Thought-Inspiring Television

I’ve watched some insightful, challenging, enjoyable television lately. I recommend the following programs:
Bill Moyer’s Journal, especially this week’s segments on: Regent University (or as some call it, G-d’s University) and the Costs of the Iraq War.
Secret Files of the Inquisition, a PBS series on the history up to and the time of the [...]

Shavuah Tov

Shavuah Tov - a good week to you and yours.
May this second week of the month of Sivan be filled with hope, learning, Judaism, health and love.

Nazi Records of Hate Just Released - Over 60 Years after the End of the War

While surfing the web, I found and article about something interesting. For years, Germany has known what happened to some 17.5 million people during World War II and the Nazi genocide. They have known all along what happened to millions of lives, but have refused to release the information. No matter who asked, the [...]

On Today’s Attack

Here are some links on today's hateful bombing:
Allison Kaplan Sommer's post
Ha'aretz summary article
Lisa's powerful eye-witness post, including pictures
May the Holy One send healing to the wounded and comfort to those whose lives have been forever changed.

Passover Tragedy Again

Flashes of the nightmere of a few years ago….bombings on Pesach….hateful responses to freedom…death in a time of life and renewal….

Hamas Starting to Consider Talking with Israel?

Google News is carrying various reports that Hamas is considering beginning to tall with/about Israel. For example - Ha’aretz “Haniyeh: Hamas won’t cave in to external economic pressures” and the Globe and Mail. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Israeli Elections

In just a few hours, Israeli’s will go to the polls and direct the country’s path over the next few years. I hope that turnout is high, people consider all potential consquences of their vote and choose wisely.
May Israel’s choices cause her to go from strength to strength.

Bird Flu Scare in Israel & Gaza

It might be in Israel - it being the bird flu.
Here are some links:
Haaretz on the status of 3 people suspected of having bird flu (they might not have it)
JPost on Israel working with the Palestinian Authority to combat the potential bird flu.
Blogger Allison Kaplan Sommer on the bird flu scare
As we enter shabbat here [...]

Tzedek (Justice) in Action

Check out a woman engaging in tzedek, helping to clean-up and rebuild part of devestated Mississippi - Deb’s Katrina in Mississippi Log.
May she go from strength to strength.

Another well-written Israeli Blog

Take a look at this enjoyable, well written Israeli blog - Frothing at the mouth about politics, idea and culture.
Enjoy!
UPDATE: Allison wrote about another powerful blog (with a terrifying parenting story), Stefanella’s Drive-Thru.

Video Blog from Israeli Foreign Ministry

The Israeli government launched a video blog called Israel Videoblog. Any Israeli can submit video to it. As Allison writes (thanks for the tip), it is “designed to show the world the sides of the country that you don’t see on CNN.
It’s open to everyone — any Israeli can send in their video [...]

Another Link Addition

Allison (mazal tov on your new neice) introduced me to Giving Up Sundays, an Israeli blog.
The title itself brought back memories of living in Israel. One of the elements of minor culture-shock when I first arrived was the idea that the weekend was Shabbat only - Friday mid-day through Saturday. Sunday was a [...]

Additions to the Link Blog

It’s almost 1 am and I am wide awake, so as I watch the Olympics (and fast forward through quite a bit - hooray for Tivo) I’m blog surfing, finding many new interesting blogs. Here are some I’m adding into my links:
Israeli Blogs:
Adventures in Nikkiland
Am Echad
Homey in a Strange Land, Stranger in [...]

Energy - Renewable and Real - Thanks Israel

So, did you watch/listen to the prez tonight? I didn’t, but I heard that he planned to speak about the environment and conserving engergy. Somehow it is hard to imagine a prez whose family fortune is in the oil industry with a vp whose money is in the oil industry (along with rebuilding Iraq [...]

An Interesting Visitor in Israel

In case you haven’t already heard, an Iranian blogger named Hossein Derakhshan (aka Hoder) is visiting Israel, experiencing life there.
Read his English and Persian blogs.
Lisa of On the Face is hosting him and is posting about their visit together.
Search him on Google and you will find a number of other posts about him.
Interesting stuff. [...]

Waiting for….Tefillin

I’m waiting for Tefillin. Yep. I took the plunge and bought a new set of tefillin. According to the tracking on USPS.com, they have made it through customs and are on their way to me. What fun it will be to get them and use them for the first time!

New Link - Ruth’s Megillah

Read a blog by a Jew-by-Choice (a.k.a - a convert) - Ruth’s Megillah.
Read and enjoy!

A Resource You Hopefully Will Not Need

An organization exists to help young Jewish women with breast cancer. It is called Sharsheret. Hopefully, you don’t need this information, but if you do, check them out as a resource for support, encouragement and more.
Wishing all health!

More Link Updates

Shavuah tov (a good week to you and yours).
Here are few more link additions:
(Thanks to Velveteen Rabbi for the tips.)
A blog on one of my faviorite study/liturgical tasks - chanting Torah! Read all about Alto On Chanting.
A blog on the painful journey of infertility and (now) pregancy, In the Barren Season.

Sharon Update - Post Surgery

Sharon’s surgery is over and he has seemed to survive. You can find updates on all the different elements of what is going on at Ha’aretz and Jerusalem Post.
The BBC has an article which includes “world” reactions, including some expected statements and reactions.
Speedy healing to Sharon and all who are ill.