Jewish Blogs

Ten Plagues Passover Craft: Fun Placards For The Seder!

Here’s a fun ten plagues Passover craft that you can make now and use at the Passover seder to create a little bit of excitement and keep the kids involved. Either you can make them as a surprise, or better yet, get the kids involved in the crafting, and they’ll be even more excited. I’ve never actually done a craft ...

Telshe, Bin Laden, and the Congo

My day job in Jewish advocacy makes it easier for me than for most to implement the Hirschian ideal of bringing Torah to every profession, every occupation, every nook and cranny of the globe. I am forever meeting interesting people from outside the Jewish community to whom I must somehow communicate Jewish ideals. Still, some of the situations that HKBH ...

Tefillin Bomber Strikes Again

Back in January 2010 a US Airways flight was diverted for the security concerns raised by a Jewish teenage boy putting on tefillin (phylacteries). I blogged about the Kentucky-bound airplane from New York that had to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia because the 17-year-old was wrapping his arm and head with the black leather straps and boxes used by Jews during ...

Technology’s Limits – After Tyler Clementi’s Death, a Rabbi Warns of Technology without Eth

The tragic death of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers University student who took his own life after being filmed having sex with a man, has led some to voice concern over young people’s misuse of technology.Rabbi Andy Bachman, the founder of BrooklynJews, wrote an open letter to young people in the community on his blog. The letter was reposted on the ...

Technology vs. Shabbat: Can We Accommodate Our Electronics Dependency On the Day of Rest?

E-books became the dominant format for adult fiction in 2011 surpassing hardcover books and paperbacks according to the BookStats annual survey. We are increasingly choosing to read our novels, magazine, newspapers and even children’s books on e-readers and tablets. But is it permissible to do this on the one day of the week that Judaism commands us to unplug?Rabbi Daniel ...

Technology in Jewish Schools

I still remember the time in 1st grade when my father brought our Apple II Plus into the classroom in an effort to show my classmates the wonders of Turtle Graphics. It was 1982 and each little 1st grader waited in line to get a chance to touch the odd looking keyboard and try to make the little turtle move. ...

Teaneck Gets The Shalom TV Channel

Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced the addition of the new Shalom TV Channel to Optimum’s comprehensive line-up. Shalom TV, available on channel 138, is America’s Jewish television network with a strong array of shows covering the panorama of Jewish life and of interest to everyone.Shalom TV programming addresses everyone with a sense of Jewish identity and those seeking ...

Teaneck Deputy Mayor Adam Gussen for Congress against U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett

Politicker NJ informs us that Teaneck Deputy Mayor Adam Gussen announced his decision to run for Congress against U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett.Of course, we endorse Gussen.Garrett is a far right extremist who is against progress and a tool of the wealthy republicans.Gussen needs to articulate clearly what he stands for. Conventional knowledge about the district tells us that Garrett has ...

Team Tzvi is Training For Jerusalem Marathon

Once upon a time a few years ago together with my son and his friends we organized Team Tzvee as a way to recognize our continued determination to ride in the 26 mile five borough bike tour in New York City. We even made a web site.Now a group of runners has started yet another Team Tzvi to train for ...

Teaching Your Children Sensitivity

Question:My seven year old daughter thinks that she can insult and call people names without a care. She also acts rude to our guests. I have explained numerous times that it isn’t nice but she doesn’t listen.Answer:The wisdom of seven years hasn’t taught your daughter the art of sensitivity. She probably doesn’t understand how people feel when she calls them ...

Tamir Goodman’s Sports Tzitzit

Tamir Goodman, known as “The Jewish Jordan,” made national headlines in the late 1990s when he decided not to play for the University of Maryland because they wouldn’t adjust their schedule to meet his Sabbath observance. Sports Illustrated even reported on Tamir’s decision to play for Towson State in 1999. However, a few years later SI reported:In retrospect, maybe we ...

Talmudic Tempest: Did Triumphant Tebow Transgress a Taboo?

The Denver Post reports on a “Talmudic” controversy over a play that won a football game for Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. Was the team lined up for the play in an illegal formation? And if so, should that not have invalidated the touchdown?Was Tim Tebow’s game-winning touchdown pass for Denver Broncos an illegal play?Were Tim Tebow’s final-play heroics ...