Tag: religion

  • Is it possible to raise modern kids with a less gendered tone? And other thoughts on my tzitzit-wearing daughter

    Is it possible to raise modern kids with a less gendered tone? And other thoughts on my tzitzit-wearing daughter

    Here’s how my kids tell it: This morning, Koala offered Bebe a pair of tzitzit to wear today. Note that this on the heels of last week’s Bebe deciding to wear a kippa to gan (and actually doing it the whole day – I was more impressed hair-wise!). So Bebe accepted his offer. I walked…

  • Fifty-Two Frames: Holy

    It’s a holy week of sorts. The beginning of the 9 days. Ramadan. Jews fighting Jews at the kotel. Sounds pretty holy to me. Week 27: Holy/Sacred It’s actually quite easy to appreciate how man can stare up at the sun and decide it’s worthy of worship.

  • Getting your feet (ritually) wet: An American-Israeli’s mikvah story

    Perhaps, for a taharat-mishpacha-keeping American-Israeli olah (female American immigrant to Israel who keeps laws of family purity), nothing else can quite epitomize the cultural differences of here and there better than… the mikvah. Because I got married in Israel, my mikva knowledge and experiences have been molded here. The closest I got in the States before…

  • Where I am religiously. Part 2.

    So – did you smile? I guess I’m feeling a bit philosophical lately because today alone I managed to get myself into a gun control debate that, ahem, triggered… well… no resolutions for me… as well as a different thread about religious observance, pride, and – yeah – Rashi. Basically, a friend posted the above…

  • Segulah this.

    Shared with me by an old colleague, I thought it timely to post now after yesterday’s  religion rambles and rants. Definition of segulah ranges from folk remedy to supernatural cure. Best Time Tested Segulos Segulah for recovery from illness: Go to a doctor (Berachot 60a, Bava Kamma 46b) Segulah for longevity: Lead a healthy lifestyle (Rambam, Deos…

  • Finally nailed it: This is where I am religiously.

    For years – maybe forever – I never really mentioned here my religious affiliation outright. Part of it was because I didn’t want to be placed in a box. Part of it was because I found it so hard to define. Part of it was because I honestly didn’t know. In an article published today in Jewish…

  • Protesting violence and extremism in Beit Shemesh.

    The House of Sun has been pretty dark lately. And by pretty dark, I mean as dark as a ten-layer burqa on a Jewish woman. I  haven’t written about it here, but you can learn more about the abuse of 8-year-old dati leumi Na’ama Margolies, signs ordering women how to modestly walk the streets, and…

  • Religious views: Lazy.

    I’m in a new place. It’s a place I’ve heard about, but never dwelled within. A place in time. I’ve known it’s been creeping up, have been expecting its tap on the shoulder… and here it is, plunked down and landed at my feet. Not enough is spoken about this place. I wish more people…

  • Gay Jews, straight Jews, mitzva-observing Jews.

    This is already a week old, but I really wanted to share it again here: Shmuley Boteach’s take on homosexuality in Judaism. Whether you’re a fan or a foe, I think it’s a well-thought out and ballsy read. Give it a try: No Holds Barred: The Jewish view of homosexuality A few of my favorite…

  • Ynet is the authority on Haredi weddings.

    Ynet did it again. This isn’t the second time I’ve noticed the blatant anti-religious fervor that an Israeli newspaper is purposely trying to spread. This is the 328975623th time. I used to actually enjoy reading Ynet. It was one of the central papers; sitting somewhere between JPost and Haaretz (in English, anyway). Their credibility has…

  • Fanning hatred on the 9th of Av.

    Can someone explain to me how publishing an article about which Israeli demographic hates which other Israeli demographic is supposed to be appropriate for Tisha B’Av? Why so negative, Ynet? Why stir the pot of hatred and conflict and darkness? As a Jew who studied for years and years about Jewish history, as a student…

  • Something fishy…

    What’s wrong/funny/ironic/totally normal (depending on your point of view) about this picture?