The Reading List: Sorry, Jewish Boys…

By Ben Sales December 28, 2010

Natalie Portman is engaged and pregnant. [People] American Football hits Israel, a step up from the storied Jerusalem yeshiva boys’ flag football league. [NYT] All the young Jews get together on Christmas Eve. [JIDaily] Seven YU high school students will get to take a class with a renowned Israeli author. [YNet] Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian…

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The Reading List: Another A-List Intermarriage

By Ben Sales December 23, 2010

This time it’s between Lauren Bush, Dubya’s niece, and MOT David Lauren, son of designer Ralph. Lauren Lauren anyone? [From Under the Fig Tree] Breaking story from Fox News: Elie Wiesel won the Holocaust! [Mediaite] It turns out American Jews aren’t an endangered species. [Forward] Stuck for plans on Christmas Eve? Here’s what the rabbis suggest….

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Moved by Our Hearts, Not Our Tastebuds

By akinman December 22, 2010

While Christmas tree lots empty and malls turn into theme parks, this holiday season has seemed to keep everybody on a festive high. While most kids around the world will be anticipating presents and cookies, I’m waiting in anticipation myself. No, not in hopes of getting goodies in a stocking or a thick slice of…

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December Without the Dilemma

By bspringer December 9, 2010

Christmas! ’Tis the season, and at our house Santa is an equal opportunity present provider. Hadn’t you heard? Santa Claus? Formerly Shlomo Clausstein, total Heeb. I know we’re not the only Jewish family to celebrate Christmas in addition to Hanukkah. I’m sure there are plenty of us out there. Some might call it assimilation. I…

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Christmas Chinese Balloons

By meuriarte December 29, 2009

Bethlehem, Christmas Eve 2009. It was a dark, still night. I huddled close with friends and drank hot tea poured from a thermos by a vendor circulating the crowd to keep warm. Red and blue lights illuminated the crosses over the Church of the Nativity. A towering fir tree glistened on the side of the…

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The Good Fight

By Ben Sales December 16, 2009

I love forgetting Christmas. In America, this was impossible. Come Thanksgiving I would lose myself in a rush of jingles, trees and presents, but when I went to Israel in the December of my senior year I noticed that everything seemed quieter: fewer songs blared through public speakers, the malls were less crowded and the…

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