The status of women at the Kotel (Western Wall) is in the news. You may have heard of The Women of the Wall, a group that meets monthly to pray together at the Kotel. Some members have been arrested for wearing prayer shawls. The controversy centers around whether these women are simply observing … [Read more...]
Fighting City Hall: Get Services for Your Special-Needs Child
January 31, 2013 by
A friend is trying to help an immigrant family access services for a special-needs child. She asked me for ideas, so I called my neighbor who used to work within the special education system. My neighbor's tips were so helpful that I asked for permission to publish them. She agreed and even … [Read more...]
The Orlah Man
January 25, 2013 by
My daughter made this figure in honor of Tu BiShvat, the holiday known in the Mishnah as the New Year of the Trees. The teacher said it wasn't for eating, but because my daughter stayed home from school with a fever we will enjoy it for our Shabbat dessert. According to the Talmud, the majority … [Read more...]
“Jerusalem is Full of Frechot”
January 16, 2013 by
In my last post, I wrote about the techniques used by a charedi Jerusalem school to discourage sephardic girls from applying. But subtle discrimination against sephardim (Jews with family origins in Moslem countries) occurs in all sectors. A friend of mine is looking for a junior high school for … [Read more...]
School Requires Students to Pray with Ashkenazi Accent
January 2, 2013 by
The radio reported yesterday morning that a Beit Yaakov high school in Jerusalem was requiring future students to sign a form confirming that they will pray with an Ashkenazi accent. Walla has a report on the story. Here are a few of the questions and conditions listed: Preference is given to … [Read more...]
Ten Books I Loved in 2012
December 26, 2012 by
Inspired by Nina Badzin, I'm sharing the books I most enjoyed in 2012. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, by Barbara Demick. Demick tells the story of 6 North Korean refugees who escaped to South Korea. One woman, a doctor who completely accepted the government's propaganda, changed … [Read more...]
Should Orthodox Girls Get Vaccinated against HPV?
December 17, 2012 by
Human papilloma virus, or HPV, is spread by sexual contact. The body's immune system usually eliminates the virus, which can cause genital warts and rare cancers in men and women, as well as cervical cancer in women. A new vaccine on the market, sold as Gardasil or Cervarix, protects against some … [Read more...]
Israeli Baby Name Queries: December 2012
December 13, 2012 by
I get a lot of inquiries about Hebrew and Israeli baby names. There are lots of lists on the internet, but they don't give you the context you need to make a wise decision. Here are a few recent questions: Adam: Need Help with name for boy named after Saba Shmuel ( we don't like Shmuel or … [Read more...]
Printable Hebrew Activity Pages for Chanukah 2012
December 10, 2012 by
Happy Chanukah! My neighbor Bruria prepared Hebrew printable activity page for kids, at a first to second grade Hebrew reading level. Each sheet starts off with a chapter of Tehillim (Psalms) and a list of names of sick friends. Bruria gives permission to share, as long as you keep all of the … [Read more...]
Did Mass Panic Lead to False Accusations in Nachalaot Pedophile Ring?
November 29, 2012 by
I've translated several articles about the large number of children who testified that they had been sexually molested by neighborhood residents in the close-knit Jerusalem neighborhood of Nachalaot. Today, Tablet Magazine published an article by Menachem Kaiser called Panic in Jerusalem. Kaiser … [Read more...]
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