You know when you have a brilliant realization and then realize that it’s so self-evident that there is no way you’re the first person to think of that? I had one of those moments. “Sometimes it takes a chillul Hashem to finally motivate people to make a kiddush Hashem.” That’s been rattling around in my […]
Chilul Hashem and Kiddush Hashem Read Post »
If you’re young enough, every conversion candidate thinks about the possibility of going on Birthright. I went on Birthright after my conservative conversion, but I was on a trip organized by an orthodox organization and the specific trip was actually labeled as “modern orthodox.” I think that effectively just meant that the trip was shomer
Converts and Birthright Read Post »
Personally, my biggest tongue-twister is hashkafah and hashgacha. My brain consistently combines the two into a nonsense word: hashgafa. Hashkafah: Worldview. It generally refers to your “brand” of halacha and Jewish living. Modern orthodox, yeshivish, Satmar, etc. Hashgacha: The kosher certification of a restaurant. It’ll be evidenced by a little sign in the window, which
UPDATED: Adventures in Semantics: Hashkafah, Hashgacha, Haskalah Read Post »
There is a traditional bracha for children, separate from the blessings affiliated with circumcision, pidyon haben, a girl’s naming, and the various ceremonies being created to celebrate the birth of a daughter. The blessing is three-fold and can be worded in many ways. That the child should be blessed with… Torah Chuppah Ma’asim Tovim Torah
The Blessing for Children Read Post »
This phrase may be the most-said sentence on Shabbos behind “Shabbat shalom!” I’m sorry to tell you, but it’s not true. Calories do count on Shabbat. The problem is that you have no way to count them. If you belong to Weight Watchers or another strict weight-loss system, then you had better be eating your
Myth: Calories Don’t Count on Shabbat Read Post »
All my Jew Crew on Facebook is all a-twitter about the Shema. Someone pointed out that the Shema is a haiku, and it began to spread like wildfire through status updates. After a few friends “verified” it, I decided it was finally time to investigate it for myself. The Haiku The haiku is a traditional
A very straight-forward reference post for you today. You generally needn’t memorize the Hebrew dates of most holidays, unless told differently by your beit din. However, you should be able to list these major holidays in chronological order, starting either with Rosh Hashana or Pesach. You may want to compare and contrast with the post
Handy Dandy List of Jewish Holidays with Hebrew Dates Read Post »
I’ve decided to take a week’s vacation from the blog. I’ll be back next Monday. Please come again! Chanukah sameach!
Week Hiatus – Check Back Next Monday Read Post »
Even converts get very caught up in the (very “Jewish”) “Oh wait, so-and-so is Jewish? I never would have guessed!” game. We should know better that the game is pretty rude, but it’s human nature to wonder about these kinds of things. We like to put people in boxes. But there’s something to be said for
Useful Website: Jew or Not Jew? Read Post »
(Yes, that is a Pocahontas reference.) One of the most, dare I say it, “childish” things in orthodoxy is the obsessive/OCD color-coding of kitchen items. Don’t get me wrong. It’s incredibly useful, especially when you’re learning or when you’re a guest. But sometimes my kitchen is so full of primary colors that it reminds me
Can You Paint with All the Colors of Kashrut? Read Post »