Sawyouatsinai matchmaker just tried to set me up with a woman who was raised Conservative but is not going a little more observant because she studies at The Kabbalah Center.

I know I come off as rather unorthodox for being Orthodox (when you edit and publish a book called Teddy Bear Cannibal Massacre, don't expect the frum chicks to be beating down your door) but still...Kabbalah Center?

And the one that I called was living at home with her parents in Brooklyn and had no job prospects but her employment agency thinks that a two week class might help her in some vague "cooking" job. She's in her 30s. Late 30s. I could write an entire entry about this weird arrested development in which UWS/Heights dating scene (which feels very high school) is still a step up from these people that never move out of their parents' homes in Brooklyn.

There are two more matches available.

And I DO have tentative plans to go on a date in January with a girl that I know and like.

But Kabbalah Center. Makes me think the sawyouatsinai matchmakers aren't even trying.

i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.

diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.

cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.

Well, Polish police found the Auschwitz sign. I know we're all shocked that young people were involved. Whether they're part of an organized anti-Semitic movement, an organized Semitic movement, or a drunken fraternity remains to be seen, but I'm really not surprised at the age group in question as this pretty well stank of "not thinking things all the way through."

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-michael-jackson-tapes-by-rabbi-shmuley-boteach,36361/

I gotta say any take down of Shmuley Boteach's more egotistical jackass stances is welcome. Funny, how I remember reading Kosher Sex and Doesn't Anyone Blush Anymore? at about the same time - pretty much when I was going through a terrible breakup and nursing it with a superfrum, super-modest, "no way am I going to be the guy who tells niddah jokes at the Shabbos table even if in my defense the girl sitting next to me started it and I just added to the festivities" Jew (or almost Jew at the time - not realizing how far off that "almost" was)

I remember being much more impressed with Manis Friedman; mostly because he was a bit more down to earth and he seemed more romantic. But mostly because he was a celebrity who let others promote him. Most of his talks were pretty long and soft spoken and didn't really have much more than a couple of points but they were comfortable. Of course, his "men are like this and women are like that" was a little grating but I bought it more then than I do now (not that there isn't something to be said for essentialism but it's so much less deterministic than most Orthodox Jewish thought seems to believe. And Hersh's "women are naturally on a higher spiritual plane" jazz? Pure Victorian twaddle.)

Rabbi Shmuley just seemed too flashy, too eager to grab the spotlight. From what Rabin writes, this book seems like him at his most egregious. Which is a shame, because I think he has some interesting things to say but there are so many more rabbis - even celebrity rabbis - who deserve that spotlight more.

stepstomarrow
When granddaughter, Jada, was born with leukemia, a donor-match was located and Jada made a miraculous recovery. In honor of her grandaughter's health, Jeanna has decided to walk across the country (in the dead of winter) to raise awareness and build support for the bone marrow registry (all that's required is a cheek swab). Follow Jeanna's remarkable journey as she travels the United States by foot.

Did anyone see this? If so, what did you think?

I was at a friend's house for Shabbos and everyone was giving her crap for all the Chanukkah decorations. As one put it: "it's like Chanukkah puked in here." I was confused because I didn't think it was really that obnoxious. I found the whole place rather understated - MAYBE - a little more festive than other apartments but not that much.

Then I realized that it's because I was raised Xian and even the most obnoxious and egregious Chanukkah display is still pretty non-descript compared to the average Xmas decorated house.

I also realized, along with that revelation, is that my time of becoming more frum and trying to prove to myself and everyone around me exactly how frum I am is over. Now that I'm comfortably frum, I can actually appreciate that the Rockefeller Center xmas tree is rather pretty. And I absolutely LOVE those vulgar xmas displays with all the Santa Clauses and mangers and lights and reindeer and flamingos and Santa Clauses towering over the baby Jesus like they are Godzilla Clauses ready to smash the hell out of that manger and the rival Virgin Mary statues and the blinking lights that don't know when to blink.

As I don't feel the need to prove anything, I can appreciate the art without caring about the religion associated with it.

Check out Craig Ferguson. My friend Ellie Brickman designed the puppets. And her husband, Jonathan Hadju, makes damn good wine (kosher wine of course) which I wouldn't mention but since I'm shamelessly plugging my friends' work might as well expand on that.

taste_buds
Holidays provide a built-in excuse for indulgent entertaining. This all-purpose foodie community covers everything from homemade hangover cures to dinner party menus. Need quick advice? Get five-minute snack suggestions, low-fat ingredient substitutes, and even measurement conversions. Delicious recipes garnished with humorous advice. Yum.

naturesbeauty
Always on the lookout for compelling images, we were delighted to discover this flourishing community of artists who share a love of nature. Honoring the subject with photographs, paintings, sketches, prose, poetry, and other creative works, you'll be simultaneously riveted to your monitor and inspired to run helter skelter towards the nearest wooded dale.

Last night as we were singing Ma'oz Tzur, it was occuring to me that the song should totally be updated to include the creation of the modern State of Israel. Maybe I'm just super Zionist, but I think it totally fits given what the song is about. That aside, I have seen a bencher or two that had a special Al Hanisim for Yom Ha'atzma'ut which is totally awesome.

Also, Ma'oz Tzur sounds like a Christmas carol.

Happy Chanuka, y'all! :)