It’s my pleasure and honor to host Haveil Havalim for the first time; I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to step up to the plate. I did my best to include everyone’s work (but only three submissions per blog.) Any omissions were purely accidental and a reflection of my being too full of turkey and the best pareve mashed potatoes ever to be as thorough and organized as I’d like. Please remember that the opinions expressed in these posts do not necessarily reflect my own point of view. Oh, and welcome to Homeshuling. While you’re here, why not have a look around?


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.’



Judaism

A Chassidishe Farbrengen shares a teaching about Humility and Appreciating Others
Good News from Israel offers (confirmed) links to  213 Chanukah Videos
On the Fringe shares her (somewhat unique) struggles with putting on tefillin while keeping her hair covered in Tefillin Challenge – Surprise Ending (I hope)
Chabad Lubavitch tells us that an Advocate for Soviet Jewry Passes Away at 80
Cosmic X in Jerusalem shares some studies and draws a conclusion about intermarriage in Some More Intermarriage Statistics.
Israel
Religion and State in Israel offers this post and this post on the topic of, well, just what you would guess from the name of the blog.
Shiloh Musings expresses grave concern in What does the US have over Bibi?
Esser Agaroth  honors the memories of both The Bostoner Rebbe and R’ Binyamin and Talia Kahane 
Beneath The Wings reminds parents of a mitzvah their soon-to-be-soldier can do in An Important Message to Parents of Future Israeli Army Inductees
Israelity compares Israeli and US airport security in Full Body Racial Profiling; you can also check out their post about the 2010 International Stamp Exhibition on Foto Friday – Stamp Exhibit. My favorite Isreality submission, however, highlights a photo of An Ancient Paw Print Among Roman Bath Finds in Jerusalem (What can I say? I’m a dog lover.)
Our Shipputzim: A Work In Progress enlightened me about “The Call” and how her response to “The Call” has changed over time in A Negotiated Settlement.

Politics
Ever wonder about The Difference Between the US and Canada over Israel? Tikkun Olam weighs in with her perspective.
Cosmic X in Jerusalem ponders Rabbi Chaim Amsalem’s Political Future
History
Tikkun Olam links to Dennis Prager University’s version of the The Arab Israeli Conflict in a Nutshell. I for one never knew there was such a thing as
Dennis Prager university until I read this.
Parshablog wins the prize for most intriguing title of a post with  Alexander the Great, the Ball on the Plate, and the Snake on the Threshing Floor
Humor (or so they tell me)
Tikkun Olam shares a video from Chabad at Getting into the Chanukah Spirit
Simply Jews gives a rundown, with commentary, on the lates news at 3 Millionth Tourist and Other News
Torah
A Chasidisshe Farbrengen posts Daas, Developing G-d Consciousness
Shiloh Musings discusses an interesting interpretation in Another Clue in the Search for Biblical Ha’ai
Parshablog writes a really thought provoking piece in Why Chomsky Went off the Derech that touches on many fascinating topics. Try as I might I can’t sum it up in a way that does it justice. He cites an article by Rabbi Michael Broyde that I recommend you click on as well.
Personal

Just Call me Chaviva presents A Wedding and a Stylish Hasidic Woman (Er … Me) 

The Velveteen Rabbi writes about her upcoming smicha from ALEPH in Smicha Preparation and the Empty Cup
Homeshuling (that is I) gives her perspective on Hanukkah Gifts for Kids, as well as a post on socially responsible Gelt in (More) Truly Divine Hanukkah Gelt
The Rebbetzin’s Husband shares a beautiful tribute to The Large Rabbi
Eli for Short offers some insightful reflections on hair covering in Going Undercover
Frame a Mind tells one mama’s perspective on teaching religious school at If You Take a Mouse to Shul. (As a children’s book author and lover, I was very fond of the title of this post.) In another post, Dinner Table Questions for God, she shares how she skillfully handles her daughter’s challenging theological questions. 
On another Jewish parenting blog (which I think should be a Haveil Havalim category…), Minnesota Mammaleh talks about Giving Thanks.
Culture
Me-Ander points out that A Turban is Just a Giant Oversized Tichel
Judeopundit manages to get a post about McDonalds into a Jewish blogging carnival with Happier Times for Happy Meals. Is this a first?
Letters of Thought give a thorough review of a variety of phones (including the Hebrew/Jewish content angle) at Mottel’s Guide to Purchasing a Cell Phone

Just call me Chaviva wonders whether one could consider Harry Potter, a Modern Holocaust Narrative. Spoiler Alert!

Cosmic X in Jerusalem ponders the challenges of accurate translation in Translation is Not a Simple Matter.
Please remember to publicize this, and every week’s carnival on your blog. And if you’ve never hosted before, please do. It really wasn’t that hard.
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