Haveil Havalim #305

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs -- a weekly collection of Jewish and 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.

Opinions expressed in the posts linked below are those of the respective bloggers and not necessarily endorsed by me.


Judaism:
Julia Dvorin shares a lovely story about her experience as a shomeret in Guarding the Dead: Confessions of a First Time Shomeret posted at Parentheticals. It's a long post, but it's worth the time, especially if this is a topic you'd like to learn more about.

If you have ever worn a sheitel, I hope you will answer Frozenchallah's questions in Are Sheitels Comfortable? posted at Frozenchallah's Blog.

Shira Salamone presents a sad but lovely story which reminds us of one reason why it is so important to be an active part of the Jewish community in A Jew without a community posted at ON THE FRINGE—AL TZITZIT.

Rabbi Rachel Barenblat writes about spirituality in our daily lives in This is spiritual life posted at Velveteen Rabbi.

I express some second thoughts about starting up a weekly shacharit service in Leap of Faith posted at To Kiss a Mezuzah.

If you're thinking about converting to Judaism under Orthodox supervision and haven't been discouraged enough yet, try reading about Kochava's esperiences in The Monster that Orthodox Conversion Has Become posted at You're Not Crazy.

Mystery Woman gives us a mother's view of trying to find a match for her daughter in My Daughter, The Cow posted at Mystery Woman.

On a more upbeat note, Kochava writes about learning about a new community in UPDATED: How to Interview a New Jewish Community posted at You're Not Crazy.

Has your pastry been properly supervised? Batya asks some practical questions about kashrut in Kashrut Question...? posted at me-ander.

Mrs. S. learns about what it's like to be married to a Levi in Confessions of a levi’s wife posted at Our Shiputzim: A Work In Progress.

Batya has some questions about her former classmates and about independent minyanim in Synagogue Membership, Simple Capitalism posted at Shiloh Musings.

Daniel Ben Shmuel presents The "Amuqah" Idolatry (audio) posted at THE JEWISH FIST: A Call to Resurrect the Jewish Scholar-Warrior of Old.

Daniel Ben Shmuel continues a conversation started in the comments section of the previous post in Response to a Reader posted at THE JEWISH FIST: A Call to Resurrect the Jewish Scholar-Warrior of Old.


Torah:
Myrrh or musk? Josh Waxman explores the question in Mor dror as musk posted at parshablog.

Mordechai Torczyner writes about rationalism and the revelatory nature of the Torah in Can Torah and Rational Philosophy Co-Exist? posted at The Rebbetzin's Husband.

Josh Waxman debates the timing of the writing of the Zohar in parshablog: Archeih, and the Authenticity of the Zohar posted at parshablog.


Israel:
The UN, settlements, and legitimacy are all discussed by Yisrael Medad in We're Back to the "Illegitimate"/"Illegal" Debate posted at My Right Word.

Harry lets us know that Valentine's Day has arrived in Israel in Do Israelis celebrate Valentine’s Day? | ISRAELITY posted at ISRAELITY.

Batya writes about the new light rail system in Jerusalem in No Passengers Yet, But The Train is Running on Jerusalem's Jaffa Road posted at Shiloh Musings.

Cosmic X tells us about a new Knesset member who is not a fan of what she calls radical feminists (and worse) in Standing Up For Family Values posted at Cosmic X in Jerusalem.

Strike up the band! Or not, when Yisrael Medad presents Was That Tuba A Musical Instrument? posted at My Right Word.

SnoopyTheGoon tells us about the attack of a woman in Is the barbarism unimaginable? Maybe, but it's all part of self-defence, a freedom-struggle, martyrdom posted at Simply Jews.

See some photos taken by Jacob Richman in Photos of A.H.A.V.A.'s Rap and Read in Ma'ale Adumim posted at Good News from Israel.

Ariel Ben Yochanan argues against democracy in Israel and equates it with the golden calf in On Terumah & Tetzaveh and on Ki Sisa posted at The Torah Revolution: Everything that Hashem has spoken we shall do (Ex. 19:8).

What does it take to rebuild a warehouse store in Israel? Find out as Harry presents a huorous answer in Rebuilding Ikea posted at ISRAELITY.

Read about conversion, who is eligible for aliyah, and more as Joel Katz presents Religion and State in Israel - February 14, 2011 (Section 1) posted at Religion and State in Israel.

Joel Katz presents even more about Israel at Religion and State in Israel - February 14, 2011 (Section 2) posted at Religion and State in Israel.

Risa presents 25 Years Since Natan Sharansky Returned Home posted at Isramom.

A Walker in Jerusalem presents The Paradox: Haaretz article on Rehavia posted at Nine Measures of Beauty.


Recent Events in Egypt:
Batya gives us her thoughts about Obama's statements about Eqypt in Tip of the Iceberg, or Should We Say Pyramid posted at Shiloh Musings.

Read Eli's take on social media, Egypt and Israel in Jews help Egypt to freedom posted at jewtribe.com.

Cosmic X offers an opinion on what will happen in Egypt in The Future of Egypt: Anybody's Guess posted at Cosmic X in Jerusalem.

Schvach uses some language that may be inappropriate for kids in Schvach - פני דל posted at Schvach - פני דל.


Culture:
Ben-Yehudah wonders why Jews are still living in Tunisia in What Are Jews Still Doing In Tunisia? posted at Esser Agaroth.

Jill Miller Zimon looks forward to some appreciative inquiry in Who Couldn't Benefit from a little Appreciative Inquiry!? posted at Writes Like She Talks.

Then Jill Miller Zimon writes about her morning of apprciative inquiry in Appreciative Inquiry: The Morning as well as the afternoon in Appreciative Inquiry: The Afternoon posted at Writes Like She Talks.

Ben-Yehudah reviews a video in Message To Obama (Video Review) posted at Esser Agaroth.

If you're too busy to read a long post, it won't take you much time to read Yisrael Medad's My Right Word: J Street Correctly Defined posted at My Right Word.


History:
Batya writes about Begin and Sadat in Caroline Glick Saved The Evening posted at Shiloh Musings.


Personal:
Rickismom reminds us why it's important to warn kids about abusers and what to do when they encounter one in A Sad Story- And Sadder Yet if We Do Nothing About It posted at Beneath the Wings. Warning: It talks about a disturbing incident.

I am reminded, once again, that Love Isn't About Things posted at To Kiss a Mezuzah.

Elise writes about teachers and their impact on children, and more, in Raising Asperger's Kids: Of Walkouts, Strikes and Telling a Child To Stop Being Intelligent posted at Raising Asperger's Kids.

Izgad writes about his search for love in My Very Rational Approach to Love and Dating and Why it Has Not Worked (So Far) posted at Izgad.



How you can participate:
You may submit your blog post for the next edition of Haveil Havalim by using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.