Haveil Havalim #258: Purim 5770 Edition

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I love Adar!  I can’t help it.  Something about this month just makes me jovial.  Could it be the hamentashen?  Could it be the anticipation of l’chaims on Purim?  Could it be the Jewish Blogging?

I will never forget the Purim I spent as a student at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.  I jumped on an Egged bus #36 (if memory serves) and was welcomed by a group of three girls playing my favorite Adar song.  It was an example of the wonderful Jewish atmosphere in Israel.  I can’t think of anywhere on Earth I would rather spend Purim than in Jerusalem.

Last year, I shared thoughts about why Purim in fun on Haveil Havalim #206.  This time around, I will let the videos and pictures speak for themselves, after a short d’var.  For those of you new to the Haveil Havalim scene, this is what you are in for:

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.’

When you think of the holiest Jewish day of the year, what do you think about?  Most of us think about Yom Kippur right away.  Yom Kippur is a day to connect with G-d through deprivation and repentance.  Purim and Yom Kippur are actually close relatives on the Jewish calendar.  In Hebrew, Yom Kippur is actually Yom HaKipurim.  Did you notice the relationship?  Yom HaKiPURIM.  Purim is actually the “other holiest day of the year.”

While we connect to HaShem through self sacrifice on Yom Kippur, we connect through indulgence on Purim.  It is also at the polar opposite time of the year from Yom Kippur.  At each end of the year, we have an opportunity to find a highly elevated connection.

Now that you are deep in thought, turn your speakers up really loud and click here. (Feel free to post links to videos of you or your friends dancing to this song in the comments.)

Now, on to the blogs:

Special Feature: Israel Situation blogger Joel has recently started up a blog featuring news and information on non-profits and NGOs around the world.  Check out NGO Meter.

Purim:

Batya from me-ander learned about being ripped off when buying nearly a kilogram of candy in bulk rather than one piece at a time.

Binyamin Miller wrote about the idea of a world with no evil.

Homeshuling shares lovely artwork depicting scenes in the Megilla, care of six year old Ella.

Rabbi Oliver at A Chassidishe Farbrengen talks about consistency despite diverse challenges during Purim.

Yisrael Medad shares some Purim humor with us at My Right Word.

Israel:

I wrote a post on corruption in the Palestinian Authority.  An investigative journalist found that the PA has stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from the Palestinian people.  I also wrote a post about a group of Israelis marching to a shul in Jericho.

Anthony wrote a post about gift giving in Israel and how to decide whether to give a gift or money, and how much.

Jacob Reichman gives us some good cultural news from Israel, and wonderful pictures to go along with it.  Stop by and look at photos from the opening of the Moshe Castel Museum of Art.  He also posted an annual computer jobs in Israel (CJI) survey results.

Batya posted on a Sad End to a Great Aliyah Story at Shiloh Musings.  This one does make you stop and think about how fragile our lives really are.

Joel Katz gives us two regular updates from his site on religion and state in Israel.

Yisroel at Artzeinu gives us a glimpse into his reason for making Aliyah in a portion of his essay to Nefesh b Nefesh.

Israel21c has an interesting post on using the average Israeli for an international PR campaign and discusses how Israel’s size does not impede innovation on the Israelity blog.

Maya, in her quest of learning how to be Israel, found that life in Israel is a lot different than people outside of Israel think.  The conflict is just not that important in day to day life for most people.

David Morris writes on Tzedek-Tzedek that the view from Turkey is not so nice.  He also writes about a letter to his shul personally attacking him (is it real or not, read the article to find out…)

Snoopy the Goon (who’s name is so cool I never fail to be impressed) explores how Allah treats a female shahid (aren’t you all impressed by my Arabic skills).  He also finds that the late Hamas terrorist allegedly killed by the Mossad was so cheap that even your Bubbe would be impressed.

Yisrael Medad at My Right Word writes about a mistake by Ethan Bronner writing about Eastern Jerusalem.

Rahel at Elms in the Yard gives us beautiful pictures from a recent hike through the Judean Hills.

Jewish:

Robert Avrech at Seaphic Secret discusses anti-Semitism in college.

Meryl at Yourish gives us a blogger’s guide to anti-Semitic comment trolls.

Rachel from Shavua Tov gives an enlightening view into being a convert to Judaism.

Schvach Yid revived his blog to share a song by the Jewish music group Pharaoh’s Daughter.

G6 wrote a funny piece on Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.  Check out the Guide to Guests.

Hadassah enlightens us about Miriam’s Cup at the Pesach Seder.  It is an interesting view into Jewish feminism.

The Rebbetzin’s Husband does not disappoint in a discussion titled Rabbi Motti Elon, Rabbi Leib Tropper, and our Yosef Mistake.  Be sure to read through the lively discussion that follows.  He also shares what we can learn from the Toyota failures.

Frum Satire found an amazing product: the personal mechitza for air travel (really!).

The “My Views on the News” blog from Chabad has an interesting article on the limit of how much charity a person can give.  The Chabad parenting blog talks about discussing an invisible G-d with your children.

A Chassidishe Farbrengen talks about the real tests of poverty and wealth.

Yosef at Yachdus gives us thoughts on The ‘Balkany’ Syndrome and the Halacha of copying music.

Personal:

Be sure to visit the world renowned Israeli comedian Benji Lovitt when he stop in your town on his North American comedy tour.  You can read a recap of his Calgary stop here.

Lady Light writes about going back home, and the personal feelings of visiting where you grew up.

Hadassah vents at her site, In The Pink, about matchmaker double standards when looking at men and women.

That’s all for this week!  Thanks for reading.  Next week, Haveil Havalim will be hosted at Ima on (and off) the Bimah.  If you want to be included, you can submit your posts at the submission form.  If you are interested in hosting, contact our fearless leader, Jack.