Whatever Happened to the Ten Commandments?
BY RABBI DAVID GOLINKIN for myjewishlearning.com
Why this central part of the Torah is not in our daily liturgy
At one time, during the Second Temple period, the Ten Commandments were read daily as part of the liturgy. Find out why it is no longer part of our daily prayers.
Observance Checklist
From CrazyJewConvertBlog
A Convert's Observance Checklist
One of my main goals with this blog is to promote practicality and clarity in the conversion process. I made this checklist for myself, but since converts LOVE checking things off lists, I decided to share and expand it. This list does presume a certain level of knowledge. If you are unfamiliar with a term, check the Glossary or Google it if it's not located there. Also, this does not talk about Jewish ideas or beliefs. Those are presumed parts of your study. This list will focus on the practical observances you will take on as part of your conversion process. I think it's comprehensive, but that is no guarantee that it is!
I'll be traveling soon. Is there a Jewish prayer I can say before I embark on my trip?
RABBI VICTOR APPELL for ReformJudaism.org
Judaism offers us the opportunity to bless both our everyday moments and special occasions. Travel, whether for business or pleasure, is an occasion worthy of a blessing, expressing our hopes for both a wonderful time and a safe return home. The Tefilat Haderech, the Wayfarer's Prayer, offers beautiful words for doing just that.
JK Rowling Gets into Twitter Spat Over Anti-Semitism
By Gabriela Geselowitz for Jewcy
The ‘Harry Potter’ author defends Jews online.
Earlier today, a regular occurrence ran its course—JK Rowling saw a tweet that upset her, and so took to Twitter to retort. Fans have learned to hold their breath whenever she says something, because she has not been without controversy.
But this time the cause was just— the tweet that set her off insisted that Jews, as a religion, could not be the victim of racism, so Rowling spoke out to decry anti-Semitism.
Israeli Eurovision Win Lends Jerusalem New Cultural Capital
Anthony Grant for Forbes
Understatement alert! Between 25-year-old Netta Barzilai’s big win for Israel at Eurovision over the weekend and the official relocation of the American Embassy to Jerusalem on Monday, this is shaping up to be a very big week for Israel. Americans tend to lag behind the rest of the world in Eurovision awareness the same way we still don’t quite “get” all the fuss about soccer, but in much of Europe and certainly in Israel it’s HUGE.