Jewish Blogs

Andy Samberg: Jewish Feminist

Four years ago, when “Saturday Night Live” comic Andy Samberg wore a National Organization of Women shirt to a Spike TV event, feminists wondered whether he was just ribbing us. Best known for the satirical rap videos he produces with his comedy trio, The Lonely Island, Samberg trades in dick jokes and fake vomit – not in feminist theory. So ...

And the Rabbi Is….

It’s been awesome to watch the Real Top Rabbis contest unfold — nearly 250 of you sent in stories about your favorite rabbi that touched and inspired us.And today’s the day we add up the votes. We’re excited that we could play a part in honoring all these rabbis, and that we could tell these stories to a wider audience. ...

An Invitation To Hashem’s House

One would think Sukkot should have been after Pesach, when Hashem took us out of Egypt. That was when the Jews dwelt in sukkot in the desert. Yet the holiday comes close on the heels of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. It is as if Hashem says, “You invited me into your home, now I will invite you into my abode.”Sukkot contains an aspect ...

An “Extraordinary” Purim with Shira Kline and Jon Adam Ross

Having survived a blizzardy drive down dark, unfamiliar roads last Wednesday evening, I shook the cold and snowflakes from my coat and walked into a warm room at the Newton JCC. I had no sooner been handed a name tag that read “Cleopatra” when a tall, handsome man in a top hat and tails called out “Cleo! So glad you ...

An Etherial Hanukkah Garland/Bunting Banner With Eggshell Mosaic Stars!

Ahhh, eggshell mosaics have found a place in my heart! And combined with color washed water color paper, well, the results are just simply wonderful! I’m starting to feel just a bit like an artist as opposed to a crafter, ha ha. And, while I’d love to show you how great this Hanukkah garland really looks, in it’s full glory, ...

An End to the Hummus Wars

Those who have their finger on the pulse of the gastronomic culture in the Middle East know that hummus is a food that should bring Arabs and Jews together, not divide them. In Adam Sandler’s movie “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” hummus was the butt of several jokes. The Zohan (played by Adam Sandler) dips everything into hummus, eats ...

An End of Summer Cupcake Party!

Those of you who follow this blog may know that the closest I’ve come to cupcakes recently is cupcake liner flowers! I prefer to spend my creative time making things that hopefully won’t get eaten (the exception being birthdays, wherein I try to make it look like my creativity extends to baking, sometimes with success, but not always…..) but I ...

An Empty Mental Space

Earlier this week, Dr. Erica Brown asked, “What are the Three Weeks, anyway?”, and wrote about learning to mourn. Her new book, In the Narrow Places, is now available.Jewish law is based generally on the assumption that our emotions follow our actions. If we act charitably, we will become, over time, more compassionate human beings. We don’t wait for a moment of empathy ...

An Elegant Afterword on Emanuel

One of the several Emanuel pieces in Mishpacha this week concludes with one of the most helpful summaries I have seen to date. No posturing, no delusions. Enough open-mindedness to distribute blame and responsibility all around – and to dream of a better day. Let no one say that the haredi community stifled the voices of introspection.Read More: @ cross-currents.comYou might ...

An Awesome New Tradition for Yenta?

For us Jews, the time between Rosh Hashanah (The New Year) and Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) are known as The Days of Awe.If I may take the liberty of paraphrasing the sacred liturgy, the basic concept is that during this time, God sits over a big book, writing out everyone’s destinies for the coming year. The major prayer ...

An Analysis of the Delta Airlines Controversy

After writing about the news that Delta Airlines was supporting Saudi Arabian Airlines’ partnership in the SkyTeam Alliance, I have been flooded with email messages — both in support of what I wrote and criticizing me for starting a false rumor.I have been contacted directly by Delta Airlines and the Saudi Embassy in Washington. I have received messages from individuals ...

Ami Magazine: My thoughts on this frum conspiracy

I recently heard of a new frum magazine called Ami that was set to hit heimishe newsstands sometime around Thanksgiving, I had heard previously that it was supposed to be a magazine for the entire Jewish world, hence the name Ami which means nation, but after reading the second issue cover to cover I have decided that it’s just another ...