December 25, 2007

Children's Faces, Before and After

The site English Russia has a moving photo feature showing Russian children before and after they were adopted. The transformations are stunning, and show the sublime power of love and attention.

Van | 12/25/07 at 08:15 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

February 04, 2007

Donald Sensing Poses A Question About Global Warming

What if global warming is a good thing?

He asks this with reference to this data list compiled by J.R. Dunn that appeared in the American Thinker, Resisting Global Warming Panic.

Despite the insistence of Al Gore and friends, this is far from the first time the Earth has ever passed through a climatic warming period. In fact, one occurred relatively recently, the medieval warm period, more commonly known as the Little Climatic Optimum (LCO), a period stretching roughly from the 10th to the 13th centuries, in which the average temperature was anything from 1 to 3 degrees centigrade higher than it is today. Several years ago, I covered the LCO in an article detailing the climatic history of the last millennium. But it's worthwhile to cover the highlights once more, to help put the contemporary panic into perspective.

* How warm was it during the LCO? Areas in the Midlands and Scotland that cannot grow crops today were regularly farmed. England was known for its wine exports.

* The average height of Britons around A.D. 1000 was close to six feet, thanks to good nutrition. The small stature of the British lower classes (and the Irish) later in the millennium is an artifact of lower temperatures. People of the 20th century were the first Europeans in centuries to grow to their "true" stature - and most had to grow up in the USA to do it.

Continue reading "Donald Sensing Poses A Question About Global Warming"

Alcibiades | 02/04/07 at 09:09 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

December 30, 2006

Are the Pathans Descended from the Tribe of Ephraim?

A new study suggests a genetic link exists between the Pathans and the Jews, a connection rumored for many years.

According to Aafreedi's study, which was published as an e-book, about 650 out of the 1,500 members of the Afridi Pathan clan in Malihabad, India, may possess genetic material shared by nearly 40 percent of Jews worldwide. If confirmed, the findings would support the clan's connection to the tribe of Ephraim, Aafreedi said. A related Indian Pathan group numbering some 800 people was not tested for the project.

Although he performed the research for his doctoral studies at Lucknow University, the main motivation for Aafreedi's research was personal.

"My uncle told me when I was a child about our connection to the Israelites," he said.

He has been deeply interested in his ancestry ever since, especially in "the fact that the tribe is identified with Israel."

..."Historically, there were Persian writers who wrote about the connection between the Pathans and the people of Israel," said [Michael] Freund. "When the British arrived in the area there were missionaries who wrote about it as well. There is quite a good deal of historical evidence to support this assertion."

Continue reading "Are the Pathans Descended from the Tribe of Ephraim?"

Alcibiades | 12/30/06 at 11:46 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

October 08, 2006

You Know the World Has Changed Around You...

When Paris Bans Smoking in public places. Which it will, starting on 2/1/2007. And less than a year after that, the ban will be widened to include n bars, restaurants, hotels and discotheques.

I've never been a cigarette smoker, but when I lived in Paris, I certainly lit up on occasion with my European friends in cafes and bars, for the atmospherics.

I told my mom about that once. She and my dad had both been heavy smokers back in the day, and quitting caused each of them a lot of travail. So she overreacted when I mentioned it, assuming that the occasional cigarette in a cafe in Paris would turn me into a three pack a day smoker in no time flat. But smoking never held that kind of appeal for me. I was in no danger at all.

Continue reading "You Know the World Has Changed Around You..."

Alcibiades | 10/08/06 at 08:55 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

September 01, 2006

Humane Society Pecks Away at Ben & Jerry's

How's this for casting a jaundiced eye on claims of social responsibility? The Humane Society of the United States issued a statement last month slamming liberal icons Ben & Jerry's for its practice of buying eggs from farms that don't meet HSUS standards. Under the biting headline "A Scoop of Lies: Ben & Jerry's and Factory Farm Cruelty," HSUS outlines its dealings with Ben & Jerry's and broken promises of change:

Ben & Jerry's is a company known not only for its frozen desserts, but also for its claims of social responsibility. Is this so-called socially responsible company really serving up nothing more than "Chocolate Chip Cruelty Dough"?

After nearly a year of promises—both verbal and written—to The HSUS that it would end its support for battery cage factory farming, the company has done an about-face and chosen to continue to buy eggs—perhaps 20 to 30 million of them annually—from factory farms that confine egg-laying hens in tiny battery cages so small the birds can't even spread their wings. In fact, each one of the tens of thousands of caged hens used to provide eggs for Ben & Jerry's ice cream has less space for her entire life than a single sheet of paper.

HSUS says Ben & Jerry's has a different policy in Europe, and wonders why that's not the approach in the U.S.

It's all worth reading.

Van | 09/01/06 at 08:48 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

August 04, 2006

Many ways to support Israel

The Center for Entrepreneurial Jewish Philanthropy sends an email listing many worthy organizations doing emergency aid work in Israel. Please consider supporting them. Also see the Mogen David Adom button in the left sidebar.

I previously posted a section of this email about funding Israeli firefighters.

The Jewish Agency for Israel continues to do a remarkable job evacuating children from the north, today housing over 8,000 people in their youth villages and other facilities, at a cost of approximately $2.8 million per week. Funding from local Federation campaigns continues to be vital to these efforts and we encourage you to continue to provide meaningful support.

In addition, JAFI has helped to fund other organizations such as Migdal Ohr which tonight informed us that they were providing "safety camps" to over 5,000 children, costing nearly $1.5 million to date. Israel's Tzofim continues to incur hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt to support over 3,000 additional children that they are serving, many from the north. The Women's International Zionist Organization and Emunah have also mobilized to provide housing for people fleeing the north. Nearly every major institution with dormitory and housing facilities has opened their doors and are worthy of generous support.

Continue reading "Many ways to support Israel"

Judith | 08/04/06 at 09:56 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

Israel's firefighters need your help

[ Alcibiades adds: see this article for a description of some of the firefighting fights that took place in the last few weeks in Israel's north. ]

More opportunities for Tzedakah here.

I got an email with a long list of "aid to Israel" organizations, which I will post shortly, but I thought this deserved to be hilighted. Contact Friends of Israel's Firefighters to donate.

. . . . . the unsung heroes of the War are Israel's Firefighters, who are combating 100-150 fires a day. At present, the number of firefighters on duty in the north is five times the norm (the upper Galilee has 100 vs. 20 normally and if one includes Haifa, Afula and Tiberias the numbers are 250 vs. 50 normally). Firefighters are working from 5am- 12pm straight without break. Local firefighters are working two day shifts and then getting the third day off. Firefighters that are being bused in from central and southern Israel are working a three day shift and then returning home. The firefighters are on the brink of exhaustion, both those who are fighting the rocket fires in the north as well as those who are working double shifts in the rest of Israel.

Continue reading "Israel's firefighters need your help"

Judith | 08/04/06 at 12:30 AM | 1 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

July 30, 2006

Snapshots from Israel - France ????

There has been a lot of talk about whether the Israeli military is getting its ducks lined up for a big push into Lebanon, or whether Olmert is "folding like a cheap card table," as one blog comment put it.

I am still frustrated by the direction the war seems to be going, but I had a laugh when I saw the talkbacks to this article about the proposed French-Lebanese peacekeeping force. You only have to read the titles to get the gist, which makes me wonder (actually I don't) whether this "peacekeeping force" is going to be as big a joke as the UNIFIL sadsacks:

Continue reading "Snapshots from Israel - France ????"

Judith | 07/30/06 at 01:16 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

July 16, 2006

Welcome, Palestinian readers!

I keep kvelling over the international visitor counter in the lower righthand sidebar - it's very gratifying to see readers (or at least people checking us out) from all over the world, and the flags are really pretty. I notice today our first visitor from the Palestinian Territories. Welcome to Kesher Talk, and I hope what you read here is informative and useful. Thoughtful comments are appreciated.

Judith | 07/16/06 at 07:41 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

January 29, 2006

Davos tidbits

The 10,000 foot view from Nordlinger:

Every year, the Annual Meeting has a theme or two, and this year the main theme is “The Creative Imperative.” I believe that Klaus Schwab is relating these words to the elements of a free economy, and a free society. (Dr. Schwab is the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum.) I’m talking about deregulation, sensible taxation, growth, trade, innovation, flexibility — this is an anti-rigidity theme. It has to do with giving people space to create, to make things happen.
Dr. Schwab hasn’t said all this explicitly — that I have heard — but you can sense it. And the poster girl for this anti-rigidity, anti-ossification theme, so far, has been Angela Merkel, the new chancellor of Germany. . . . .

The meeting has sub-themes, too — and two of them are the emergence of China and the emergence of India. The place is crawling with Indians, and there is a healthy Chinese presence (only a PRC presence — would that Taiwanese were here, in part to be living, walking examples). After 9/11, Davos became pronouncedly Arab. You go through the directory, and a great many names begin with “al-.” Dr. Schwab pretty much goes where the action is, or has the action come to him. Hence these themes.

Continue reading "Davos tidbits"

Judith | 01/29/06 at 12:13 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

January 28, 2006

We are as gods

The annual gathering of political glitterati known as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was noteworthy last year for the remarks by CNN chair Eason Jordan that led to his resignation: that Coalition forces in Iraq were deliberately targeting journalists. This comment would have passed under the radar were it not blogged by an entrepreneur attending the conference, Rony Abovitz.

Rony was invited back to Davos this year, but had other commitments. However, he has some thoughts about blogging at this year's Davos forum. Read the whole thing, but this stood out for me:

Continue reading "We are as gods"

Judith | 01/28/06 at 09:24 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

December 20, 2005

While The RINOs and DINOs Are Roaming Through the Blog

Sign the petition to help stop the slaughter of Wid Horses in America's West.

Alcibiades | 12/20/05 at 01:18 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

December 18, 2005

Yes, we do everything better in Texas

Everyone's linking to this over the top holiday light display, and I have to wonder if this guy blasts that soundtrack out his window while the display is flashing. Then I wonder if his neighbors love him or hate him.

But once you've seen the Austin, TX, 37th St. lights, nothing else will impress you a whole lot.

The best story about the lights. Very sweet, really captures the Austin zeitgeist.

An account by one of the regulars, describing what he puts in his front yard and what it's like to have 10,000 visitors streaming past every year.

As close as you can get to being immersed in the experience without actually being there: A virtual tour of the street with QTVR photos. More QTVR photos - pick any address on the drop down menu and have fun! God, I'm homesick.

More photos.
More photos.
Yet more photos.

Judith | 12/18/05 at 10:11 PM | 1 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

October 25, 2005

Garbage in, energy out

Poor nations are being inundated by unusable electronics, as a result of well-intentioned but misguided efforts to donate old computers to people who need them (and get a tax write-off). These broken and ancient machines end up in toxic landfill.

This looks like a job for thermal depolymerization!

The technicians here have spent three years feeding different kinds of waste into their machinery to formulate recipes. In a little trailer next to the plant, Appel picks up a handful of one-gallon plastic bags sent by a potential customer in Japan. The first is full of ground-up appliances, each piece no larger than a pea. "Put a computer and a refrigerator into a grinder, and that's what you get," he says, shaking the bag. "It's PVC, wood, fiberglass, metal, just a mess of different things. This process handles mixed waste beautifully."

. . . different waste streams require different cooking and coking times and yield different finished products . . . The oil-to-mineral ratios vary too. Plastic bottles, for example, yield copious amounts of oil, while tires yield more minerals and other solids.

UPDATE: Another job for thermal depolymerization: severe plummeting of oil production

Judith | 10/25/05 at 01:21 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

September 26, 2005

Inventive fundraising

If you want to adopt an American military sniper in Iraq, AND make George Galloway pay for it, make a bid at this eBay auction.

So what happens when you cross a beautiful girl with George Galloway?

It depends.

After the debate we had books prepared for signing. I would go on the Hitchens line, and my girlfriend, the evening’s “CIA” operative [read below] would put to use both her beauty and intelligence when winning Mr. Galloway’s autograph on our new copy of “Mr. Galloway Goes to Washington”.

Continue reading "Inventive fundraising"

Judith | 09/26/05 at 09:51 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

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: Tikkun olam

These organizations also need volunteers and donations

Many links to Austin and South TX relief efforts, as many refugees are being sent there. News from Jews in the affected areas. Finger-pointing at the federal, state, and local levels. More national and local relief efforts in the extended . . . more »

Judith | 09/03/05 at 03:35 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

Helping hurricane refugees in Austin TX

I used to live in Austin TX and I just got emails from both my former synagogue and a large online community there. Many evacuated from New Orleans are being sent to Austin. If you live in the Austin area . . . more »

Judith | 09/03/05 at 03:23 PM | 2 Comments | 3 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

August 22, 2005

Thermal depolymerization

Increased fuel efficiency should go hand in hand with encouraging innovative solutions to fuel needs. Which gives me another opportunity to plug thermal depolymerization. Put anything carbon-based in one end, get different grades of oil at the other end. It's . . . more »

Judith | 08/22/05 at 12:17 PM | 1 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

August 16, 2005

The political process

Comment at Buzzmachine, on the Iraq constitution:I’m in Baghdad, watching the process very closely like the rest of us, and the extension is a good thing - a very good thing - as opposed to rushing through an incomplete document . . . more »

Judith | 08/16/05 at 06:59 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

August 09, 2005

IDF diary - Week 1, Day 3

Rona and Mark volunteered for two weeks with Sar-El in Israel, assisting the IDF. Kesher Talk is publishing Rona's diary. All photos posted here are copyrighted by Mark Kempton. You can view the whole series in the "Good News From . . . more »

Judith | 08/09/05 at 07:30 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

August 04, 2005

To Honor Steven Vincent

Vincent's widow has requested that donations in his honor be made to Spirit of America, an organization that Vincent thought highly of. Here's the donation page. Kesher Talk also thinks highly of SoA. We have written about them here, here, . . . more »

Judith | 08/04/05 at 10:20 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

August 01, 2005

IDF diary - Week 1 , Day 2

. . . more »

Judith | 08/01/05 at 12:29 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

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: Tikkun olam

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: Tikkun olam

June 23, 2005

And don't forget thermal depolymerization!

Mary is reminding us about alternative energy sources, particularly bio-fuels, which are becoming competitive in some parts of the world as oil prices inch up. So let me once more put in a good word for my favorite alternate . . . more »

Judith | 06/23/05 at 12:52 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

June 20, 2005

From little acorns . . .

Last month, after I got back from the Free Muslims Against Terrorism rally in Washington DC, I tried to counter the disappointment and cynicism over the low turnout, that was welling up from some parts of the blogosphere. The . . . more »

Judith | 06/20/05 at 10:04 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

June 19, 2005

Trying to do good - backstage

Previous "trying to do good" entries here and here. Rock star philanthropists Bob Geldof and Bono are back in the news.In 1985 Bob Geldof gave birth to Live Aid, the groundbreaking rock-concert series that raised $200 million for African . . . more »

Judith | 06/19/05 at 10:15 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

June 17, 2005

Yet more on the right to eat

Previous post on the Schiavo autopsy here. Some of my commenters seem determined to keep repeating Straw Men #1 and #2. (As we all know, if you keep repeating something loudly enough and long enough, it becomes true.) So . . . more »

Judith | 06/17/05 at 03:49 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

June 15, 2005

Trying to do good, cont.

Previous entry on this topic here. John Hinderaker on Bob Geldof's convocation of the cream of the political bloggers:I was very impressed not just by Geldof's commitment, but more important, by his encyclopedic knowledge and his hard-headed recognition of the . . . more »

Judith | 06/15/05 at 02:11 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

June 07, 2005

Trying to do good

It's tempting to believe one can make the world a better place if one has lots of money, lots of fans, and access to powerful politicians. My hat is off to the rock stars who realize that it's still a . . . more »

Judith | 06/07/05 at 08:28 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

May 03, 2005

Cool stuff: Superwoman edition

Uli Derickson was the Ashley Smith of her decade, but she didn't just handle a single violent criminal who broke into her home, she verbally managed a gang of terrorists aboard an airplane in 1985, protecting over 150 passengers. . . . more »

Judith | 05/03/05 at 09:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

April 15, 2005

The right to eat

All entries on Terri Schiavo are here. The disability rights activist group Not Dead Yet lays out Eight things that need to happen to safeguard against non-voluntary euthanasia in the U.S. One of these is A moratorium on the . . . more »

Judith | 04/15/05 at 04:07 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

April 08, 2005

Thermal depolymerization, cont.

Thermal depolymerization, cont. My entry on this promising energy production process is here. Greg Hlatky has some caveats here and here. I am not in the industry and am speaking as an uneducated lay-person, so with that caveat, here are . . . more »

Judith | 04/08/05 at 05:43 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

April 07, 2005

Your eyes and ears in Lebanon

Michael Totten gets all the fun assignments. He's in Lebanon with Spirit of America, reporting on the efforts to enable the regime change there to have a "soft landing," and taking lots of photos. Mary has more. This project . . . more »

Judith | 04/07/05 at 03:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

April 04, 2005

Thermal depolymerization

First Ace links to a speculation about a huge spike in oil prices (which commenters scoff at), then Roger wonders whether to buy a hybrid, giving me a good excuse to promote thermal depolymerization. (I have no connection with . . . more »

Judith | 04/04/05 at 06:49 PM | 5 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

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: Tikkun olam

March 29, 2005

Democracy watch, the next round

Previous entry here and click back from there for the others. A panoramic view of demonstrators in Taiwan. More rumbles on Russia's borders. (I remember some grumbling when Condi was being considered for State, to the effect that she . . . more »

Judith | 03/29/05 at 10:45 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

March 25, 2005

There are no good answers

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. This comment at Ace of Spades deserves its own entry, because it sums up the dilemma:The intellectual libertarian in me demands logical consistency. I've raged at the court's and the left's poorly veiled . . . more »

Judith | 03/25/05 at 04:45 PM | 3 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

The murky realm of motives

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. I previously gave some guest blog space to Catherine Johnson, co-author with autistic industrial engineer Temple Grandin of Animals in Translation, and the mother of two autistic children. Now Catherine says something just . . . more »

Judith | 03/25/05 at 01:54 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

March 23, 2005

I have a life

I have another Schiavo post coming, with more from Catherine Johnson (her first guest post is here), but I have to do some real life first. Meanwhile, it's snowing here in Manhattan, and Tim Blair has some scathing comments. . . . more »

Judith | 03/23/05 at 03:21 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

March 22, 2005

Guest post

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. Two days ago Catherine Johnson - a writer and regular commenter on Roger Simon's blog - wrote an essay about the Terri Schiavo case. Catherine and I are on an email list together . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 05:43 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

Pikuach nefesh

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. One of the most important principles of Jewish law is "pikuach nefesh" - saving life. Almost all other laws and all ritual are subordinate to it. At the same time, Jews are sensible . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 10:12 AM | 17 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo posts here. Here is a technical discussion of her CAT scan, by a radiologist with 15 years experience: . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 08:01 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

March 21, 2005

Human rights watch, cont.

My previous post on Terri Schiavo attempted to scrape away some of the ideological artifacts of culture-war and bring to the surface the human rights dilemma involved. Ross Douthat makes a similar point, that this isn't about Democrats or . . . more »

Judith | 03/21/05 at 10:24 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

March 20, 2005

Human rights watch

All Terri Schiavo posts here. Via the Corner, this historian speaks for me:No, I am not a right to lifer. I am a pro choice absolutist. Moreover, my daughter is so sick of hearing me tell her I do . . . more »

Judith | 03/20/05 at 07:26 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

March 18, 2005

Paul Wolfowitz: mensch

Paul Wolfowitz, whose nomination as World Bank president has stirred controversy, discussed poverty and development issues with Irish rock star Bono in two phone conversations on Thursday, an adviser said. Wolfowitz adviser Kevin Kellems told Reuters the deputy U.S. . . . more »

Judith | 03/18/05 at 09:17 PM | 5 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

March 16, 2005

Democracy watch

Previous entry in this series here and click back for the others. More photographic evidence of the shall we say different organizational cultures of the pro-Lebanese and pro-Syrian demonstrators. Babe Power is a significant element but not the only . . . more »

Judith | 03/16/05 at 09:53 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

February 23, 2005

Democracy watch

Previous Democracy Watch entry here. Walid Jumblatt - Lebanese Druse leader in opposition to Syria's occupation - last year:Mr. Jumblatt gave an interview to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on February 12, 2004, in which he said: "We are all happy when . . . more »

Judith | 02/23/05 at 04:51 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

February 21, 2005

Call for blogburst

The Committee to Protect Bloggers is calling for tomorrow - February 22 - to be designated "Free Mojtaba and Arash Day" throughout the blogosphere. Mojtaba Saminejad and Arash Sigarchi are two Iranian bloggers who have been imprisoned by the . . . more »

Judith | 02/21/05 at 07:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

February 18, 2005

A couple of excellent causes

If you are looking for small offbeat tzedakah projects to donate money to, check these out: Puppies Behind Bars teaches prison inmates how to raise puppies which will then go on to become guide dogs for the blind. (via . . . more »

Judith | 02/18/05 at 07:56 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

February 06, 2005

Our State Department

While Condi Rice is winning hearts and minds across Europe, below is a reminder of what she's up against at home. Although the award was given in 2002, this email was just sent to me just last week, perhaps . . . more »

Judith | 02/06/05 at 09:21 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

January 30, 2005

To inscribe on the foreheads of the "reality-based" community

Hidden in a Roger Simon comment thread: . . . more »

Judith | 01/30/05 at 11:22 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

December 24, 2004

Merry Christmas to all my Christian readers

One of my favorite bloggers, Real Live Preacher, tells the Christmas story. Enjoy! Jeff Jarvis on Christmas and the public sphere, with links to those who are arguing with him. And God rolled His eyes I And God rolled . . . more »

Judith | 12/24/04 at 04:31 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

December 14, 2004

Support the troops

Hugh Hewitt quotes an email from a naval officer: . . . more »

Judith | 12/14/04 at 01:33 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

Spirit of America update

Charles notes that none of the left-wing blogs have seen fit to participate in the Spirit of America challenge. Maybe they all read Juan Cole. But you can donate to the Spirit of America Challenge here. Read all the . . . more »

Judith | 12/14/04 at 01:19 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

December 12, 2004

The Prison Ashram Project

I used to be a big fan of Bo and Sita Lozoff. I sent them regular donations and got Bo's books and tapes. He (an apostate Jew) said something snottily anti-Jewish on one of those tapes and it really . . . more »

Judith | 12/12/04 at 11:10 PM | 6 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

December 10, 2004

Spirit of America tour - link roundup

I made this entry for all the blogging and news links about the Spirit of America tour with Omar and Mohammed Fadhil, the bloggers of Iraq the Model. I've arranged them chronologically. Keep checking back for updates. Status report . . . more »

Judith | 12/10/04 at 01:04 PM | 3 Comments | 3 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

December 09, 2004

More updates on the Spirit of America tour

Keep checking back to the end of this entry for latest reports on Omar and Mohammed's adventure on America. RELATED: Jeff reports on Hoder's talk at a blogging conference. (Hoder is the instigator for the explosion of Iranian blogs, . . . more »

Judith | 12/09/04 at 07:29 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

A political Hanukkah

Audacious Judith, that's me. . . . Last year's posts on the Maccabees and the joys of agency. And, sure, let's have a tie-in to this season's examples of freedom on the march. The main theme of Hanukkah is . . . more »

Judith | 12/09/04 at 01:49 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

November 29, 2004

Iraq snapshots

A moving tribute to our troops. I saw Rabbi Irving Elson speak at JTS a few weeks ago. It was a small audience but a very respectful one. No moonbat comments. He spoke with great feeling for his soldiers . . . more »

Judith | 11/29/04 at 02:52 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

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: Tikkun olam

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: Tikkun olam

Doing good by drinking beer

Spirit of America - the blog-organized volunteer organization which donates needed supplies to Iraqi civilians - is having a fundraiser tonight near Union Square.Location: Heartland Brewery 35 Union Square West, New York, NY When: Tuesday, August 24, 6:00pm to . . . more »

Judith | 08/24/04 at 02:48 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

August 11, 2004

Firefighter

Red Adair - one of the most incredible persons of the 20th century - died last week.Red Adair�s greatest glory came following the Gulf War. Saddam Hussein followed-through on his threat to ignite the oil fields of Kuwait. The . . . more »

Judith | 08/11/04 at 10:06 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

August 06, 2004

Love makes the world go round

A hat tip to Protocols for this story on Paul Wolfowitz's inspiration for his zeal in spreading democracy in the Middle East. . . . more »

Judith | 08/06/04 at 06:52 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

June 02, 2004

Spirit of America

A worthy cause, and it's easy to get involved. More here and here. Disgruntled dissent and fisking of same here. . . . more »

Judith | 06/02/04 at 02:29 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

May 17, 2004

A historic day in Massachusetts

The Boston Globe has a great compendium of articles on the gay marriage phenomenon in Massachusetts. This one made me cry. . . . more »

Judith | 05/17/04 at 03:10 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

April 27, 2004

From the horse's mouth

Lynn B attended a talk in Philadelphia, by a Palestinian journalist who now lives in Israel and works for the JPost. Everything you wanted to know about tyranny under Arafat, including suppression of real journalism, summary executions, celebrating 9-11, and . . . more »

Judith | 04/27/04 at 06:38 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

April 25, 2004

Exchange program

This is pretty nifty: The Scholar Rescue Fund. . . . more »

William | 04/25/04 at 07:37 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

April 18, 2004

More causes the Left is wrong about

William Sjostrom discusses: Stopping child labor. Regulating housing prices. . . . more »

Judith | 04/18/04 at 05:19 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

February 19, 2004

Benefit for Israeli terror victims

Up We Stand, a comedy-variety show featuring: - the comedy of Lewis Black (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) Todd Barry (Letterman, Conan) Demetri Martin (Letterman, Conan) Jessi Klein (Premium Blend); - Hasidic Reggae maestro Matisyahu; [I've seen this . . . more »

William | 02/19/04 at 11:30 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

February 12, 2004

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: Tikkun olam

February 08, 2004

Support Iraqi women

Send letters protesting the imposition of sharia law in Iraq. It's from an international feminist site. You know - those feminists some people think don't care about women's rights in the 3rd world. (via Eve Tushnet) . . . more »

Judith | 02/08/04 at 11:43 AM | Categories: Tikkun olam

February 04, 2004

Insanely great

This week the Mac turns 20. My math professor boyfriend in 1989 gave me his old SE. Then I had one of the early-90s beige boxes, then one of the first PowerMacs, then a Lombard Powerbook (which I bought . . . more »

Judith | 02/04/04 at 09:23 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: