Havail Havelim #300

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs -- a weekly collection of Jewish and 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.

Opinions expressed in the posts linked below are those of the respective bloggers and not necessarily endorsed by me.


In Memory of Debbie Friedman:
To paraphrase my rabbi, Michael Lezak, if you have ever sung to guitar music in a synagogue, you have Debbie Friedman to thank for it. She was a courageous trailblazer who wasn't afraid to question the status quo. She was a spiritual woman and a highly gifted composer and singer, who inspired thousands of Jews in the US and beyond, whose music brought many of us closer to God. You can watch her funeral here. May her memory and her songs be a blessing forever.

Phyllis writes a short but sweet tribute in A Legacy of Song posted at Ima on (and off) the Bima: Real-Life Jewish Parenting.

The J Weekly of San Francisco presents Debbie Friedman, Jewish Songwriter and Performer, Dies posted at J Weekly. A letter from the HUC at the end of the article includes the following quote: "It was kol isha (the voice of women) for col isha (every woman) that inspired me to write inclusive music," said Debbie Friedman. "It is beneficial not only for women, but for men and children as well."

Melanie Nathan writes about Debbie in Beloved Jewish Spiritual Icon & Songwriter, Debbie Friedman, Dies posted at Lez Get Real.

I wasn't sure whether to post this one. Whether or not Debbie was a lesbian (and I don't know whether she was) it was her right to decide whether or not to discuss it in public, so I feel uncomfortable when people who didn't know her personally write as if they know what her sexuality was and have a right to discuss it in public after she is dead. Alana presents Debbie Friedman and the Tragedy of the Closet posted at Jewschool.



Judaism:
Mazel tov to Rachel Barenblat who writes about her simcha in Three scenes from the day of my smicha posted at Velveteen Rabbi.

Find information and activities for Tu B'Shvat from Jacob Richman in Tu B'Shvat Educational Websites and Videos posted at Good News from Israel.

Read about "Who is a Jew" as Batya presents What's a Jew? One of my Only in Israel stories. posted at Shiloh Musings. Don't miss the interesting comments section!



Torah:
Here is a post about Shabbat Shirah from Mordechai Torczyner in Finding our way to song on Shabbat Shirah posted at The Rebbetzin's Husband.

Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver presents The Tzaddik's power to nullify decrees posted at A Chassidishe farbrengen.



Israel:
Yisroel Reiss shows us how a picture can be worth a thousand words, but also adds some words in case we might not at first see what he sees in It's Time To Be An Optimist For Israel posted at Artzeinu.

Hitchhiking calls for mutual trust, as Davebender reminds us in Israel: Hitchhiking Home posted at Israel At Level Ground.

Batya got to see a relative on a Birthright trip! Read about it in Birthright, Taglit, Valuable Program posted at me-ander.

Read about a wonderful dining experience by Rutimizrachi in "...where everybody knows your name..." #4 posted at Ki Yachol Nuchal!.

Harry writes about Mickey Mouse in Haifa in Goofy and Pluto find a home in Haifa posted at Israelity.

Lady-Light presents an interesting scientific find from Israel in Squeeze Left - Think Better (aka: Weird Science) posted at Tikkun Olam.

When Harry says "Four more years!" it has nothing to do with the next US presidential election in Four years ’til tomorrow posted at ISRAELITY.



Politics:
This wasn't submitted to the Carnival, but it's such a well written piece about term "blood libel" and whether it was appropriate for Sarah Palin to use it that I couldn't resist including it: Is Blood Label a Generic Expression? posted at Kylopod's Blog.

Yisrael Medad writes about the EU Heads of Mission document in Ew, EU, Part Two posted at My Right Word.

Batya presents an interview about hasbara in Melanie Philips' Brilliant, But Too Polite, IBA Interview posted at Shiloh Musings.

Mordechai Torczyner posts an old video with some familiar voices in 1948 UJA video with Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson posted at The Rebbetzin's Husband.

A one state solution is discussed by SnoopyTheGoon in Two hot potatoes or only one: one state solution for Middle East posted at Simply Jews.

Independent Patriot/Elise presents The Unmentioned Tragedy in Arizona posted at Liberty's Spirit. The person who sent this in included this note: "I am not sure if this fits into this blog carnival but it is a very important greatly overlooked issue to discuss considering what happened in Tuscon." I'm not going to argue with that.

Cosmic X is obviously not a big fan of Knesset member Einat Wilf, as expressed in Who's Afraid of Einat Wilf? posted at Cosmic X in Jerusalem.

Cosmic X presents Links Between B'Tselem, Terror Funds Reported posted at Cosmic X in Jerusalem.



Culture:
I make an embarrasing admission in Ok, I Admit It: I'm Religious posted at To Kiss a Mezuzah.

Rutimizrachi tries to express a little gratitude in Todah Rebuffed posted at Ki Yachol Nuchal!.

See a picture of some good eats as Cosmic X presents Fruit From the Land of Israel on Tu Bishvat posted at Cosmic X in Jerusalem.

It's never too late to learn, as demonstrated in a lovely piece by Risa called Aging in the Computer Age posted at Isramom.

And while we're learning, here are some book recommendations from Phyllis in Book Recommendations posted at Ima on (and off) the Bima: Real-Life Jewish Parenting.

Harry writes about one of his favorite vocalists in You say Basya, I say Batya, it’s all great music posted at ISRAELITY.

Yisrael Medadq discusses the meaning of a Hebrew word in My Right Word: The Hebrew in "Black Swan" posted at My Right Word.

Rickismom interprets song lyrics in “When You Believe” posted at Beneath the Wings.

Allison Josephs gives advice to a young woman who's trying to find a suitable husband in Help! I Can't Find a Husband Because I'm too Religious for Some and Not Enough for Others | Jew In The City posted at Jew in the City.



Humor:
Benji Lovitt shares a video with us in WWZ Vlog #4: Size Doesn't Matter posted at What War Zone???.

Yisrael Medad asks whether Amy is looking for a good place to build a succah in regard to a photo of her in My Right Word: Amy Winehouse Checking Out New Succah Location posted at My Right Word.



Personal:
Elle presents a lovely story in The Box posted at On Becoming Devoted.

Find out why a friend jokingly wrote, "100% salmon free!" on the challah I picked up from the synagogue kitchen on Thursday night in It's Good to be Alive posted at To Kiss a Mezuzah.

Rutimizrachi presents a truly lovely piece in Ema's Pearl Necklace posted at Aim HaBanim Smaicha.

Frozenchallah writes one for the "from the mouths of babes" section in She Said What? posted at Frozenchallah's Blog.

Chaviva writes about an unpleasant encounter in Reliving the Bible Slap posted at Just Call Me Chaviva.

Some beautiful traditions can be modernized in lovely ways as Mrs. S. shows us in And you shall teach them to your children posted at Our Shiputzim: A Work In Progress.

Rickismom shows us some art and asks for our interpretations in A Contest (Guessing Game?) posted at Beneath the Wings.

Batya writes about what was almost a trolley ride in The Last Brooklyn Trolley... posted at Shiloh Musings.

Read about finding a happy home in Homeshuling's Northampton, Massachusetts: Is it good for the Jews? - Homeshuling posted at Home-shuling.

Batya presents PalYam, Illegal Immigrant Ship Volunteer, Hero's Granddaughter in Israel on Birthright! posted at me-ander.

Batya presents Survival vs "Living" posted at Shiloh Musings.



How you can participate:
You may submit your blog post for the next edition of Haveil Havalim by using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.