Archive for April, 2008

Next year in [a not fucked up] Jerusalem


It’s late (1:38 am) and thanks to napping all day after my red eye flight back from Portland, Oregon, I can’t sleep. I broke chametz fast via a pizza-fest with Ruby K and company while hearing about his honeymoon trip to Israel. It sounded fantastic.
He said something which stuck with me: it was lovely to [...]


Plastic wrap protects Cohanim from cemetaries


You’re kidding me. Ultra-orthodox riots on El Al apparently are more common than we might think. But other than protesting the showing of movies by Bratslavers on their way to Ukraine, apparently waddling Cohanim in plastic wrap is how to avoid that sticky issue of flying over cemetaries:
In 2002, a flight crew had to prevent [...]


“I Stand Accused” by Sayed Kashua


I couldn’t find this in Haaretz’s archive anymore, but it’s a hilarious example of Sayed Kashua’s satirical style. More about him: Kashua writes satiric columns for Ha’aretz daily newspaper and local Jerusalem weekly, Kol Ha’Ir.  In a humorous, tongue-in-cheek style, he addresses the complex identity issues faced by Arab citizens of Israel.  Kashua’s satiric column, [...]


These ain’t no skinny jeans


I wear carpenter pants because they feel closer to kung fu uniforms. And, when you kick, they don’t crush your nuts. This is why I don’t wear tighter jeans. But don’t take my word for it — just ask Chuck:


Orthodox feminist jokes crack me up


The unique problems of yeshiva life: 
“Are you looking at my elbows? I’m up here.” — Dvora


Zionist joke of the day


There’s an old Bundist joke from the 20’s: What’s the definition of a Zionist? A Zionist is one Jew who gives money to a second Jew so that a third Jew can go live in Palestine.


How the hell did I get here?


I just realized that I’ve started a new job. It’s been a couple weeks now and I’m stunned that I’m employed somewhere else, in a foreign city which gets less foreign by the year, involved with amazing people I’ve only known for a couple years at best, doing surprisingly important work in various organizations, with [...]


The minds of two terrorists


Two shockingly intimate interviews, one this first-person article published in Der Speigel from a Qassam-making shed in Gaza and the other with a disillusioned Al-Aqsa commander from Jenin in Haaretz. A view into the minds of two terrorists, one active and the other depressed.
I have no time for extended commentary except to say that the two [...]