Haveil Havalim #320 — Summertime 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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Two factors have affected this week’s edition of HH:

1. There has not been an edition since To Kiss A Mezuzzah hosted it three weeks ago.

and

2. Blog Carnival sent me not a single submission. So many, many thanks to Jack for going back into the system and digging out what he was able to uncover.

Aside from the “no more than 3 post” policy, any omissions are completely my fault and my fault alone. My sincerest apologies.

And with that…

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Torah

Jew in the City reminds us that someone is always watching in Anthony Weiner’s Resignation and the Lesson We All Should Learn.

Speaking of the abuse of power, The Rebbetzin’s Husband examines this (sadly) ongoing issue in The Corruption of the Rabbinate.

In-Law problems? Not a new phenomenon, according to The Rebbetzin’s Husband in In-Laws: The Out-Laws of the Torah?

Lessons of caveat emptor by Parshablog in The Inventor of the Segulah Ring, Reb Yoel Baal Shem Tov and The Chasam Sofer’s position that the Zohar is a forgery.

And if you’ve been wondering whether or not Rashi sinned in his opening statement of Parashat Korach, Parshablog can help you with that too.

While we are on the topic, Rabbi Leigh Ann Kopans does double-time as this week’s D’var Torah with her contribution to the Jewish Fail Awards – Korach.

What is our purpose? According to A Chassidishe farbrengen, The Jew’s mission [is] Refining the sparks. And what of physical desires? A Chassidishe farbrengen outlines The true purpose of thirst and hunger.

Israel

In A Night at the Movies, Isramom introduces us to the award-winning film, Footnote.

Now here is a novel idea! Political team-building at a resort over Shabbos. Israelity gives the details in A government getaway in Safed.

Over at Shiloh Musings, Batya ponders whether Obama’s Pushing the Arabs to More Extreme Anti-Israel Positions and shares her thoughts on As the American Presidential Election Campaign Heats Up…. She also gives some geographical perspective in 70 Kilometers From the Israeli Border.

An upcoming Conference on Israeli Sovereignty in Judea & Samaria is the focus on this post by conference coordinator, Yoel Metzer.

Esser Agaroth takes a look at Protesting the Reprehensible Occupation and shares a recent encounter with a Sneaky, Sneaky, Christian Missionary! and ponders What To Do About Them.

The Torah Revolution has something to say about The Anti-Jewish State.

Over at Shiloh Musings. Shifra recreates for us a touching experience in Planting Stones: Our Nitzan Synagogue Cornerstone Ceremony.

Some lovely snapshots of Dimona by Cosmic X in Jerusalem. And Robin, from Around the Island, shares photos from 1st Grade Graduation.

The Exiled Warrior, exiled no longer, lets us in on his very personal Transformative Zionism. (Ruti writes, “This first-year aliyah assessment was written by my son, who at 21 will go into the IDF on July 3. Sometimes, it takes a lot longer before parents know for sure that they have been successful. Please share my nachas, and my prayer that all of our idealistic young soldiers live long, healthy, happy lives, with great stories to tell their grandchildren.” To which we add, keyn y’hi ratzon.)

Even when the dream to come Home is strong, life in Israel can take a little getting used to, as Bat Aliyah describes in Milk in Bags and Other Consumer Behaviors for Olim.

As always, we can count on Joel Katz to provide us with comprehensive coverage of issues of Religion and State in Israel (here & here and here & here.)

Judaism

So one of the things I most enjoy about The Rebbetzin’s Husband is his ability to find a Jewish teaching that is applicable to any situation. Is Re-Routing Causing the Spread of Anxiety and Depression? and Wow, Does That Feel Good. Thank You, Dirk Nowitzki! are just two recent examples.

An eclectic post about life as he sees it, including humor, poetry, and insight, NY’s Funniest Rabbi takes a serious turn in “Du du du du du du, it’s just another day.”

Life is full of ups and downs, as Rabbi Marci Bellows points out in Sunrise, Sunset: A Weekend in the Life of a Rabbi.

What in tarnation is going on at Yale University? Jewish Ideas Daily sheds some light in Anti-Semitism and Man at Yale.

Liberty’s Spirit weighs in on Elite Westchester County Community Welcomed Defender of Fogel Massacre to their High School.

Is there or isn’t there? Rabbi Josh Yuter, at Yutopia, debunks the most common and harmful myths of the so-called “Shidduch crisis” in Orthodox Judaism in The Myths and Realities of the “Shidduch Crisis.”

Curious about the Aleph Kallah? Velveteen Rabbi describes it with such clarity that one can imagine being at One Amazing Day at the ALEPH Kallah.

There is a difference between praying and being the one responsible for leading others in prayer, as Susan, over at To Kiss A Mezuzah, explains in Leading My First Shiva Minyan.

A Walker in Jerusalem asks Do Judaism and New Urbanism have anything to say to each other?

“Half-Shabbos” has gone viral. Hadassah, over at In the Pink, asks her son about texting on Shabbat. Rabbi Leigh Ann Kopans offers a distanced response to the “Half-Shabbos” uproar from a Hillel rabbi’s perspective in Going Half-sies. Melissa, from Redefining Rebbetzin, has this to say in Half-Shabbos, Half-Hearted. And Rabbi Gerald Skolnik responds with The Answer to ‘Half Shabbos’ is Whole Judaism.

Shabbat: Coming to you 52 times a year. And 11 Kid-Friendly Shabbat Ideas coming to you from the Minnesota Mamaleh.

We bless our sons in the names of Ephraim and Manasseh, but many of us never stop to think about who they were or why we’d want our sons to be like them. Over at JewishBoston.com, David Levy gives it some thought in Fathers and Sons: A Special Blessing. Speaking of blessing our children, Amy, over at Homeshuling, talks about her experience in Bless your children well….

Ooo…ooo…a new book from Amy Meltzer (of A Mezuzzah on the Door fame) called The Shabbat Princess. Bonus: Amy will visit any Jewish camps within a two hour drive from her home. Read the post for more details AND to see the book trailer!!!!!

Ah…JewCamp. Who doesn’t love it? The Ima has written A Mama’s Prayer for Summer Camp that is touchingly humourous. (Oh, and check out what she actually wrote and sent in A Letter I Sent My Son at Camp.) Rabbi Elizabeth Wood, at Sects and the City, lets us in on Summer Camp: Memories of a Lifetime. Over at Or Am I, Rabbi Paul Kipnes tells of the Joy, Freedom and Blessing in Abundance at Camp Newman. And Marjorie Ingall explains why she is sending her daughter to a Zionist summer camp.

For obvious reasons, this post, over at TCJewFolk.com, caught my attention: Rabbis Don’t Do Laundry.

And a public service announcement from On the Fringe.

Kashrut/Food

Looking for a yummy treat on a hot summer day? Isreview takes a look at Goats Milk Gelato “The Smooth Side.”

In the mood for schnitzel, but short on time? Check out Tivoll’s and OfTov’s Toaster Schnitzel over at Isreview before hitting your makolet.

History

As my teacher, Dr. Martin A. Cohen constantly reminded us, history is written by the winners. Or, in this case, history is photographed (an manipulated) by the winners, as seen in Red Army Flag over Reichstag (via Best Hoaxes and Pranks).

Over at Marc’s Words, learn about The Ship that marked the birth of a unified nation.

Humour

Check out the Inaugural edition of the Weekly Jewish Fail Awards over at (H2H) Hollywood to Holy Land.

They drove slowly through town, in search of a place to buy a soda, when suddenly Judy caught sight of a dusty sign reading, “Jake’s Bibles & Hebrew Collectibles. A tallit katan…in Wolf Point, Montana? Not what she was expecting to find on a recent roadtrip. (Kippah-tip goes to Ben’s Tallit Shop)

Culture

Wondering how to say “What time is our meeting?” in Hebrew? Curious to learn Hebrew tongue twisters? Thanks to Good News from Israel, you can now Learn Hebrew Phrases on Facebook. Also available, Hebrew phrases concerning Medical Help and Pharmacy. Jacob also has some stunning Photos and Video of the Jerusalem Festival of Light and the Lunar Eclipse for us to enjoy.

Over at Israelity, we get a preview of what looks to be a wonderful doll exhibit at the Eretz Israel Museum (in Tel Aviv) in Nostalgia Sunday: Dolls on Display. (I played with my dolls too…) Also to be found is Painting a portrait of a school in Jerusalem.

Personal

The Mystery Woman desires a life with no regrets in If Only and shares love and loss in Moonlight.

Happy Hair-aversary to one of the two Redefining Rebbetzins!

We Jewish professionals talk often about the Jewish journey. The Edible Torah reflects on this notion in jewish journeys: imperceptible motion, monumental movement.

JaneTheWriter writes about taking her future into her own hands in a Fair Weather Friend? Brave, brave Jane — you are in our prayers.

Finally, a chapter in my life comes to a bittersweet end as I bid farewell to my beloved shul. Read about it here and here.

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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.