Haveil Havalim # 164 - no names edition

Have you noticed the post that precedes this brand new and shiny Haveil Havalim # 164? This post is what I normally do on Sundays - I put a link to the latest edition of HH, to make sure that my lonely reader or two get rerouted to something really worthwhile.

And I wouldn't change my ways because of some slight logical problem with this one, because this is what I was conditioned to do by the Founding Father - the one and the only Soccer Dad - every darn Sunday. Unfortunately, this time I cannot deal with it by a mere one-liner. It is my cro burden to schlep this time. I don't know how I have volunteered to do it. There must be some hallucinogenic component in the matzos they bake in that Reshon-Le-Zion place. At least the place smells this way when you drive by. But it's too late in any case, besides I wouldn't want to piss off Jack.

And I shall do it like a man - when the bottle is uncorked and the goose is out of the oven, a man must fall to. Which I am going to do in a moment, without any further fancy footwork. But first, to use the proven copy/paste technique - a bit of introduction to the HH newbies from an excellent HH # 162 by Yaaqov Ben Yehudah (who, as it appears, based the text below on Batya's original):

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.'

Yeah, all that jazz, you know, maximum two posts per your weekly submission and stuff. So let's go!

Holocaust Remembrance Day

This image was created by Dzeni. It contains the names of 1,692 victims of the Shoah. These names were found on the Yad Vashem Central Database of Shoah Victims. The boy in the image is taken from the famous Warsaw Ghetto Photograph.

This image is also special for another reason. It is part of the Holocaust Yellow Badge in Art Exhibit which opens in Safed (Israel) today. This is the first time Dzeni's work has been exhibited

The really large image can be seen at the preceding link.

And another way of remembrance: Israeli Air Force pilots fly over Auschwitz.


On a related subject: From Auschwitz to the IAF.

And yet another powerful reminder:

That is what can happen, what usually happens, even what eventually and inevitably always happens, when you arrogantly claim Moral Superiority for your Utopian ideas over the messy, imperfect, flawed, but constantly improving and very Human endeavour called "Science". Please read all of the linked post.

How do you measure it? How many is six million?

More remembrances. And more.

And what about Germany then and now?

Post-Pesach blues

Many of us still slowly recover from that Big Fress called Pesach, and here comes mufleta! As if a person in the throes of a heart attack needs a stroke... But fasting after Pesach? Come on, it is not like the life is ending right now... As a side remark - mufleta must not be mixed with muffuletta, although both are deadly.

How not to get sick at the family reunion - too bad it comes late, but there always is the next Pesach.

But to cool down you can always look at some pretty flowers.

And here comes a solution for your matzo Overstock.

Oh Israel!

Jews and Palestinians - how could there be any common ground? I am the one asking questions today, thankfully.

When has Israel lost its way - politically speaking, or Think Big.

When this Déjà vu will come to an end? "Ceasefire" - We Cease, They Fire.

Que sera, sera, or a beautiful eulogy for Noam Apter, RIP.

Hudna - is is good for the Jooz or is it not so? That truce that never was...

Two Orthodox Jewish men were stabbed in fairly rapid succession, yet the British press first called these attacks “random,” and the perpetrator is not being charged with a hate crime. It looks like the name of the perp, one Mohamed Jama Ahmed, has some Nordic roots that are being investigated.

Who is that liberal in Jerusalem? Sari Nusseibeh, it appears. Hmm...

Could Baby Assad's regime be flipped (I suspect Baby Assad has already flipped a few times)?

Imagine Neville Chamberlain without the mustache, but with great teeth suitable for peanut consumption... And read carefully why pariah should be careful about pariahs. Yeah, and what about that amendment of the terrorists list?

Whatever the Israelis offer, Syria won't give up its alliance with Iran... Could be. Much depends on the size of the carrot vs the size of the stick, methinks.

Does Jewish anti-Zionism have a future? I would say, even a tapeworm has some kind of a future. But SFW?

Now to some practical aspects of urban renewal. The old sewage issue rises its ugly head again.

An idealist supporter of Israel - will he do good in the notorious South African Mail & Guardian?

Anti-Semitic attacks up worldwide. Is it related to the oil prices, I wonder?

Close but not quite there - about the small-mindedness in our media circles.

But What Do You Do When You Need Eggs?

You simply don't get it: I am not a crook, I just love being investigated!

Holy Agriculture or Holy Land? Or is there something else besides these two?

Do we really negotiate with Abbas or just going through the motions?

Yes, we do like to whine. True.

Does Hamas know what Hamas really wants?

When a schoolmaster is a terrorist - watch the kids!

Why Does it Matter Who Killed Them?

In preparations to the Independence Day. And reality inversion alert. More...

And BBC being fair on Israel? I will be...

The Methodists aren't interested. Now we could be disinterested too.

A wall in our happy seaside bubble.

Welcome back to the rat race, you gutsy victim of a terror attack!

Beggars cannot be bombers? Beg your pardon.

And let's not forget the new Olim - there are unexpected benefits of meeting new immigrants.

Oh boy... have we shown them Babylonians...

Three beautific smilies and invasion of Israel. Cool.

Has New York Times Coverage Of Israel Actually Improved? Flying pigs come to mind.

Judaism and Jewish Culture

Many of us married men will agree that our better halves are blessed not only by spiritual strength, but spiritual strength is a very important component of the great unknown. Rosh Chodesh Iyyar celebration underlines this.

Can you imagine if potatoes were considered kitniyot? I cannot, to tell the truth (where is my tongue? aha...)

Time for Birckas HaIlan - the blessing over trees. Always a good idea, methinks. And more on this subject, with cool pictures and an explanation.

And I think you will be following one of the best Jooish traditions if you Help David's Nephew Provide Guide Dogs for the Blind in Israel.

Is the observant community capable of addressing criticism from within? I would add a question of my own - will such a discussion be open to all, including us secular grunts?

I purely fell in love with that "Oh, I forgot you’re frummer than I am." Hope you do too.

If there's no buy-back, may we eat our sold chametz? I wouldn't know, would I? I have barely graduated from "don't kill what you ain't gonna eat"...

An opponent's voice is sorely amiss so far in this chapter, thus A Few More Questions For Theists and Especially Creationists.

I am not sure The Battle of Algiers Never Ends belongs to this chapter, anyway it's a beautiful story, and it keeps giving.

"Prepone" - the opposite of "postpone"! I am already pining to use the word.

It's a relief that burqa is not what the Torah recommends. I mean it. Otherwise, how... oh well.

A Committee for Jewish Music? Interesting.

And how a walk in the park can cause some interesting thoughts.

General

It is difficult to believe, but in some places you are guilty when you get raped.

Astrologist or astrologer? A holocaust revisionist will do in this sorry case.

Title of Generalissimo Associated with Boundless Reverence. If you don't know what the heck it means, don't call your therapist, read the post first.

Imagine you are a Muslim supporter of Israel. What will Quebec media say to or about you?

Confession of a neo-Zionist. Short but succinct.

Organic-shmorganic. Duh.

Rekindled romances - do we need them?

Does One Wright Makes Obama Wrong For America? Most of our American correspondents seem to think so.

A new candidate for for the position of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Cool.

A racist's fondest dream.

Which one is a greater threat to the well-being of Islamic Republic of Iran - Barbie or Spiderman?

To engage or not to ENGAGE? No, it's about engaging Syria. Good luck!

What do Arab states give to Palestinians? Empty words galore.

Fun

Some people think that this is a good reason the Brits lost their empire. Others are simply amazed by such a blooper from the land of Political Correctness...

I have decided that, after all, this professor of French history and cinema is funny. But I was told a few times that my sense of humor is freaky. I wonder, though, whether our professor could accompany his lectures on a banjo...

An honest mechanic - not an oxymoron anymore, it looks like. But love bombs - no, my offspring know better than to tinker with my beloved Treo.

Obam-A-What?

And isn't it a perfect cause to adopt the Simply Jews flag? It is straight and simple, at least!

Japanese hot bath and Wisconsin? Go figure.

Kabalistic urban legend? Wow, that's really mysterious.

Do you want to know the secret of man's happiness? I suggest you better forget it quick.

The day will come and the day will provide another picture.

Castaration - not a spelling miskate.

Do I detect a slight dissatisfaction with the clergy?

You might be dead but:

And some people are still looking for their luggage, it looks like. Awful quiet there.

Another kind of genocidal Jews and their views on Evil.

Cats (v. short)

Some people don't know it yet, but there are only two cats at the top of the feline pyramid, here is one of them (usually on his back).

So there, it's not negotiable, so move on, please.

Meta HH

As you have noticed, I have decided to skip the bloggers' names (or nicknames, as the case may be) and the blog titles. This is why "no names edition". I have adopted the technique used by Pat aka Dr. Sanity for her Carnival of the Insanities, and your opinion on this could be of value. That is, if I ever get another mental blackout and volunteer again for another round of punishment...

A general remark: all submissions (and more) were posted here - no censorship of any kind.

And another copy/paste from Yaa'qov:

Please send your posts for the next edition of the Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival via the Blog Carnival Submission Form. I found [me too!] this to be very helpful in organizing your posts this week. If you're interested in hosting or receiving more information about the carnival, please contact Jack at talktojacknow-at-sbcglobal-dot-net.

And don't forget to count the days to Lag B'Omer! Or, at least, get all your unneeded wooden stuff outside for these little goniffs, otherwise they'll steal your fences, gates and window frames.