About ten years ago, on a Jewish parenting board I frequented, a non-Jewish woman stopped by to ask a question. Surprised to find out that the baby name she had picked had a Jewish connotation, she hoped to learn more about Cohen. I explained to her that Cohen has an illustrious past. A cohen is … [Read more...]
Is a Long Day of Gan Good?
September 14, 2011 by
The education ministry's extension of hours for state-run preschools and kindergartens raises practical and educational questions. Background: In the last several years, Israel's education ministry has been gradually extending the hours of gan (preschool or kindergarten) for 3 to 5 year … [Read more...]
Tony Horwitz on Spanish Conquistadors and September 12, 2001
September 12, 2011 by
This post has been sitting in my drafts folder for a while, waiting for its moment. I've been reading Tony Horwitz's A Voyage Long and Strange, about the early settlement of North America. He got the idea for the book during a visit to Plymouth Rock. Horwitz realized that while he knew plenty … [Read more...]
Interview: Yifat Kasai on Ethiopians in Petach Tikva Schools
September 7, 2011 by
Update: I heard on the radio at around 1 PM today that the Chabad girls' school, Or Chaya, has refused to accept 5 Ethiopian students. Or Chaya is part of the state religious system. The education ministry said that sanctions will be taken. I met Yifat Kasai two years ago, when her eldest son … [Read more...]
Links: Hyper-Tzniut, Childfree, and More
September 4, 2011 by
I hope you enjoy today's collection of links. A Mikvah Poem by Anonymous at JewishMoms.Com. Liz researches the costs of buying food in Tel Aviv. Her findings may surprise you. Leora interviews me on blogging, at Websites for Small Biz. I especially enjoyed the comments. Chris Mulford is a … [Read more...]
Video: Israeli School Supplies Guide
September 1, 2011 by
Today was the first day of school for most children here in Israel. My kids are all in the same schools as last year so the transition has been smooth. If you're a new (or not so new) immigrant it might be a different story! The school supplies, especially the notebooks and folders, are … [Read more...]
The Haredi Protest that Ynet Missed
August 31, 2011 by
It looks like the school crisis in Beit Shemesh has been resolved for the time being, with the teachers invited to prepare for the school year under police protection. Today's poster reminds us that disputes over religious issues in Israel can be worked out peacefully. Please welcome Naomi … [Read more...]
Beit Shemesh School Battle
August 30, 2011 by
School conflicts and strikes are a normal part of Israeli life at this time of year. Today we take you to Beit Shemesh (again). Several years ago the education ministry and the municipality of Beit Shemesh built a new building for the girls of Orot, a state-religious elementary school. The new … [Read more...]
How to Lower Housing Prices
August 24, 2011 by
My husband and I have been thinking about going somewhere with the kids for a night. My 10-year-old's suggestion: "I heard the tents on Rothschild are empty." Yes, the middle-class tent protests in Tel Aviv, about the high costs of property, have been interrupted and possibly abandoned in light … [Read more...]
Sex Separation in State Religious Schools a National Issue
August 22, 2011 by
The story brewing over the last few months regards the character of the state religious schools, known in Hebrew by the acronym MM"D or mamad (not to be confused with safe rooms that use the same acronym and pronunciation). And like so many previous educational struggles involving mamad, this one … [Read more...]
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