Haveil Havalim #318 — The Yom Yerushalayim 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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Torah

It took eight thousand people just to schlep the Mishkan. Leigh Ann is examining the minutiae of the daily grind and how they help us work toward holiness in Parashat Naso — What’s the Point of it All?

Also looking at the sedra of this past Shabbat, Or Am I? is Counting the Blessings — Kvell, Don’t Kvetch. And The Edible Torah offers this synopsis of Parashat Nasso.

And The Rebbetzin’s Husband is Parenting from the Torah. Up this week? Sibling Rivalry.

As we prepare to celebrate z’man matan torateinu, Adventures in Mamaland offers these engaging and fun Shavu’ot activities for kids.

The Velveteen Rabbi takes us beneath the surface in The Handmaid’s Tale (Ruth).

And speaking of #Torah, over at Davka, R. Mark Hurvitz shares some background on his father, z”l, on the occasion of his 25th yahrtzeit, and wonders what would his dad think about “Tweeting #Torah to the Top.”

The Mystery Woman shows how there is Unity in Diversity.

Israel

It seems that the seasons don’t always take note of the date on the calendar, as we see over at Me-ander.

Israelis have a reputation of being….well, brash. Remember how we compared the sabra to the cactus? Prickly on the outside, sweet on the inside? Shiloh Musings asks (and answers) Why are Israelis “Nicer” of Late? She also ruminates on The Six Days War and The Sin of the “Golden Calf.”

Esser Agaroth was less-than-impressed with Netanyahu’s recent speech. He explains why in PM Netanyahu Made a Speech & Got Standing Ovations from Congress: Big Deal!

Yoel Meltzer admits that it is not an easy solution, but shares why he thinks this is the only one in The Preferred Option: Israeli Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.

Celebrate Yom Yerushalayim with Jacob Richman from Good News from Israel over here and here. Miriyummy joins the celebration too. Esser Agaroth muses about this year’s observance which included several stops…and food was involved. While David, over at JewishBoston, struggles with what it means to celebrate a modern military victory as a religious holiday.

Truth, Praise and Help adds to our celebration of Yom Yerushalayim with Jerusalem: Yours, Mine and Ours.

As always, Joel Katz updates us on Religion and State issues here and here.

Judaism

The blogosphere is a great way to get to know people we might not meet IRL. Ilana-Davita introduces us to Rabbi Josh Yuter in Interviewing a Rabbi.

Ever wonder how folks got to your blog? Over at To Kiss a Mezuzah, Susan did a search and discovered that quite a number of folks phrased their search in the form of a question. Here are her answers.

Is the “official” version of Conservative Judaism “more religious than most non-Orthodox American Jews want to be?” On The Fringe explores this in Too Jewish?

Though it seems like a ways away, the High Holy Days will be upon us in a blink of the eye. Don’t be caught unprepared; take The Edible Torah’s Omer Challenge: Day 44.

And I share the impact one individual can have in Removing the Stumbling Blocks.

Kashrut/Food

With Shavu’ot rapidly approaching, Isreview has dairy on the brain with reviews of some yogurt and ice cream. The Bible Belt Balabusta teaches us how to make an Edible Mt. Sinai. The Shiksa in the Kitchen has whipped up a Vegetable Moussaka just perfect for Shavu’ot. And Ilana-Davita has rounded up a slew of Shavu’ot recipes. Yum.

Humour

Chavi wants to know if you agree with the following observation people have made about her in Funny, You Look More Jewish When You Wear Glasses

Culture

Batya makes a very good observation in Jew or Muslim? You Can Tell by How It’s Tied.

The Phrase of the Day: “Staying By” So-and-So over at You’re Not Crazy for Converting to Judaism.

It’s Music By A Jew. Amanda at Blessed Little Bird asks, “But Is It Jewish?”

Personal

Over at Just Call me Chaviva, an insightful multi-post series on tzniut. It is well worth the time to read how different women approach the concept of modesty. Chavi takes time to answer her own questions.

Having read all the posts in Chavi’s project, Lizard, over at For Your Honor, considers her own reaction to the posts in Spillover.

Over at 2 Boychiks and 1 Meidele, Leigh Ann offers a less traditional interpretive version of the traditional prayer for one’s children at Rosh Chodesh Sivan. (Chodesh tov!)

And the Ima wonders Where Has the Magic Gone?

Finally, Summer Stock Sundays are back over at Around the Island.

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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 To Kiss a Mezuzah. 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.