Haveil Havalim 314 — The Post-Pesach Edition
Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs — a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It’s hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by Jack. The term ‘Haveil Havalim,’ which means “Vanity of Vanities,” is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other ‘excesses’ and realized that it was nothing but ‘hevel,’ or in English, ‘vanity.’”
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Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Without further ado…
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Torah
I really love the message of maintaining mentchlikeit that Ricki’s Mom has for us.
I have long admired Rabbi Mark Hurvitz. Don’t understand him much of the time (he is that smart), but I totally get his passion to tweet Torah to the top this Shavuot. (Rabbi Denise Eger adds her thoughts about this project here.)
Israel
This post about Jerusalem, courtesy of Israelity, during the weekend of Easter reminded me of my own experience during my first year in Reform school.
Thank you, Batya, for reminding (and showing) us that Jews and Arabs exist side-by-side.
Ruti writes, “Sometimes you just have to show off the writing of your kids. What can I say? A heartfelt exploration of what it is to live in Israel during scary times.”
Joel Katz’s weekly review of issues of Religion and State in Israel can be found here and here.
Speaking of Religion and State, a very troubling story over at Tzedek-Tzedek about the “vandals” who destroyed charity fundraising banners just prior to Pesach.
With the apprehension of the murderers of the Fogel family, The Israel Situation hopes that this will bring some closure to the Itamar community.
Esser Agaroth questions the morality of those who express solidarity with the perpetrators rather than with the victims in A Leftist Passover.
A geography lesson from The Torah Revolution as to the proper way to refer to locations in Israel.
The town of Modiin prepares to celebrate the Royal nuptials with Seven Blessings for Wills and Kate, according to Israelity.
Take a look at this piece of satire on the politics in the Palestinian state by JewTribe over here.
An intriguing interview of an anthropologist who studies food and culture in the shuk courtesy of Truth, Praise and Help.
And Around the Island show us (once again) a unique slice of life in The Land.
Judaism
New renderings of Hallel by The Velveteen Rabbi. They are stunning.
After the death of the last Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1994, some have asked why no successor has been named. A thorough explanation is offered by A Chassidishe Farbrengen.
A rabbi is attacked by bees while making a pre-Pesach matzah delivery, according to Schvach, who also shares his thoughts about Muslim proselytizing in Europe.
Each day that passes, as Rabbi Paul Kipnes points out, we are that much closer to our destiny. As we make our way towards the Mountain, we know that JewCamp can’t be far behind. Rabbi Marci Bellow shares the joys of summer camp at Eight Days a Week, (Camp) I Lo-o-o-o-ove You!
Punk Torah wrote this thoughtful piece and The Rebbetzin Rocks has this to say about it. (And, BTW, she really does rock.)
Jew Eat Yet? welcomes Charlton Heston to his seder. The seder of 5771 now includes Maggid 2.0, according to Sh’ma Koleinu. And take a look at these sweet snapshots of Pesach over at the Ima’s place.
History
With Yom HaShoah being observed this year on May 2, Jacob Richman has compiled a large number of educational resources about the Shoah.
And Batya brings up an interesting point about the story of Esther as a metaphor for the futile nature of peace agreement ceremonies.
Kashrut/Food
Ever wonder why kosher restaurants fail? The Rebbetzin’s Husband has the answer.
If you are thinking of trying a diet pudding, you’ll want to read this over at Isreview. And on the completely opposite end of the diet spectrum…
Ever on the lookout for enticing KFP edibles, this Pomegranate Popsicle (via HomeShuling) looks delicious! And check out Nosh with Me’s KFP recipes and get a head start on next year’s menu (the Frummies highly recommend the meringues and the chocolate cookies.)
Culture
Chutz MiZeh engaged his kids with a reframing of the Four Sons in The Four Children (of Star Wars).
Over at Good News from Israel, Jacob shares some photos from a Mimouna celebration.
David, of JewSchool fame, offers up this review of Susan Rosenberg’s prison memoir.
And Marjorie points out what is wrong with tween programming in Turned Off.
Now this is a topic right up Frume Sarah’s alley. A grammatical machloket, courtesy of Batya.
Personal
Chavivah shares a warm recounting of her experience going home for the end of Pesach.
Learning to let go. One of the hardest things we parents must do. Hadassah wonders how we learn to do that. And Jack has had to learn not to project his interests onto his son.
A very insightful, and courageous, post about anorexia from Redefining Rebbetzin.
Over at To Kiss A Mezuzah, Susan shares the first few days after the death of her father, z”l. Ruti honours the memories of two women, z”l, from her Baltimore kehilla who both died just prior to the chag. JaneTheWriter pens a beautiful letter to her mother, z”l. And Rabbi Eleanor Steinman recounts her experience of lighting a yahrtzeit candle for the first time.
From death to life…A stunning piece about birth and conversion from Elle at Becoming Devoted. Elle also finds meaning while being stuck between a slow truck on a country road.
And happy first birthday to Nesyah Hallel. Ad meah v’esrim…but not too quickly.
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And that concludes this week’s edition of Haveil Havalim. I hope that you enjoy reading these posts as much as I did!
Next week will be hosted by Esser Agaroth. You can participate in the next edition of HH by using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
Comments made during this time will be held in a queue, to be moderated afterwards.
Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!! 
Frume Sarah's World 
Terrific job, I’m looking forward to all this great reading. Thanks so much for including me.
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My photography is available for purchase – visit Around the Island Photography and bring home something beautiful today!
Thanks, Robin. Just realized that I completely goofed and neglected to send the CD to your folks before their visit. Shoot.
hi Sarah,
Perhaps you missed my satirical piece http://newjewishmedia.com/2011/04/23/abbas-declares-state-refuses-include-refugees/
some of which funnily enough since writing is not so satirical any more
I am guessing that you submitted it prior to the collection for this week. In any event, I’ve now put it up for all to enjoy.
Thanks.
Thank you. Once again a great job
My pleasure!
Thank you again for your help.
As always, it is a pleasure.
Thanks for all your work on HH!
And thank YOU for putting together R & S each week!
Thank you so much for a wonderful carnival and for including my posts.
Thanks, Daniela. I enjoy reading about the different food offerings 😉
Thanks for the very inspiring Havel Havelim.
Thanks, Batya. Seriously a labour of love.
You have done a great job!
Thanks!!! Hope you are well.
thanks for going out of your way to include my post(but really, the popsicles aren’t bad for your diet!)
I had another one of your posts in mind, but found this one too tempting 😉
Excellent, as usual! Thanks for including me 🙂
How could I not 😉
Beautiful job! Thank you for your sensitive comments on each essay.
And thanks for noticing, Ruti. I really read through every single one and try to make them enticing in order to catch the reader’s fancy.
B”H
Thanks for hosting and for including one of my posts.
I commend your openness to including posts with which you may not agree.
Haveil Havalim #314 Is Up!
Thanks, B-Y. I really do try and put every one up with the following exceptions:
1. If a blogger submits more than 3 posts, I take the best 3 out of 4.
2. If neither the post or the blogger is Jewish. Meaning, one of those two qualifications must be met.
2. If the post is really and truly offensive. This has only happened a few (less than 5) times in all the years I’ve been participating.
I have posted, and will continue to post, submissions that differ from my point-of-view — even when it is hard to do so. Haveil Havalim is a carnival for and of Jews; all kinds of Jews.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and for linking!
Hahaha, you flatter me! Thanks for including my Jewschool post, and for all the work it takes to get the carnival up!
Thanks, David. I love having a good excuse to spend so many hours reading other blogs!!!
Thank you so much for the kind words about my Hallel poems! And thanks for doing all the work of rounding up the posts for Havel Havalim.
They are truly amazing, Rachel. Of all your writing, it is the poems that I love the most.
Thanks for linking to me… and for the comment 🙂
Elle,
I loved the piece for two completely different reasons.
1. The image of conversion as a type of birth is spot-on.
2. Having birthed three children, I had never quite thought about birth in terms of meeting my own soul. Though that is, of course, what it is. This post ought to be published somewhere. It is so powerful…
Really, thank you. I have been trying to push myself to publish things but I always hold back because frankly I am scared I will suck. So thank you for giving me a little confidence 😉 I need it!
One of the most precious gifts from this community is the support and encouragement. 😉
Gee, you really gave me quite a nice comment! Thank you! Lovely job on HH
Thanks so much. And thanks for your submission.
Thanks for the links.
And thanks for all the links that you put together!