Haveil Havalim

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs — a weekly collection of Jewish & 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. The term ‘Haveil Havalim,’ which means “Vanity of Vanities,” is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other ‘excesses’ and realized that it was nothing but ‘hevel,’ or in English, ‘vanity.’

Hello and welcome to Haveil Havalim #226, the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince edition. This is a different sort of edition for me. I hadn’t intended on doing it, but a change came up at the last minute and I found myself standing in the on deck circle.

I had several ideas for what I wanted to do with it, but it just didn’t work out that way. So my apologies because this isn’t up to my normal standards. Anyway, if I can find time I’ll update this a few times and try to give it a little more spit and polish.

And in response to some reader emails here are some links to some of the music that I listened to while constructing this. Please be advised that some of these videos are adult in nature. I didn’t have time to go searching for clean versions, so do what you will with it.

Mansions of the Lord
It Was a Very Good Year– Frank Sinatra
I Gotta Feeling– Black Eyed Peas
King Without a Crown– Matisyahu
You’re Gonna Miss This– Trace Adkins
Come Back– Moshav

If this is your first time here, welcome. You’ll find almost seven thousand posts about life, parenting, politics, Judaism and more. Links to some of my favorite posts can be found on the right hand side of the page.

And now on to our carnival:

Politics

Many people are questioning some of President Obama’s policies. You can read about some of that at The case against Obama.

Seraphic Secret reminisces about a man from his youth who would scream about and the end of the world and those who do it now in Apocalypse Now and Then.

The Muqata reports about Washington and Israeli Ambassador in Michael Oren hold his ground.

Avi Green presents DC becomes Dhimmi Comics posted at The Four Color Media Monitor.

At the Rubin Reports take a look at A brief guide to the differences between Palestinian Authority, Syrian, and Iranian Strategies toward the West.

While you are there you might be interested in reading The Obama Ideology and World Affairs Part I, II andIII.

Yaacov Lozowick has a must read piece entitled Complicated Afghanistan and Just War. Daled Amos shared Israeli Settlements: Olmert vs. Obama.

Yourish covered Obama ups the ante on “settlements”

Israel

I really enjoyed reading Nostalgia Sunday – Asimonim, maybe because I still carry one on my keychain.

Israelity also sent in the descriptive post, Tel Aviv’s Sh*t Mountain Gets A Green Light for Environmental Remediation.

And in technology news you can read Just another ghost in the Wall, a new Internet startup G.ho.st, launched last night by an Israeli entrepreneur and Palestinian software developers.

Batya said I Could Never Understand The Mentality.

Cosmic X relates a number of news stories in his post Truth Sprouts From the Land!

The Occidental Israeli discusses the Haredim and says thatTerrorism Pays. Agree or disagree? Go read it and let him know. Ask Lady Light about Civil Strife in Jerusalem: Protesting a Parking Lot.

Child Ish thinks much of it has to do with boredom.

Tel Chai Nation blogged about the impact of the Gaza war with British Antisemitism in Britain stops arms exports to Israel. Yourish covered it also in The U.K. Israeli arms embargo: Hypocrisy defined.

And let’s not forget the marriage proposal that Meryl included in Thursday Snark News.

Jewschool covered Gaza Soldier Testimonials.

Soccerdad sent over a link I had missed Breaking the Silence: More Rumor & Hearsay. Daled Amos shared Again, The Media Jumps On Questionable Report Of Israeli War Crimes (Updated)

Dave shared A Video Postcard from Hell: The Gaza War Up Close and Personal

Over at My Right Word I had to read about the Erotics of the Occupation twice because I just couldn’t believe it.

Our friend and long time blogger the Elder has The transcript of the “plot to assassinate Arafat” and the story about Hamas belief that they will acquire a WMD within 20 years. Now what nation of non Arabs who are descendants of Cyrus might say that.

Back at My Right Word there are beautiful pictures of the Ohel Yitzhak Synagogue in Jerusalem and don’t forget to read Tourism in Tuscany, Sorry, Make That Binyamin.

My friend Snoopy and co-blogger writes about the mishegahs surrounding road signs in Minister Yisrael Katz, road signs and Zionism. Eric wrote about it as well in Battle of the Signs in Israeli Cities.

In between rooting for the Bruins Ben Yehudah keeps a fine blog in which he writes about many things. One of his recent topics covered the protests, go read The Other Story: Israeli Leftist Rags And Feminazis.

At The Muqata you should read Israel’s High Court Targets Widow and Orphans of Fallen IDF War Hero.

Here is An interesting perspective on why the Palestinians keep saying no to peace deals. And then again there are posts that illuminate A senseless and irresponsible provocation.

Don’t forget to read Religion and State in Israel – July 13, 2009 (Sections 1 and 2) Ben Yehudah discusses an ad right here.

From Solomonia What Olmert Offered Abbas.

Judaism

I am not sure if there are topics that are more important than protecting children. Chabad offers Responding to Child Predators in the Jewish Community.

A good philosophical discussion can be found in the questions of Isn’t it Enough to Just Believe? – What Does Judaism Think?

From Chabad we have Lightning Doesn’t Strike the Same Place Twice
Divine Providence Does!

Mother in Israel has practical tips you can use to keep your food warm and your house cool on Shabbos.

Questions, questions, questions, Is the Ran an apikores, by his own definition?
Don’t forget to read part two.

Lion of Zion brings up the question of Calling a Sinner for an Aliyah.

From the Real Shaliach we have Say it ain’t so!

Ever wonder about how Jews said Kiddush during prohibition? You might enjoy reading this next piece called Booze and Jews: Some fun American-Jewish history ephemera .

One day Donald Trump may be at a bris for his grandson, maybe. Read more at Mazel tov to the newest Jew – Ivanka Trump.

At Schvach you can read Eishes Chayil, that discusses Jewish Women. Child Ish thinks that many Orthodox Jews haven’t spent time thinking about why they believe what they believe. For more on this read Kiruv: Answering the hard questions.

From the Velveteen Rabbi This week’s Torah poem looks at the slaughter of the Midianites through the lens of the newly-released Breaking the Silence report about IDF behavior in Gaza.

The Rebbetzin’s Husband provides valuable information with How to attract people to your shul. Over at Ilana Davita there is a very interesting guest post by Shimshonit about her Judaism. Go read it.

Schvach’s post The Conflicting Demands of Life is definitely worth a read.

In The Pink has what I consider to be a ridiculous invention, a Tefillin sweater. Twenty seven years of laying Tefillin and I have never had a problem rolling up the sleeve. In fact if you buy one I want to speak with you about loaning me $50.

Prof K’s post gives food for thought. Go read The Things That Bring Us Happiness…Not

Use this link to Tweet your prayers at The Kotel. Or you can go here and ask someone to daven for you at the Kotel for 40 days.

I am a bit of a rabble rouser. Correction, I am big rabble rouser. I am often the fly in your ointment, the guy who will press your buttons. So why am I sharing this, well because I almost didn’t include a few posts from Frum Satire.

Let me be clear, I think that Hesh is a good guy and well meaning. But he intentionally writes posts that stir up a hornet’s nest. I know this because I have commented there and been assaulted by a number of the other commenters.

I mention this because I think that some of his commenters are troglodytes that wear Borsalinos and think that halacha says that you can beat a woman for not sitting in the back of the bus.

Anyway, I do not include Hesh as part of that crowd. And now that he has received a ton of press I am not going to include separate posts. You have the link to his blog. Go spend some time reading there. Not every post is controversial.

Personal

All the really cool blogs started roughly five years ago, just ask Jewlicious.

My buddy Snoopy has the scoop. Go read it and see what is going on around the Jewish/Israeli blogosphere:

Haveil Havalim 223 Hot and Humid Edition

Ben Yehudah has outdone himself and produced a very fine Haveil Havalim for your review. For those who are unfamiliar Haveil Havalim is the weekly blog carnival of the Jewish/Israeli blogosphere.

Want to get a sense of what is important within the Jblogosphere. Click here and find out.

The grouchy old bear is hosting Haveil Havalim #219 right here.

The best of the Jewish/Israeli blogosphere’s weekly blog carnival is live at What War Zone.

Welcome to Haveil Havalim #216 The Happy 40th Birthday Jack Edition. Yes, it is true. As of the 9th I have been forced to wave goodbye to my thirties and say hello to my forties. A new decade beckons and I am ready to answer the call.

Of course it doesn’t matter whether I am ready or not as I have not yet figured out how to stop the clock or better yet, how to turn it back. I have mixed feelings about this birthday. Part of me is completely ambivalent while another part is trying to figure out how this could be. I was twenty five last week and just a hair short of 31 yesterday.

Anyway, while I undergo my own private analysis you can take some time to read through our carnival. My apologies if this isn’t up to snuff, birthday events and life activities have made it hard to focus.

I shared a joke called Baptizing The Bear that many people have found to be quite funny. I like jokes about bears, do you remember A Jewish Bear & Other Jokes.

Israel and Politics

We’ll start off with Daled Amos post, Is There Such A Thing As Putting Too Much Pressure On Israel? and then we’ll move along to Rubin Reports Please! Some Sanity in Evaluating U.S.-Israel Relations.

Esser Agaroth has Some Frightening Thoughts to share.

Speaking of frightening this post at Shiloh Musings will make you think. Check out Wife of Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister is a “Born Again Believer.”

Visit the Augean Stables and learn about Combatant/Civilian Casualties and the Moral Hysteria/Hypocrisy of the West.

Religion and State in Israel part one and two are ready for your review. Israel Innovation 2.0 shared 12 Israel-related headlines from the week of April 26, 2009.

I don’t know whether it is right to call it holy pollution. Go read Pollution in a Promised Land: Alon Tal on Israel and the Environment.

At the Muqata read Israel’s Settlers Going Green for the Environment.

The Israeli Soldier writes about medicine in the army in Things you know that you don’t know.

Sometimes all you can say about political satire is that This Is Too Cruel.

The world is full of contradictions, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: Nuclear Arms Are Bad…Except When They Are Good!

At Mere Rhetoric Omri points out inconsistencies. Take a look at Stephen Walt: Iran Will Never Attack Israel. Iran: We’re Totally Going To Attack Israel.

A Mother in Israel wrote about The Week of the Police Robots.

How to Be Israeli’s post, You are never too old to wear Spandex could also be applied to Texas and Cleveland. Talk about places in need of help, oy.

Seraphic Secret blogged Honestly, Obama’s Lying. Over at Don’t Gel Too Soon there is a post that says religious voters like the president. Read it at Support for Obama Among Jewish (and Other) Religious Voters is High.

The Velveteen Rabbi reviews “Slingshot Hiphop” and offers reflections on hip-hop, Israel and the Palestinian territories, and peace.

Reading about the New Mashbir brought back fond memories of summers past. We used to go to the Carvel next door for ice cream. Not to mention the time when a guy offered to sell me a pair of used Levis for forty bucks. That Israel doesn’t exist any more.

Did someone say pirates? Cruise ships have learned to talk to Israeli security, read more at Aye aye sir – Israeli guards fight piracy on the high seas.

Harry at Israelity says Israeli bathers – beware of matkot sightings. To Serve Again tells the story of Orthodox soldiers who have never been able to serve in the reserves and now will begin to do so.

Ben Yehuda is not pleased with an ad campaign. Want to know more, go read More Codependent YeSh”A Coucil PR Crap.

Bar Kochba discusses Israel’s future as a Jewish state in The Loyalty Fallacy. Over at Elms in The Yard the discussion covers Forced Segregation on Jerusalem Buses.

Flags Over Nazareth discusses the reaction of Muslims in Nazareth to the pope’s visit. Esser Agaroth is not happy about the coming visit of the pope and neither is Shiloh Musings.

Yourish has the story about the Statue of Liberty. Go read Lady Liberty’s crown will re-open: AFT.

Soccer Dad asks the important question, Serious about syria? One can certainly hope that that the news is going to be about effective diplomacy yielding positive results.

Treppenwitz tells the story of a decades old kidnapping. Want to know more, go read Seeking Closure.

Lisa is involved in some Blog Promotion.

Judaism

The Rebbetzin’s Husband has thoughts about Twittering in Synagogue? Frum Satire says that Orthodox Jews don’t drink Manischewitz.

Mrs. S is speaking Heblish. Want to know more go read Heblish: Pesach Sheni edition. DovBear wrote about Shul seating.

I liked My Right Words response to a comment he received on this post. He also has the story of the Jewish, er Catholic priest too.

At Shearim you can read a post that had me both nodding my head yes and shaking my head no, I have to stick to my task in an outside World

A Simple Jew shared Guest Posting By Anonymous – My Questionable “Jewishness.” Too young To Teach says that Everyone Loves a Conspiracy.

Jacob provides key information with his post Educational websites about Lag Ba’Omer, “Flame On.”

The Ima wrote about Creating Jewish Identity. Like her, I wonder what sorts of thoughts/stories my children will tell when they are older.

A Mother in Israel blogged about Abortion in the Religious Zionist Community. It is an interesting topic to say the least, no easy answers.

Home Shuling took A shabbat stroll with a purpose.

At Daled Amos you should read EU Legalizes Kosher Slaughtering–But The Battle Is Not Over and Norwegian Media Retaliates Against Author Of Book On Nordic Anti-Semitism (Updated).

LOZ presents She’er: Wife or Relative? (Trop).

Ask Mottel about JTA’s Fail Whale of a Twitter List. At The Real Shliach he recounts a farbrenger with R’ Shimonke Lazaroff, head Shliach of Texas.

Miscellaneous

I don’t know about you, but B’IMA SHELI is becoming one of my favorite expressions.

Seraphic Secret isn’t Catholic, but he is giving confession. You can read more in Screenwriter Confesses: ‘I Could Never Love a Woman Who Didn’t Love The Seven Samurai.’

Shtetl Fabulous may be on Hiatus. In regard to Mother’s Day go read TherapyDoc who writes You Only Have One Mother.

My Right Word asks the question, Which is better, blogging or getting a letter published in a newspaper?

Beneath the Wings has an important post called Blogging Against Disablism – (updated and expanded version).

Leora has a useful post called Pros and Cons of Self-Hosted WordPress. Batya’s post The Pictures Look Nicer Than The Real Thing may make you want to take a shower.

Alternatively you could always get a car wosh.

At To Light a Spark there is a post that suggests that we resemble a certain sea creature. Go read, You Are a Fish.

This next poster thinks that Having Nothing In Common with your spouse is a spiritual challenge.

I laughed at LOZ’s description of what he thinks he might have put his head in. Someone better check in with Benji and make sure that aliens haven’t eaten him.

On second thought read this post and you’ll know that something had to have happened. 😉

While we are speaking about things that happened, let me be clear there are
Rules For Dating My Daughter.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of haveil havalim using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: haveil havalim, blog carnival.