Tikkun Olam

Oh, I wish I had been on Rehov Ben Yehudah street this past Friday, November 20th, 2009, to see this flash mob dance in the middle of the midrachov * ! It looks 'spontaneous,' but of course it was planned and choreographed to look that way, by none other than Nefesh b'Nefesh . It is just so catching and contagious. Makes one feel like celebrating. Chanukah is not far off; hey I've got an idea: let's all celebrate it in. . . ISRAEL!! *midrachov: pedestrian mall, lit. "sidewalk-street."

I am having a great time just participating in the chat room, virtually 'meeting' other bloggers by watching the live webcast and chatting with other bloggers. I am seeing bloggers whose blogs I read, and I wish there were some way we could have video set-ups for each chat-room member so if we choose, we could see and be seen (anonymity, be gone!). Right now, different bloggers are being introduced, while the general hevre went to have dinner (I ran to get my oatmeal breakfast & more coffee)! Benji Lovitt of What War Zone is about to to a stand-up; they are all coming back from dinner now... Benji is funny, no question about it. Stand up comedy is serious business, and it is TOUGH. Will try to update this as it is happening (Jameel, thanks for setting a precedent!); it is 8:03 p.m. Israel time, and Benji is into his act: talking about the funnyness (is that a word?) of the Hebrew language for olim chadashim... Ron Dermer speaking now--discussing the changing paradigm o...

There just ended--in case you live under a rock, or are not a blogger (same difference)--a contest to choose several bloggers to go to Israel and participate in person at the Jewish Bloggers Convention sponsored by Nefesh b'Nefesh to be held in Jerusalem on Sept. 13th . The winner would fly free (NY to Tel-Aviv, that is) and would be assigned to an oleh family (a family making aliyah, moving to Israel) and would blog about their experience. I was shocked and thrilled (well, not so shocked; I was actually thinking of her and hoping she'd do it. . . ) when Ye'he Sh'mey Raba Mevorach of the Every Day and its Challenges blog asked me if I wanted to be nominated (are you kidding ?!). To make a long story longer, she did-and this is what happened: 1) I was thrilled, 2)I told my kids there was a smidgen of a chance I would be there next week (but don't bet on it), 3) I sent them all Ye'he 's beautiful nominating post (click on link above), and (drum roll) 4) ...

I am still plastered high on the ceiling (please peel me off) from the first JBlogger’s convention yesterday in Yerushalayim. Yes, I had to get up at the unearthly hour of 7:00 a.m. my time in order to be dressed and ready at my ‘puter by 5:30 p.m. Israel time in my blonde sheitel and sunglasses disguise (hey, if Jameel can wear a yellow smiley face)—but it was worth it! Except for a (somewhat annoying) photo op by a politician (Bibi made a cameo appearance, and talked. And talked. And- until they had to stop him-), I thought this convention, after a few introductions and identity-and-purpose explanations, actually started to touch on something. One of the ideas with potential, was that Jewish bloggers may have more of an impact than they think, and another was a presentation, initially a bit boring but which gained momentum, indicating the need for better hasbara about Israel . I was present (virtually) in the chat room, and after fidgeting with my browser (Firef...