Pre-Purim Havel Havelim #399 (Could it Really be #399?)

A couple of years ago I studied Megillat Esther in a year's course at Matan by Atara Snowbell.  When we began, nobody thought that such a small "book" could take a year to study, even in depth.  But the truth is that we could have continued at least another few months.  There's a lot to it.  In Biblical times, communication took a very long time, and it was very easy to deceive and keep secrets.  That's one of the reasons Haman had such an easy time deceiving King Achashverosh.  Nowadays, with telephones, internet etc, communication is so quick, even over distances.

Havel Havelim, taken from King Solomon's Kohelet, Ecclesiastes, is a term that can be translated as norishkeit, is the Jewish and Israeli blog carnival, internet magazine/collection, of blog posts.  It was established by Soccer Dad who no longer blogs, and in recent years, we've been using a facebook page to keep it going.  Jewish and Israeli bloggers are invited to participate by sending in posts of the preceding week to the volunteer host.  Information can be found on our facebook page and the previous HH edition.

I requested that bloggers send in two posts, one of their own and one from another blog. Some bloggers did this, and others just sent their own posts.  Havel Havelim is a wonderful tool/medium for Jewish bloggers all over the world and of all different opinions to get together.  Please share HH and the various posts and comment, too, of course.

If there's one person/blog who can be credited with keeping Havel Havelim going the past few years, it's Esser Agaroth.  Here are a few of his recent posts, Elazar Stern, Oy! a food for thought post about the possible effects of more religious Jews in the IDF and another "Oy!" this one about Yesh Atid.

Havel Havelim isn't the only Jewish blog carnival.  There is also the Kosher Cooking Carnival, which comes out every Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the Jewish Month. The Adar edition is hosted by Adventures in Mamaland, who posted it as she and her husband got on the plane for their pilot trip,  לתור את הארץ lature et ha'Aretz to scout out the Land.  I even got to see them in person f2f!
 
Here's some mostly good news from Ima2seven.  She recommended that I include a post from All Victories, which is a blog I'd never read before.  For Posterity is an amazing post.  Read it, please.

Focaccia Hamentashen

Cooking Outside the Box sent a Purim Recipe.

Here's a very "only in Israel" story about soup and more from A Soldier's Mother.

For many people, this is the last week to eat last Passover's matzah, if you still, like us, have some stored on a high shelf some place.  My simple Matzah Brei recipe is good for now and it's even better on Passover, and if you're among those who don't eat matzah brei during Passover, then save some matzah and make it afterwards.

Real Jerusalem Streets is a picture blog.  This week had three posts, 10 Signs of Purim, The Book Fair and A Secret Spot in Jerusalem.

Purim isn't just about fancy costumes and noisy parties.  The Shabbat before Purim we read a special Maftir, Torah Portion which reminds us to remember what Amalek did to us.  For many of us, it is almost too easy  to remember.  Some of us are survivors of Arab terror attacks and/or lost friends and/or family or have to cope with serious injuries because of Arab terrorism.

Read this lovely story, with a message from Yocheved and also her reminder that it's hug time.

Bat Aliyah's post is one to make you think,  Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny.

Thinking Torah gives us a review of Siddur Nehalel beShabbat , which looks very interesting.  And he also posted a Puzzle for Parshat Trumah.

Another blog I'm not familiar with was recommended by Esser Agaroth, The Heart of Adam, which has a post about two Biblical artists, or artisans, Betzalel and Oholiav.

There aren't too many multi-generation blogging families.  My friend Ruti and one of her sons are in that exclusive category.  Ruti's title, You're Somebody's Type made me expect something else.  It's  must read for sure!  Ruti and her husband, Coach, have lots of sons, so now they are adding daughters-in-law to the family.   I met the latest, who's a doll.  I recommend Ruti's advice on making Shabbat on a Budget.  And her son's blog, In Their Dusty Footsteps isn't afraid to touch on controversial topics, Homosexuality: Faith vs. Logic .

Marina's Letters From Israel has a beautiful post showing pictures of Israeli beaches in the winter.  She also sent me a very important post from Mother in Israel, Fighting City Hall about getting help for special needs kids.

Here's Jacob's Hebrew-English Purim Vocabulary.

See Lady-Light's real snow!

I've made it a custom on Rosh Chodesh to pray at Tel Shiloh, where the Biblical Tabernacle had stood as a center of Jewish Prayer for 369 years.  One of my friends gives us a special tour every month.  If you'd like to join our women's prayers, please contact me.  We pray as individuals and sing Hallel together.

Women's Prayers at Tel Shiloh
Rosh Chodesh Nissan
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
1 Nissan 5773 8:30am
Tour of Tel & Dvar Torah, Short Torah Lesson

Please come and invite family, friends and neighbors

תפילת נשים
ראש חודש ניסן בתל שילה
יום ג' 12-3 א' ניסן תשע"ג 8:30
יהיה דבר תורה קצר וסיור בתל
נא לבוא, לפרסם ולהזמין חברות, משפחה ושכנות

Have a wonderful week.  Enjoy Purim in good health.
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