| You've got a little schmutz right here... |
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Feb 12, 2007 - 12:33 PM - by Jewgrrrl
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Dearest Shpielers,
I know we've been away for so long, but we're coming back and we're bringing sexy with us.
We've been trying to recoup after our web dude bailed, so bare with us!
If you've got any suggestions for a new blog, or would like to write one yourself once we get up and running again in the next few weeks, please contact:
Lori at lmfinkel@ufl.edu
Thanks for being so understanding. Really, it's not you, it's us.
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520 Views
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| Cease-fire, Prisoner Releases, Pullouts, Peace and Uncertainty |
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Nov 27, 2006 - 6:26 PM - by JoshLF
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A cease-fire has been established between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that great concessions, in the form of released Palestinian prisoners, reduced checkpoints, and even substantial withdrawal from the West Bank will be made if Palestinians should sincerely begin to work towards peace, while releasing and returning kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit (his kidnapping sparked a lot of the violence from this summer up until today).
Things look promising. Or, more promising than any other development the embattled country has seen in the recent past. What happens next seems to be in the hands of the Palestinians and their government. Olmert has definitively outlined what Israel will do should its adversaries lay down their guns. This effort seems sincere. And certainly the endless deadly circle of revenge... [Read More]
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295 Views
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| Pundits, Commentators, Politicians, Citizens everywhere beware, ridiculousness about. |
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Nov 20, 2006 - 6:07 PM - by JoshLF
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With each new day of political discourse in these United States, it’s overwhelming how much of what is said is utterly ridiculous. For every eloquent and thoughtful individual invited onto any FOX, CNN, or MSNBC news program, someone else seemingly lacking in any sort of common sense is also invited. Just so, it seems that these programs hosts are themselves void of certain mental capacities.
Let’s look at Glenn Beck for example. Beck is a prominent conservative radio talk show host who’s also had his own television show on CNN for a while now. Actually, he’s the nightly host of CNN’s headline news. So, on November 14th, Beck invited newly elected Congressman Keith Ellison onto his show. Pretty standard. Or was it? You see, Ellison is this nation’s first elected Muslim congressman. And Beck is not one for Muslims. He actually said this... [Read More]
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302 Views
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| Forget the honey-baked ham! Whip out some of those good ol’ Thanksgiving Haggadahs. |
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Nov 18, 2006 - 8:07 PM - by Yenta
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 Break it down. Thanksgiving is the act of giving thanks…literally. Or, more accurately, a holiday that celebrates and encourages giving thanks.
Hey! That sounds like a pretty Jewish thing to do.
In fact, it is. Thankfulness is an important element in Judaism. Tradition dictates that Jews are to give thanks 100 times a day for food and shelter and also other little day-to-day aspects of life.
Many Americans don’t know that after Passover and Hannukah, Thanksgiving is the third most observed holiday by American Jews.
It makes sense. The holiday always falls on a Thursday and the main dish, turkey, is available in kosher form. So why not take the opportunity to have a nice meal with family and friends?
Rabbi Susan Grossman believes that more than just being compatible with Judaism,... [Read More]
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355 Views
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| Hey Yid, wait till you see mah sssssschtick. It's like BAM! |
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Nov 15, 2006 - 8:01 PM - by Yenta
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 He wears baggy sweat pants, a baseball cap tilted to the side and a diamond-studded (well, probably rhinestone-studded) Star of David necklace.
Star of David!? Yep- He’s Kobi Shimoni (aka Subliminal), Yeshiva rapper from Israel.
Rap is a relatively new genre of music in Israel. The pioneers of Israeli rap like Subliminal and Israeli Arab Tamer Nafar (aka TN) began as fans of American rap. They adapted the music, changing the subject matter and the adjusting language to fit into Israeli society, and now perform in front of thousands of shrieking fans in Israeli clubs.
But while both Subliminal and TN dress like American rappers (minus Subliminal’s glittering Star of... [Read More]
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332 Views
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| The Battle for Truth |
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Nov 13, 2006 - 5:53 PM - by JoshLF
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TIME Magazine's November 13th issue covers a debate that seems never to lessen in prominence in modern culture, both intellectual and mainstream.
The magazine facilitated a debate between Richard Dawkins and Francis Collins, both respected scientists (biologist and geneticist respectively) on the forefront of the debate. Dawkins' new book The Gold Delusion supports atheism as the logical, true result of one's quest within the realms of science.
Collins instead argues that one may have faith in God while simultaneously recognizing certain scientific absolutes (i.e., evolution) as results of that God's divine efforts (some call this idea "intelligent design").
Dawkins is currently a professor at Oxford. Collins was and is a pioneer in the genome project. Both men are clearly extremely intelligent. This is... [Read More]
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335 Views
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| Heck yeah bra, I'm totally gonna KNIT that--after I buy it a few drinks |
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Nov 12, 2006 - 11:15 PM - by Jewgrrrl
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Alternate title: "I wonder if she knits before marriage"- Matt Fisher
 Knitting has been reborn as one of the hottest trends, but not just among hip young college chicks (like myself)!
College bros are getting in on that sweet knit-and-purl action, too.
Last year, CBS News published an article on boys learning to knit. Some schools use it as part of their curriculum, but knitting has been especially popular among college boys who want to design and create their own snowboarding gear.
One college guy who goes to the Rhode Island School of Design uses it as a girl-magnet. Another guy said he began to knit after 9/11 because he found it soothing.
There are even several websites dedicated to... [Read More]
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490 Views
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| Jewish veterans denied right to march |
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Nov 11, 2006 - 5:56 PM - by MisScarlet
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 In past years Jewish Veterans have been known to be “conspicuously absent” from the Connecticut Veteran’s Day Parade.
Until three years ago Connecticut Jews have not been able to march with pride alongside their fellow veterans. They could not be acknowledged by the community for doing their part to serve their country. They were not able to do these things because Veteran’s Parades traditionally fell on the Sabbath.
The Jewish War Veterans of the USA forbids their members from taking part in parades and demonstrations on Saturdays. Some find it outrageous and unfair that they are denied their due recognition simply because of religion. Jews are often accused of not participating in wars and excluding them from public ceremonies only promotes this view. Other more reformed members do not observe the Sabbath and believe they should be allowed to participate... [Read More]
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297 Views
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| The Woes of Hebrew School |
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Nov 08, 2006 - 8:45 PM - by Yenta
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 All through my elementary school years I diligently went to Hebrew school each week. I learned the Hebrew alphabet, all the vowels, and how to seamlessly form words from these foreign symbols. I got quite good at it too. Put any Hebrew paragraph in front of me and I could rattle it off without hesitation.
Only one thing was missing from my Hebrew language education: meaning. That is, although I could sound out the words perfectly I had no idea what I was saying—and I still don’t know.
When I was younger, I never thought about how odd it truly is to learn to read a word without knowing the word’s meaning. I just went with what the teachers told me and it all seemed quite normal.
However, I think probably around the time I reached middle school I began to question this teaching method.
What good is to learn... [Read More]
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366 Views
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The Shpiel
