Israeli Baby Boy Name Help: June 2015

Request from a reader: Hi! I love your blog, especially the names! You actually helped me choose my daughter's name last pregnancy on the namewizard site (that was how I got to you). My husband and I are desperately looking for a name to go with with the middle name Benaya for a boy,  ideally … [Read more...]

Do We Need a Rule about Breastfeeding in Shul?

Rabbi Ysoscher Katz (RYK) of Yeshiva Chovevei Torah wrote a psak, or religious ruling, on whether it's permitted to breastfeed in the synagogue. I've addressed this issue several times before, because women have been harassed, and people have spoken out publicly against breastfeeding in the … [Read more...]

Israeli Baby Boy Name Help: March 2015

A reader writes: I enjoy reading your baby name suggestions, and thought you might be able to lend some of your insight to us as well... :) We are national-religious, living in Israel, originally from America, and looking forward to welcoming our first baby, a boy. We would like to name him … [Read more...]

Preschool Pesach Haggadah

I'm happy to be participating in the Passover for Kids series over at the Multicultural Kids Blog (MKB). Today I'm reposting a popular craft, a simplified children's haggadah that preschoolers can make themselves and use at the family Passover seder. Be sure to check out the other posts in the … [Read more...]

Spy Cameras in Gan

A new trend in Israeli parenting involves equipping small children with spy cameras to catch a ganenet (kindergarten teacher) during the act of child abuse. In Makor Rishon's "Tzedek" supplement (January 16), Itzik Wolf wrote that the education ministry is preparing a legal document that will … [Read more...]

Israeli Baby Girl Name Suggestions Needed: January 2015

We've let the baby name requests pile up around here! These three readers are looking for four Hebrew names for their daughters: Hi! I don't know if you're still doing the baby name posts, but please help if you can! We are looking for an Israeli girls' name which is the same as a secular name. … [Read more...]

We Can’t Afford to Wait Until 12th Grade: Sexuality Awareness in the Religious Community

We judge a society not only by what they talk about, but also by what they don't talk about. This was the theme of an event on sexuality in the religious community, organized by Tzohar. Rabbis belonging to Tzohar conduct Orthodox weddings throughout the country, with an emphasis on a meaningful, … [Read more...]

Photo of Hyper-Cacher Hostage Breastfeeding Baby

An image obtained by the Paris Match shows three adult hostages hiding in the basement freezer of the "Hyper-Cacher" while terrorists in the store above killed four Jewish customers. A closer look at the photo shows a fourth hostage, a baby being breastfed by its mother.  A Muslim worker, Lassana … [Read more...]

Israeli Baby Boy Name Help, December 2014

Here is a question from Yaniv. Hi Hannah - been going through your blog for some name ideas and figured I'd reach out directly. My wife and I are having our first this April and are looking for boy names. We are struggling somewhat as we are looking for a name that is easily pronounced in both … [Read more...]

Dr. James Cantor on Pedophilia and the Brain

This is the fourth post on the Tahel conference on "The Jewish Community Confronts Violence and Abuse." Dr. James Cantor gave the keynote lecture on the first day entitled,"Understanding Pedophilia and the Brain: Implications for Safety and Society." Cantor is the Associate Professor of … [Read more...]