continuing. I first posted about this almost two years ago. More cryptic curses are being nailed to people's doors. So far no one has woken up with a horse head at the foot . . . more »

Judith | 12/21/05 at 08:24 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 19, 2005

Reform Jews talk back, part II

We posted about the first stirrings of disagreement with the resolution against the Iraq war presented at the annual conference of the Jewish Reform Denomination. That disagreement is boiling over. [Republican Jewish Coalition] executive director Matthew Brooks, a member of . . . more »

Judith | 12/19/05 at 02:58 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 14, 2005

Reform Jews talk back

The latest brouhaha in the Jewish world results from a resolution adopted by the Reform movement at their annual convention, to wit, a Resolution on the War in Iraq which reiterates most of the false premises and misstatements of the . . . more »

Judith | 12/14/05 at 10:03 PM | 2 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 08, 2005

Jewish and Israeli Blog Awards

The second annual Jewish and Israeli Blog Awards are being managed again this year by IsreallyCool, and - in a coup for the blogosphere - promoted and hosted by the Jerusalem Post! As was the case last year, the JIBs . . . more »

Judith | 12/08/05 at 11:11 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Euthanasia, Jewish Style

In Israel, a new euthanasia law was passed by the Knesset, allowing patients with terminal conditions to have their life support cut off. However, in order to make the law congruent with Jewish law, this procedure is governed by machines, . . . more »

Alcibiades | 12/08/05 at 08:21 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 04, 2005

Jewish Blogosphere

Well. It's that time of year again. I do like the strings of lights. And the carols which emphasize the more earthy and seasonal overtones of the holiday, particularly if they are performed by gnarly traditional singers, so I can . . . more »

Judith | 12/04/05 at 08:41 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 03, 2005

Of Porkless Sabbaths

Fascinating article on the New Christians, the crypto Jews of Portugal. Who lasted with strong traditions until the present. And no pork on the Sabbath was, somewhat bizarrely, one of the traditions they kept. Was 20% of Portugal really Jewish . . . more »

Alcibiades | 12/03/05 at 05:31 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 25, 2005

NY Times offended by "Kabbalah"

Have you noticed the BlogAd in my right sidebar for a play called "Kabbalah," written directed and performed by the Jewish Theater of New York? I just got an email from them. Apparently the "Newspaper of Record" thought the play . . . more »

Judith | 11/25/05 at 03:20 PM | 6 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 20, 2005

Jewish blog roundup

Who is this distinguished older gentleman sitting with John and Yoko during their "Bed-In for Peace" in Montreal in 1969? Read Miriam to find out! Havel Havelim #45 is up over at Mirty's Place. (Speaking of Mirty, who lives in . . . more »

Judith | 11/20/05 at 04:47 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 10, 2005

The Academy Does the Lubavitcher Rebbe

There was a conference last weekend at NYU discussing the Kabbalah of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Called “Reaching for the Infinite, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Life, Teachings and Impact.” It sounds fascinating, actually. Or bits of it do. I wish I had . . . more »

Alcibiades | 11/10/05 at 10:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 27, 2005

Storming the Halakhic Barricades

Well not quite. Nevertheless, these 12 women, newly ordained as halakhic advisers on Jewish family purity laws, are inexorably chipping away at the barriers towards orthodox women taking a formative role in the halakhic process. . . . more »

Alcibiades | 10/27/05 at 12:29 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 22, 2005

Are Jews Smarter? Or, Does History Determine Ontology?

I meant to post this earlier in the week, but like everyone else currently in the last few days of suffering through celebrating the final onslaught of Jewish fall holidays, I had a bit of a time management problem. New . . . more »

Alcibiades | 10/22/05 at 12:23 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 16, 2005

Jewish Blogosphere

Bangitout has some funny Top Ten lists. Some of them require being under 30 and an intimate knowledge of the Upper West Side to understand, but not this one or this one. See, this is why Jews are so smart. . . . more »

Judith | 10/16/05 at 08:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 14, 2005

Sociology Among Some of the Ultra-Orthodox

Attitudes among the most Ultra Orthodox never seem to change... Well that's a truism of course. That's why they're ultra-orthodox, because their perspective on Judaism never budges, except to become more determined to resist the march of time. Sometimes it's . . . more »

Alcibiades | 10/14/05 at 11:47 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 30, 2005

A Disturbing Look...

...Into the Mindset of the "Progressive" Jewish-American Leadership A story about Jewish leaders who believe the failure to protest the war in Iraq means the Jewish community has lost its moral voice. They're upset because their flock is not following . . . more »

Alcibiades | 09/30/05 at 01:09 PM | 5 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 28, 2005

Starting over after the Flood

A short video on "starting over" at Rosh Hashanah, using images from Katrina and the liturgy "rachamana d'anay L'aniyey anayna." (via On Chanting, a blog about learning to be a shaliach t'zibbur) (I can tell the shul is B'nai Jeshurun; . . . more »

Judith | 09/28/05 at 12:43 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 26, 2005

Havel Havelim #38

Welcome to the latest edition of the Jewish blog carnival, Havel Havelim. I'm not going to include any new posts of my own, but I made a few editorial comments in parentheses with links to some older entries of mine, . . . more »

Judith | 09/26/05 at 10:19 AM | 3 Comments | 6 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 25, 2005

Trying to get myself to bed

Yo, peeps! Havel Havelim #38 will be up tomorrow. Once again this night owl is going to try to get herself into bed early enough to go to shacharit this week, now that we're doing selichot. Can I keep this . . . more »

Judith | 09/25/05 at 10:08 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 22, 2005

Express your vanity

Kesher Talk is hosting the weekly Jewish blog carnival Havel Havelim this coming week. Because of Selichot on Saturday night, you have till Sunday night to send me your entries, and I will post the carnival on Monday. Last week's . . . more »

Judith | 09/22/05 at 06:17 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 20, 2005

FREE Concert tomorrow

I can brag that I was at Divahn's very first concert when the whole band lived in Austin, and I think I saw every show they did until I moved to NYC. (Austin aficionados, think Cactus Cafe, Empanada Parlour, Clay . . . more »

Judith | 09/20/05 at 05:59 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 19, 2005

Get your biscuits in the oven and your buns in the Governor's mansion

Looks like the gubernatorial campaign of my old summer camp counselor is picking up steam, and as a fellow Texan Jew, I am proud. So is Rachel, the Velveteen Rabbi. Alisa met him on the campaign trail in June. Kinky . . . more »

Judith | 09/19/05 at 10:53 AM | 0 Comments | 4 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 16, 2005

Jewish girlie world music 4 U in NYC & more

Two of my favorite all-girl world music bands will be performing in NYC next week as part of the NY Jewish Heritage and Music Festival: Divahn and Charming Hostess. Both groups feature incredible musicianship and creative arrangements of traditional sources, . . . more »

Judith | 09/16/05 at 09:19 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 12, 2005

News from the Jewish blogosphere

The latest Havel Havelim, the Jewish blog carnival, is up over at the Velveteen Rabbi. And she is undergoing a transformation from a velveteen rabbi into a flesh-and-blood one; she has applied to the Jewish Renewal semicha program and a . . . more »

Judith | 09/12/05 at 01:26 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 08, 2005

Ugh

One of the very few good things about keeping Kosher is that it spares you from ever falling into food adventures like this one. That and blood sausage. And, um, hakarl. . . . more »

Alcibiades | 09/08/05 at 07:42 PM | 0 Comments | 2 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Updating Ovadia and now Updating Again

Norm Geras gives his comments on the story of Ovadia that appeared yesterday and which I discussed below. . . . more »

Alcibiades | 09/08/05 at 09:53 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 07, 2005

Thank You, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

Not content to let Rabbi Lazar Brody have all the fun, Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of Shas, has now joined the show. He, too, is promulgating the notion that Bush is responsible for the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina . . . more »

Alcibiades | 09/07/05 at 09:31 AM | 1 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 06, 2005

Carnivals

You'll notice I've added Raging RINOs to my list of causes on the ride sidebar. I have been amiss in not linking to the RINO Carnival every week (ditto the Havel Havelim Jewish blog Carnival). These things take some effort . . . more »

Judith | 09/06/05 at 04:45 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Jewish blog roundup

Meryl is in the process of redesigning her site, for the first time since I started reading her in 2002 (I think Yourish was the first blog I ever visited, or it might have been Winds of Change. I think . . . more »

Judith | 09/06/05 at 04:38 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

A blessing

If you are in Austin TX, keep checking back here because I am still adding local hurricane relief opportunities as they are sent to me. Also, check the comments here. A bit of Jewish wisdom from a friend in Austin: . . . more »

Judith | 09/06/05 at 11:36 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 05, 2005

Preparing for teshuvah: Responsibility

Previous Rosh Chodesh Ellul post and intro to Rabbi Scheinerman's guide to teshuvah using Psalm 27 (which is recited every day from Rosh Chodesh Ellul until Yom Kippur). I'm going to try to post some Ellul food for thought every . . . more »

Judith | 09/05/05 at 10:15 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Blogiversary

I joined Kesher Talk on Rosh Chodesh Ellul 2002. Which was during the first week of August that year. I missed my secular blogiversary this year, because I was preparing the Tisha B'Av Temple Mount blogburst. So today is my . . . more »

Judith | 09/05/05 at 09:39 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 03, 2005

Mikolot mayim rabim adirim mishberay yam

"More than the roars of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, are you Hashem on high." -- Psalm 93 Longtime New Orleans resident and poet Roger Kamanetz: There is an image I've seen on the television of . . . more »

Judith | 09/03/05 at 05:19 PM | 0 Comments | 3 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 02, 2005

Rosh Chodesh Ellul is coming

It's over Labor Day weekend this year, and I hope we get a minyan. It's the longest weekday shacharit of the year: it's the beginning of a new month, so you've got a Torah reading, musaf, and hallel. You say . . . more »

Judith | 09/02/05 at 11:41 AM | 1 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

The wonderfulness of ads

If all those ads are annoying you, check this out. It's a podcast of Bukharan Jewish music, via Nextbook, which I clicked on from one of the CrispAds links. . . . more »

Judith | 09/02/05 at 07:54 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 31, 2005

Lots of Jewish bloggers

After reading one more article about the burgeoning Orthodox blogging community, Miriam wonders where are all the Jewish bloggers who blog about Judaism who aren't frumies? Hmmmm. Off the top of my head: Meryl Yourish, In Context, Mystical Paths, Go . . . more »

Judith | 08/31/05 at 02:35 PM | 8 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 24, 2005

The High Inquisitors - Early American Style

Another story I meant to link to yesterday, about the descendents of Marrano Jews in the American Southwest rediscovering their Judaism hundred of years after the New Mexican Inquisiton. . . . more »

Alcibiades | 08/24/05 at 06:24 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 21, 2005

Seraphic Hollywood

Hollywood screenwriter Robert Avrech writes the delightful and moving Seraphic Secret blog, which has been mostly about his son Ariel's death from pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 22, and lately takes a more upbeat tone with cliff-hanger installments of . . . more »

Judith | 08/21/05 at 02:30 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 19, 2005

Calling all malachim

Sometimes the saddest thing is when we don't have people around to tell us when we are making a big mistake. Or to show us how to see a situation in a different way. Or to compassionately deter us from . . . more »

Judith | 08/19/05 at 05:21 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 04, 2005

Rashi's Yahrzeit

Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzchak, known as Rashi (1040-1105) died 900 years ago, on August 5th. It is impossible for a Jew to conceive of studying either Chumash or Gemara without using the commentary of Rashi. . . . His . . . more »

Judith | 08/04/05 at 09:44 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 03, 2005

Advertise to the Jewish blog world

Did you know you can buy a BlogAd on 10 different Jewish blogs simultaneously? Check it out. . . . more »

Judith | 08/03/05 at 02:26 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 01, 2005

A Marvelous Conjunction

I've just noticed something rather marvelous. There's an ad for Aish Ha Torah - an Orthodox Jewish Yeshivah, that seeks to familiarize unreligious Jews with the history of their tradition - at the very top of Iraq The Model, which . . . more »

Alcibiades | 08/01/05 at 10:59 AM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 26, 2005

Misc. Jewish stuff

Joe Lieberman's beard is the talk of the town. (via Miriam) Adhering to Jewish custom, he didn't shave or cut his hair during the 30-day mourning period after his mother's death in June. The Colorado Supreme Court consulted the written . . . more »

Judith | 07/26/05 at 02:01 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 25, 2005

A passing

Robert Avrech writes about the death of his friend, David Margolis. Then I got this email last week from Reuven Daitch: . . . more »

Judith | 07/25/05 at 06:37 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 07, 2005

Shul-hopping

My father's yahrzeit is Monday July 18th. I expect to be somewhere in southern Florida that day. Any pointers to egalitarian shacharit minyans would be appreciated. Leave a comment or email me. I will be travelling with Mary Madigan; . . . more »

Judith | 07/07/05 at 07:35 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 06, 2005

Belated Jewish 4th of July thoughts

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, by Andrew Sullivan:I believe in liberty. I believe that within every soul lies the capacity to reach for its own good, that within every physical body there endures an unalienable right to be . . . more »

Judith | 07/06/05 at 07:57 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 24, 2005

Misc. Jewish stuff

Naomi Chana finally tied the knot last week with her Jewish-romance-novel-perfect leyning davening fellow Buffy-watching academic geek fiance. (Introduced to each other by the congregant who organizes weekday morning minyan leyning - how perfect is that? If it happened . . . more »

Judith | 06/24/05 at 08:32 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 20, 2005

Back down the mountain in Massachusetts

Previous Shavuot entry here. The Velveteen Rabbi describes her tikkun. They did make it till dawn. . . . more »

Judith | 06/20/05 at 09:49 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 16, 2005

Back down the mountain

The retreat was enjoyable in spite of the unusual heat and humidity, and it didn't rain. I'm glad I packed all those tank tops. There were a few blog-related moments. I got to hang with my friend from Montreal who . . . more »

Judith | 06/16/05 at 11:22 PM | 15 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 15, 2005

Deciding to stand at Sinai

Previous Shavuot post here. Because we read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot, one of the themes of the holiday is conversion: those who decide that wherever the Jewish people go, they will go. For some, the desire to join . . . more »

Judith | 06/15/05 at 10:59 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 11, 2005

Standing again at Sinai

I'm not going to be here for Shavuot, because I signed up for this for the third year in a row. Great davening, great study, great scenery (and maybe this year not freezing every night with intermittant hot water, for . . . more »

Judith | 06/11/05 at 10:32 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 10, 2005

The genesis of intelligence

In an entry about the controversial new genetics study of Jewish intelligence, I listed some characteristics of Jewish culture which account for our success in intellectual fields well enough that genetic explanations are unnecessary. Here's more evidence. . . . more »

Judith | 06/10/05 at 06:27 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 06, 2005

Genetics

A recent study purports to find a genetic basis for Ashkenazi smarts. This is not a new supposition, but the researchers claim to have verifiable evidence, which I am not qualified to judge. But there is so much evidence . . . more »

Judith | 06/06/05 at 12:13 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 10, 2005

More reflections on Pope John Paul II

Previous entry about the Pope here. The Jewish Week captures the ambivalence of most liberal Jews, in an editorial with a sweet title: Mourning Our Younger Brother: . . . more »

Judith | 04/10/05 at 03:42 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 03, 2005

Some reflections on Pope John Paul II

The Anchoress is the go-to blog for an enormous number of links to the life, death, and legacy of the Pope. Jeff Jarvis runs a close second. An unsparing assessment of his papacy, addressing every controversy: the ordination of . . . more »

Judith | 04/03/05 at 12:28 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 31, 2005

In your face 24/7

Jeff links to an article about how the most fundamentalist leaders of the three "Abrahamic faiths" are coming together to protest a gay pride march in Jerusalem. I fully support the rights of gays to civil marriage (and religious . . . more »

Judith | 03/31/05 at 03:23 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 29, 2005

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. Unlike David Klinghoffer, I applaud the Seattle Jewish Federation's outreach to gay and lesbian Jews. But I share his impatience with the liberal Jewish community's reaction to the Schiavo case.Jewish Democrats in Congress . . . more »

Judith | 03/29/05 at 07:38 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 27, 2005

Poskening

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. I linked to this article in the Jewish Week on halachic opinions on removing Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. Commenter "alcibiades" fisks the article: . . . more »

Judith | 03/27/05 at 09:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 14, 2005

Small vanities

Instructions for contributing to next week's Jewish blog carnival, Havel Havelim (also links to previous roundups). . . . more »

Judith | 03/14/05 at 09:53 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 12, 2005

I love the blogosphere Dept.

In a comment thread at Baraita, Will offered to check into Daf Yomi classes in Manhattan that might accept women. He and I exchanged a few emails on Thursday and Friday. We had never met or corresponded previously. So . . . more »

Judith | 03/12/05 at 11:51 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

A vanity post

The latest edition of Havel Havelim, the weekly Jewish "best of the blogs," is up at Israpundit. If you are a Jewish blog, consider offering to host. It's not that much work and can get you lots of exposure . . . more »

Judith | 03/12/05 at 11:26 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 08, 2005

By the rivers of Babylon

Via Dreams into Lightning, two incredible essays by Rabbi David Zaslow, a major player in the Jewish Renewal movement. These are significant because Jewish Renewal, or neo-hasidism, is at the far left of your radio dial, and Rabbi Zaslow's . . . more »

Judith | 03/08/05 at 10:38 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 03, 2005

More Berachot

Previous Daf Yomi posts here and here. I haven't read my Daf Yomi for today yet, but Soccer Dad pointed me to Parshablog, who like me is chronicling his Talmud study. (But he is much more learned than I . . . more »

Judith | 03/03/05 at 05:44 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 02, 2005

Daf Yomi, Berachot 2a

Introductory Daf Yomi post here, which explains the whole thing for those of you who didn't read KT before. Naomi Chana - who along with articles in the Forward and Jewish Week inspired me to do this - says . . . more »

Judith | 03/02/05 at 08:54 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 01, 2005

Congratulations to all Daf Yomi participants!

Today thousands of Jews from around the world are celebrating completion of study of the entire Talmud, one page a day. Studying Talmud by this method takes seven and a half years, and the cycle just completed is the . . . more »

Judith | 03/01/05 at 01:29 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 27, 2005

Havel Havelim

Welcome to Edition #11 of Havel Havelim, the weekly roundup of the best of the Jewish blogosphere. Edition #10 is here. If you want to know who's hosting next week, or you want to volunteer in the future, email . . . more »

Judith | 02/27/05 at 07:15 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 25, 2005

Havel Havelim update

This Sunday, Kesher Talk is hosting the new Jewish blog roundup Havel Havelim. HH is the Jewish version of the well-established weekly blog roundup Carnival of the Vanities, wherein bloggers submit one of their entries from the previous couple . . . more »

Judith | 02/25/05 at 08:04 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 23, 2005

Blog roundup - the virtual neighborhood

David is parent-blogging. I am enjoying this because I am an acquaintance of David's parents (although I have not yet met David) and I can clearly picture them in my mind's eye as I read about the Adesnik Elder . . . more »

Judith | 02/23/05 at 05:50 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 22, 2005

You're so vain . . .

You probably think this bleg is about you. Well, if you write on Jewish topics, it is. You might not know that in addition to the er, ecumenical Carnival of the Vanities, there is now a weekly Jewish "Best . . . more »

Judith | 02/22/05 at 12:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 21, 2005

Sha'arey gan Orange, cont.

Rabbi Michael Strassfeld - former rabbi of the shul I sauntered forth from on Saturday and current rabbi of one even closer to Central Park - took his kahal to the Park the previous Shabbat and gave a drash . . . more »

Judith | 02/21/05 at 04:56 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 18, 2005

Buy this CD

The hazzan of my shul back in Austin just released a recording, and one of the most influential Jewish music critics thinks he likes it:Neil Blumofe: �Moses� Muses� (Horeb) Well, it�s not often I get to say this but . . . more »

Judith | 02/18/05 at 09:37 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 16, 2005

You're so vain . . .

You probably think this bleg is about you. Well, if you write on Jewish topics, it is. You might not know that in addition to the er, ecumenical Carnival of the Vanities, there is now a weekly Jewish "Best . . . more »

Judith | 02/16/05 at 11:33 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 13, 2005

Jewish news on campus

Steven I. Weiss - Jewish blogging journalist entrepreneur extraordinaire - has started a new project, Campus J, . . . more »

Judith | 02/13/05 at 01:50 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 28, 2005

Homework

I have to give a d'var next Shabbat. The parshah, Mishpatim, is one of those so chock full of incidents and topics and provocative images that it's hard to choose what to talk about. I've got the Etz Chayyim. . . . more »

Judith | 01/28/05 at 09:15 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 27, 2005

Blog roundup - The JOOOOOOS

On the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz - celebrating the fact that the Nazis are gone, but we're still here, and in honor of the Isreallycool Jewish Blog Awards,this blog roundup is about the Tribe. It turns out . . . more »

Judith | 01/27/05 at 07:08 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

The Best of Kesher Talk - 2002

I haven't been posting as much specifically Jewish stuff in the past few week as I have in the past. So if you're stopping by from the Israellycool Jewish Blog Awards, and you haven't been a regular KT reader, . . . more »

Judith | 01/27/05 at 07:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 26, 2005

The Best of Kesher Talk - 2003

I haven't been posting as much specifically Jewish stuff in the past few week as I have in the past. So if you're stopping by from the Israellycool Jewish Blog Awards, and you haven't been a regular KT reader, . . . more »

Judith | 01/26/05 at 10:59 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

More great Jewish blogs

The Isreallycool Jewish Blog Awards of 2004 have introduced me to a whole new world of Jewish blogs: the younger generation, if I can say that without sounding pompous. (And I am sure some of them have been around . . . more »

Judith | 01/26/05 at 09:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 25, 2005

Tu B'Shvat

Tu B'Shvat is over, although there's one more seder tonight at the JCC, which I won't be attending as it is a very crunchy environmentalist event, and there will be much hand-wringing over the election, which I don't want . . . more »

Judith | 01/25/05 at 06:53 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

The Best of Kesher Talk - 2004

I haven't been posting as much specifically Jewish stuff in the past few week as I have in the past. So if you're stopping by from the Israellycool Jewish Blog Awards, and you haven't been a regular KT reader, . . . more »

Judith | 01/25/05 at 06:44 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 24, 2005

A much less important election

Isreallycool is hosting an election for Best Jewish Blog, with a number of categories. It won't have quite the effect on geo-political reality as the Iraqi elections, or even on blogo-political reality, but hey - it's fun and maybe . . . more »

Judith | 01/24/05 at 10:23 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 13, 2005

It's the JOOOOOOSSSS . . .

A profile of new Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff. Chertoff has strong ties to the Jewish community. Born and raised in Elizabeth, N.J., Chertoff is the son of a rabbi, his two children have attended Jewish day schools and . . . more »

Judith | 01/13/05 at 08:34 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 11, 2005

Chukim and mishpatim

Glen Wishard proves the existence of God: Circumcision proves the existence of God. It beats all of the other proofs hollow - forget all of that Ontological and Teleological stuff. Get the hell out of here with your Thomas . . . more »

Judith | 01/11/05 at 09:53 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 10, 2005

A blog award I can care about

I know I ignored both Whizbang's awards and the pleas of my co-bloggers to vote for them. The intense politicking just turned me off. So Israellycool is promoting a Jewish blog award. Why is this blog award different from . . . more »

Judith | 01/10/05 at 11:52 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

What Bruce said in synagogue this morning

Read the whole thing. I await news of the reaction from the congregation. . . . more »

Judith | 01/10/05 at 07:24 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 21, 2004

Cold weather

A few years ago a huge iceberg calved off the Ross Ice Shelf and is making life difficult for penguins and scientists down there. (Blog link courtesy of Ken Wheaton.) Antarctic iceberg webcam. Fun facts about icebergs. Awesome iceberg . . . more »

Judith | 12/21/04 at 01:55 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 18, 2004

One of my few personal posts

Cathy Siepp: Luke Ford came over last night for latkes and the last night of Hanukah. I still hate his new site -- the bland Blogspot template seems to have gotten into his style -- but the other day . . . more »

Judith | 12/18/04 at 08:03 PM | 6 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 24, 2004

Jews and the GOP

From The New Republic six weeks before the election. I think Bush's Jewish strategy played out as described here: . . . more »

Judith | 11/24/04 at 09:30 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 05, 2004

Shtibble Fo' Shizzle

In totally non-political news, Lazer Brody, everyone's favorite motorcycle riding Rabbi, has a new website. Check out the good vibrations at Reb Lazer's Shtibble. . . . more »

William | 11/05/04 at 03:51 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 04, 2004

The morning after: The Jewish vote

Alison Kaplan-Sommer wrote a few months ago about her conflicted vote, as an American and an Israeli. She's still conflicted: . . . more »

Judith | 11/04/04 at 11:14 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 29, 2004

Apikorus

*Sigh* Just read it. (In case you haven't connected the dots, that's this guy.) (via Protocols) . . . more »

Judith | 10/29/04 at 02:35 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 28, 2004

Two Jews, three opinions on Bush and Kerry

Previous Jews for Bush entries here, here, here, here, and here, and click back from there too. More unlikely Bush voters here, here, and here. Wow. I thought I was keeping up with all the "liberal Jews for Bush" . . . more »

Judith | 10/28/04 at 09:50 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 27, 2004

Greetings from sunny Florida!

An optimistic analysis of the Florida electorate (if you're voting for Bush, that is). Like many Manhattanites, one-man Bush outreach dervish Ray Agostini wants to make a difference in a swing state. Since he spends winters in Florida anyway, . . . more »

Judith | 10/27/04 at 09:57 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 26, 2004

Jews for Bush coming out of the woodwork Dept.

Previous collection of liberal Jews for Bush anecdotes and news stories, and links to other entries here. This is not a particularly savory analogy given some historical antisemitic stereotypes, but here goes: There's a rule of thumb that for . . . more »

Judith | 10/26/04 at 02:14 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 25, 2004

Latest liberal Jews for Bush

The over-the-top Club for Growth ad everyone is talking about was made by the latest liberal Hollywood Jew for Bush: . . . more »

Judith | 10/25/04 at 09:58 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

October 18, 2004

Yet more Jewish liberals for Bush

Previous entries here, here, here, and here. This entry also has many testimonials from former Democrats/liberals, not necessarily Jewish. Well, this one's a "sort of." It's what you do when you are not ready to break ranks like Zell . . . more »

Judith | 10/18/04 at 11:50 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 30, 2004

The reactionary Jewish vote

Jeff Jacoby on his fellow Jewish voters: . . . more »

Judith | 09/30/04 at 04:15 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 29, 2004

Bush and Kerry woo the Jews

Dueling editorials in the Jewish press: Vote for Bush! Vote for Kerry! Bush's formal statement on Israel Kerry's formal statement on Israel. Bush is using the same approach to court the Jewish vote as he using to court Christians. . . . more »

Judith | 09/29/04 at 10:22 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 28, 2004

Where the elite meet to greet

Via Protocols, yet another in the many slavishly flattering articles on my wonderful davening and studying minyan, which is also tediously cliquish if your demographic isn't 20-something/Ivy League/Jewish Day school/Jewish professional parent/year in Israel/earnest left-liberal. But the davening and . . . more »

Judith | 09/28/04 at 09:52 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 21, 2004

Big Tent

Related to the topic of sane people fleeing from the Democratic Party: The excellent and quirky public radio show This American Life did a show about how the Republican Party is more inclusive and diverse than the Dems. It's . . . more »

Judith | 09/21/04 at 10:30 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

September 08, 2004

The Jewish Carnival of the Protestors

Culture Festival Week? Not too bad, according to the Forward.UPJ's ascent to the leadership of the biggest protest this year was seen by many Jewish observers as connected to a larger sensitivity among progressive groups toward the concerns of . . . more »

Judith | 09/08/04 at 05:35 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 27, 2004

Jews on the Left make decisions

The Burning Man Festival starts Monday, and - recapitulating the hippie vs. SDS split of the late 60s - many counter-culture types are torn about whether to go for utopian vision in Nevada or gritty confrontation in Manhattan. Well, . . . more »

Judith | 08/27/04 at 05:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 26, 2004

Jews in Sports: Baseball

The �Celebration of Jews in Baseball� will be held Sunday and Monday at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Expected to join the two days of nostalgia and congratulations are such former players as Ron Blomberg of the . . . more »

William | 08/26/04 at 05:32 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 25, 2004

Jewish Philanthropy: Benefiting from the Faith-Based Initiative

Below are some examples of Jewish charities that have benefited from President Bush's Faith-Based Initiative: . . . more »

Judith | 08/25/04 at 03:31 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

More Jewish liberals for Bush

Two weeks ago - in response to a challenge by the ABC News blog - a number of bloggers ran testimonials from former Gore voters who are voting for Bush this year. Kesher Talk rounded up many of these. . . . more »

Judith | 08/25/04 at 12:41 PM | 6 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Jews & the GOP: The Convention

Groups like the American Jewish Committee, the Israel Project, Baruch College, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New Yor, the Republican Jewish Coalition, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations will all be rolling out the . . . more »

Judith | 08/25/04 at 10:19 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

August 24, 2004

Getting Jews off drugs

the Jews no one talks about--the junkies, the alcoholics and the criminals. Rabbi Borovitz is spiritual head of Beit T'Shuvah (Hebrew for "House of Return"), the only in-patient rehab center in the country designed to serve Jewish addicts. As . . . more »

William | 08/24/04 at 07:51 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

July 05, 2004

Parasha poetry

It's World Blog Haiku Day, so I blogged a string of syllabic poems on parashat Pinchas. Then I ran across this post about Parsha Senryu (from Fiddish). Apparently there's a grassroots movement of people writing senryu (syllabic poems following . . . more »

Rachel | 07/05/04 at 12:40 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 02, 2004

Living waters

Last year I wrote about the new interest in mikveh by us liberal Jews, and now a new nondenominational mikveh in the greater Boston area has been added to the regrettably short list of such institutions. . . . more »

Judith | 06/02/04 at 08:23 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

June 01, 2004

It's not easy being Torah-True

In today's New York Times, an article about whether or not New York City tap water is kosher. "[R]abbis have recently discovered that there are tiny creatures, called copepods, in the unfiltered water that streams into the city from . . . more »

William | 06/01/04 at 03:27 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 21, 2004

Read the book

The good news is that the wonderful novel Bee Season is being made into a movie. The bad news is that the actors chosen for the 2 adult leads are even more inappropriate than the usual Hollywood glamming-up of . . . more »

Judith | 05/21/04 at 02:45 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 19, 2004

Jews and the GOP

The Los Angeles Times gages the prevailing winds for President Bush among Jewish voters at the AIPAC conference this week. . . . more »

Judith | 05/19/04 at 01:48 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 18, 2004

Dubya speaks at AIPAC

President Bush wrapped up the huge AIPAC policy conference this morning in DC with this speech.. . . . more »

William | 05/18/04 at 02:18 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 13, 2004

Calling all you angels

Judy Silver has devoted a website to the study of angels in Judaism. . . . more »

William | 05/13/04 at 08:49 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 12, 2004

Jews and the American debate on immigration

"For Jews, the immigration debate pits the heart against the head. In their gut, many feel that substantially reducing immigration betrays the legacy of their parents and grandparents. But a growing number believes that maintaining this policy betrays their . . . more »

Judith | 05/12/04 at 08:51 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Cool Hebrew utility

Via Presence, this incredibly cool thing: L2H, a new tool for typing Hebrew with an English-language keyboard. (And better than the freeware font I use in Word, this one lets you type left-to-right and the Hebrew magically materializes right-to-left.) It's . . . more »

Judith | 05/12/04 at 04:21 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 10, 2004

Chronicling conversion

The Jewish Week chronicles the journey of a born-again Christian converting to Reform Judaism. . . . more »

Judith | 05/10/04 at 09:02 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

May 04, 2004

A few words of Torah

If you always thought Leviticus was stupid and boring, Naomi Chana might change your mind, especially if her d'var is accompanied by the Everett Fox translation. . . . more »

Judith | 05/04/04 at 09:54 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

April 22, 2004

Nice Jewish Girl, Meet Sleazy New York Burlesque

She promised her mother she wouldn�t take her clothes off. But she didn�t say no one else would. And so, each Monday in March � mixed in with stand-up comedy and soulful acoustic guitar � Susannah Perlman (aka �The Goddess�) . . . more »

William | 04/22/04 at 09:05 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 25, 2004

The Jewish way in marriage: "What every man wants"

Rabbi Yisroel Miller in his book, In Search of the Jewish Woman, writes about "three immensely practical secrets, secrets known to all men and almost no women":Compliments a wife gives her husband hit home deeply.A wife's opinion of her . . . more »

William | 03/25/04 at 08:52 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 22, 2004

How to pass the time while stuck in traffic

Only in Israel. Or Brooklyn maybe. A couple of Jews decide, as long as they are stuck in traffic anyway, to pull over and daven mincha. Read the rest. (Hey, it's more productive than pounding on the steering wheel . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/04 at 02:34 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 19, 2004

How to meet your Jewish soul mate

I met mine at a hockey game, but I don't think that would work out for most people. Doron Kornbluth of Jewishdating.com has 7 tips on how to make it happen: Move to a Jewish neighborhoodJoin a Torah classMake . . . more »

William | 03/19/04 at 08:55 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 16, 2004

Jews in sports: Football

Robert Kraft, ownder of the New England Patriots, some time ago combined "his love of Israel with his passion for football by sinking $250,000 into the Kraft Family Stadium. Located at the north end of Sachar Park near the . . . more »

William | 03/16/04 at 08:39 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 09, 2004

Lieberman's next gig

It�s not exactly the White House, but would Joseph Lieberman consider taking over one of America�s premier Jewish organizations? Officials at the World Jewish Congress say Lieberman�s name has been raised in talks about leadership changes. In addition, sources in . . . more »

William | 03/09/04 at 08:33 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 04, 2004

For Jewish geeks who blog

BloggerCon II has been set for April 17 in Cambridge, MA. The con is free; bloggers (or people interested in talking about blogging) need only register. As the friendly folks at Protocols noted last week, of course, April 17 . . . more »

Rachel | 03/04/04 at 09:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Israel still struggling to figure out "who is a Jew?"

About 300,000 of the immigrants from the former Soviet Union were described in the 2002 annual statistical report as "lacking religious classification," which does not qualify them to be married through the Orthodox rabbinate. Some of them would not . . . more »

William | 03/04/04 at 08:46 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 01, 2004

Renovations and invitations

I've been in lots of small minyanim and havurot which don't have their own buildings and often end up meeting in churches, of which there are many more than synagogues. In fact, one of Manhattan's largest Jewish congregations holds . . . more »

Judith | 03/01/04 at 05:19 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

The Aftermath of Terror

Rabbi Lazer Brody gives some interesting advice to a family dealing with psychological fallout from a rocket (launched from Gaza) exploding in their nice, quiet, Israeli suburb. You won't get this perspective on CNN. . . . more »

William | 03/01/04 at 05:01 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 29, 2004

Y'varekh'kha Adonai v'yishm'rekha

As shaliach tzibbur, I chanted these words (in Hebrew) on Shabbat a week ago (during the repetition of the shacharit amidah, and the week before that (during the repetition of the musaf amidah) (Unusually, I happened to be leading . . . more »

Judith | 02/29/04 at 08:33 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 26, 2004

Jewish art

Check out Eitan Amir, an Israeli artist. . . . more »

William | 02/26/04 at 08:54 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 16, 2004

You job search, the Jewish way

Sites include JewishJobs.com, J2J Network, Hatzlacha.com, and JewishJobFinder.com. The Orthodox Union plans to get in on the act soon, too. Learn more about your growing Jewish online job search possibilities. . . . more »

William | 02/16/04 at 08:37 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 15, 2004

JOFA Conference

UPDATE: Steven Weiss of Protocols is blogging from the annual conference of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance. Start here and scroll up for more posts. More on JOFA and links to stories about Orthodox feminism. . . . more »

Judith | 02/15/04 at 08:28 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 12, 2004

New Jews

Despite, or perhaps because of, the rising tide of antisemitism, lots of people still want to join us. I found it striking that so many converts quoted in this article converted after years and years of marriage to or . . . more »

Judith | 02/12/04 at 10:30 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Kol Isha

The annual conference of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance starts this Sunday, here in NYC. . . . more »

Judith | 02/12/04 at 05:32 PM | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 09, 2004

"Let's Do Lunch" = "I'll Pretend to Care About You for the Next Five Minutes"

A specific category of forbidden speech is called "genaivas daas," stealing someone's mind. This is not an ancient vision of some science fiction monstrosity; this is about deceiving people with our words. If we inquire about someone's life and . . . more »

William | 02/09/04 at 09:10 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 06, 2004

Is spam an ethical business practice?

The Jewish Ethicist weighs in: . . . more »

William | 02/06/04 at 08:52 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 04, 2004

Jewish marriage: 10 things never to do

. . . according to Dr. Michael Tobin: Don't take your partner for granted Don't mind-read Don't blame Don't interpret Don't say yes when you mean no Don't use silence as a weapon Don't act out Don't discount Don't threaten . . . more »

William | 02/04/04 at 09:01 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 01, 2004

Davening in El Salvador

I daven with somebody who participated in this rabbinical student trip to El Salvador. So I know what they sounded like, and why - in the midst of an article about an old-fashioned "solidarity with the Third World" social . . . more »

Judith | 02/01/04 at 02:18 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 25, 2004

Prayer for porn

Ilia found a most useful prayer--one to cleanse your computer after you've viewed (presumably accidently) internet porn: "Please God, help me cleanse the computer of viruses and evil photographs which disturb and ruin my work..., so that I shall . . . more »

William | 01/25/04 at 06:07 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 23, 2004

The great chicken soup cookoff

On January 8 the National Jewish Outreach Program announced its Chicken Soup Challenge, a national contest to find the best chicken soup in America (beside your mother's) in an effort to promote the organization's 8th annual Shabbat Across America . . . more »

William | 01/23/04 at 09:01 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 22, 2004

Don't you have to be Jewish to have a bar/bat mitzvah?

Apparently not, according to The Wall Street Journal (Jan. 14, 2004) (also reprinted here, if you're too cheap to subscribe): . . . more »

William | 01/22/04 at 09:01 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 21, 2004

Because we make brachot for everything

A rabbi in Tzfat has put together a prayer to cleanse us from Internet porn. Being a sex-positive sort, myself, I can't help thinking he's going about this the wrong way. Someone should write a blessing for G-d Who . . . more »

Rachel | 01/21/04 at 05:12 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 12, 2004

Please remove from upon us the plague of the artists

Gentrification is a thorny topic. On the one hand, it revitalizes neighborhoods, improves housing stock and tax base, and decreases crime. On the other hand, it drives out lower income families, destroys working-class communities, and creates a pretentious urban monoculture . . . more »

Judith | 01/12/04 at 08:17 AM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

January 04, 2004

Welcome a new contributor to the Kesher Talk Team: Rachel Barenblat

Rachel blogs ordinarily from The Velveteen Rabbi, but she has consented to join the team of contributors here at Kesher Talk as well. Here is Rachel's bio, which henceforth can be found on our FAQ page:Rachel Barenblat is founder and . . . more »

Judith | 01/04/04 at 09:53 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Ladies and gentlemen: the bagel

Living in Austin for 10 years taught me to appreciate real bagels when I can find them. As a New Yorker, Ed Levine understands one of my pet peeves:A bagel is a round bread made of simple, elegant ingredients: high-gluten . . . more »

Judith | 01/04/04 at 11:51 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 30, 2003

Of Iranian earthquakes, tzedakah, and interethnic communication

I started to write this in Michelle's comments, but I decided it was important enough to post here. I have the utmost regard for Meryl Yourish and Lawrence Simon and we are in agreement about 95% of everything, but not . . . more »

Judith | 12/30/03 at 12:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

December 09, 2002

NYC LGF readers paint the town

The eminence gris of the New York lgf contingent (who posts under the name Free Radical) has a gift of picking up interesting people. He goes to some libertarian party that Asparagirl had emailed everyone on the list about (it . . . more »

Judith | 12/09/02 at 03:33 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

November 20, 2002

Pesky liberal Jews who don't know what's good for them

Somebody commented at Orrin Judd's site about another article about the newly philosemitic GOP. I was recently at a party with some Jewish friends. We compared stands on lots of issues (Israel, Iraq, taxes, Hollywood, Bill Clinton) and were pretty . . . more »

Judith | 11/20/02 at 02:56 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish