Jewish Blogs

Hangover 2 Trades Mel Gibson for Liam Neeson

After Mel Gibson made “The Passion of the Christ” movie a few years ago, he lost many of his Jewish fans.After Mel Gibson made his anti-Semitic sentiments known by freaking out at a cop a few years ago, he lost the rest of his Jewish fans.So, this summer when his wife Oksana Grigorieva (who has a Jewish father according to ...

Handmade Holiday: Make A Beautiful & Simple Rosette With Crocheted Trim!

Isn’t this sweet? If you know how to crochet (and I really hope you do!) you can whip up a bunch of these rosettes in no time from just a piece of crocheted trim that you can make yourself. They look great attached to a ready made headband, as a pin, or even a napkin ring. And I think they’re ...

Hamas Chief Cool With Women Rabbis

One of the most common questions I get from Orthodox Jews is how I can defend the Conservative movement’s decision (from 1983) to ordain women as rabbis. I was too young to be a part of the debate concerning women’s ordination in the late 70s and early 80s, but from what I’ve read it was a very tense time at ...

Hama Bead Geometrics —Perfect Lazy Summer Day Craft!

We love hama/perler beads and I’m so happy to report that our love for them just doesn’t seem to be waning! And I have to admit, I just couldn’t resist myself, taking a seat at the table next to the air conditioner and making something myself, can you guess which one is mine? Right, I was able to satisfy my ...

Hallow, Are You There?

Every year the Jewish blogosphere buzzes about how Jews really aren’t supposed to celebrate Halloween because it’s Christian Pagan bad for the digestion not Jewish.Some rabbis say it’s OK to give out candy but not to dress up; others nix the whole deal and say ignore the meshuggeneh goyim and save your costumes for Purim.I say, FEH. While it may have had ritualistic origins ...

Hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests) doesn’t come easily to me

Question:Hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests) doesn’t come easily to me. When people ask me for a favor my automatic reaction is refusal. How can I become a more giving person?Answer:Some people are extremely social. They dread being alone. You seem to be a person who has an inner life and enjoys order and control. Your middah is gevurah (restraint) rather than chesed ...

Guide to Yeshivish Kiruv

As someone who’s been reading Frum Satire for many years, I always find Heshy’s stuff interesting and provocative. Reading Heshy’s analysis of the Kiruv velt, I thought it would be helpful to add the perspective of someone who’s been in that world for many years and can offer a little insight.First, let me say that as a whole the people who ...

Guide to Nebach’s

I never really knew what Nebach’s were until I started getting into the age where who will be a Neb when they grow up starts becoming prevalent. Nebach’s go by multiple names, they go by Neb, Nebish, Nebby or plain old Nebach and although they are predominantly made up of unsuccessful older single mails who still live with their parents, ...

Growing In Ruchniyut During The Three Weeks

When we visualize the Beit Hamikdash in its glory, we imagine there was nothing holier than it. Yet Chazal tell us that studying Torah is even greater. “Hashem consoled David who did not merit to build the Beit Hamikdash, “One day of Torah learning in your courtyard is greater in my eyes than one thousand sacrifices.”Similarly David said, “Tov li Torahat picha…” ...

Grover or Telly: Who’s More Jewish?

When asked who is the biggest Jewish celebrity on Sesame Street, most people immediately respond “Mr. Hooper.” And that’s not a bad answer since both Mr. Hooper and his alter-ego Will Lee were Jewish.However, there are two Muppets who are competing over the award for the biggest Yid. And if you guessed Elmo, you’re wrong. Elmo is not a Jewish ...

Great Women, Cut Short

Today I’m recovering from my annual Worst Cold Ever, trying to take it easy with a book and hot chai — and I’m angry. The book I’m reading is Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky, written in pencil in tiny cramped handwriting on the pages of a worn notebook while she was hiding from the Nazis in 1942. Nemirovsky was already a famous ...

Grass Roots Crafting! (A Fun Kid’s Project with Grass Seed)

A few months ago I bought these Chia Pet cousins at the dollar store. We enjoyed seeing our little friends grow hair, and I of course started thinking that we should really try to make our own version of this!And then lo and behold, a reader shared a wonderful project doing just that (on my Sunday blog linking party) with ...