Orthodoxy Quiz

Here is an interesting quiz on where one fits in the Orthodox Jewish spectrum. What is most amazing to me is the language in it. Different branches of Judaism speak in different terms… perhaps this is one of the reasons for the communication breakdown between movements.

(In caase you are curious, I discovered this quiz on Orthomom's blog- as I have said before an excellent read.)

Converts' Christmas

This is an amazing post by Rocky. Don't miss this response to it at BethEmet2030's blog.

Holiday Cards I Didn't Get

Okay, I admit it. I really enjoy the holiday newsletters, photos and notes. I know they can be cheesy to see the same people in from of the tree or with their pets, but it’s nice to know how acquaintances/friends are doing and what is happening in their lives. Of course, ideally, there would be no need for the news note because we would know all about everyone’s lives already; yet, we seem to be just too busy for that. I like the notion that we care about friends and family even if we are not always up to date with their lives.

My problem is that I seem to be in the wrong generation for the classic card exchange. I didn’t send holiday cards to my friends and I didn’t receive any (so I have nothing to complain about in that regard). I will inevitably receive a few “guilt” cards back from my relatives once they receive mine. I hate the idea of losing touch with people who were once important in my life, only because they or I lack the skills to communicate frequently and effectively. Perhaps next year, I will end out the cheesy impersonal letter to a flood of people, and then maybe the people I care about and don’t care so much about will respond in kind. (Maybe I’ll even include my blog address in my letters to increase my hit count- the possibilities are endless.)

JIB Awards

Don't miss the nominations for the JIB Awards.


(By the way JIB = Jewish Israeli Blog)

Syriana, Tuki Williams, and Snow

1. The movie Syriana is a well-acted thought provoking film. It reminds the American public that our government’s interests in other countries may not always be either ethical or in the best interest of the people living in that country.
2. The death of Tookie Williams is a clear sign that the correctional system in the country is antithetical to its name. The system does not care if one has changed or been corrected; only that judgment is served. The death penalty, maybe the most cost effective solution when compared to life in prison, allows the court to commit murder. What a civilized country the United States of America is.
3. The 5 inches of snow expected today will inevitably clog traffic, cause accidents, and be an utter hassle. In spite of these inconveniences it will be beautiful and remind us that we may believe we are powerful, but nature checks that thought easily.

Teacher Gifts

It's the time of year to start thinking about gifts for teachers. Below are some helpful suggestions.

5 Teacher Gifts to Avoid

1. Mugs

2. Apple Paraphernalia

3. Accent pillows

4. Snow globes

5. Stuffed animals

5 Gifts Teachers Appreciate

1. Gift card or gift certificate (avoid obscure stores)

2. Thoughtful thank you note from a student or parent.

3. Note cards (avoid the cube of little paper)

4. Nice pen

5. CD or book either for them or for their classroom.

5 Teacher Gifts That Can Either Be Fabulous or a Failure

1. Lotion or other smelly bath/shaving products

2. Picture Frames

3. Food

4. Candles (avoid scents for a better success rate)

5. Any gift not already categorized on this list

Disclaimer- I do not claim to speak for any teachers beside myself. Each school has its own gift-giving climate and of course all teacher gifts are appreciated and unnecessary. I apologize in advance to any teacher who hates note cards or loves mugs. Happy Holidays!

Fee for Service

How valuable is time? At some moments time seems priceless, while at other times it seems it feels like it should go into the bargain bin. In the world of multiplayer games, this notion of the value of time has a dollar value attached to it. In certain games, one of the necessities is gold pieces, which one can now purchased on E-bay or other sanctioned places. On the surface it seems amazing that real dollars can be used to purchase something that is useful only in the virtual realm; however, on closer examination it is merely a fee for service endeavor. I’m a busy person and don’t have enough time to slay enough enemies to loot, so I can just pay a fee to someone who to collect the gold for me. Playing video games all day- not a bad career path. More detailed information can be found from NPR about this topic.

525,600 Minutes

The lyrics for the song "Seasons of Love" from the movie Rent begin by reminded us that there are 525,600 minutes in a year. For those doubters, the songwriters did successfully compute the number; there are indeed 525,600 minutes in a year of 365 days. The interesting question the song asks is how do we measure a year. With 30 days left in the year, only 43,200 minutes remain (depending on the hour you are reading this). How will the year 2005 be remembered globally and locally? What makes 2005 distinct from 2004 or 2006? Is it possible to categorize time in our memories in a year format? Globally it doesn’t seem too challenging. 2005 will be remembered as the year of the Hurricane. Katrina, Rita, and Dennis will mark to many the year their homes were destroyed and their lives began anew. For others it may be the riots in Paris, earthquakes or the 525,600 minutes of worry about a child who is a solider in Iraq that make 2005 memorable. For Chicago White Sox fans, it is the year of the long awaited victory. For Chicago Cubs fans, it remains another year of “maybe next year.” Individually we measure time by change in family structure. The year of papa’s death, the year mom broke her hip, the year baby Joey was born, and the year Julia went away to college or started a new job, are all symbols of remembering the 525,600 minutes. As our 43,200 minutes tick away, there is still time for the year to become distinct in our minds. I hope that 2005 will be a year measured by happiness and smiles as opposed to sadness and tears, or maybe as the song suggests 2005 will be remembered to you as a season of love.