KosherAcademic

check out my new blog!

2011-08-10T16:30:00.002-04:00

I've decided to archive my Shabbat (and Yom Tov) menus via blog. Here's a link to the new blog:

KosherAcademic's 52 weeks of Shabbat menus

Come and check it out!

Friday Update, Parshat Behar

2011-05-15T19:33:00.002-04:00

Thank G-d it’s Friday! It’s been a very, very busy week for us here. HaSafran had a very large and complicated report due today at work, so he’s been working hard on it all week. I managed to finish half of my comprehensive journal on Wednesday. I did this in about 4 weeks time total, which is just unheard of AFAIK. In addition, on Monday I went to a conference, and on Tuesday evening HaSafran and I got to go out to dinner—the organizers of the conference (colleagues/professors from another university here in town) invited myself and Hasafran to join them and the other conference participants for dinner at one of newest kosher restaurants in town. We had a lovely time; the food was good, the ambiance was great, and the conversation was fabulous. We sat at a table with 8 other academics. In the meantime, I’ve been continuing to work hard on the journal, although I will have to switch gears soon as I begin teaching my summer class in a little over 3 weeks.

Claire’s grade started the 6th grade standardized testing this week. She’s been relatively nonchalant about it—but I think it is because it’s all been English language thus far. JR and Zoe have been well, with nothing out of the ordinary to report.

On Tuesday I took Claire and JR to the Israel Day rally. I don’t like going to anything where there’s a big crowd, and this wasn’t different. However, seeing all the Israeli flags waving, and being among the 12,000 people who turned out for the rally was pretty powerful. (Although I did get a sunburn. Ugh.) Best of all, it’s been gorgeous all week—beautiful blue skies, light breezes. Just stunning. I’m trying to soak in the rest of it now, because it’s supposed to be rainy on and off for the next TWO weeks. Ew.

That’s about all there is to report on this end. I’ve got chocolate chip cookies in the oven, so I’m going to have to run in a minute anyway.

And for those of you wondering how Mother’s Day went, it was exactly what I asked for! HaSafran kept the kids busy so I could work, he ordered pizza and poutine for lunch, and he grilled for dinner. He also bought me a French press, the same one I had over Pesach that I enjoyed so much. The Z-girl made me a jewelry box, and JR made me a beautiful card. (Apparently the 6th graders were too busy preparing for the provincial exams to make things for their moms. C’est la vie.)

Friday Update, Parshat Emor

2011-05-06T12:29:00.003-04:00

For some time now I've been sending out Friday family updates to our friends and family. In only recently occurred to me that this might be a good thing to add to the blog. So here's the first from this week, and we'll see how it goes from there.
------------------

Happy Friday! It is *finally* sunny here, after almost a full week of lousy, rainy weather. I don’t know if it is going to last, but I’m definitely planning on kicking the kids outside to play while the weather permits.

It has been, for all intents and purposes, a fairly uneventful, standard week for all of us. So there isn’t much to report. I am continuing to plan my trip to Europe—just this week I purchased my last plane ticket, this one from Milan to London. Now its time to work out all the various details—the latest being where I am going to be for Shabbat while in the UK. I was going to stay in London, but I just received an invitation from a friend to spend the weekend in Cambridge, so I will more than likely do that once I work out the details.

For my first Shabbat, I will be in Vencie with a good friend who will also be there (for a different conference). The kids are very excited about this, especially since Zoë recently received Olivia Goes to Venice from her Bubbe and Zayde Rabba. In recognition of that, Zoë has informed me that I should get a picture with Olivia if I see her there. (The conversation was a little strange in the beginning, when she asked me “are there pigs in Venice?” out of the blue. It took a few more questions to determine she was talking about Olivia and not questioning the animal make-up of the city, lol.) Also, since Olivia and her family eat lots of gelato in the book, I was informed that for dessert this week I was going to make gelato. (Zoë and JR both requested I bring some back from Venice, but after nixing that, this was their next best solution.)

On Sunday HaSafran took the Z girl and visited the local farmers market for the first time this season. While there wasn’t a lot of produce yet, they had a lovely time, and HaSafran found where he could get jicama when it is in season, something he hasn’t been able to find since we moved here.

Otherwise, it’s been a very mellow, and, well, typical week for us. Here's wishing everyone a beautiful weekend full of sunshine!

How they grow

2011-05-06T09:33:00.002-04:00

I am well aware that my youngest, my Z girl, will be 5 in a few short weeks. That's right, my baby will be 5, will be starting kindergarten in the fall. However, last night I was almost in tears over this very fact, and it was brought on by something totally silly. Zoe woke up crying, as she does periodically, as she has night terrors (which thankfully have lessened as she's gotten older). Most of the time when this happens, we go in to her, but if you know anything about night terrors, you know there isn't much you can do. Still, as a parent, I can't just ignore it, so we go in to see if there IS anything we can do. So last night she woke up, crying, but before I had the chance to go to her, she stopped. It was quiet for a minute or two, then I heard her walking around. She came to the top of the stairs and called to me, "Maman, will you please come lay down with me for a few minutes?"

I realize this in and of itself is not a big deal, but really, my baby is old enough to request my presence in the middle of the night. She's grown enough to ask nicely, to not just cry until she gets her way. Again, I know this is not such a big deal, but the situation really drove home the fact that she is growing up rather quickly.

Decluttering!

2011-05-04T13:42:00.004-04:00

Wow, it has been a while since I've posted. I will try and do so more regularly. In the meantime, I took it on to declutter my closet. Here are the before and after photos:

Closet before Decultter:
Closet AFTER Declutter:
I suppose it doesn't look like THAT big of a difference, but I cleared out over a foot of clothes! There's a handful (perhaps 5 items) that I'm keeping in storage, and if I don't take them out in the next 6 months I'm going to part with them, but I'm not quite ready to give them up yet. However, the rest got donated, so I am FREE from them.

I didn't photograph it, but I also did the same for my shoes, my hats, and ALL of my drawers. It was hard, but I felt SO good the next day!

Happy 13th anniversary

2011-03-23T08:16:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to wish a happy anniversary to HaSafran. Our 13th anniversary was actually yesterday, March 22. We enjoyed a fabulous steak dinner and drinks to go with it, a real treat. We also did a little addition, and came up with the following:

19 jobs
10 college/university affiliations
7 apartments
7 automobiles
4+ degrees
3 kids
3 cities
2 countries
2 states
1 province
13+ years and counting!

Minimalist Living

2011-03-23T08:11:00.002-04:00

I love the idea of cutting back, cutting down, getting rid of all the "extras". That being said, I think that there is a balance to it--I have no intention of cutting down my belongings to 100 or less items, the way many of the extreme minimalists live. But I think our society encourages consumerism and having 'stuff' and, when it comes down to it, this is not a good way to live--just trying to get the next thing, the better thing, getting more (or better?) stuff. It just isn't the way I'd like to live my life.

What got me thinking about this was a recent article in Mothering.com from the Minimalist Mom, who has her own blog here. It is inspiriting to begin cutting things down, cutting things out.

Then again, Pesach is coming very soon, so that will take priority, of course!

G-d willing I will post Purim pictures soon. HaSafran and I both dressed up for the first time in our marriage.

Happy 9th Birthday, JR

2011-03-06T09:23:00.002-05:00

9 years ago today my precocious son was born at 2:01am. Read his birth story here. Also 9 years ago, as I lay in bed recovering from the l&d, my new son sleeping near-by, HaSafran calls me (I had sent him home for some sleep and a shower). The conversation:

HS: You have mail. From Brandeis.
Me: So?
HS: I'm opening it. Dear KA, We are pleased to inform you of our acceptance into our Masters program...etc.
Me: What?
HS: Brandeis accepted you to their grad program, honey.
Me: Oh. I can't deal with this today. Can't you tell me tomorrow?

Brandeis was the first of 4 fabulous offers to Masters programs, and some truly difficult decisions--not only about whether we would move away from Chicago, or which school I would go to, but also whether or not this was the life we wanted to pursue for our family. We knew that if we made that decision that we were trading the steady 2-person income, the mortage and 2-car family for a harder (especially financially) academic lifestyle. (I wonder if I should stop speaking in the pluarl now, although I do think HaSafran would agree with me.) While it hasn't been an easy road, I feel truly blessed to have made the decisions we made, to be where I am (and where we are) today. We have B"H a wonderful family, and both HaSafran and I are doing something we love. The kids seem to be thriving (although Claire still does hate French; I'm not sure if that will ever go away). Thank G-d, we are a content family.

Ultimately, my kids' birthdays are days, for me, not only of celebration, but also reflection on the decisions we have made, on the people and family we have become, and on how we are raising our children. JR is a lovely and precocious young man, smart, exhausting, silly, and all things wonderful.

Happy birthday!

Double Chocolate-Orange Torte

2011-01-28T13:20:00.008-05:00

Anyone following me on twitter may have seen the picture of the quite yummy-looking chocolate orange cake I made last week for Shabbat. As promised, I'm posting the recipe here.

Double Chocolate-Orange Torte

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1.5 tsp baking powder

.5 tsp baking soda

.5 tsp salt

.5 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar
4 eggs

2 Tbs. orange liqueur (like cointreau; you can probably substitute OJ)

1/2 cup water

1 Tbs finely shredded orange peel

1 Tbs orange liqueur

1 Tbs orange juice
1/2 cup orange marmalade

Chocolate Icing & Chocolate Curls

1/3 cup whipping cream (like Rich's Whip)
1 Tbs light-colored corn syrup

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped OR 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces (ie chocolate chips)

Bar of Semisweet Chocolate for chocolate curls

Grease and flour an 8x8x2 inch baking pan (square or round, your choice); set aside. In a heavy saucepan place chopped unsweetened chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate just starts to melt. Remove from heat. Stir until smooth; cool. Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar; beat until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each. Beat in chocolate and the 2 Tbs liqueur. Add flour mixture and water alternately to egg mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Stir in orange peel. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
Bake at 350 about 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool cake on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Loosen edges of cake with a spatula. Invert onto wire rack. Remove the pan. Cool cake thoroughly on wire rack.
Combine the 1 Tbs liqueur and orange juice. Split cake in half horizontally (if you don't know how to do this, you can google for instructions/video). Sprinkle each cut side with half of the liqueur mixture. Place bottom half of cake, cut side up, on a platter; spread the marmalade evenly on top. Top with remaining cake layer, cut side down.
Prepare Chocolate icing: In a heavy small saucepan combine whipping cream and corn syrup. Bring just to boiling, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in 6 oz (or 1 cup) semisweet chocolate, stirring until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Cool to room temperature. Stir before using.
Frost the cake with icing. Decorate sides OR top with chocolate curls pressed gently into icing.

To make chocolate curls: take the bar of chocolate and your vegetable peeler, and peel chocolate curls off of it. If they are too fragile to pick up, you can refrigerate them until they are firmer before pressing gently into frosting.

Note: You could also easily substitute the orange flavor with another flavor such as raspberry; just replace the liqueur with raspberry liqueur and use seedless raspberry preserves.

Claire's bat mitzvah speech

2011-01-27T18:40:00.002-05:00

As you know from a previous post, Claire has to give a 2 minute speech at her grade 6 class bat mitzvah. It ends up she turned in the topic before discussing it with me, so I didn't have much opportunity to decide about any agenda I wanted to get across.

Still, she decided on the topic of Miriam and shirat hayam (Exodus 15:20-21).

I don't recall writing before about the homework situation that we parents have to deal with, but I can touch upon it briefly here (and hope to write more about it in the future). Basically, many parents, at least at the school my kids are at, seem to think they can do their kids' homework, especially the projects. HaSafran and I feel very differently than this--what's the point of them getting the homework to learn, if we do it for them? That doesn't mean we don't help them--we do, but we limit it to helping them rather than doing it for them.

All that being said, things like this, like asking an 11-or-12 year old to write a 2 minute speech that is cohesive and interesting, without any guidance, is just ridiculousness. It happens I can manage, and hopefully I have begun to teach her about how to research for and write a speech. But what about all those other parents who aren't well-versed in these things? Shouldn't it be that if the teachers at this age are going to give an assignment like this, that they teach the kids how to do it? Or at least offer some guidance? (In all fairness, I'm not sure what the teacher told them, Claire just came home and said she had to write a 2 minute speech and this was her topic.)

Anyhoo, Claire's speech was 1 of 2 out of the 19 in the class that doesn't need to be worked on further. And the teacher asked her to ask me if I would help edit the other girls' speeches. I am flattered...but I don't think I have the time to teach them all how to do this!

After the bat mitzvah I will ask Claire if we can post the speech to the blog. While I did heavily edit it for her, against my general better judgment, the majority of the work is hers--I assisted her with the research, made her write up rough drafts, which I edited, then had her write more, and then edited those, and then she read it out loud and I timed it, and together we edited it more so it would be about the right length. (It is still a little long, about 3 minutes, but we're getting there!)

ADHD and Karate

2011-01-24T15:46:00.004-05:00

JR is trying out a karate class this afternoon after school. We have been a long time in finding the right activity for him--"right" here being a combination of his desires, cost, location and time. At this point, it was a toss up between karate and swimming, and we got a phone call last night from a friend whose son (one of Claire's classmates) had been considering karate as well--they found a place, not too far away, not terribly expensive, and they could take JR with them to try and it, and later for classes, if we wanted/needed. All this happened in the blink of an eye last night, and voila, he'll be headed there after school today.

It ends up that karate and other martial arts are fantastic activities for children with ADHD. It requires intense mental and physical focus, clear rules to follow, positive role models and interaction with peers. For JR, it is also not a team sport, necessarily--that is, each person advances at his or her own level, which takes a certain performance pressure off.

The hope, of course, is that JR likes it. Especially once he realizes that it isn't all Jackie Chan and Avatar: The Last Airbender moves.

Adoption and birth parents--revisited

2011-01-23T18:43:00.002-05:00

Just a few days ago I wrote about the situation involving HaSafran's birth family requesting that he come and visit since his birth father was dying of cancer. Well, yesterday on Shabbat Parshat Yitro (17 Shvat 5771), Yisrael ben Mushka lost his battle with cancer and passed away.

Baruch Dayan HaEmet--blessed is the true judge. May his memory be a blessing.

For those of you wondering, since the reason that HaSafran wanted to go out--to say goodbye to his birth father-- is no longer in play, he has decided not to visit at this point.

Piskóta with Walnuts

2011-01-21T10:02:00.005-05:00

I've been in a mood, frustrated that we keep eating the same things over and over again. So I'm taking it out...on Shabbat desserts. A few weeks ago, we were browsing through an "Ultimate Cakes" cookbook that my friend gave me, and found this fantastic-looking Hungarian cake with walnuts and rum. According to the cookbook:

This sponge cake was brought into the Hungarian court of King Matthias in the late 15th century, after he married Princess Beatrix, the daughter of the king of Naples. This piskota is made as a roulade and flavored with walnuts.

And by the way, this recipe, minus the rum, could be used for Pesach.

Piskota with Walnuts

from the Ultimate Cake (p. 68) and adapted as a pareve kosher recipe by yours truly

For the cake:

4 eggs, separated
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 tsp instant coffee
2 tsp rum
3/4 cup walnut pieces, finely chopped (I pureed them in the food processor)

For the filling:
1 1/4 cups pareve whipping cream
1 Tbs rum
2 Tbs granulated sugar

For the decoration:
7 oz seisweet chocolate
walnut pieces

Preheat oven to 350F.
Use a 15x10.75 jelly roll pan, greased and lined (I used parchment paper and cooking spray)

For the cake, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until pale, thick and doubled in volume. Dissolve the instant coffee in the rum and whisk into the egg yolk mixture.

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites into soft peaks. Carefully fold the walnut pieces into the egg yolk mixture, followed by the egg whites, taking care not to deflate the whites.

Pour the mixture into prepared pan. Lighly level the surface, making sure the corners are filled. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned and soft and springy to the touch.

Remove from the oven and invert onto a sheet of waxed paper sprinkled with granulated sugar (always sprinkle liberally when making a rolled cake). Cover with a slightly damp dish towel and leave to cool.

For the filling, whip the cream, rum and guar into soft peaks. Remove the cloth from the roulade and peel off the lining paper. Spread the cream over the roulade (leaving about 1" on either end) and roll. (If you've never done this before, do a search online to see how it is done. It isn't difficult, but you need to do it carefully.)

For the decoration, melt the chocolate in a double boiler, stirring constantly. Spread evenly over the roulade with a narrow spatula. Let cool slightly (about 10-15 min), then swirl gently with a fork to create a design. Sprinkle over the walnut pieces and let set before serving.

Refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, until you use.

CFP--Emerging Normativities: Examining the Formation of Proto-Orthodox Christianities and Rabbinic Judaisms 200-800 CE

2011-01-19T18:22:00.001-05:00

Call For Papers

Emerging Normativities: Examining the Formation of Proto-Orthodox Christianities and Rabbinic Judaisms 200-800 CE

September 21-22, 2011

St. Thomas More College

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Within the past thirty years scholarly understandings of the relationship between formative Judaism and formative Christianity have gone through several important shifts. Most recently Daniel Boyarin has posited that in their earliest phases Judaism and early Christianity were almost identical, differing only in the terminology used in their worship rather than in the epistemic structure of their theologies. Nevertheless, according to Boyarin, the leaders of both communities began inscribing boundaries around Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism, using the practices of the other group as examples of how not to believe and/or practice.

In this conference we wish to examine this hypothesis by focusing on the period wherein Boyarin believes the boundaries between the two groups became especially solidified, at least at the official level. Specifically this is the period post-Nicea (325-800 CE) on the Christian side and the Stammaitic period (500-800 CE) on the Jewish side. As a result, we ask contributors to consider how both the emerging Proto-Orthodox Christianities (Catholic, Orthodox, and Celtic) as well as the emerging Rabbinic Judaisms established both discursive and theological norms for their respective communities, or not as the case may be. We are also interested in drawing lines of continuity or discontinuity from the Ante-Nicene period as well as from the Tannaitic and Amoraic periods. In particular, we are interested in how Jewish and Christian norms may or may not have been established in counterpoint to the norms of different religious groups. Of specific concern is the manner in which these norms might have addressed the issue of the religious other, whether these others might have been Jewish, Christian, or pagan.

Our confirmed plenary speakers are Daniel Boyarin (UC Berkeley) and Anders Runesson (McMaster University). We also invite proposals for 20 minute paper presentations addressing both Jewish and Christian aspects of this problem for three panels defined by three historical periods: 0-200 CE; 200-500 CE; and 500-800 CE.

Proposals should be 250-300 words in length and submitted to Dr. Simon Lasair (slasair@stmcollege.ca) by March 31, 2011. Responses will be given by the end of April 2011. Students are encouraged to apply, with a cover letter from their supervisor. Also, submissions concerning the material cultures of the historical periods covered are especially encouraged.

Adoption and birth parents

2011-01-19T12:56:00.002-05:00

As some of you may know, Ha_Safran is adopted. It is a complicated (and interesting) story that I am not going to get into at this point--it is, after all, his story to tell. However, with his permission, I wanted to write about a situation we are currently going through. You see, Ha_Safran's birth father is dying of cancer.

This birth father, and by extension a birth sister and various other birth relatives have requested Ha_Safran to visit one more time. While the visit may or may not be, from our perspective, one of absolution, I think it is both from the birth father and the birth family's perspective, even though Ha_Safran does not have the ability to offer this absolution, and yet I think that is what they are intending. His visit, should he chose to go, will be more about some sort of closure for him, I think, and knowing that he won't regret not going in the future.

While I can only begin to imagine the mental anguish this situation causes Ha_Safran, I am surprised by my own bitterness toward the situation. It is not that I am bitter that he was given up for adoption, as I am not. Nor am I upset at Ha_Safran for choosing to go, if he wants. But the request itself bothers me, and I can't quite figure out why.

Thoughts, anyone?

Out of Season...

2011-01-19T06:26:00.000-05:00

Hadassah's Wednesday Wacky sign (found here, but also reposted below) reminds me of a story. I was at a restaurant in the middle of winter, and ordered iced tea. I was told I couldn’t have it because it was “out of season.” What is this, I ask, a fruit?? I asked for 2 tea bags and hot water, and a big glass of ice. The server certainly felt stupid when he saw what I was doing…lol.

Parshat Shmot

2010-12-24T14:23:00.000-05:00

I'd love to think I'm going to put up some words of wisdom every week about the weekly Torah portion, but I know from past experience that to commit myself to something like this is just unfeasible with my busy schedule. That doesn't mean, however, I can't share a nice dvar Torah I found online. You can check it out here.

2-minute dvar torah from an 11 year old

2010-12-21T10:52:00.000-05:00

I just learned that Claire will need to write a 2 minute D'var Torah for the March bat-mitzvah. While I haven't had the time to discuss it with her yet, I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas that will help us brainstorm.

And yes, my darling husband HaSafran, I will (try to) remember that this is NOT a platform for me to make a statement.

Learning for/from the Bat Mitzvah

2010-12-20T08:26:00.000-05:00

I have barely begun to read the JOFA Bat Mitzvah journal (link below) and already feel like I have much to figure out with Claire. While she has no desire to learn to lein (read from the Torah), and I would not force her to (although I would find her a teacher if she *did* want to learn), I still want this to be more than just a big party for her. I would like her Bat Mitzvah to be a meaningful experience that helps not just connect her to her Judaism, but also solidifies her identity as a Modern Orthodox (MO) young lady, and a valued member of the community.

One of the things I read that appeals to me is having the Bat Mitzvah girl learn, something that she can then incorporate into her dvar Torah and her experience as a MO Jew. I will have to brainstorm and discuss the ideas with Claire, of course, but thank G-d we have a wonderful Kollel Torah MiTzion here from which we can draw fabulous MO Zionist female role models.

Ultimately, though, this reminds me that while Claire needs role models outside of our home, I am the foremost possible role model, and I should not discount my own actions. While I think she will appreciate and be less frustrated learning with someone other than me (not to discount the possibility of learning *with* me as well), perhaps it is time for me take on additional responsibilities as well. What do I mean by this? Recently, in the course of casual conversation with some of the other mothers at Claire's school, I was asked if I would be interested in leading a Rosh Chodesh learning group. I said I would think about it, but really, I tend to shy away from these things. "Why?" You might ask? Mostly because even though I have been observant for well over 14 years, I am still fearful of leading a group of frum Jews in any kind of learning. I'm also certain they know more than I do, that I will "give myself away" so to speak, by my choice of words or my pronounciation, or say or do something that makes it obvious that I'm newer to the "tribe" (as a BT) than they are.

But it may be time to get over that, to embrace the past and who I was and acknowledge that I may, quite possibily, never speak the same language, use the same vocabulary, fit in exactly. (Come to think of it, I know that already. HaSafran and I are so not mainstream Jews, even as MO Jews--we are well aware of this and we`ve come to accept and embrace it.) So I think I may call up this other mother and inquire as to whether or not she is still interested, and ask what she had in mind.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the first topic?

Bat Mitzvah Journal

2010-12-15T13:18:00.000-05:00

I just found this link to the JOFA Bat Mitzvah Journal, with some really great articles. I'm looking forward to gleaning some great ideas from it. Enjoy!

Scrapbooking with the Bat Mitzvah Girls

2010-12-09T08:50:00.001-05:00

Today is a scary/exciting day for me. I will be teaching girls younger than 18. Yikes!

Okay, so I'm being a little mellowdramatic. At Claire's school they have a grade-wide bat mitzvah celebration during the 6th grade year, and one of the activities (beyond the many, many wonderful things that they do) is to create a scrapbook. Considering my limited knowledge of the area (at least compared with those parents who grew up here), it seemed to me that I could help out by assisting the girls with their scrapbooking skills. So today I am braving my fear of teaching kids below college-age, shlepping in all my various supplies and accoutrements, and scrapbooking with the 6th grade girls at Claire's school.

Here are the basics I plan to teach/show/do with them:

Pick out 4-8 pictures based around a theme. This theme can be anything from "my first birthday" to "family vacation in Florida" to "hanging out with my friends."
Think of a title. It should be explanatory: anyone looking a the scrapbook should be able to figure out what the theme of the page is based on your title. However, it can be fun and catchy, too. "Splish Splash!" could be a title for a day at the beach.
Consider your photos. Do you want to crop (cut) any of them? Consider whether they might look best if you change their shape or size--is there a stranger in the back of that photo who doesn't need to be there and can easily be cut out? Also consider matting (layering) one or more of your photos to highlight it. Do not cut off any distinguishing features. For instance, in a photo of you in New York, do not cut out the Statue of Liberty behind you--the statue is a distinguishing feature of where you were when the picture was taken.
BEFORE TAPING/GLUING ANYTHING, consider the layout of your page or spread (a spread is 2 pages). What will your main colors be? Where will your title go? What about your pictures?
Now lay out all the pieces on your page/spread. You still do not want to glue/tape anything. Take the time to get it right before you make it permament. Figure out where you want your "extras" to go as well--any journaling, stickers, etc.
Once you are happy with the layout, make it permanent with tape or glue. (Remember to use archival quality material!) Begin with the background paper(s) if you are using any, then add the largest pieces & photos.
Add your title.
Journal--Tell the viewer something about the page/spread or about individual pictures.
Small items such as stickers and designs can usually be added last.
Remember: white space (or open space) is part of the design. You do not need to cover every inch!
Last: HAVE FUN! This should be a fun activity that helps you commemorate your life up until your bat mitzvah!

Please join me...

2010-11-16T09:09:00.001-05:00

Please join me over at KosherAcademic Maman as I (attempt to) undertake blogging (again), with a few twists (and lots of recipes).

Simple Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter

2010-11-14T19:22:00.001-05:00

The second recipe that I made from Smitten Kitchen was a simple tomato sauce. My colleague went on and on about how fantastic this recipe is, and how simple it is. True enough, it is three (or four, if you add salt) ingredients. After some discussion with another (kosher) foodie friend, she argued that the fantastic-ness of the recipe is from the specific tomatoes needed, that is, a can of San Marzano tomatoes, and that otherwise it is okay, but nothing special. We couldn't find kosher San Marzano tomatoes at the store, so HaSafran bought some organic Italian tomatoes with the hopes that these would work just as well.

Tonight we made the sauce and served it over linguine, along with a very yummy salad made by my lovely HaSafran. Initially we had it as is, with only a little Parmesan cheese, and it was good, but didn't blow me out of the water in its flavor. For seconds, I skipped on the Parmesan and added some feta and pine nuts. This transformed it into a real treat.

I will certainly make this again, although I do not think it will replace my usual marinara sauce.

Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter
from Smitten Kitchen

1 28oz can whole peeled tomatoes (San Marzano, if possible, otherwise some alternate)
1 onion, skin removed and halved
5 Tbs butter (note that butter is the key ingredient here, so do not substitute with margarine. This is a DAIRY recipe!)
Salt, if desired/necessary

Put tomatoes, onion and butter in a (smallish) heavy saucepan. I had used an 8qt and it was too big.
Bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce to simmer for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally, crushing the tomatoes against the side of the pot with a spoon.
Remove from heat, discard the onion, and add salt if necessary.
Serve on hot pasta, adding Parmesan cheese if you like, or you can add the feta and pine nuts as I suggest above.

Roasted Eggplant Soup

2010-11-14T19:04:00.002-05:00

Last week a colleague of mine introduced me to the fabulous foodie website Smitten Kitchen. Since then I have made two of her recipes. The first, Roasted Egg plant Soup, I made on Friday for lunch and it was amazing! While I varied the recipe to some degree, it was, for the most part the recipe on the site. I will reproduce it below with my changes.

Roasted Eggplant Soup

1 large eggplant, top cut off and halved
3 medium tomatoes, halved
1 small onion, skin removed and halved
6 large garlic cloves, skin kept on
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp dried thyme
4 cups chicken stock or veggie broth
Salt and pepper
feta cheese to top (optional)
croutons (optional)

Preheat oven to 400F. Place eggplant, tomatoes, onion and garlic cloves on baking pan. Brush or drizzle with oil. Roast for 45 minutes (if you do not keep the garlic in the skin, take them out after 20 min or they will burn).**
Scoop eggplant out of its skin and place in pot. Add the rest of the vegetables, the stock and the thyme. Bring to a boil and then simmer until onion is very tender. (Mine took about 15 minutes, the website instructions say about 40 minutes.)
Puree with an immersion blender or by putting ingredients in a blender.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a bowl, and add feta cheese and croutons, if desired.

**ADDENDUM (17 May 2011): I finally got an oven thermometer, and my oven temperature settings are off by almost 50F. I would recommend checking the garlic after 20-25 min, just in case.

Claire's first bat mitzvah party

2010-11-14T18:30:00.000-05:00

This is a big year for us here--in less than a year, our eldest child Claire will be Bat Mitzvah. In the meantime, many of the girls in her grade are becoming Bat Mitzvah already, and some are having parties. (An aside: in March of the 6th grade year at the school Claire is attending, there is one bat mitzvah celebration for all the girls. However, many of the girls still have an additional celebration around their actual bat mitzvah.) Last night Claire attended the first of her classmates' bat mitzvah parties.

Actually, the grade-wide bat mitzvah celebration puts us in an interesting situation. While we are very glad that there is this lovely celebration--and it is lovely, a very nice, fancy party where we honor all the girls--it seems...odd, perhaps? to invite all of our many family members and even more numerous friends to such a celebration, especially considering the emphasis will not be on Claire, but on all the girls. Sure, Claire will speak (briefly), as will the other 18 girls. To top it off, it's almost $90/person additional to what we are already paying for the actual celebration.

However, the cost of a Shabbat simcha is also prohibitive: For instance, inviting family, arranging places for them to stay, and then renting out the shul (since our apartment is not big enough to host that many people) and paying a caterer (if I could cook at the shul, it would cut back on the costs as well, but it isn't permitted) to feed people for Friday night, Saturday lunch, and perhaps even a smaller breakfast or brunch on Sunday...well, we haven't priced it out yet, but someone doing something similar for her son's bar mitzvah paid well over $5000, and that was for a lovely and MODEST simcha.

So we're trying to work through the various options, and soon enough we're going to begin calling various locations and catering companies/restaurants to try and price things out. If you have suggestions on how to keep the price down, please do let us know! We want this to be a special day for Claire, but not something that breaks the bank and stresses us out!

Garlic Sausage Soup

2010-11-10T19:43:00.000-05:00

So this is our favorite thing to do with Romanian (kosher) Garlic Sausage. The sausage is from a fantastic butcher in Chicago (Romanian Kosher) which is just about the yummiest kosher meat around. Whenever we visit Chicago we try to bring back our favorites, garlic sausage being one of them. If you want to try this out and you aren't blessed with access to Romanian's garlic sausage, you can always pick up something local that you already enjoy and try it out. If your sausage isn't a bit spicy, you may want to add some garlic while sauteing the sausage.

The best thing about this recipe (besides the fact that it is FANTASTIC tasting) is that it takes all of about 15-20 minutes MAX to prepare. Check it out:

Garlic Sausage Soup

1 garlic sausage (about 12 inches long)
Cooking spray
1 large (28oz) can diced tomatoes
1 tsp each: basil, oregano
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup small pasta (like small shells or macaroni)
4 cups baby spinach

Spray a large pot with cooking spray. Slice sausage into 1/2 inch slices and cut those in half. Saute in pan over medium heat until slightly browned, 3-5 minutes. (If you are not using a spicy sausage, you may want to saute garlic at this point as well.)

Add can the rest of the ingredients except spinach. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes or until pasta is cooked.

Add spinach and heat through until spinach has wilted. Serve and enjoy!

Hiatus

2010-06-20T21:44:00.001-04:00

As if it isn't already painfully and embarrassingly obvious, we're on a brief hiatus. I wondered altogether if I just shouldn't take the blog down, considering how infrequently I post to begin with, but several friends recommended I leave it up.

Ultimately, it's not a question of whether or not I want to keep the blog, as I do, it's a question of priorities. And this one is, for better or worse, way down on the list between kids, academia, religions and all the various whatnots that come with that.

I'm guessing most of you know what I'm talking about :)

So for now, we're on hiatus, but G-d willing we will be back at some point.

The Religion Beat: Religion in the Public Sphere

2010-03-03T16:53:00.001-05:00

The Religion in the Public Sphere initiative (RPS) at the University of Toronto is pleased to announce the official launch of 'The Religion Beat'.

This blog focuses on the place of religion in the public sphere and is moderated by the RPS student steering committee. Its purpose is to further the Initiative's mission by bringing folks from inside and outside the university together to discuss religion. As a result, this blog is open to everyone. Articles can be posted by contacting one of the blog's moderators, as listed on the site; we are always interested in comments and contributions from around academia.

Come check us out, and join the conversation at religionbeat.blogspot.com.

Young (Jewish) Adults Writer's Workshop

2010-03-01T22:03:00.002-05:00

I had the honor of taking Claire to a social event for a Writer's Workshop held at the Jewish Library this evening. Tomorrow she will participate in the actual workshop, meeting with two different authors for sessions on/about writing. She is very excited to be attending (and perhaps equally excited to be missing a day of school in order to do this).

The writers themselves were fascinating to listen to, and I do think that I may have gotten more out of their talks this evening than she did. It was most fascinating to be reminded by successful authors, what it means to be a writer. Mostly it was the consistent reminder from all of them, at various times in their talks and said in various ways, that a writer must write from their own experiences, from what they know.

It is funny how much Claire loves writing, because ever since when I was in first grade, it is what I've wanted to do. It isn't surprising to me that she loves it so much because of this, and because both HaSafran and I are avid readers. What was interesting to me at this session is that while I have never been published (at least not outside academia), I do feel that I am a writer.

Purim Shpiel 2010

2010-02-28T13:10:00.001-05:00

This is just hilarious! Special thanks to my DH HaSafran for sharing it.

JR lost a tooth this evening

2010-02-13T21:08:00.003-05:00

After a week of playing with it and grossing out his sisters, JR lost a tooth this evening--the third one that he's lost. Considering he's just 3 weeks shy of his 8th birthday, he seems to be a late bloomer.

Readings for Learning to Teach in Higher Education

2010-02-13T19:06:00.000-05:00

Samantha over at Scholarly Bound has posted a fantastic bibliography on readings for learning to teach in higher education. See it here.

Jacob Neusner gets a private audience with the Pope

2010-02-12T10:38:00.001-05:00

Quoting from the blog:

In 2000, prolific scholar of rabbinic Judaism Jacob Neusner published A Rabbi Talks with Jesus (Montreal: McGill-Queen's University) in which he contrasted Jesus' message of the kingdom with the Jewish Torah's concept of Israel's relationship with God. Pope Benedict XVI found this imagined debate so intriguing that he felt compelled to address it in his 2007 book, Jesus of Nazareth (New York: Doubleday), in which he spent a chapter crafting a Christian response to some of the points Neusner raised. This thoughtful exchange constitutes one of the few times in Christianity's two-millennia history that a sitting pope has had a written, respectful exchange with a Jewish scholar, especially on the topic of Jesus. Afterwards, through a series of written exchanges, the respect between the two men and scholars grew, and Benedict invited Neusner for a private audience during the weekend on which the Pope visited a Roman synagogue, January 17, 2010. In this essay, Neusner recounts his short visit with Pope Benedict.

Read all about it here.

Academic-Motherhood Handicap

2010-02-12T09:07:00.003-05:00

There is a fantastic article recently posted on The Chronicle Website: The Academic-Motherhood Handicap.

I quote:

Academic mothers should unblushingly total up the time spent on reproduction and credit it on their vitas. Give it its own category; call it "reproductive allowance." For my two "easy" pregnancies conceived exactly when I planned them with complication-free deliveries, quick recoveries, and no lactation problems, my conservative estimate is 1,810 hours spent. Each. That's a book, right there, and then some.

This is just a sampling. The article addresses the issue of time spent by women (yes, women, and not men) on childbearing activities such as pregnancy, labor&delivery, lactation, basic early infant childcare, etc. and how these hours limit the academically-productive hours a woman has, which is reflected on her C.V. and makes her look less productive. The author calls into question the "silence" associated with child-rearing in academia as problematic, and, as shown above in the quotation, reflects on the possibility that women (and here she should include men as well) claim these hours on their C.V.s to show that they weren't just being laze-a-bouts, but engaged in productive, albeit not academic, work.

It is well worth the read, and a very good article.

Note: You may need to be logged in to your college/university/library's network in order to fully access articles on the Chronicle's website.

Healthy Bread Recipes?

2010-02-07T09:26:00.000-05:00

Looking for some healthy (but still tasty) homemade bread recipes. I have a bread machine...

Any suggestions/recommendations?

Mazel Tov!

2010-01-31T13:52:00.001-05:00

HaSafran is officially a certified archivist as of today. Mazel Tov!

I should also share the news that my BIL and his wife had a baby boy a few weeks ago. Mazel Tov to them as well!

In other news, we should be in Chicago for Pesach B"H.

What to do for Tu B'Shvat?

2010-01-24T13:12:00.004-05:00

This Friday night is Tu B'Shvat. Usually this ends up falling out on a weekday, so I don't worry about celebrating it with the kids (since they will do it at school). However, since it will be on Shabbat this week, I want to do something--but I have no idea what.

So, I'm hoping some of you have some ideas to share, keeping in mind the usual limitations that Shabbat creates.

Any ideas?

Rabbi Akiva says WHAT?

2010-01-23T20:13:00.002-05:00

In Zoe's playgroup on Shabbat the kids are always led in a Torah/daavening circle at the end. Of course, Zoe refuses to participate, but that's besides the point here. One of the songs that they sing every week is "Amar Rabbi Akiva," and goes like this:

Amar Rabbi Akiva
Amar Rabbi Akiva
What's mine is yours, what's yours is yours
This is the basis of the Torah

This song makes no sense to me. Now, I know I didn't grow up frum, so I turned to my main source of this stuff--HaSafran--who was taught the song in Hebrew when he was younger, but never bothered to even think about what it meant.

After a brief internet search, I came up with nothing more than little Moshe Dov singing the song:

Can anyone please explain this song to me?

Introducing HaSafran

2010-01-23T19:05:00.003-05:00

My DH and I have been talking for quite awhile about him joining me on blogging here, since I am often so busy and he would like a (periodic) outlet for his thoughts and analysis on...well, on everything. So I want to formally introduce my DH, HaSafran. He has already guest posted several times at DovBear's blog and he avidly follows DovBear, Emes Ve-Emunah, Life in Israel, and In the Pink, among others.

HaSafran will be posting an intro post soon, so stay tuned!

Email from a student

2010-01-23T18:56:00.003-05:00

This past Wed night I gave a lecture to 215 on the "Sanctity of Person and Place in Judaism" which included an explanation of family purity laws and mikvah. I am TAing for this intensive introduction to Judaism, and the Prof was gone, so I took over.

The beginning of the lecture was a mini-disaster, IMO, as I (and a friend who was there) couldn't get the laptop hooked up, and I ended up lecturing for half the class without it--while the IT guys worked on getting it to work behind me. (It wasn't us or the laptop that was the problem, you see, but the actual AV setup for the classroom.) I also have this very bad habit of speaking too quickly when I'm nervous, and one of the students had to ask me to slow down...which was fine. I did and it all went better from there.

After class a few students came up to tell me that they had enjoyed the lecture, and my friend (even after much prodding) couldn't offer even constructive criticism. Still, I just received this email from one of the students:

I thought your lecture on Wednesday was fantastic! In terms of charisma, you might not match up to the Prof but the photos you included made your lecture super interesting.

I know that there is a compliment in there, but all I do is read the "lack of charisma" statement and sigh.

Seeking ADHD resources in Montreal

2010-01-22T11:07:00.003-05:00

We are looking for ADHD resources for JR in Montreal. If you know of *any* (or even if you know of any to avoid) we would appreciate all recommendations, ideas, etc. If you know someone who might know something, please ask for us and pass along whatever you find out. We have found that navigating the healthcare system here is bureaucratic (at best) and that the best way to find information is through word of mouth.

We are especially interested in finding behavior therapists or something similar, although it would not hurt to have someone who could assist in relation to medication.

JR is doing okay at school. He's absolutely fine academically (assuming he actually does the work) but he is having some behavior issues.

How'd I get here?

2010-01-15T14:48:00.004-05:00

I'm feeling a bit run down. Well, I am TAing for an intensive class, taking 3 classes, on the editorial board for a journal, submitting various applications and abstracts (and an article I co-wrote). And, you know, being social, attempting to maintain some sanity at home, and of course, cooking and parenting. (I'm leaving the cleaning to DH for now, lol.)

As for the three classes, well, they are my *last* three official classes before I'm done with my coursework for the PhD. I've already arranged an extension for the final paper for one of them, as I know there is no way I could produce three *good* term papers, especially since the papers are due right after Pesach this year (and yes, we'll be back in Chicago for Pesach). Still, it is quite exciting to be at this end-point and already in discussion with my advisor/supervisor about major and minor comps. I've plans already to begin my minor comp over the summer, and since my minor comp advisor (who is different than my major comp advisor/dissertation supervisor) will be gone in July, we've got to get it all set up beforehand.

I've also been working on various abstracts and whatnot in order to submit to conferences. I've already been accepted to one (yay!) although it is the same weekend as one of my BFF's wedding (do you know Chaviva? If not, check here out here. She is a wonderful, fascinating person), so I'm not sure how the whole thing is going to work out yet. Still, it's all been good news so far!

And this course I am TAing for, well, it's an intensive intro to Judaism, and it is keeping me away from home/kids 2x/week. That sucks, but it is only for 8 classes, and then I have to mark the exams, but my TA obligations are done. And I get paid the entire semester. So both Dh and I feel it is worthwhile, but it is exhausting--especially since he works another night during the week. I will actually be teaching one session of the class this week, on "Sanctity of Person and Place" which means we get to discuss mikvah, a fun topic to explain and discuss to people unfamiliar with it.

(Another time I'll update on kids/DH. There is a whole megillah I could post about it, but thank G-d everyone is okay.)

So, it makes sense that I would feel a bit run down. I'm very much looking forward to Shabbat tonight. Shabbat Shalom y'all!

The Simpsons -- Comments about PhDs and Grad Students

2010-01-12T18:05:00.001-05:00

Sorry, I couldn't resist. This is *so* funny!

2 Baruch

2009-12-15T09:03:00.003-05:00

I am just finishing a paper on 2 Baruch, and I have gotten a number of questions regarding this relatively unknown apocryphal text. So, here goes a fairly quick summary:

2 Baruch (or the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch) is a Jewish apocalypse dated to between the Jewish War with Rome (c. 70ce) and the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135ce). Even though it is an apocalypse, it has been thought of as "normative" because of its strong exhortation to follow the law. Many scholars have called it both "Pharisaic" and "Proto-Rabbinic." I happen to think both phrases are cop-outs and contribute to the relatively small number of scholarly articles and books written on the apocalypse.

2 Baruch is unique, you see, in its combination of the exhortation of the law with its imminent eschatological bent. You know: Follow the Law, the world is ending soon! (To very, very loosely paraphrase.)

It is also a very important source for Judaism between the destruction of the temple and the codification of the Mishnah in about 200ce, a period that Mark Whitters (The Epistle of Second Baruch: A Study in Form and Message [New York: Sheffield Academic Press, 2003]) refers to as an "historical lacuna" in the history of Judaism.

The text itself is fascinating, albeit long. It is pseudepigraphic, that is, it claims to be written by Baruch, the scribe of the prophet Jeremiah, and set immediately before, during and right after the destruction of the first temple and the Babylonian exile.

The earlier text we have is in Syriac, and it was through the Christian Syriac church were the text was preserved. An Arabic version has also been found, but this version is considerably later than the Syriac. There also exists small fragments in both Greek and Latin. The original language of the piece is still under dispute: as the text itself claims that it was translated from the Greek, and we have fragments of some of the Greek text, it is perhaps safest to go under the assumption that the text was originally Greek. However, some scholars have seen evidence for a Semitic--Hebrew or Aramaic--original. Thus, the question remains open.

Some online resources:

The text online (not the best translation, and missing a bit at the end, but good for a gloss)
For a good translation, I recommend either Charlesworth's volume, or a new edition by Gurtner (which includes the Syriac and, where available, the Greek and Latin).
Wikipedia's entry on 2 Baruch
Other online resources can be found at the Early Jewish Writings website

Orange-Cranberry Wheat Germ Muffins

2009-12-13T13:40:00.002-05:00

These are a big hit around here, even with JR!

Orange-Cranberry Wheat Germ Muffins

Enjoy :)

Summer camps/housing in Israel?

2009-12-11T06:47:00.001-05:00

Now, don't go holding your breath, I'm just exploring possibilities (that aren't likely to happen). That being said, can anyone tell me anything about summer camp possibilities for the kids in Israel, prbly in or near Jerusalem? What about housing for a month or two?

Please feel free to pass this along if you know someone who would know. Thanks!

Call for Papers: Academic Study of Religion

2009-12-09T18:47:00.003-05:00

Arc, an interdisciplinary journal focused on the academic study of religion, just put out a call for papers. Please feel free to share/spread the word:

Arc, The Journal of the Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University is accepting articles for the upcoming volume, slated to appear in early Fall 2010.

Arc is an interdisciplinary, refereed journal published annually by the Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University. The journal combines the talents of professors and graduate students in offering space for scholarly discussions on various aspects of the academic study of religion—including method and theory in the study of religion—with focus in the following areas:

Philosophy of religion
Social ethics
History of religion
Comparative religion
Studies of sacred texts (including Eastern and Western traditions)
Theology
Interreligious dialogue

Arc encourages submissions from diverse religious traditions and perspectives.

The submission deadline is April 30, 2010. Articles and book reviews submitted after that date will be considered for the 2011 volume of Arc. For detailed submission guidelines, please consult the Guidelines for Contributors on our website. All electronic correspondence, including requests for review copies of books, should be sent to the editors Shayna Sheinfeld and Ian Pattenden at the following email address: arc.relgstud@mcgill.ca.

Moshav Band

2009-12-09T12:13:00.000-05:00

I am madly in love with this music: Moshav

The End (of the semester) is in Sight

2009-12-09T12:05:00.003-05:00

The End is in Sight...or, at least, the end of my semester is. My final paper (on 2 Baruch) is due next week, and then I get on to my winter break projects, which besides taking care of the family, all of whom will be home for a couple of weeks as well, will include at least one, possibly two book reviews, quite a bit of reading, and various other projects.

But I would also like to continue to write on why I left Christianity. Here are the original posts, and G-d willing another post will be up within a week.

Why I left Christianity (Part 1)
Why I left Christianity (Part 2)
Why I left Christianity (Part 3)

I am also hoping/planning on getting DH (aka HaSafran) to write a few blog entries. While he is not a regular blogger, he has done a couple of guest posts for DovBear:
Quantity or Quality?
When "Politics" take over Kashrut

Enjoy the winter-time reading, and let us know what you think!

Student Bloopers needed

2009-12-01T13:42:00.003-05:00

And along these lines, I'd love to hear some of your favourites as well! Post 'em in the comments section!!! (Please respect your students' privacy and keep them anonymous!)

While it isn't specified below, I assume the author is looking for college/university students and not students in primary or secondary schools.
--------------------------------
Student bloopers are needed, for a book to be published by Mitch Allen and Left Coast Press. Any and all areas desired: history, archaeology,English, science, etc. Bloopers already collected from student essays,exams, and research papers include gems such as "The Israelites...wondered in the dessert for 40 years." Please send via email to Eric Cline at ehcline@gwu.edu. Please also include a statement giving express permission to include the bloopers in the book.

From the Biblical-studies list-serv

JOB: University of British Columbia Faculty of Arts Diamond Chair in Jewish Law and Ethics

2009-11-30T06:41:00.001-05:00

This just arrived in my inbox this AM. Note the impending deadline!

(No, this isn't all I will be posting, I'm just in the midst of finals so I don't have time for a "real" post right now.)

------------------------
Applications are invited for a tenure-track position at the level of Assistant Professor in Jewish Law and Ethics in the Department of Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies (CNERS) in the Faculty of Arts, University of British Columbia. This position has been made possible by a generous benefaction by the Diamond Foundation. The position is subject to final budgetary approval. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. It is intended that the successful applicant will teach courses in the area broadly of Jewish law and ethics; in particular an ability to teach Rabbinic literature in its broad cultural context is essential. An ability to teach Rabbinic Hebrew and Aramaic would be an advantage. Candidates should already have completed their PhD and should be able to demonstrate excellence both in research and in teaching. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active program of research, graduate supervision, teaching, and service. The expected start date of the appointment is July 1st 2010. Informal enquiries may be made to the Head of the Department of CNERS, Professor R J A Wilson, at roger.wilson@ubc.ca. Please visit www.cnrs.ubc.ca for information about the department.

Applicants should send their letter of application, together with a copy of their curriculum vitae, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and the names and e-mail addresses of three referees. Candidates are asked to request that their referees write separately on their behalf to the address below, to reach the Department not later than the date indicated. E-mail applications are not acceptable, but referees’ signed letters of support can be so forwarded as a .pdf attachment (to the e-mail address indicated above) if any referee so wishes. Applications should be sent to Professor R J A Wilson, CNERS, Buchanan C227, 1866 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z1, to reach him not later than Friday January 8th 2010. It is proposed that interviews of short-listed candidates be held in the first ten days of February 2010.

We encourage all who are qualified to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. Candidates from this group are encouraged to self-identify.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. UBC is strongly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Graduate Studentship in Jewish History and Culture, Brasenose College

2009-11-29T12:24:00.001-05:00

Albert and Rachel Lehmann Graduate Studentship in Jewish History and Culture
in association with Brasenose College

If a suitable candidate presents him or herself, an election will be made to the Lehmann Studentship in Jewish History and Culture with effect from 1 October 2010.

The studentship comprises the equivalent of the university and college fee for up to three years (at either the UK/EU or overseas rate) and a maintenance grant of approximately £13,000 per annum. The award is tenable for one year in the first instance, renewable for up to a maximum of two further years subject to receipt of a satisfactory report from the supervisor. The award will be under the auspices of the Oxford University Hebrew and Jewish Studies Unit. The award is intended for any postgraduate student pursuing doctoral research in early modern or modern western/central European Jewish history and /or culture. Candidates must have obtained at least an upper second class degree or its equivalent in a relevant field of study. Enquiries regarding eligibility to apply may be addressed to Dr Joanna Weinberg, e-mail joanna.weinberg@orinst.ox.ac.uk.

Preferential consideration for accommodation at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies at Yarnton Manor will be given to the successful candidate. (See http://www.ochjs.ac.uk/)

Applications must include: (a) the course and faculty to which the candidate has applied for postgraduate study; (b) a brief statement of the academic career, including attainments and qualifications; (c) a brief statement of research interests; (d) the names of two referees (please see below); and (e) a statement of any other emoluments held or being applied for by the candidate.

All applications will be considered on their merits by a panel of representatives from the Hebrew and Jewish Studies Unit in the Faculty of Oriental Studies and Brasenose College.
Applications should be received by Charlotte Vinnicombe of the Unit for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, The Oriental Institute, Pusey Lane, Oxford OX1 2LE, e-mail orient@orinst.ox.ac.uk no later than 12th March 2010. Applicants should ask their referees to supply confidential references by the same date.

A separate application to the University for a place for doctoral study is required, and the award would be subject to an offer of a place from Brasenose College. Please see www.admin.ox.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/forms/.

Gender and Jewish Identity: An International Conference

2009-11-29T12:19:00.001-05:00

The Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Center for the Study of Women in Judaism
The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute
The Ruth and Emmanuel Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women
Invite proposals for lectures at a conference on:

Gender and Jewish Identity: An International Conference
June 2-3, 2010 at Bar-Ilan University

This Conference on Gender and Jewish Identity seeks to bring together scholars from diverse fields to discuss research related to gender and Jewish identity. The past decade has seen a tremendous growth of many types of identity research from a variety of perspectives, examining the contours of identity related to location, practice, heritage, culture and language.The production of new identities in different cultural contexts, as well as identity conflicts, has been central to scholarly discussions.

In Gender Studies as well as in Jewish Studies, within traditional disciplinary boundaries, these discussions have taken place in the past; however, these topics have rarely been examined in an inter-disciplinary context. For this interdisciplinary conference, we invite proposals for papers that focus on aspects of Gender and Jewish Identity from a variety of fields - sociology, history, literature, anthropology, law, education and philosophy from all historical periods and locations. Paper topics can include academic explorations and theoretical questions related to gender and Jewish identity as well as specific case studies.

The conference will take place at Bar Ilan University, June 2-3, 2010. Keynote address will be given by Prof. Sylvia Barrack Fishman of Brandeis University

Please complete the attached form (PDF) and send a short (one page) abstract and CV by January 3, 2010 to jwmn@mail.biu.ac.il.We will provide hotel accommodations for those traveling from abroad, and will consider applicants' requests for funding for travel.

CFP: Women in the Responsa Literature

2009-11-27T08:26:00.000-05:00

Copied from the H-Net Jewish Studies List-serv

CALL FOR PAPERS: WOMEN IN THE RESPONSA LITERATURE
The theme of issue no. 21 of Nashim (Spring 2011), under the consulting editorship of David Golinkin of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies,will be "Women in the Responsa Literature."

The responsa literature -- compilations of legal opinions written by rabbis and rabbinic judges in response to specific queries or cases -- is one of the largest branches, if not the largest branch of Jewish literature. Indeed, a new bibliography (Shmuel Glick, Kuntress hateshuvot hehadash, I--III, Jerusalem, 2006-2009) lists over 4,400 books or series containing responsa. The responsa are a fount of information about Jewish women on a host of topics, such as marriage, divorce, agunot (women who remain "chained" to missing, disabled or separated husbands in the absence of a religious divorce), widows, child-rearing, and women in business, starting from about 500 CE and continuing right up to the present day. This vast
literature was utilized for research on women's lives in studies by Israel Abrahams (Jewish Life in the Middle Ages, London, 1896) and, more recently, by Avraham Grossman (Rebellious and Pious: Jewish Women in Medieval Europe, Lebanon, NH, 2004) and Ruth Lamdan (A Separate People: Jewish Women in Palestine, Syria and Egypt in the Sixteenth Century, Leiden, 2000), but it is still only beginning to be tapped.

For this issue of Nashim, we invite submissions about women in the responsa literature, focusing on a broad topic, a specific geographical area or a specific set of responsa. How are women portrayed? What can we learn about their lives? How were they viewed by rabbis and by their societies? Can we hear their own voices in the testimony they gave before religious courts (batei din)? How did and do these rulings affect their lives? And how can we interpret all of this data using the tools of women's and gender studies?

Proposals for submissions of up to 12,000 words, not previously published or under consideration for publication elsewhere, should be sent to Deborah Greniman, Managing Editor of Nashim, by February 1, 2010, by email (preferably) to nashim@schechter.ac.il; or by fax to +972-3-7256592. Final date for submission of articles: May 1, 2010.

All scholarly articles will be subject to peer review. Academic Editor of Nashim: Renée Levine Melammed.

Nashim is published jointly by the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, and Indiana University Press.

Women in Judaism Bibliography

2009-10-26T07:02:00.003-04:00

I recently submitted a course syllabus for a Women in Judaism half-class. Several people (via twitter) have asked me to share the bibliography. Please note that this is not a comprehensive bibliography, but one designed to reflected my selected readings.

Bibliography

Aranoff, Susan. "Freeing Agunot: The Rabbi Emanuel Rackman Beit Din." JOFA Journal 4 (2005): 15, 19-20.

Baskin, Judith R. ed. Jewish Women in Historical Perspective. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1998.

Chesler, Phyllis and Rivka Haut, eds. Women of the wall : claiming sacred ground at Judaism’s holy site. Woodstock, Vt.: Jewish Lights, 2003.

Fishbane, Michael. Judaism: Revelation and Tradition. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987.

Fonrobert, Charlotte. “Yalta’s Ruse: Resistance against Rabbinic Menstrual Authority in Talmudic Literature.” Pages 60-81 in Women and Water: Menstruation in Jewish Life and Law. Edited by R. R. Wasserfall. Hanover, NH: Brandeis University Press, 1999.

Greenberg, Blu. How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household. Northvale, NJ: J. Aronson, 1989.

Grossman, Susan and Rivka Haut, eds. Daughters of the King: Women and synagogue: a survey of history, halakhah and contemporary realities. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1992.

Hacohen, Aviad. Tears of the Oppressed: an examination of the agunah problem: background and halakhic sources. Jersey City, NJ: Ktav Publishing House, 2004.

Hartman, Tova. Feminism Encounters Traditional Judaism. Waltham, MA: Brandeis University Press, 2007.

Ilan, Tal, ed. A feminist commentary on the Babylonian Talmud : Introduction and studies. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2007.

Manolson, Gila. Outside Inside: A Fresh Look at Tzniut. Nanuet, NY: Feldheim, 1997.

Niditch, Susan. “Portrayals of Women in the Hebrew Bible.” Pages 25-45 in Jewish Women in Historical Perspective. Edited by J. R. Baskin. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1998.

Peskowitz, Miriam and Laura Levitt, eds. Judaism since gender. New York: Routledge, 1997.

Ross, Tamar. Expanding the palace of Torah: Orthodoxy and Feminism. Waltham, MA: Brandeis University Press, 2004.

Schreiber, Lynne, ed. Hide and Seek: Jewish Women and hair covering. Jerusalem: Urim Publications, 2003.

Solomon, Norman. Judaism: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Wasserfall, Rahel R., ed. Women and Water: Menstruation in Jewish Life and Law. Hanover, NH: Brandeis University Press, 1999.

Wolowelsky, Joel. Women, Jewish Law and Modernity: New Opportunities in a post-feminist age. Jersey City, NJ: Ktav Publishing House, 1997.

Websites:

Deborah Weissman (on the founding of Bais Yaakov schools) http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/bais-yaakov-schools

Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA):
www.jofa.org

Living Waters Community Mikveh:
http://www.mayyimhayyim.org

Nishmat: The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women:
http://yoatzot.org/

In addition, I have also begun viewing documentaries for use in this class. I will attempt to post small reviews once as I see them.

Church sign #fail

2009-10-20T19:18:00.001-04:00

This is just great :-)

see more Epic Fails

Is dumpster diving Halakhically permissible?

2009-10-20T10:01:00.004-04:00

We live near a senior community garden, which is beautiful and thriving in the summertime. In the autumn, the members of this garden prepared their plots for next year, and so the dumpster nearby is filled with uprooted plants and whatnot. A few weeks ago, as we were coming home, sitting on the outside of this dumpster were 2 plastic chairs -- the kind you use on your deck/balcony, but child-sized. There was nothing wrong with the chairs (minus the dirt, which can be cleaned) but they were obviously there in the trash. I picked them up (much to my kids' chagrin, who were embarrassed that I would take something from the trash), planning to clean them off, and if we can't find a use for them, to pass them along to someone else who can.

This morning as I was walking Zoe to school, we were discussing all the trash and recycle bins that were outside, since it is garbage day down the street where she is in preschool. During our walk, I spotted a box filled with miscellaneous toys -- someone's "extras" -- sitting with their garbage. The rest of the way to her school I debated whether or not I should take the box. It was clear to me that we wouldn't keep everything, or even most of the things, in the box, but I had spotted a bunch of random legos (which are a coveted Shabbat toy in our household) and some Mr. Potato Head items. Knowing that all these could be cleaned well, on the way home from her school I picked up the box.

So, my question is: Is "dumpster diving" Halakhically permissible? If not, why not? And if so, what are the limitations?

I'm the parent of a double-digit child (Happy 10th, Claire)

2009-10-14T09:56:00.003-04:00

Today is Claire's 10th b-day. I'm both thrilled and nostalgic, but happy nevertheless. As is traditional on my kids' bdays, I have recounted Claire's birth story below. (Originally posted here.)

October 13 1999 was a Tuesday. I was due in 11 days with my first. In retrospect, there were signs all that day that I was going to be having a baby very soon, but as it was my first, I was oblivious. DH was working nights, so he had already left for his job, and I had this thing about going to bed too early, so I was up playing games on the computer. At around 9:00pm I got ready for bed, and went to sleep. Around 10pm, I woke up, needing to turn over. As it is very difficult to do that when you're that pregnant, and as you need to use the bathroom about every 5 minutes when you're that pregnant, I decided to just get up and out of bed, head to the bathroom, and lay down on my other side when I came back. I popped out of bed (not sure how I did that when I was that pregnant, but I did!) and within the first step or two, there was a gush - my water had broke! I rushed/waddled to the bathroom to clean up, and then excitedly made some phone calls: first, to DH to tell him to come home; second, to the Dr's office to page my Dr; and third, to my mother who was going to try and make it in for the birth. I lost it on the phone with my mom, started to cry, anxious and excited and nervous.

My Dr called back to get details, and told me to come on in when I was ready. I did some dishes while waiting for DH - you know, mindless activity. As soon as he walked in the door, I wanted to leave, but he said we should finish packing the bag, so we did. Then, finally, we were on our way, around 11:30pm. We got to the hospital, checked in, and got settled to a whole bunch of waiting. I was so worked up I couldn't sleep, even though I was not in hard labor at all, so I ended up flipping through the channels on the television. Finally, perhaps around 1:30 or 2:00am, when I was watching Scooby-Doo (lol!), DH woke up enough to tell me it was bothering him and that I should turn it off. (And he hasn't lived that down since!) So off it went. I must've dozed, I'm not sure. Around 7:00/7:30am, my MIL came in with some breakfast for DH (a bagel and cream cheese, and perhaps a coffee), said hello, and then left again. By this point the contractions were getting more intense, and I was exhausted. I got Stadol (or demerol, I can't remember) to help, and basically I slept in-between contractions at that point. Sometime around 11:15am, the Dr checked me and said I was around a 5.5/6, and we discussed other options as the stadol was wearing off. She recommended an epidural, which I then got. By 12:30 I was in transition and ready to begin pushing! I pushed for about 20 minutes, and Claire was born at 1:08pm on Oct 14, 1999. She had black hair and blue eyes, and was 7.5 lbs and 19.5 inches. She was also born on my FIL's 49th birthday.

I don't remember the Dr saying "it's a girl" although DH assures me that she did. I do remember holding her in my arms, looking at her, my baby girl, and thinking that she looked like a particular (Hebrew) name. I asked DH what he thought for a name, and he said one of the other names we had been discussing. As it was Thurs afternoon and she wouldn't be named until Shabbat, I answered "we'll discuss it tomorrow."

My mom arrived about 40 minutes after Claire was born. So close! (Also, as an aside, I had a reaction to the epidural, and about 20-30 min after Claire was born, my blood pressure dropped to 70/36, and I was very pale, about ready to vomit and pass out. It took them a few minutes to stabilize me.)

As for Claire's Hebrew name, well, the name that I thought she looked like was a name I had brought up numerous times throughout the pregnancy, and was my favorite name. But every time DH had insisted that we would not use that name. So overnight on Thurs I thought about it, and decided that if he was insistent on the other name, a name we both liked, I would agree to it, even though I really thought she looked like this other name. The next day DH came with my Mom, and after a while of fawning over the baby, etc., we kicked my mom out and got down to the name discussion. Right away, DH said, I think we should name her "XXXX XXXX". I couldn't believe it - the first name was the name I had wanted to name her all along! I asked him "What did you do?" he answered "What???" "What did you do?" "What are you talking about?" "Well, to give in on the name of your firstborn, you must have done something that is really going to upset me. Did you burn the apartment down?" DH laughed and said, "No, I thought about it overnight, and she looks like "XXXX". And for an English/secular name, how about Hannah Claire?"

Well, I couldn't argue at that point, being able to use my favorite name for my firstborn. So that's how Claire got her name.

Simchat Torah Kvetch

2009-10-09T16:37:00.002-04:00

(Originally posted here on 22 October 2009)

I know on Simchat Torah -- the last holiday we celebrated in this month-long (way-too-long) stretch of holidays -- we are supposed to rejoice in the Torah, but to me it usually feels like a big sigh of relief that the holidays are finally, finally, over. It doesn't help that Simchat Torah is my least favorite Chag (holiday), not including fast days of course. With all the singing, dancing and celebrating that happens during Simchat Torah, you may well wonder why this particular holiday is my least-favorite. Many women may know why, although I'm sure there are plenty of women who aren't bothered. The men are so kind in my synagogues to set up some sort of "women's section," often separate from the usual women's section (and often on the men's side of the mechitzah) where we women can sit and watch the festivities. Yes, 50% of the adult population gets to watch the festivities rather than participate in them. You may wonder why I'm kvetching (and if you are, you probably aren't a regular reader here) about this when 1) I didn't grow up frum, and therefore chose this as my way of life as an adult, and 2) I don't (regularly) kvetch about other forms of obvious patriarchy and whatnot. Well, my answer is that 1) When I became frum I knew I was taking the good with the bad. I do not pretend that all of Orthodox Judaism is wonderful, perfect, etc. It has it's issues, and my father always taught me that fighting from the inside is more effect than attempting to fight from the outside. 2) I usually find that there are more important issues to deal with in Orthodoxy. It doesn't mean that these aren't important, it's just what's important to me.

So, back to Simchat Torah. It bothers me every year (except one, in Cambridge, MA where there was a women's Tefillah (whose group was overseen by an Orthodox rabbi) and each woman got an aliyah and we celebrated together. That was nice!) that I get to go to shul and watch as my husband celebrates, as my kids celebrate and as I get to stand to the side and let the kids bring me their trinkets and candy that they've collected while I get to sit and watch.

Instead, I usually stay home.

Call me a spoilsport, call me what you like, I just find NO ENJOYMENT in this whatsoever. Even the few shuls that allow women to celebrate, even with a Torah (G-d forbid!) on their side of the mechitza...well, how well can you celebrate when you know you're being done a favor, that the congregation is basically just humoring you?

No, not my idea of a good time. So today ended our fall holidays, culminating in Simchat Torah. And while they were mostly nice, I'm glad they're finally over, too.

Vegetarian Yemenite Soup (Marak Taymani)

2009-10-05T21:09:00.002-04:00

By request, here is the recipe!

Marak Taymani (vegan)

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
6 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
8 cups vegetable stock (or use water with pareve beef consomme added)
Salt, to taste
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup chopped butternut squash and/or chopped potatoes. Amount should = 1 cup
1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight and drained (or 1 19-ounce can, rinsed and drained)
Small bunch of flat parsley, chopped
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1 bag fresh spinach, washed OR 1 box/bag frozen spinach, defrosted and excess water squeezed out
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
Small bunch of cilantro, stemmed and chopped

1. In a large soup pot, heat the oil and cook the onions, carrots, and celery over medium heat for 8 minutes or until they soften. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute.
2. Stir in the ground cumin, cardamom, coriander, and cloves. Add the stock, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cook for about 10 minutes.
3. Add the squash, chickpeas, parsley, and tomatoes. Return the liquid to a boil, lower the heat, cover the pan, and simmer for 1 hour or until chickpeas are tender.
4. Add spinach, stir until cooked.
5. Stir in the turmeric. Ladle into bowls and serve with chopped cilantro.

2,000 year old mikveh uncovered in Western Wall excavations

2009-09-23T21:46:00.001-04:00

This is amazing (from JTA, link here):

2,000-year-old mikveh uncovered

September 23, 2009

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A mikveh from the end of the Second Temple period was uncovered in excavations in the Western Wall tunnels.

The mikveh was discovered inside the western hall of a structure discovered about 66 feet from the Western Wall.

According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, the 2,000-year-old ritual bath is among the most magnificent structures from the Second Temple period ever to be uncovered.
The structure currently being excavated by the authority is comprised of three halls and may be the bureau in which the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court at the time of the Second Temple, would convene.

Is "Atheism" a religion?

2009-09-23T12:09:00.004-04:00

I'm in the midst of a discussion on twitter about whether or not "atheism" is a religion. I think it is, or could be, depending, I guess on how you define religion and atheism.

What do you think?

Call for Papers: The Scrolls and Biblical Traditions

2009-09-23T09:52:00.002-04:00

International Organization for Qumran Studies

Seventh Meeting

HELSINKI, FINLAND

AUGUST 2–4, 2010

Call for Papers

The Scrolls and Biblical Traditions

For the special topic of this seventh meeting of the IOQS, we invite papers that discuss any aspect of the transmission, use, or interpretation of biblical traditions in the Scrolls from the Judean Desert.

We therefore welcome papers ranging from studies of the biblical scrolls proper, on the relationship between scrolls and the versions, or on light shed by the scrolls on issues of scripture, authoritativeness, or canon, up to the use or interpretation, explicitly or implicitly, of biblical traditions in the so-called non-biblical scrolls.

Following the tradition of former IOQS meetings, proposals can be submitted by any scholar who is working on the topic, and papers that are directly related to the topic of the meeting are eligible for publication in a corresponding volume of the STDJ series. In addition, scholars working on other topics in the field of Qumran studies are encouraged as well to submit papers on their own particular research.

DATE

The seventh meeting of the IOQS will be held from August 2–4, 2010 in conjunction with the 20th Congress of IOSOT, the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament, and other specialized congresses (IOTS, IOSCS, IOMS), to be held from August 1–6, 2010 in Helsinki. All information on these congresses, registration, accommodation, etc. can be found on www.helsinki.fi/teol/pro/iosot/index.htm. For the IOQS meeting click the Joint Congress Timetable at the right side of the page.

On Tuesday morning, August 3, a joint program of the IOSOT and IOQS is scheduled, including papers by Eileen Schuller, Sidnie White-Crawford, and Anneli Aejmelaeus.

PAPER PROPOSALS

If you are interested in participating and presenting a paper, please submit your proposal containing your name, name of academic institution, title of your proposed paper, and an abstract of no more than 250 words. For details on abstracts you may consult the guidelines for abstracts for the IOSOT.

Proposals should be submitted by email before February 14, 2010 to the secretary of the IOQS, Prof. Dr. Eibert Tigchelaar, eibert.tigchelaar@theo.kuleuven.be.

Some thoughts on Fasting / Yom Kippur

2009-09-22T19:11:00.001-04:00

(Originally posted on 21 September 2007, here)

I’ve been under some discussion with my friend LM about the point of fasting on Yom Kippur. Neither of us like the fasting, we both have issues with it. For LM, If I am to understand correctly, her issues relate to the extremism that she perceives in Orthodox Judaism – everything is an extreme. Either we’re starving ourselves for the day (not even drinking water, like in a medical fast) or we’re stuffing our faces –both before and after the fast. She also sees it as a negative aspect of Judaism.

For me, it’s the misery. I don’t fast well, I get migraines, I get sick to my stomach. I just don’t do well. And then add the kids, especially J.R., into the mix. How do other parents do it? What do they do with their kids all day?

And I’ve been told that it’s better to fast and spend all day in bed than to not fast and be able to concentrate and pray and really repent. Why would that be?

I have a theory of my own – I’d love to hear other’s opinions or comments about it, or about fasting as a religious experience (or not) in general.

I think it’s a communal activity on Y”K. That we are fasting and praying as a community. The Teshuva – repentance – is done on a communal level. That doesn’t mean that there is no point to individual teshuva or fasting, but that the few people who need to stay in bed and aren’t really able to participate in prayers – or all those parents who spend the day exhaustingly taking care of the kids, entertaining them, feeding them, etc., but are still fasting, are still participating in the communal act of teshuva. This idea, in my mind, would be that G-d knows that their intent is to participate as fully as they are able, but their ability is limited by their individual circumstance.

I also have an issue with a G-d that requires us to fast. How is G-d merciful if the individual must do this? (On the other hand, if the individual does this, and G-d therefore decrees that they can live, rather than die, that IS merciful, but in a different way.)

Comments?

Waterproof bible?

2009-09-21T20:41:00.003-04:00

Just because it is hilarious...

Introducing the WATERPROOF BIBLE

So you can:

Read G-d's word in the rain
Ruminate over the gospels while white water rafting
Teach Sunday School on the Slip-N-Slide
Convert the heathens at the local public pool

Don't wait! Get your copy today!

Language learning

2009-09-14T10:55:00.003-04:00

It has been over 5 years since I've taken a language class, and now I find myself in two of them. I'm in an Aramaic class, which is introductory in nature but presupposes a decent knowledge of Biblical Hebrew, and I'm in a 2nd year Greek class (which presupposes a knowledge of 1st year Greek. Of course). While my Hebrew is decent, it is not what it was 5.5 years ago, and my classmate (yes, just one other person besides myself) has a much strong background in not only Hebrew, but in Aramaic. I find it intimidating when I'm sitting there concerned about remembering vocabulary and pronominal suffixes (grammar, however, isn't a huge issue for me. Thank G-d.) and he's just rattling off everything like he knows it already. He doesn't, but his exposure is exponentially larger than mine.

Regardless, one of the biggest challenges I'm finding at this level is remember how to study a language. In the first year of every language class I've been in, there is a large amount of route memorization, tests which quiz you on this memorization, and lots of stumbling translations happening in class. While Greek certainly contains the translation factor, there is not set memorization. All grammar and vocabulary review is done based on what you realize you don't know or can't remember (which for me, at this point, is a lot!).

For Aramaic, I'm not certain if I should start with reviewing my Hebrew, or if I should forget about any Hebrew review (for now) and simply work on the Aramaic. (It doesn't help that the expectations for this class haven't been laid out. I know we have to memorize 5 verses of Onkeles for every class, but that's all I know.)

In either case, the challenge is as much knowing what to do with your time than it is anything else. Language study is difficult, especially at the post-elementary level. It is tedious, time consuming, and rarely rewarding until you've put in a good deal of time already (hmmm...kinda like exercise?).

Guess it's time to suck it up (my new motto) and just get to it. Still, I'm wishing there was an easier way...

The Future of Women in Judaism

2009-09-10T09:11:00.002-04:00

I have the opportunity to write an article about the future of women in Judaism. The article isn't specific to Orthodoxy, but to the entire tradition, and should be visionary/imaginative, but based on history and present-day occurrences.

So...I'm polling you, my readers, to see what would you say the future of Women in Judaism is? What do you foresee happening (or not happening)? Why?

Hanging clothes out to dry...

2009-08-24T10:01:00.003-04:00

Please check out this link and short video about hanging clothes out to dry vs using the clothes dryer.

We've been hanging our clothes since moving to our apartment in Montreal, in an effort to save money on laundry. We still dry our linens in the dryer (as we don't have the space to hang them) but we've been pretty much hanging everything else. We have a very small line on our balcony and a folding rack. In the summer we have the rack on our balcony, and in the winter we keep it in use in the apartment. Some items we hang on hangers in our bathroom.

It can be done, even with very little space. Please consider doing it as well. It is both cost effective and better for the environment.

List of recipes

2009-08-24T09:00:00.003-04:00

I'm running out of time to make recipes, and I'm almost out of energy to type each one in. I'm going to list the new recipes I've made, and if someone would like them, I'll post them to the blog, just post a comment asking. This way I can "catch up" and know how many I need to make today and tomorrow to meet my 32 new recipes by (well, on) my 32nd birthday.

14. Grilled Veggie gazpacho (this was okay -- I don't think we'd make it again)
13. Cinnamon-Nutmeg Coffee Sorbet (yum.)
12. Snickerdoodle ice cream (the link is here)
11. Cottage Cheese chive biscuits (the kids devoured these!)
10. Spinach quiche tartlettes (easier than I thought they would be, and yummy)
9. Hadassah's Sweet Potato Fries (I liked 'em, but no one else ate them. we aren't big sweet potato people)
8. Edamame dip (Claire and I used the dip to eat our edamame. It was yummy.)

Only 7 left? I can do that! Off to find more recipes...

Easy Cinnamon Flop #15

2009-08-20T21:39:00.002-04:00

Spurred on to find more new (and easy!) recipes to make, especially since our dinner tonight consisted of the old "stand-bys" and the Shabbat menu is looking similar (DH is doing mashgiach work on Saturday, so I wanted to keep it simple and easy. Perhaps I'll find another yummy dessert recipe to make, but in the meantime, enjoy this one...)

So I came across the recipe Easy Cinnamon Flop on Facebook from a friend who posted that she was making it. I took a look here at the recipe and noted several things:

With soy milk this could be pareve
This is SUCH an easy recipe
The ingredients are all things I have on hand
It doesn't take long to make

Pretty good reason to try it out, right?

It is delicious! It tastes very like cinnamon rolls, but without the icing (and if you really want the icing, I'm sure there is a recipe somewhere...). So enjoy!

Tomato, Onion and Basil Sandwich #16

2009-08-20T18:49:00.002-04:00

This, too, is from the Claire's (for details see this). She serves it on French bread, but we had rye in the house and it was FABULOUS. We also added a bit of cheese (hummus might work as well) to add a little bit of protein to the sandwich.

3 large ripe tomotoes, sliced into 1/4 inch pieces
1 small yellow onion, sliced into very thin rings
12 leaves fresh basil (from our garden)
3 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 loaf French bread, cut into 4 pieces and then split lengthwise (again, we used sliced rye)

Place tomatoes, onions, and basil in a bowl. Sprinkle with oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss gently. Taste for seasoning.

Spoon the mixture evenly over 4 pieces of the bread and top with remaining 4 pieces.

You can let the mixture sit (if you can resist eating it all) as the flavor improves with time. I think this would also be fabulous served over a bed of lettuce.

Highly recommended! We had this for lunch today!

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes #17

2009-08-20T18:40:00.003-04:00

This was a throw-together, so bear with me--I'm approximating all amounts. If you make this (which you should!) taste it as you go!

4 medium red potatoes, washed well and cut into cubes (do not peel!)
1.5 cups cauliflower florets
about 1/2 cup pareve soy milk (or real milk if making dairy)
1 Tbs margarine (or butter)
1/2-1 tsp salt or season salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Boil potatoes cauliflower until potatoes are tender. Drain. Mash potatoes and cauliflower together, add soy milk, margarine. Mash until smooth; stir in salt and pepper. Enjoy!

This is obviously a flexible and easy recipe; we just happened to have extra cauliflower so I dumped it in, too. I didn't know if DH was going to eat it w/ the cauliflower, but it wasn't an obvious taste, it just added a complexity to the flavor. Soy milk and margarine also helped create a richer flavor.

Mushrooms Stroganoff #18

2009-08-20T12:07:00.002-04:00

Are you sick of my recipes yet? Well, too bad. I'm going to get to 32 by (or on) my birthday on Tuesday, 25 August and this is where I'm counting. G-d willing I will be updating with other info soon, but in the meantime. Enjoy the good eats!

This is from Claire's Corner Copia Cookbook. Claire's is a vegetarian (and kosher, of course) restaurant in New Haven, CT, and probably my fave restaurant. If you're headed that way, I highly recommend any of the Mexican food, any of the pastas, veggie burgers, and for dessert, anything with buttercream. I'm sure the other food is good as well. In the meantime...

Mushrooms Stroganoff

8 Tbs butter, cut into pieces
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
1 pound mushrooms, sliced into 1/4" pieces
2 Tbs flour
2 cups low-fat sour cream
1/2 Tbs dried dill weed
2 Tbs dry sherry or Marsala
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound spinach fettuccine

Melt the butter in a large skilled over low heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook for 5 min, stirring frequently. Add the mushrooms, raise the heat to medium, and continue cooking for 20 minutes, stirring occassionally, until the mushrooms are soft. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the top and stir well. Cook for 10 min, stirring frequently. Stir in the sour cream,d ill weed, sherry or Marsala, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until headed through and thickened, about 10 minutes. Taste for seasoning.

Keep sauce warm while you cook the fettuccine according to the package directions. Drain and turn into the skillet of sauce. Toss well.

Okay, I admit, I totally cut corners on this one. First, I cut the recipe in half (based on the amount of shrooms I had). Then, I found that it didn't need to be cooked for nearly so long as she recommends, so I cut the cooking time. When the onions/garlic were done, I added the shrooms. When the shrooms were done, I added the flour. I saw absolutely no reason to cook that mixutre for an additional 10 min, so I added the sour cream, etc within about 1 min. I also used the pasta I had on hand, which wasn't spinach or fettuccine, but I know it would have been delicious with it.

All in all, I would probably make it again, but I've had other stroganoff recipes I like better.

Abelskivers #19

2009-08-20T11:35:00.003-04:00

Yesterday for breakfast I got to break in my new abelskiver pan. These are a traditional Danish round pancake which I used to enjoy during my childhood when we would visit my Nana in Solvang, CA.
I used the recipe for abelskivers from this site but with a few changes. First, I used 2 cups soy milk + 2 Tbs white vinegar. This allows me to keep it dairy-free. I also didn't separate the eggs. Instead, I added them together, following the recipe otherwise, but using my hand mixer to mix the batter well.

This recipe makes a TON of abelskivers. I used about half the batter to make plain ones, and then made most of the rest with nutella (to please the kids) and one batch with strawberry jam (which were fantastic). The kids do not know that we used to eat these with powdered sugar and syrup -- they just ate them straight!

The recipe was delicious and they were a hit with the kids. Best of all, as soon as I ate the first one, I was transported back to my childhood, eating this with my Nana, of blessed memory. And while there were leftovers, later in the day the kids took them out of the fridge and literally devoured the rest. Poor DH didn't even get to try one! Needless to say, I will be making these again, and I am considering making a bunch to freeze to send in school lunches as well.

Chocolate Waffles #20

2009-08-20T08:46:00.005-04:00

This morning I'm making chocolate waffles, recipe courtesy of a Foodie I know via the March 2002 playgroup from ivillage (we were preggo at the same time way back when...).

They weren't as sweet as I thought they were going to be, but topped with raspberry jam, they were pretty good!

I substitute 2 cups soy milk + 2 Tbs. vinegar for the buttermilk, which seems to work well, too, and keeps it pareve.

Get ready for recipes...

2009-08-20T08:44:00.001-04:00

With the help of Claire and DH, I've remembered some of the new recipes I've made. I'm also cooking up a storm to meet this deadline, so be prepared to be bombarded with new recipes!

Recipe countdown (#fail?)

2009-08-18T08:38:00.002-04:00

I stopped at 26 recipes here but I haven't stopped making new recipes, only putting them here on the blog. As my 32nd birthday is next week, I need to "catch" up. I know I'm going to be missing things that I've made, but I'll give it a go:

25. Chamim
24. A new pizza dough (from here): this was thin and stretchy and good, but way too much effort, IMO. I love to cook, to be sure, but my time is limited.
23. a new pareve Caesar dressing, which is honestly to-die-for rich
22. large sweet pretzels
21. Bagel-dogs

...

I know there are more, and I'll post them as I remember, but in the meantime, I'm still going to try and get through the rest of my 32 in the next week!

Honoring/Respecting One's Parent

2009-08-06T08:24:00.002-04:00

It is a mitzvah to honor and respect one's parents. I was discussing this with a friend yesterday when she asked the question: How do YOU honor/respect your parents? It was a bizarre question to me, but as soon as I thought about it, I realized it was very difficult to answer.

In my case, this was something I had to work on when I was becoming observant. It was through a lot of hard and conscientious work that I learned how to apologize to my parents when I got in an argument with them (this is also where I learned to apologize in general; I'm very good at it now, lol), where I learned to listen and not interrupt them, and also where I learned to not flat-out disagree with them -- I can disagree, just like I can argue with them, but I attempt to be as respectful as I can. I also learned to respect them as people -- life is difficult, we all make hard choices, and especially when it comes to parenting, where your decisions affect not only you but the lives of your children...well, I appreciate all that my parents did (and attempted to do) for me, and I gratefully acknowledge that they helped turn me into the adult that I am now. And quite honestly, I think I turned out okay, so they certainly did somethings right!

Still, the answer seemed...incomplete. So how do you honor/respect your parents?

Paper-writing in Grad School

2009-07-28T08:19:00.002-04:00

I know how it is supposed to work. You know all semester you have a paper due, and when it is due. At some point, preferably earlier in the semester, you choose a topic, begin research, and begin to formulate your thesis and paper. Then, if you are lucky, you will have a decent amount of time -- a few weeks, perhaps -- between when the class ends and when the paper is due. During that time it is only logical that you will spend as much time as you can continuing to research and writing, and of course at some point the research must stop and the writing becomes the full-time activity. Again, ideally you will finish a draft with some time--perhaps a week or a few days?--left, time enough to read over it, or if you are lucky, have others read it over it, time to make corrections, tighten your argument, refine your language. And then, on or just before the due date, you get to submit your paper, knowing you did your best with the time you had.

But why doesn't it ever work that way? At least for me, I'm good up until the time I'm supposed to finish writing, you know, the days or week early? Instead, I feel like I'm all rushing, pushing the writing of the original paper right up until the end. It is true that I do a bunch of editing while I am still writing, but it is not the same kind of editing that can happen when you have the entire paper in front of you. So why does this always seem to happen? (The only time I finish my papers early is when I have multiple papers to work on, so basically I'm just moving up the deadline for at least one of the paper...but it still lacks some of the editing/review process that should be essential.)

How do my fellow students deal with this? Are you able to give yourself the time to review, or are you always pushing against the deadlines? (And will I ever grow out of it?)

Pasta with sauteed tomatoes, olives and artichoke hearts (by request)

2009-07-16T16:04:00.003-04:00

In honor of the 9 days coming up (and by request), here is a fantastically delicious and easy *pareve* recipe:

Pasta with sauteed tomatoes, olives and artichoke hearts
adapted from a CookingLight Recipes from May '03

1 tsp olive oil
2 c. halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 c. thinly sliced pitted kalamata olives (can use black olives instead; we usually cut them in half)
1 (14oz) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
4 c. hot cooked ziti (or other med-sized pasta)
1/2 c. fresh basil
1/4 tsp each: salt, freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add cherry tomatoes, olives and artichoke hearts and cook for 5 minu or until thoroughly heated through.
2. Place pasta in a large bowl. Add tomato mixture, basil, salt and pepper; toss well.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

*Can top with grated Parmesan cheese if you want to make it dairy

OPTIONALY: 1/3 c. (1.24 oz) parmesan cheese

Why I left Christianity (Part 3)

2009-07-16T08:30:00.002-04:00

Part 3:
(Find Part 1 here; Find Part 2 here)

While my exposure to Christianity was inconsistent and sporadic, my experience of Judaism was even more limited. I knew I was Jewish by birth--my mom had told me and my sisters that from the beginning. However, we lived in northern Idaho and where there was not any kind of Jewish community of any denomination and thus my only experience of Judaism was whatever my mother shared.

What I remember about Judaism from my childhood is this: my mom would light the menorah and make the blessing on it on Chanukah, she would periodically bring home (jarred) gefilte fish to eat, and she sang the song "Hinei MaTov" every now and again. This is, to the fullest extent, a description of my Jewish upbringing. Periodically my grandmother (on my mom's side) would wish us a "happy new year" at some point during the autumn, but I really had no idea what she was talking about. I knew nothing of the state of Israel, of other holidays beyond Chanukah (and those random references to Rosh HaShanah), I knew nothing of keeping kosher or Shabbat, I knew nothing of tefillah (prayer) or Torah--even my limited exposure to the bible was so completely entrenched in the cultural Christianity that I knew that I never, not once, connected the "Old Testament" to Judaism. I knew nothing about modern Judaism, about a Judaism that was vibrant and alive. In fact, my ignorance was so complete that I didn't even experience any movies with Chasidim until I was already on the path back to yiddishkeit. I was, in a nutshell, completely ignorant about Judaism.

Having now lived in Jewish communities for the past 12 years, it is hard to imagine such ignorance. But keep in mind I grew up in a fairly rural environment, and while it wasn't tiny, it was insular. In my experience, very few people left the area, newcomers were viewed suspiciously, and tourists were ignored.

Call for papers (Graduate Students)

2009-07-15T14:42:00.002-04:00

Symposia: The Graduate Student Journal

of the Centre for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto

Symposia is an online, peer-reviewed journal for graduate students in the study of religion and related fields. As in the past, the theme of this year’s publication has been chosen to correspond with that of the Centre for the Study of Religion’s annual symposium. Past issues of the journal can be viewed at http://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/symposia/issue/current.

CALL FOR PAPERS

The editorial team extends a cordial call for original, unpublished papers investigating the link between religion and the so-called ‘necessities of life’, broadly defined. Physical and psychological needs play a key role in religious ceremonies, and are integral to religious beliefs and religious institutions. Once these needs have been met, however, the necessities of life, both physical (food, air, sleep, shelter, etc.) and psychological, are often overlooked in favour of an emphasis on less corporeal dimensions (e.g. the spiritual, the aesthetic). The editorial team is interested in exploring the ways in which religion either satisfies these basic needs, or leaves them unsatisfied.

We welcome articles that address these issues in the contexts of psychology, history anthropology, gender studies, philosophy, political science and sociology, as well as those which extend the subject across historical and geographical boundaries.

TOPICS

The following sub-fields have been designed to allow for a flexible interpretation of this volume’s theme, as well as to encourage submissions reflecting a broad spectrum of interests and disciplines. The editorial team gladly welcomes applications which fall outside of these parameters:

· religion and dreams/sleep

· religion and procreation

· religion and physical space

· religion and eating/food

· religion and shelter

· religion and mental health

Articles written in clear, grammatical, and fluent English or French will be considered. Articles should not exceed 25 pages in length. The deadline for submissions will be Friday, 16 October, 2009.

CALL FOR BOOK REVIEWS

The editorial team also extends a call for reviews of any academic publication released within the 2008 or 2009 calendar years and relating to the study of religion. We are particularly interested in reviews of the works of Peter Sloterdijk, many of which have been published in English translation since January 2009.

Reviewers are asked to submit the title of the book to be reviewed to the editors no later than Friday, 18 September, 2009. Every effort will be made to secure a review copy of the text, if required. Completed reviews should not exceed 750 words in length and are to be submitted no later than Friday, 13 November, 2009.

For all submissions and queries, please contact Nicholas Dion (nicholas.dion@utoronto.ca) or Rebekka King (rebekka.king@utoronto.ca).

UPDATE: The CFP is now also available online here.

Frugal Living -- the joys eating out

2009-07-14T12:09:00.003-04:00

Over Passover DH and I decided we would stop eating or ordering out. We never did it all that frequently, but we did do it. We set our goal for 4 months -- May, June, July and August -- after which point we would reevaluate to see if we wanted to continue not eating/ordering out or if we would make certain exceptions.

Of course, certain questions have come up: Does going to a bakery for weekday (ie not Shabbat) sweets count? What about a trip to an ice cream store? Can we pick up a cup of coffee at a cafe every now and again (and if so, how frequently is every now and again)? We've tended to answer these questions on the strict side: basically, almost everything constitutes "eating out." (The coffee question has the most leeway -- we've determined that specialty coffees are a no-no since they are so expensive, and that even going out for a regular cup-of-joe or cup-of-tea should be infrequent, which it is--and usually only involves socializing.)

This week my parents-in-law and sister-in-law are in town for a few days, and are treating us to various restaurants. Last night was our first time going out to eat in over 2 months, and it was delicious. We got to order our favorite foods and enjoy them much more than we would have if we hadn't been limited ourselves, and we also got to enjoy being with family.

After we had returned home last night and put the kids to bed, DH and I were discussing the joy of eating out after so long. While we didn't make any real plans, I think we both realized that it was indeed so enjoyable because we aren't doing it regularly (or: at all). While after August we might set up certain exceptions, I think we are going to continue this frugal habit of not eating out.

CFP Intl Organization for Targum Studies

2009-07-14T07:32:00.001-04:00

International Organization for Targum Studies

Sixth Meeting
HELSINKI, FINLAND
August 4-6, 2010

CALL FOR PAPERS

The 6th meeting of the IOTS will cover a wide range of topics related to Targum Studies:

Philology;
Typology and Genre;
Translation Strategies and Theory;
Exegesis;
Theology;
Text-criticism and Manuscript Studies;
Relationship to Rabbinic Literature.

We are pleased to announce a call for short papers in any of these categories. Papers should be of twenty-minutes length, allowing ten additional minutes for discussion. The deadline for paper proposals is September 15, 2009, and March 1, 2010 for the submission of written abstracts.

DATE
The sixth meeting of the IOTS will be held from August 4-6, 2010 in conjunction with the XXth Congress of IOSOT, the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament, and other specialized congresses (IOQS, IOSCS, IOMS), to be held from 1st to 6th August 2010 in Helnsinki, Finland. All information on these congresses, registration, accommodation, etc. can be found on http://www.helsinki.fi/teol/pro/iosot/abstracts/iosot.htm.

PAPER PROPOSALS
If you are interested in participating and presenting a paper, please send your proposal (title and/or subject of paper) to:

Dr. Willem Smelik,
willem.smelik @ ucl.ac.uk / willem.smelik @ gmail.com

Dept. of Hebrew and Jewish Studies
University College London
Foster Court, Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT

Please forward this call for papers to any student or scholar you think may be interested.

Creating Boundaries in Modern Orthodoxy

2009-07-12T19:44:00.003-04:00

I usually avoid politics of any kind on the blog -- and in real life. It's not that I don't care...well, okay, a lot of the times I don't care. But there are things I care about. For instance, I recently came across this link on twitter.

IDF Excluding haredi rabbis

This is, as far as I'm concerned, a good thing. You see, we Modern Orthodox (MO) Jews have for too long been accepting of everyone, and it will be our eventual downfall. While one of the things that attracted me to MO in the first place was its willingness to be accepting of all Jews (all Orthodox Jews at the very least, and in my world, of all Jews regardless), it seems problematic that there are no defining features, no explicit boundaries of MO. What happens is that since we accept all Shomer mitzvot Jews as Orthodox, and since the Charedim are more machmir (stricter) than we are, we tend to let them run the show.

This is a problem, as now the Charedim think they can in fact run the show, and that MO Jews are pushovers. And we have been.

What we need to do, then, is to draw lines and create boundaries -- this doesn't mean we have to be exclusive (as in: we won't accept you as Orthodox because you're not like us) but that we should in fact state that we will not accept a Charedi ruling because you are, in fact, not MO.

And this article is a step toward that.

Guest Post on DovBear!

2009-07-09T06:16:00.000-04:00

Come on over to DovBear's blog and read my guest post: Silence

Why I left Christianity (Part 2)

2009-07-07T07:20:00.002-04:00

Part 2 (Find Part 1 here)

These visits to churches were not my only exposure to Christianity. Two events from my childhood stand out clearly in my mind. The first involved these neighbors at the end of our block. I grew up in a fairly rural environment: we lived on an unpaved street, houses lining one side, but a vast agricultural field across from us. (Now, the street is paved and the field which in my childhood grew corn and wheat and in which we cross-country skied, played games, and rode on ATVs now houses both a high school and an elementary school. There is even a sidewalk!) Down our street there were numerous families with kids in roughly the same age range. Our parents would send us out to play with the comment "Be home for dinner" and off we would go: hide and seek in the field was one of our favorite games, but we also spent quite a bit of time bike-riding on the rocky road or hanging out at each other's houses. At the end of the block lived a childless couple, I have no idea what their age was--as a child everyone who was an adult was "old" to me. Periodically they would offer us kids cookies and lemonade and they would talk to us about Jesus. Most of the kids were just in it for the cookies, but I always tried so hard to listen to what they said. Did I want to be saved? Of course I did! So I would kneel down on their front yard, following their instruction, and pray to accept Jesus into my heart. I remember closing my eyes and praying fervently. They would ask me, "Can you feel it, can you feel Jesus?" and at some point, with my eyes still tightly closed, I would nod my head even though I couldn't feel him, because I had been there, kneeling the longest, and I felt different, at odds with my playmates. They had all nodded quickly and zoomed in on their cookies and lemonade, and there I still kneeled, trying, really praying, to feel something different than I already did. It never came.

(My dad learned of this memory once I was an adult. He was horrified, completely unaware that we had evangelizing neighbors. This, parents, is only one reason -- But a good one! -- why you need to be more involved in your childrens' lives.)

The second memory involves my Nana, my father's mother, who while I never saw her actually go to church was a strong believer in Jesus-as-messiah. This one involves some back story for context. It was the summer after 5th grade, and my sisters and I were spending it in Los Angeles where my mother, who was taking care of my grandmother who had parkinson's disease, lived. She had entered my older sister and I in a beauty contest -- the kind that to participate, all you have to do is get sponsors (ie beauty is *not* a factor to enter). So we did -- we got sponsors, we found an outlet store that sold "evening" dresses for girls, and we created commercials to advertise our sponsors (all part of the process) and then we headed to Bakersfield, CA, where our Nana met us to watch and help my mother. We stayed there overnight one night, and my mom and older sister shared a bed in the hotel, and I shared one with Nana. Once in bed, Nana prompted me to say my prayers, and then began (quietly, I'm not sure my mother or sister could hear it) telling me what would happen if I didn't repent. What she described was an apocalypse, the end of the world, with the righteous ones captured up to heaven to be with Jesus, and the rest of the sinners down on a burning, hellish earth, where we would suffer through various natural disasters and misery, forever and ever. I don't know if she was trying to inspire or scare me (I doubt she knew) but I went to bed that night, praying -- not that I would be righteous and saved, but that Jesus would not come again that night, because I had no doubt that I was a sinner and would never be righteous enough to warrant a pass into heaven.

Tell me it ain't so--Non-traditional jobs in academia

2009-07-06T20:44:00.005-04:00

I regularly read the Chronicle of Higher Education just to keep my fingers on the pulse of higher education in the states. The news is generally not good: the economy has put many colleges and universities who are already in frustrating situations into a much worse place, and this is especially true when it comes to faculty and tenure, and even more so when discussing the Humanities. What it seems to come down to is that more and more faculty will not be in tenured positions, but will be working adjunct or as instructors.

What this leads me to believe is that now, more than ever, graduate students, especially in the Humanities, need to develop skills outside of academia, skills that will serve them well, whether for academic administration positions or in (G-d forbid! lol) positions outside of the ivory tower. Not only that, but we need to adjust our ideas of what it means to be an academic: non-traditional positions need to become acceptable career paths, without fear of (academic) judgment. Our flexibility will, in the end, save us who have chosen this difficult path.

Why I left Christianity (Part 1)

2009-07-03T07:38:00.004-04:00

I've been thinking for a while about posting this story, but it is long and involved. I've decided, instead, to post it in pieces, as I write it, so forgive me for all the literary "cliff-hangers." Also, you should note that my stopping points are arbitrary; I stop when I need to feed/entertain the kids, or when my other work demands my time, not when it seems to be an appropriate place in the story to stop. (I will apologize now and just get it out of the way.) Here we begin...

Why I left Christianity (part 1)

The title suggests that there is only one reason, but really, there are many. I was raised as a Christian – albeit a secular one – by my Christian-Jewish mother (her term; she converted to Christianity sans baptism, when she was 18) and my non-Jewish father. Neither was particularly religious, in fact, I would call my father a closet atheist, whereas I would term my mother as being oriented toward the “spiritual” aspect of faith, over and against organization religion. While they separated when I was quite young, the underlying nature of my upbringing continued as a secular Christian. We celebrated all the key holidays – miserably, in my memory – and I read the picture bible when I was quite young, a comic-book style bible geared towards indifferent youth.

What we did not do was attend church. Certainly, I went to church with various friends in various (non-Catholic) denominations. My father would check the details enough to know it wasn’t trouble (I was, after all, Jewish by heritage if not religion, and we lived in an area which famously housed an Aryan nations complex) and would send me on my way. Usually, attending once would be enough to turn me off from the denomination. For instance, I remember going with a Mormon friend, and being separated from him, because there were some things they taught separately to boys and to girls. This was, as far as I was concerned, intolerable.As a girl, why shouldn’t I know whatever it is that the boys are being taught, and why shouldn’t they know whatever it is the church feels is so essential for girls to know? That one visit was the end of my relationship with the Mormon church.I attended other churches for considerably longer periods, each relationship ending when I felt that my questions were being brushed aside (usually with a “you must have faith” answer, which I hated) or were answered in a manner I didn’t feel was acceptable. I remember one time specifically, on the phone with the man who had then been my pastor for a good eight months, crying as I told him that I couldn’t accept that my mother was going to hell to burn for all eternity just because she wasn’t married to the man she was living with – and had been with him basically since she and my father divorced. While I understood that legally they weren’t married, they were certainly more committed to one another than many married people I had seen, and I just couldn’t accept his – or his church’s – judgment on this issue.

(to be continued)

Call for papers

2009-06-30T14:50:00.002-04:00

Two recent CFP:

The Center for Biblical and Jewish Studies at Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow, invites paper-proposals for a conference on "Jewish Studies in the Soviet Union", to be held in Moscow on December 14-16, 2009.

Before and Beyond Auschwitz/Auschwitz: New conflicts and alternative routes among exclusion, identity and diversity. Call for Papers.

Golden Onion Soup and Chocolate Ice Cream (or pudding?)

2009-06-25T06:08:00.002-04:00

I made 2 new recipes last night:

27. Golden Onion Soup
from the Betty Crocker Cookbook

1/4 cup margarine or butter (I recommend butter!)
1 Tbs packed brown sugar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 large onions (3/4 pounds each), cut into 4ths and sliced
2 cans (10.5 oz) condensed beef broth (or water + pareve beef bouillon)
2 soup cans water

1. Heat oven to 325F
2. Melt butter or margarine in ovenproof Dutch oven over med. heat. Stir in brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Toss onions in butter mixture.
3. Bake uncovered about 2.5 hours, stirring every hour, until onions are deep golden brown. Stir in broth and water. Heat to boiling.

You can make this French onion soup by serving the soup into oven-proof bowls, laying day-old french bread (or croutons) on top, and layering mozarella cheese on top of that. Broil with tops 4 to 5 inches from heat about 2 minutes, until cheese is melted and light brown. But please note, this soup is fabulous as is, without adding cheese.

26. Chocolate Ice Cream (Click on the title for the recipe.)
I made this with soy milk, to keep it pareve (and so I could eat it!).

This recipe came out very nicely, and I think it would serve well as pareve chocolate pudding; by the time you put it in the ice cream maker, it has the right consistency for pudding and a lovely chocolate flavor. I made a pareve chocolate pudding last week (must post that recipe as well...here it is - Dairy Free Chocolate Pudding Recipe #2 5!) which was good, but not all that sweet. I used this pudding for a chocolate cream pie, so it was tempered by the sweetness of the crust and whipped cream. However, I do believe that this chocolate ice cream recipe will make a better -- if not richer -- pudding.

Asparagus Soup

2009-06-17T17:33:00.004-04:00

This is one of my favorite soups -- it isn't a new one, but one that we go back to time and again.

Creamless Asparagus Soup
from The Daily Soup Cookbook
(as usual my comments will be in parenthesis)

2 Tbs. unsalted butter (or margarine or oil)
1 large spanish onion, chopped (we use whatever onions we have)
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp dried thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
2 tsp mustard seeds (I use about 1/2 tsp dried mustard)
1/4 tsp ground white pepper
6 cups vegetable stock (I often just use filtered water if I don't have veggie stock)
1 medium potato, peeled and grated
2 lbs fresh asparagus, stems peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds, tips set aside (we've used less and it still comes out great -- usually we use 1 bunch)
1 tsp minced fresh garlic
2 Tbs chopped fresh dill (or 2 tsp dried dill)

1. Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrots and sweat 4 minutes, until tender
2. Add salt, thyme, bay leaves, mustard seeds, and pepper and stir to coat the veggies.
3. Add stock (or water), potato, and asparagus rounds (not the tips!) and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, partially cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Remove bay leaves, puree half of the soup in a blender or food processor, and return puree to the pot. (We actually puree the whole thing with our immersion blender.)
5. Add the asparagus tips and simmer 4 minutes. (I add them but don't simmer.)
6. Remove from heat and stir in the garlic.
7. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the fresh dill. (We usually just mix the dill in.)

This is really a fabulous soup, and it is vegan (if you don't use the butter) :-)

More recipes!

2009-06-11T21:23:00.002-04:00

Two more recipes (the count-down continues!):

These are from Kosher by Design: Kids in the Kitchen

29. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

We altered this recipe and bought a graham cracker crust, so I'm leaving out the crust instructions. If you want them, pick up a copy of the book and turn to page 150.

2 (8-oz) blocks of cream cheese, not whipped
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
4 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup prepared cookie dough (look for in the refrigerator section of your grocery store. Be sure to check for a hechshar (kosher symbol))
1 pre-made graham cracker crumb crust

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Open up the packages of cream cheese and let them soften to room temperature
3. Place the cream cheese and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat the mixture until creamy. Add in the sour cream, eggs, and vanilla, and beat until smooth. Pour the mixture into the prepared crust.
4. Roll the cookie dough into 1-inch balls. Drop balls into and all around the cream cheese batter, making sure the batter covers the top of each cookie dough ball. (If it doesn't, the cookie dough batter will bake into cookies...which really isn't such a bad thing. This happened to us and it was still delicious!)
5. Place into over and bake for 50 minutes. Without opening the door, turn off the oven and let the cheesecake stay in for another hour. Remove the cake from oven and let it cool on the counter or table for at least 1 hour.
6. Refrigerate.

28. Gourmet Caramel Popcorn

8 Tbs (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
10-12 cups air popped plain popcorn or popped from a microwave bag

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Cover a large jelly roll pan with a sheet of parchment paper. Set aside
3. Take the butter out of the refrigerator and let it sit for 15 min to get soft. You can also put it in the microwave for 15 seconds.
4. Place the butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. With an electric mixer (or by hand) cream the butter and sugar. Whip until it is fluffy.
5. Add the popped popcorn to the bowl. With a wooden spoon, mix very well to get allt he of the pieces coated.
6. empty the coated popcorn onto the prepared jelly roll pan. Place into the oven and bake for 7-8 minutes until crisp.

Kids, grad school, name recognition and publishing

2009-06-11T09:36:00.002-04:00

I've been doing quite a bit of writing lately, especially on the topic of having kids and being in grad school. I am hoping/planning to submit some of this to a journal or magazine at some point, but I'm left to ponder the question:

Should I attach my name to it?

The question is both simple and complicated. On the one side, if I wrote it, why shouldn't I attach my name to it? However, someday in the not too far future (G-d willing), I will be on the job market. Even if I leave such publications like this (theoretical) one off my CV, a google search with my name will likely bring it up. Thus, I can assume that the committee will, at some point, be exposed to this "other life". Of course, they cannot decide to *not* hire me because I have children, but that does not mean that they won't.

On the flip side of this coin, one thing that I've found is that I seem to be an accidental mentor, simply because I am a woman with kids who is pursuing the academic path. (If you are unaware of this somehow, academia is *not* parent-friendly, especially for women.) I am not embarrassed to talk about my children, about my life and experiences as a mother. In fact, they are integral to my being an academic. I have found over time that many women *want* to be having children while they are in graduate school, but they are either explicitly warned against it by their advisers, or they know, either intuitively or from other experiences, that this is not an "acceptable" thing for a good academic to do. By being that person who they know is doing it successfully (and exhaustively), I have come to represent to them that it can, and perhaps should, be done. That you can, to borrow a phrase, have your cake and eat it to.

I understand that it is not my responsibility to be a mentor for these women, and that I have no obligation to continue being so. I agree with that, and quite honestly I'm often baffled that I have somehow ended up in this position. That being said, it is clear to me that I am, and if I "hide" behind a pseudonym am I somehow "failing" by not being a mentor further, by hiding behind a false name?

So, folks, what do you think?

Eileen Schuller

2009-06-09T18:03:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I had the privilege of hearing Eileen Schuller, a Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) scholar and a member of the ursuline sisters. She was wonderful -- generous with her time and forthcoming with her comments. She spoke on her life as one of the first women to work on the Dead Sea Scrolls as a graduate student, the opportunities she had (and also had to work for), and on the balance of work/family (in this case, the balance is with her religious affiliation not with children). Some key points I wanted to share (note: these are points that *I* found key, not necessarily points that others would find key. She spoke and answered questions for about an hour.):

She went back and forth between a university/public education and a church/seminary education
She followed John J. Collins at Harvard, after they had supposedly cancelled the program in second temple Judaism. Every time she wanted to do something, the secretary had to look up Collins' file to see if it was possible.
She was at Harvard with Carol Newsom
Prof. Schuller worked under John Strugnell, who eventually assigned her the non-canonical psalms from the DSS (Newsom got the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice) to work through and translate. (These are non-sectarian in nature.)
She is best known for her later work on the Hodayot, which are sectarian psalms
During the last 2 years of her PhD she lived and worked in Israel. (During the last year she worked by washing sheets for an organization! I know this is trivial, but it was nice to hear since DH and I are doing all sorts of randomly weird jobs to make ends meet.)
Prof. Schuller is working on a Hermenia commentary for the Hodayot
Prof. Schuller also works in Christian-Jewish dialogue. She feels that the DSS have been good at bringing together people of different faiths
In answer to the question as to where the DSS scholarship is going, Schuller answered: A refinement of the philology. Commentaries on the main texts from Qumran (although she did say that it may be too early yet for this). An integration of social scientific approaches into the study of the scrolls (this is becoming more common and certainly more popular in general for biblical (and Talmudic!) studies as a whole, so it is unsurprising to me)

One last point: Prof. Schuller made it a point to argue that working with incoming professors/young scholars and adjuncts were essential to her understanding of the academy. And while she did this while chair of her department, she emphasized the importance that they have, in addition to her research & training graduate students. I thought this was a special point, especially in the current state of the job market, where more and more people are ending up as adjuncts.

Recipe countdown (again?)

2009-06-07T13:45:00.003-04:00

A few years ago I aspired to make 30 new recipes by my 30th birthday -- but I didn't follow through and succeed. I have been thinking that perhaps I would try it again for my birthday this year (32). Since I've been thinking about it for a few weeks now, I'm going to go ahead and do it, but I'm going to include the recipes I made then. So here goes:

32. Black Bean Burgers:

1 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup matzo meal
1/4 minced onion
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 large egg

1. Place beans in a large bowl; partially mash with a fork. Stir in remaining ingredients. Divide bean mixture into 4 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2 inch patty.
2. Make sure grill is hot
3. Place patties on grill coated with cooking spray. Grill 5 minutes on each side or until thoroughly heated.
4. Place patties on prepared buns, add your choice of condiments and enjoy.
The picture came out looking a bit lighter than they actually are. These weren't bad. I'm not a big fan of beans, but I try and incorporate them into our menu as much as possible. Needless to say I top it off with as much stuff as possible so it takes less like beans. That being said, we froze the rest and ended up finishing them off today at lunch. They weren't bad reheated like this. We will make this again!

(I don' t have pictures for any of the rest, however, as everything was made before or on Shavuot for the Chag.)

The next two recipes are from A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen by Jack Bishop. I will note if we altered the recipe at all.

31. Gazpacho with Grilled Vegetables
Fist off, we roasted the vegetables. Our dairy grill is the tiniest George Foreman, and it takes forever to grill veggies on it because of its size (I know, because I made a fabulous grilled veggie lasagna once, but it took all morning to grill all the veggies on that thing).

4 lbs. ripe tomatoes, cored and halved crosswise through the equator
4 med. zucchini (about 1.5 lbs), cut lengthwise into 1/2 inch thick planks
2 med onions, cur crosswise into 1/2 inch think rounds
2 medium yellow bell peppers, stemmed, halved, and seeded
2 large slices stale country white bread, cut 1/2 inch thick (we skipped this part)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling over the bowls
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3 cups vegetable broth
6 Tb. red wine vinegar, or more as needed
1/3 cup finely slivered fresh basil leaves

1. (Grilling instructions appear here. We roasted: Brush tomatoes, zucchini, onions, bell peppers with the oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper to taste. Roast at 450F or 500F until tender, about 20 minutes. At the same time, roast the tomatoes, cut side down, about 10 min or until soft. Cool all veggies to room temperature.)
2. Peel and seed the tomatoes. Place half the tomatoes in a blender along with the garlic, broth and vinegar. Puree until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
3. Chop the grilled onions, zucchini, bell peppers, and remaing tomatoes into fine dice (about 1/4 inch) and add them tot he bowl along with their juices. Adjust seasonings, adding salt and pepper to taste, and chill for at least 4 hours or up to 8 hours.
4. When ready to serve, stir in the basil and adjust the seasonings adding salt, pepper, and vinegar to taste (we added more vinegar for certain). Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with croutons (or in our case, I served it with wedges of homemade garlic-parmesan bread.)

This was pretty good, but didn't hold up more than a couple of days in the fridge, so I suggest making it right before serving.

30. Pineapple-Glazed Tofu with Spicy Cucumber Salad

Spicy Cucumber Salad:
4 med. cucumbers (about 2.25 lbs) peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
1 Tbs. kosher salt, plus more if necessary
1/2 cup rice vinegar
2 Tbs sugar
1 small red onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 small fresh chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced

Pineapple-Glazed Tofu:
1 Tbs roasted peanut oil
1 pound firm or extra-firm tofu, cut crosswise into 8 slabs and blotted dry between several layers of paper towels
2/3 cup pineapple juice (canned or chilled in a carton)
1 Tbs fresh lime juice
Salt
1/4 cup salted peanuts, finely chopped (we left these out)

1. For the Salad: Toss the cucumbers and salt in a colander set in a large bowl. Fill a gallon-sized zipper lock plastic bag with cold water, seal, and set bag on top of cucumbers. Set aside for 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, bring the vinegar and sguar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring at first to dissolve the sugar, until the mixture is syrupy and has reduced to 1/4 cup, about 6 min. Pour the vinegar mixture into a medium bowl and add the onion and chile.

3. After the cucumbers have drained for 1 hour, rinse them well under cold runningw ater to flush out the excess salt. Blot the cucumbers dry with paper towels. Add the cucumbers to the bowl with the onion and chile and toss to coat. Adjust the seasonings, adding salt if necessary.

4. For the tofu: Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the tofu and cook until golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Turn the tofu and cook until golden brown on the second side, about 5 minutes. Add the pineapple juice, lime juice, and salt to taste and cook, turning the tofu once, until the liquid has evaporated and the tofu is glazed, 2 to 3 minutes.

5. Spoon the cucumber salad onto a large serving platter. Arrange the glazed tofu over the salad. Sprinkel with the peanuts and serve.

This came out fabulously, although we used a less spicy chile and we couldn't taste the spiciness at all.

We made a cheesecake as well, I'll post the (altered) recipe shortly, but for now, I need a break from typing :-)

Call for Papers: Judaism and the "Other"

2009-05-25T08:41:00.001-04:00

reposted from H-Judaic list-serv

Australian Association of Jewish Studies
22st Annual Conference
Judaism and the Other
14-15 February 2010
Mandelbaum House, University of Sydney

Call for Papers

The Annual Conference of the Australian Association of Jewish Studies
provides a meeting place for tertiary academics, Jewish educators,
researchers, students and others devoted to the study of Jewish life,
thought and culture.

With the conference theme for 2010, "Judaism and the 'Other"" we are seeking
to create a forum in which to explore how Jewish traditions, texts and
cultures, and vision(s) of the 'Other' influenced relationships, social and
economic conditions, cultural output and the like of Jewish communities in
Israel and across the diaspora.

Papers from a variety of disciplines are welcome, and these may discuss the
relationship of Judaism to paganism in biblical times, the emergence of
Christianity and Islam, and of the Eastern religions. They can also see how
modern developments, such as the Enlightenment, socialism and communism
impacted on Judaism and vice versa.

Papers on other topics will be considered but preference will be given to
those bearing directly on the conference theme.

Submissions to present papers must be made by 7 September 2009. Acceptance
of papers will be notified by email no later than October 2009. Submissions
must include author's name, postal and email address, institutional
affiliation, abstract of the paper to be presented and short biographical
note. The abstract must be 200-300 words and the biographical note no more
than 50 words.

The AAJS encourages students who are engaged in academic research to submit
proposals based on their work to the program committee. Authors should
clearly indicate their student status with their submission.

Presenters are invited to submit written articles for consideration for
publication in the Australian Journal of Jewish Studies.

Proposals should be sent either electronically or by post to:
A/Prof Suzanne Rutland
suzanne.rutland@usyd.edu.au

Department of Hebrew, Biblical & Jewish Studies
University of Sydney
NSW 2006
Australia

PROPOSALS MUST ARRIVE BY 7 SEPTEMBER, 2009

Cheesecake!

2009-05-23T21:40:00.002-04:00

I will be making cheesecake for the first time this year for Shavuot, and would love any good recipes or tips you'd like to share! Thanks!

Zoe's 3rd Birthday

2009-05-22T17:56:00.009-04:00

Yes, it's true. Zoe is (almost) 3. Today we celebrated at her school, and at home (so she would have the toys to play with over Shabbat). Originally we planned to have a party outside of her school for her, but she wasn't interested. Being a poor grad student family, who are we to argue with that? So instead, the Z-girl had a party at school.

First, she got to be Shabbat Ima and collect tzeddekah (charity) from the class:
Then she got to light Shabbat candles:
Zoe's school ordered her a cake, for which we supplied the Disney "Beauty and the Beast" accessories:Then the entire class enjoyed cake and juice, Zoe most of all.
Fast forward a few hours, and while the Z-girl as napping, I got her gifts ready. There is, however, a caveat here. Yes, folks, we’re now even too cheap to buy wrapping paper. Yes, this is plain white paper, but even better, it’s paper that we…uh…liberated from the recycling box at school.For all of you who are appalled by my frugal rhetoric, however, rest assured. We set the elder 2 kids to the task of gift-ifying the paper:Once nap time was over, Zoe excitedly opened her gifts (with the help of her siblings, of course):She made out well this year, both in terms of things that she likes and in terms of items befitting our current frugality. Her Aunt in NY sent a beautiful dress and adorable socks, Bubbe and Zayde got her a 3-wheeler scooter (which she can't wait to try, but she'll have to wait until Sunday) and an adorable pair of PJs with Ariel on them (very, very girlie). Grandma B and Papa L got her a Dora the Explorer Princess/Castle playset. Maman and Abba got her another pair of PJs (tinkerbel) and a shirt (Dora), and Claire and JR, with financial sponsorship of the parents, got her (and themselves) sand toys (since all the parks here are sand-based).
All in all, Zoe did quite well. Happy Birthday!

(I am appalled to note that I never wrote up Zoe's birth story. I don't have time now, but I will do it, B"H quite soon and post it. Both Claire's and JR's are up here already.)

Going Granola

2009-05-21T07:36:00.002-04:00

I make granola at home. Yes, I know there are tons of commercial versions, but, besides the fact that cereal in general is just ridiculously expensive here in Montreal, I don't like the commercial brands. So I have a recipe that I adapt to what I like and what I have in the pantry.

Homemade Granola*

*This recipe is very, very forgiving. So make sure to include the oats, and make the warm brown sugar mixture, and otherwise, go wild and include what you like. I'll try and note some variations.

2.5 cups regular or quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup flaked or shredded coconut (can be left out; I never do, though, it's delicious)
1/3 cup shelled sunflower seeds (and/or walnuts/pecans/almonds, etc.)
1/4 cup sesame seeds (and/or flax seed)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1.5 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1 cup dried fruit (staple for us is craisins; I don' t like raisins but they are an obvious substitute. Any other dried fruit that you enjoy works as well -- I've used apricots, papaya, mango, pineapple, apple, etc.)

Lightly grease a large roasting pan. Add oats, coconut, sunflower seeds (or nuts), and sesame seeds (or flax seed); mix and spread evenly. Bake in 300F oven for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 min and 15 min.
While the oat mixture is baking, combine butter/margarine, brown sugar, and honey in a small pan. Cook and stir over med heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Keep mixture warm.
Remove roasting pan from over. Increase oven temp to 350F. Stir wheat germ into the oats mixture. Pour warm brown sugar mixture over oats, stir to coat. Bake for 5 more minutes.
Stir dried fruit into oat mixture. Bake for another 5-10 more minutes until golden brown. Using a spatula, transfer mixture (while still warm) to a large sheet of foil (or, in my case, I just put it directly into a storage container). Cool completely. Stores up to 2 weeks in airtight container.

Some uses:

Add milk and eat as delicious and nutritious cereal
You can add M&Ms, chocolate chips, etc. to make a nice trail mix.
Add to yogurt, frozen yogurt, or ice cream as a crunchy topping
Pack as-is in a baggie and send it in your kids lunch. (Claire's friends asked for the recipe!)