I tend to be secretive, but since I started blogging I find myself sharing all kinds of embarrassing things to produce amusing posts. Bear with me while I meander a bit–there is a punch line to the following story.

It started several months ago when I tore a leg muscle. Around that time I couldn’t figure out why my legs were tired all the time, even after a short walk. I was convinced that I had some horrible degenerative disease. Then, while carrying a cranky four-year-old, I tripped over a mound meant to prevent cars from entering a park. She got a bump on the head; I got a bruised knee and sore muscles. A few days later I tripped again, this time on nothing. Result: Two bruised knees and noticeable bruises on my face. Two weeks later the marks have just about disappeared.

After the second fall I realized that my shoes were causing the problem. I wear orthotics and orthopedic running shoes, and as everyone knows, running shoes wear out. (My metal orthotics never need replacing except for the leather lining.) Usually I am careful to replace worn-out shoes immediately; these were already eight months old so I should have thought of it. Instead I suffered extreme pain for two months while functioning on a suboptimal level, lacking stamina for walking or standing.

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Last night we paid a shiva (condolence) call to a dear friend and neighbor who lost her mother z”l. We began talking about condolence calls from people you don’t recognize, and being too embarrassed to ask who they are. She recalled the following story about someone who asked, and received an unexpected reply.

While at a neighbor’s shiva, a Hassid dressed in tights, kapote, and gartel walked into the house and sat down. A hush fell over the visitors. (I actually saw something similar happen at a recent shiva, but that Hassid brought an entourage.) The mourner, who happened to have many chassidic relatives, asked him if he was related to her. He said no.

“Why have you come?” she asked.

“I’m the repairman,” the Hassid said. “I’m here to fix your washing machine.”

And he proceeded to do just that.

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My post on extreme tzniut received over 50 comments. Bloggers discussing it on their own blogs include Lilith, Jewlicious, Frumhouse, JacobdaJew, Rafi, Miriam, and Tikkun Olam.

A Russian-Israeli blogger named “antidos” also wrote about it, but I couldn’t read what he said.

Since writing the post I’ve discovered subcategories among the face-coverers. Not all subscribe to Rabbanit Keren’s philosophy about speech fasts and multiple layers of clothes.

More links on Hyper-Tzniut.

In other blog news, Jack’s Shack hosts the ultimate Jewish blog carnival, Haveil Havalim # 151.

Batya posted the recent Kosher Cooking Carnival: Extreme Weather Edition. You can submit posts for the February edition, hosted by Food History, here. I’ll be hosting the April, pre-Pesach edition.

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From Aidel Maidel

You have 15 minutes to make a list of sentences that start with “I can.” You aren’t supposed to edit it, either.

Here’s mine.

1. I can read two novels at once, and keep the plots straight.

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When my husband’s aunt and uncle made aliyah from the US in the 60’s, they spent a few years in Bnei Brak. That first morning, one of the children noticed laundry hanging outside some nearby buildings. “Ma,” he said, “We live in a slum.”

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A man was brutally beaten by thugs in the neighborhood of Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Rafi has the story, including pictures, and a letter he wrote to the Knesset.

Dov Bear has a statement, The Victim’s Words, and a call to action.

At Rabbi Harry Maryles’ blog: A Charedi Hero.

Haaretz article

And soon, a return to our regular programming.

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Seven teenage girls have been arrested for settling an illegal outpost, and held in jail for over two weeks. Yitzhak Kadman, the director of the National Council for the Child, has called for their release. The girls, most of whom are only 14 years old, broke the law but did not commit a serious crime. The girls refuse to identify themselves or sign any statements because they don’t recognize the authority of the court. Judges have upheld the prosecutor’s decision to keep the girls in jail until they cooperate with the authorities.

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On Monday night and Tuesday we will celebrate Tu Bishvat, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Tu Bishvat is also known as the new year of the trees; the Mishnah mentions this date as the cutoff point when counting the age of a tree. This is important for the laws of terumot and maaserot (tithing) and shmittah (the sabbatical year), as well as orlah (fruit from a tree is prohibited until the tree is in its fourth or fifth year). It has become traditional in modern Israel to plant trees in honor of the holiday, even though the rabbis probably picked this mid-winter date because it’s the least likely time to plant trees and would cause the least confusion about which year is involved.

Because this year is a shmittah year, we will not plant any trees. Any fruit produced from blossoms that bloomed after this Tu Bishvat will be considered fruit of the current sabbatical year (meaning it will begin to be a concern around Passover through Passover next year), and have a special status known as “kedushat sheviit.” Vegetables go according to the year that they are picked (you can read more about shmittah here.)

In honor of Tu Bishvat, my daughter lovingly collected, arranged, and photographed the fifteen fruits in the pictures. She refused to include any dried fruits, because even though they are considered “Tu Bishvat” fruit, they were a compromise for Jews who celebrated the holiday in the Diaspora. In many places fresh fruit wasn’t available, but all of the fruits pictured above grew in Israel. Can you name each one? (Thanks also to commenter Tamiri; one of the fruits grew in her garden.)

Bonus: Two of the fruits are technically vegetables, have kedushat sheviit, and require the blessing of “borei pri ha’adamah” (“the Creator of the fruits of the ground”).

Happy Tu Bishvat!

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The Shabak (Israeli general security services) has interrogated a blogger — Muqata has the story.

Also via Muqata, a humorous blog by the survivor of a terror attack: My Shrapnel

Frumhouse has a video with samples of stylistic tzanua (modest) clothing. I’ll skip the skin-tight styles, thanks.

And while we’re at it, here’s a link to last week’s Jewish blog carnival Haveil Havalim at Life in Israel. After producing 150 editions (I know how much work he puts into it even when he is not hosting), Soccer Dad is transferring the headache responsibility over to Jack’s Shack. Jack, better you than me we know you’ll do a great job.

The Kosher Cooking Carnival is coming up next week. Meander on over to me-ander to post your recipes and food-related items.

Shabbat shalom.

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