Jewish Blogs

Searching for Frum Porn? You’re not the only one!

So last Thursday night I was wandering my google analytics account and I decided to see what keyword combination’s people were using with the word “porn” to find my site, it was quite shocking, I see the occasional frum porn searches, but nothing like I discovered.These statistics are for the last 3 months I have highlighted the one’s I found ...

Searching For A Sandwich

There are certain foods that get me excited. I might eat three times a day, but I really only get EXCITED about what I’m about to eat on a rare occasion. That’s not to say I don’t like food, because, if you know me, that is the opposite of the case, but there are really only a couple of foods ...

Sean Penn Movie in Detroit Wants Conservative Jewish Extras on Shemini Atzeret

There have been a lot of movies being filmed here in Michigan over the past couple of years because of the lucrative tax and loan incentives for film production in the state. Apparently Sean Penn will be in Detroit making a new movie called “This Must Be The Place.”I just received an email message (see below) that the film is looking ...

Sculpting With Pipe Cleaners: Fun and Practically Mess Free!

I’m sure you realize that I don’t generally worry about mess when crafting with the kids, as that would be very limiting! I try to protect work surfaces and the kids as best as I can, and the rest is part of the deal! That being said, this is the perfect project to keep little hands busy after they’ve had ...

Scooter Braun Confirms That Justin Bieber Says the Shema Before Every Show

In October 2010 I used the example of Justin Bieber reciting the “Shema Yisrael” Jewish prayer in a blog post about non-Jews performing Jewish rituals. I explained how there were reports that Justin Bieber’s Jewish manager Scott “Scooter” Braun, who discovered Bieber on YouTube, taught Justin the “Shema Yisrael” prayer and he says it before each concert. In the Israeli ...

Science Experiment For Kids: Ice and Kosher Salt Sculptures

Here’s a fun and simple science experiment for kids that’s artful, cool (literally) and requires only some very basic supplies. And the results are downright gorgeous, or at least intriguing, depending on the colors one uses! Infact, I hesitate to call this a simple science experiment for kids, since anyone of any age who appreciates colors and the beauty of ...

Schlissel Challah is Commonly Utilized for Wife Swapping

It is the custom of many Jews to make Shlissel challah the week after Pesach, the custom is to bake it in the shape of a kew and to hide a key inside the dough to bring parnassah to the family. Unfortunately, many Rabbis have warned that Shlissel challah is being used as a way to have extramarital affairs. In ...

Scandal Upon Scandal

The other day, a reporter contacted me at Agudath Israel of America—I serve as the Agudah’s public affairs director—about the Conservative movement’s planned offering of an “ethical seal” of approval for kosher foods, intended to assure consumers that labor, animal welfare, consumer rights, and environmental impact standards are being adhered to by the producer. Why, he asked, hasn’t the seal ...

Saying Sorry with Social Media

Last Yom Kippur, I delivered a sermon explaining how Jewish people have begun “doing teshuvah” — seeking repentance from others — through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. A week before Yom Kippur the religion editor of The Detroit Free Press, Niraj Warikoo, called to find out what I’d be speaking about on the Day of Atonement. My topic interested ...

Saying Kaddish Over “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”

During the presidential race of 2000, an email was being sent around that showed a photo of Al Gore and his running mate Joe Lieberman. In large letters under their photo was the name “Gore.” And next to that photo was a photo of their opponent George W. Bush above the Yiddish word “Gornisht” (loosely translated as good for nothing).Much ...

Save 88% on the Kindle Jewish Book Bargain of the Week: Avodah – Ancient Poems for Yom Kippur edited by Michael D. Swartz and Joseph Yahalom

Save $57.96. The dead tree edition of the book is $65.95 at Amazon but… the Kindle edition is $7.99.Now that is some real Jewish book news! Be still my beating heart!Seriously, the rich and informative introduction is worth the price of the book. And if you are teaching a course on the “Liturgy of the Days of Awe,” then you ...

Saturday the Rabbi Wore a Pantsuit

I wrote this in praise of my female rabbinic colleagues. I have always been impressed by how women rabbis are able to juggle motherhood with the daily grind of the rabbinate. I wish a happy Mother’s Day to all the “Rabbi Mommies” out there – many of whom have made a profound impact on my own rabbinate. Originally posted at JTA, The Jewish ...