First Blog "Carnival," Roundup of 2020, Tevet 5780

Winter in the Holyland, when a "nice day" means gentle rain, because if we don't get enough rainfall in the winter, we'll suffer dangerous drought throughout the following year and beyond.

Gd willing, I'll provide you with lots of interesting and varied reading material from Jewish and Israeli blogs. Of course, I'm only responsible for my own blog posts, not the opinions of others. And I do try to provide a variety of blogs and articles.


Make yourself comfortable with hot coffee or a bowl of soup, or read while traveling in bus or train or plane. I'm always interested in meeting new blogs, so if you have any to suggest, please let me know in the comments. You're also invited to give your opinions concerning which posts or blogs your enjoyed the most.

All I will do is list the titles, and hope that you feel tempted to click and read. Most bloggers are happy to read your comments. We don't like to feel we're blogging to an empty cloud of nothingness. Enjoy, and please tell me what you think.

Pharaoh – The Original Anti-Semite!
Harry and Meghan and the Parsha of Names
PALESTINE POSTS, Book Review
WATCH: Al Pacino and the Nazi Hunters
Something to talk about
Harvey's Smokehouse, Must Return
Signs--- The Times They Are A Changin’
The Koren Talmud: A Landmark in Jewish Publishing
Israel Is Ready
Parshas Vayechi Divrei Torah and Insights 5780
An Open Window
Hagibor Brewery: A short introduction
Geula Cohen, Genuine Israeli Hero
Barry Liben z"l
Yes, Muslims Occupied Palestine
Asaf Romirowsky – Don’t Confuse Me With Facts. It’s Always About the “Occupation”
Third Try Israeli Elections, I Vote Häagen-Dazs
Kahlon To Quit Politics, Spend More Time With Failed Economic Policies
Fantastic Salad Deal in Ariel

Nu? Which post was the most fun to read? Which got you the angriest or made you laugh or cry? Don't be shy.

Once upon a time there was a weekly Jewish blog carnival called Havel Havelim and also a monthly Kosher Cooking Carnival, and they floated from blog to blog....

Nu? What's New in The Jewish Blog World?

Clouds but not much rain

It's winter here in Israel, though there hasn't been enough rain yet. Gd willing the rains will start soon. But considering that the sages say that Gd gives us the rains we deserve... No doubt the awful political situation is holding back the blessed rain.

Let's see what our intrepid bloggers are blogging about. If you have blogs to recommend, please let me know in the comments, thanks. As usual, I'm only listing titles, so click to see which blog and what's written. I'm only responsible for the contents of my own blogs, not the others here.

Enjoy, read, comment and share.

#ShidduchCrisis, Book Review
Rockets & Reads: The November Jewish Book Carnival
Hold the Phone

Just enough rain to sweeten
the oranges

Berkeley Professor’s Survey Findings Confirm Embarrassing Ignorance of Israel-Haters
Almah
Proposed Law: changes to the electoral process
Bibi's Not Perfect, But He's Not Corrupt
Indictable Offenses
Judaism starts with the Land of Israel, Parshat Lech Lecha 2019, Beyond The 4 Amot

Rosh Chodesh Kislev
this Friday, Women's Prayers,
Tel Shiloh, 8:30am

Dinner at Hatch Brewery, Great Beer and Wings
Israeli za'atar beer from the Nomads
Improving Safety and Traffic at Shiloh Junction
STARTING CPR QUICKLY SAVES TRUCK DRIVER
Overcoming Challenges in Jerusalem
Should I Or Shouldn't I?
The Trail Of Our Lives
Real life beyond the headlines
Progressive Democrats Get it Wrong About Israel, Again
The Rockefeller Archaeological museum
To every fruit, there is a season (with helpful seasonal Hebrew vocabulary!)
Daily Mail Corrects Tel Aviv Error
Wrapping in a Corporate Professional Office Environment: Part 2

I'd appreciate if you'd tell me which blog posts you enjoyed the most, and of course please recommend blogs I haven't included in this edition.

Dry Bones

What's New in The Jewish Blog World? 1st Roundup of 5780

Once upon a time there was a weekly Jewish Blog Carnival, Havel Havelim, which featured the latest blog posts from a great variety of Jewish and Israeli blogs. It was hosted by the various bloggers and had a nice international following. If you click on these old HH's and then check out the posts, you'll discover that many of the blogs have been discontinued. Some are still online, but others can't be found at all. My blogs are among the very few old time blogs still being updated, though not daily. Until a few months ago, I blogged on both blogs daily even when it required writing in advance and having the post go up automatically on a later day. But as of late I've become an occasional blogger. Sometimes I think I've said it all, just too many times.

One of the great bonuses of blogging way back when was the community we established. Even though we were in different cities and countries, we became friends. And in some cases our friendships escaped the "confines" of the internet. Yes, quite a few of us have met in person.

According to Oscar Wilde:

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”

I'm amused and saddened by the fact that all sorts of mainstream journalism, newspapers, news sites etc, have convinced people to "blog" for them. Even I have arrangements with a few, but my condition is always that I can post from my blogs, including the link. All of this free writing has made it much more difficult for people to earn a living as freelance writers.

Back to what I call "independent blogs," there's still blogging going on. And now I occasionally post a blog "carnival" or "roundup" of blog posts. To spark curiosity, I just give a list of titles in no particular order, not mentioning the names of the blogs. Click, read, comment and share. Also, if you have any blogs to recommend, please let me know in the comments. I'd also like to know which blog post you enjoy the most. Of course, I'm not responsible for any opinions in the posts, besides what I've written of course.

Now, it's time to enjoy.

2 Stories for Yom Kippur: Unexpected Bus Magic
Shutting Down, Starting Anew (guest post)
Remembering Ari Fuld z"l and Yehoshua Friedberg z"l
Lessons from a pie
Four beers for the record
The Rabbi and the Mammoth
Parshat Shavua Thoughts, Is "Vayelech" Connected to "Lech Lecha?"
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Is Jewish History Repeating Itself?
"Blue & White," Follow The Money
We Blew It: On The Prohibited Sounding of the Shofar
Are Synagogue Prayers on Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur too Long?
The Purpose of Exile: Converts (Haazinu)
Tasty and Simple 21st Century Tzimmes
Have we Learned to Learn Lessons?
The Bible Can’t Be Jewish Because It Doesn’t Mention ‘Tikkun Olam’
Frugal Adventure to Beit Shemesh, Plus: Pishers' Guide to Beit Shemesh #1
G-d Rewards Failure (Derashah, Yom Kippur 5780)

Chag Sameach
Have a Wonderful Holiday

Keeping Cool Blog Carnival, Summer 5779, 2019

Forecast is for scorching hot weather today, so get comfortable and stay in the shade, indoors or out.

There's always something to read on the internet. No, not the news, just blogs, Jewish/Israeli ones. They're independent, unique, quirky. If you have any for me to add to my blog rolls, please let me know in the comments here. You can read them at home, breaks at work, eating or lazing by the pool, on your computer, phone, tablet and probably even a smart television, so relax and enjoy this selection of of recommended blog posts.

As is my practice, I'm just going to list titles of articles aka blog posts to whet your curiosity. Enjoy, comment and share.  I'd love your opinions, so don't be shy. Just a reminder, I'm not responsible for the content of the individual articles.

The French (Jewish) Connection
Jerusalem Gateway Project Closes Shazar Street
The Eternal Man (Pinchas)
About That Gorgeous Sequin Top I Wore to US Embassy Bash
The History of the Israeli Community of Ramat Trump
Israeli Elections 2019 Redo, I'm Bored & You?
Nostalgia, Thy Name is Potomac
Shevet Brewery comes out of the shadows
Perfectly Simple Stuffed Squash
Life is good, healing is miraculous
WATCH: Israelis Save Lives of Thousands of Kids from 60 Countries Around World!
With help from the heavens
Try, Try, and Try Again… The Right Way
Letters from Israel
Chaim Potok Goes to Camp...Betar
Rosh Chodesh Av, Ladies, Join Us in Prayer\
A Month of Vacation in a Week

Which is your favorite? And if there's something you don't like, please let me know in the comments, thanks.

Jewish Israeli Blog Roundup Sivan, 5779, June, 2019

Old picture of me
I talk, not only blog

There are lots of people still blogging. I just wonder how many people actually still read blogs. Do you? Obviously "yes," or you wouldn't be reading this. But who comments? Who shares posts around to others? If you have any blogs to recommend, please do so in the comments, thanks.

The format I use for these roundups is just to list a bunch of blog post titles, embedded, so all you have to do is "click." Please tell me which you like or don't like. I'm only responsible for my own blog posts. Contents that I didn't write are the responsibility of the writer.

I also suggest reading other posts in the included blogs.

Enjoy, it's free!

The Jewish Book Carnival: June 2019
A Special Guy
Adventures on Public Transportation
Why are the Arabs Renewing Violence against Israel?
Playing with the Grave Issue of Conversion Annulment
Parshas Beha’alosecha – The Egg
Ruth, The Completed Jew
Double-Tweaked My Challah Recipe, Better Results
Booked in Jerusalem
If Gantz Had Been Able to Form Coalition, He Would Have
Human Rights Watch Confirms Palestinian Toddler & Mother Were Killed By Their Own, Not Israel
Just Dance!
Enjoying Jewish Month of Sivan, Tammuz is Next

Please remember to read, comment and share, thanks.

Three 3 Weeks to Purim 5779 Jewish Israeli Blog Roundup

Not only is it three weeks to Purim, but we're just over a month to the 2019, 5779 Israeli Knesset Elections. Generally these two topics generate some very interesting Jewish Israeli blog posts.



I hope you enjoy the selection of blog posts, I've chosen. Please check them out, comment and share, and if you have any additional blogs to suggest, please let me know in the comments, thanks. As is my custom, I'm just listing titles here. Enjoy.

Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions to The 2019 Finals!
Gala World Betar Reunion, Updated
The Misleading Times of Israel
Generational Baton (Vayakhel)
Searching for Family Roots/Stories, The Spiegelman's of Nasielsk*, Poland
Eating My Way Through (Her) Cancer
Beginning - Middle - End
Who Wrote: "We must be free of the Arabs"?
Dershowitz explains why indicting Netanyahu over petty issues is bad for democracy
Leadership Bankruptcy in NRP aka Jewish Home Party
why is Shas about to disappear? (video)
Hamas Still Fighting a Losing Battle…Against Israeli Food Products
Oh My Goodness (OMG) from Beer Bazaar
Kushner "Peace" sic Deal- Dumb and Dangerous
1001 objects from Israel - The Suspicious Object
The Importance of Being Lit

Which was your favorite and least favorite post? You can tell me in comments, thanks.

Jewish Bloggers Say...

Can anyone identify the two photos to the right? Please post your guesses in the comments, thanks.

Here's my latest roundup of blog posts about Life in Israel and Jewish topics. If you have any relevant blogs to recommend, please let me know in the comments, thanks.

I hope you enjoy these. As usual, I'm just listing the linked titles. Please read, comment and share. Enjoy.

And the Rocket Siren Rang & Rang & Rang...
Standing Ovation for Hidden-The Secret Jews of Spain
GAZA – Just Do It !
The Hypocrisy Between An Embassy for Israel in Jerusalem and East Jerusalem, OPT
The Beauty and the Beast of an El Al Nightmare
Just waiting
staying might have been good, but Bennett is not ready
Bibi, We Israelis are Totally Disgusted With Your Policies, Voices From The People
Linda Sarsour’s Outright Dishonest Defense Against Accusations of Antisemitism
Update on Temple Mount 'Sinkholes'
GUEST POST: Massacre Aftermath
“Mommy! What Is There To Eat??”
Impressive, Easy Stuffed Vegetables
Rachel and Leah
Light at the End of the OTD Tunnel
Prayer or Money?
Passport Control" Book Review

Which is your favorite? Why?

"Indian Summer" Israeli/Jewish Blog Roundup

Once upon a time, there was a weekly Israeli/Jewish Blog Roundup called Havel Havelim... And for a shorter time there were monthly  JPIX and the Kosher Cooking Carnival. This was all during the heyday of independent blogging, when people all over the world took advantage of the internet to establish our own brand of journalism.

Our roundups aka "blog carnivals" floated from blog to blog. We took turns, since in those days hosting would bring new readers and fans. And the custom was also for the bloggers included in the roundup/carnival to mention the blog carnival in their own blogs. We were a community.

Mainstream newspapers and magazines noticed the unpaid talent free for the taking and added "blogs" to their internet versions. So, many people, including bloggers, became voluntary op-ed writers for those commercial publications.

Over the years, independent blogging has become less popular, though many people still blog, and blogs are used as inexpensive internet sites for services and advertising.

As you must know, since you're reading this, I do still blog. Actually I blog on two independent blogs, this one and A Jewish Grandmother, and occasionally on the Arutz 7 site. It's also possible that that the Jewish Press sometimes uses my posts in their blog section.

I blog pretty frequently, though not as obsessively, one on each blog daily, as I used to blog. In those days I'd set up articles to be posted on my blogs on days I wasn't to be home. Most bloggers blog no more than once a week or even less frequently.

After this long introduction, I'm going to list the titles (embedded with links of course) of a number of interesting blog posts. A few will be from my own blogs, but the vast majority are from other blogs. Please visit, comment and share. I hope that you enjoy them, find them thought provoking etc. And of course, I'm not responsible for the opinions of others.

Israeli Movie Day - 17/10 - 10 shekel movies!
EU admits violent riots in Gaza, but remains clueless still
A Torah Dedication that was a Disgrace
Trump Should Trash His "Peace Plan"
Parshas Noach: Do you see the man riding upon the donkey?
New "Space-Saving" Graves in Jerusalem
Antisemitic Sentence Examples in Oxford English Dictionary
Chocolate Lovers Truffle Brownies
Something to make me smile – Ethiopian Women Bus Drivers
Pishers' Guide to Jerusalem #30, Speedily Out of Order at New Train Station
Home-brews for the Ramot Forest: Thursday, October 18
Musings as a Frugal Entrepreneur
"Settler Racism"
Interesting Recent Links - Lech Lecha 5779 - Day 1
Art of Revelation: A Visual Encounter with the Jewish Bible, Stunning!

If you have any other Jewish/Israeli blogs to recommend, please tell me in the comments, thanks.

Blog Roundup Celebrating חג שמח Chag Sameach

We're now just over half way through the major Jewish Holiday season with Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur behind us, looking forward after Shabbat to Succot and Simchat Torah. This is not the season to diet or obsess over it, unless you have serious medical reasons. Even two fast days, for the more religiously observant, can't counteract the feasts and hours standing or sitting in synagogue, or snoozing wherever.

Read what Jewish bloggers are writing, comment and share, too. Think of blogs as free internet magazines. In many blogs you'll get information that isn't on the mainstream media. By reading blogs, you'll also have the opportunity to meet some fascinating people and learn of their lives. If you'd like to recommend other blogs to me, please send me the links in the comments here, thanks.

As usual, I'm just posting the titles, with embedded links. I hope that perks your interest in reading the posts. Please comment and share, thanks.

I'm not responsible for the content of the posts included in this blog roundup.

Enjoy!

THANKFUL, THOUGHTFUL, THRIVING….
Yom Kippur in Jerusalem with Avinu Malkeinu
During the Worst of Times, the Best of Times: Live Like You Were Dying
Davening, Fast and Slow (Derashah for Yom Kippur 5779)
September Jewish Book Carnival
Goodness Graciousness
Oslo Accords Never Could have brought Peace
KEEPING TOURISTS IN THE DARK
Pre-Yom Kippur Yom Iyyun in Matan
A Thought about Yom Kippur
Pre/Post Yom Kippur Meal
Praying for a Year of Health, Healing, and Happiness
Yom Kippur Report 2018
#MomLife: Yom Kippur Edition
NEILA – Locked in with G-d
Jonathan Sacks – Emotional Intelligence
Interesting Psak: buying lulavs from Gaza
Betarim Recall Amatzia
Zionism and Ari Fuld

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach

Carnival Time, Late Summer Blog Roundup

from the good old days
Make Blogging Great, Again

I was debating on whether or not to call this a "Pre-Rosh Hashanah Blog Roundup" or not. And I decided on the "not," because later next week other bloggers may end up blogging some gevaldig posts to prepare ourselves for the Jewish New Year, so I'll then be able to do a pre-holiday roundup. Besides that,  for me today really is "late summer," since it's the last day of the season for our local Shiloh Swimming Pool. Three months of convenient swimming just aren't enough, sigh.

Please read, comment and share, of course. You know, the usual routine. We bloggers really appreciate your feedback, thanks. And if you know of any blogs to recommend, please send the link in the comments here, thanks.

Please take note that I am not responsible for the content of blogs I don't write. If you have complaints or praise then, please refer to the blogs themselves, thanks.

Enjoy!

How Do You Like It So Far?
Parshas Ki Seitzei Message 5778
Ofra Haza: Israel’s Greatest and Most Tragic Star
"One Man's Ceiling is Another Man's Floor," Derech Eretz Lesson
Compartmentalization
Give, Serve, Joyously (Ki Tavo)
Homemade, Handmade Challah So Simple
Vanessa Redgrave Does Not Regret “Zionist Hoodlums” Remark – Nor Labour’s Antisemitism, Apparently
Martin Peretz Falls Victim to Fake News
08/30 Links Pt2: Ron Prosor: A Note to Jeremy Corbyn: You Can’t Fool Everyone All the Time; The sparkling waters of the West Bank; Israel renames nuclear facility after late Shimon Peres
Summer Craziness... Shabbat is almost here AGAIN!

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

May You have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat

Heard on The Grapevine, Blog Round-Up

My husband picking/harvesting our grapes.

Being that it's grape season here in Israel, and my mind is fogged by the dust of construction indoors and out, I'm just going to offer a taste of blog posts from near and far.

I'm just listing titles to whet your appetite. Please read, comment and share, thanks.

Who Will Protect Us? Who Will Speak For Us?
Is it a Burden?
Netanya Beer Festival -- August 8-9
Walla Poll: 58% Support Nation State Law; Likud 33, Yesh Atid 19, Zionist Union 12...
Individual Tests
A Visit to Shechem
Grapes, Glorious Grapes
Wings to the Mind
Waiting to Hear That USA Won't Interfere in Foreign Elections
What’s cheaper??? Three things you’ll love paying less for in Israel
Pickled, Super Easy Homemade Pickles
Parshas Eikev Messages 5778
Instant Pot Shabbat: Instant Pot Recipe for Black Lentils (and more!)

Enjoy! There's lots there in the world of Jewish and Israeli blogs. I always appreciate hearing about new ones, so if you have any to recommended add in the comments, thanks.

Blog Roundup, Enjoy Posts From A Variety of Blogs

Blogging is still alive. The genre of personal/privately run Internet "magazines" is live and well. I'm presenting a number of posts from blogs near and far. I hope that you enjoy reading the posts and even comment on the blogs.

100 Days of Destruction...
We're Burning With Anger!
Fooling Yourself
My Elephant Idol
What's brewing in the Galilee?
ANOTHER CHELM VERDICT: “ATTEMPTED MURDER”
The Adventures of Princess and Cray-Cray
Last Day in "School"
"Palestine," sic, is a "Toy!"
Come On Out... The War's Over! [at least for now]
Synagogues of England (video)
Old and New in Jerusalem for Summer
Disconnected
CAN ONE LIVE TOO LONG WITH ALZHIEMER'S?
To have or not to have hopes and expectations
Goodbye Caterpillar, We Loved You
Vacationing at Home

If you have any Jewish/Israeli blogs to recommend, please comment with the information, thanks.

PS This is illustrated will old blogging pictures. Who can identify them? If so, please give info in comments, thanks.

Blog Roundup, Read, Comment and Share

I hope that you enjoy today's blog roundup. What do you think of the selection? Do you have any other blogs to recommend? Please respond in the comments, thanks.

Breaking The Stigma on Mental Health Counseling
Weird, wacky, wonderful (Hebrew) words: Time (זְמַן) after Time (פַּעַם) and more…
The Sin of the Spies and of U.S. Chassidim?
Pay it Forward
Should We in Israel Care What Diaspora Jews Think? Part 1
What Has Been Found at Tel Shiloh Recently?
Perfect for Drinking My Cold Brew Coffee
5 things that happened in Israel recently that maybe you didn’t hear about
"There is NO Future for Orthodox Jews in the UK"
Stress and the toll it takes on you
Pishers' Guide to Jerusalem #29, Kotel WC, Prayer Come True
Coffee Talk Ladies on the Go...
Interesting Psak: riding the train
From Jerusalem to Jerusalem, Great Kotel Tunnel Activity
A Father’s Responsibilities (Shlach)
A New Picnic Outlook תצפית חדשה
Harold Zvi Kraushar z"l
Having Your Cake

Blog Round-Up, Lots to Read

Even though Havel Havelim no longer exists as a weekly round-up of international Jewish and Israeli blog posts, I still periodically post links to other blogs. I've changed the format somewhat and hope that readers and bloggers enjoy the posts.

Anyone on the internet can read, share and comment. Please feel free to do so. I also appreciate suggestions of new blogs, which aren't on the blogrolls of my two blogs. In order to encourage/tempt you to read different blogs, I just list the titles without identifying the blog.

Please read, comment and share thanks. Here we go:

The New World
Israel 70 Years: Past and Future
Best Wine Producer in Israel
Merlot" Great Shiloh Dairy Restaurant
Nine (9) things I wouldn't have to tell a Canadian neighbour
Wonderful Aliyah Story, "From Big Whine to Big Grapes"
New Starts and Fresh Beginnings
Miriam Peretz, Israel Prize, Yom Ha'atzmaut 5778, 2018
Chuck (Haim) Hornstein Pictures
Yaron's remember garden
Suddenly, Mahmoud Abbas' closest allies turn against him after he mouths off with more antisemitism
Obama Spokesman Blames (Who Else?) The Jooz!
New Discovery in Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh
Everyone Knows
It's A Journey Not A Destination

Shabbat Shalom Everyone

Post- Passover Blog Round Up

Since many Jewish and Israeli bloggers have woken from their Passover hibernation, there are some interesting blog posts out there in the cyber world of Jewish blogging. Visit, enjoy, comment and share.

There's no real order to this, and I'm just posting blog post titles, without indicating which blogs they come from. And I didn't even count how many posts there are. Enjoy...

WHY THIS PESACH WAS DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERS….
Commandments
Pishers' Guide to Jerusalem #28, Machane Yehuda WC, Fright at First Sight
Dead Gaza journalist was an experienced high resolution drone operator and Hamas sympathizer (update)
the sale of chametz has to be taken seriously
Recipe for Knaidlach-Incredible Story from the Bais Halevy
Gush Shiloh, Grape-Growing Center of World
Raising Quirky Kids
Sewing the Seeds of Love
Synagogues in the Hotel Area of Jerusalem
Nirtza
Palestinian Chutzpah Magnificently Encapsulated in One Story

Whoever says that blogging is a dead art/sport/social media format is 100% wrong. The only thing that has gotten weaker is the feeling of community we once had. That's a shame, and that's why I continue with these periodic roundups.

PS I'm always interested in meeting new blogs, so if you have any to recommend, please let me know in the comments, thanks.