Alef: The NEXT Conversation

The Count: Things You Should Know About

We count down to New Years, we count down to birthdays, and between the second night of Passover and the arrival of Shavuot, many Jews count the omer.  An omer is a unit of barley and counting it is a tradition that started in the period when Shavuot was known also as the barley harvest – Jews were literally counting down to the arrival of their next crop.

Today many people lend a different kind of significance to the counting.  It is a practice in mindfulness as the Jewish calendar builds toward the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

At Alef we’ll be counting as well, but instead of barley, we’ll be counting out interesting Jewish tid-bits that we want to put on your radar.  These (sometimes) hidden gems range from youtube videos and blogs to live events that you’ll want to check out.  To compile this list we put our heads together and asked ourselves: what’s out there that’s Jewish, appeals to a younger crowd, and has the potential to really affect the community. Think there’s something we’ve missed? Add it below in the comments!

49. Shavuot begins the evening of the 49th day of the Omer (finally!).  Although it began as the festival for the Barley Harvest, the holiday is now a celebration of the revelation at Mount Sinai and the giving of the Torah.  If you’re looking for plans to celebrate for yourself, we’ve got ideas that span from coast to coast.  Try Seattle,  the Bay Area,  Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta,  Washington DC,  Philadelphia, New York, or Boston.  Beyond the blintzes and study (typical customs for the holiday), the Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot.  The parallel between the holiday and the story is often attributed to Ruth’s desire to become a member of the Jewish people, who are defined as those who have accepted the Torah. The concept of being able to become a member of the Jewish people, of course, is a much longer and fascinating discussion for anyone who wants to take it up.

48. Look out, D.C., there’s a kosher deli on wheels headed your way.  Sixth&Rye (cleverly titled to model the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue) will be the touring Downtown D.C. to provide signature sandwiches and dill pickles (of course) to the hungry and Kosher during Friday lunch hours.  No need to wave them down on a street corner like your old fashioned ice cream truck, you can find Sixth&Rye’s locations on Twitter by following @Sixthandrye.

47. On Alef, we regularly address Jewish issues that the newest generation of change-makers is grappling with.  High on the list of these issues is typically that of food – not only the balance between organic and local, vegetarian and vegan, but also the much older question of Kashrut.  Last year brought the release of Sue Fishkoff’s Kosher Nation: Why More and More of America’s Food Answers to a Higher Authority.  The book confronts head on the new reality that Kosher food is more widespread and complex than ever.  In fact, the majority of Americans who buy Kosher food are not actually observant Jews – chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re probably among them.  Next time you’re in the grocery store, check the packaging on that bag of pretzels of tub of hummus for one of the many symbols of Kosher certification that are appearing more and more all over the foods we eat.

46. Does it come as a surprise that the Jewish people like to make lists?  Alef is, of course, guilty as charged, but there are a few others out there that can serve as your (somewhat subjective) guides to who and what is influencing Jewish life today. Perhaps the most recent of these is an annual list put out by The Jewish Week, called 36 Under 36 – 36 dedicated Jews under the age of 36 who are reinvigorating the Jewish community. Then there’s HuffPost Religion, which is now creating a crowdsourced list of influential Jewish tweeters. And don’t forget the BIG JEWCY (#22 on our Omer List), currently being released on Jewcy.com. Even this list could go on, but we’ll spare you and stop at three for now!

45. No food evokes Israel quite like Hummus. Ubiquitous in Israeli pita stands and restaurants and wildly popular among Israeli’s and visitors alike, Hummus is as Israeli as salsa is Mexican. Amazingly hummus was relatively unknown to most Americans until recently, but that is changing quickly. Total US hummus sales just $5 million in 1995 are now $350 million and Sabra, an Israeli-owned brand that leads the market, launched a big ad campaign last year sure to grow the hummus lovers world more.  The creamy, healthy and versatile hummus has also become popular in the  US restaurant scene, showing up in menus and spurring a slew of Israeli-owned hummus-centric eateries, including Hummus Kitchen and the Hummus Place, whose owner Ori Apple recently told Jewish Week, “I assumed some Israelis and maybe some Jewish people will know and love it, but it caught on…everybody loves it!”.

Hummus has also become a bit of a political flash point, with a couple of anti-Israel investment efforts on campuses like Princeton and DePaul attempting to have the sale of Sabra brands banned. To date, all these efforts have been voted down by students.  Last year, a lawsuit in Lebanon attempted unsuccessfully to claim Hummus as a Lebanese invention, attempting to keep all other chickpea based foods labeled something else (a bit like the French approach to champagne).

At Alef we love hummus, are thrilled so many others do to and are pretty sure a bowl of hummus can solve the world’s woes.

44. You’ve posted them on Facebook, tagged and tagged away, but now what to do with all of your amazing photos from your Taglit-Birthright trip? How about entering them into the Old City to Our City Photo Contest and Exhibition. This contest had humble beginnings, but has now spread across the NEXT cities and is coming to a city near you! In South Florida, you can submit 3 of your best photos in the categories of People, Places, and Nature. Perhaps you have photos of your friends, your Israeli counterparts, or yourself. Maybe it was a group praying at the Kotel or a busy scene in Tel Aviv. We’ll be printing out your photos for a exhibition in an art gallery, having guest judges, fabulous prizes and of course you! So open those charmingly named photo albums from your trip and start submitting!

43. Given that Jews are so often referred to as “people of the book”, you would expect one of the most blisteringly smart Jewish writers out there to be…well…  literate.  “Not so!” says acclaimed author Gary Shteyngart, who’s dumbed down alter-ego is more interested in Vassar co-eds than being able to read.  When the “book trailer” for Shteyngart’s latest novel “Super Sad True Love Story” was released last year, no one expected to see Gary (or his daschund Felix) mugging it up with celebrity-cum-literati James Franco.  And, when a second book trailer was released last month, we were even more surprised to find Shteyngart (and Felix)  rooming with none other than acclaimed actor Paul Giamatti.  Does it make sense?  Not really.  Is it crude?  Sure.  Is it a fantastic way for an incredible Jewish literary voice to poke fun at himself, his fans, and the entire publishing industry?  Absolutely.

42. We already mentioned Hazon for their CSA program, but have you heard about their bike rides?  Fresh veggies and bicycles may not seem related at first glance, but consider them as different angles on Hazon’s mission to create healthy, sustainable communities.  The US-based rides, which happen in New York and California, consist of a Shabbat retreat and two-days worth of riding.  The Israel Ride is a full five days of riding! Participating is not only about making yourself healthier, it’s about making your community healthier as well – take a look at all the beneficiaries of this program.

41. There are many ways to study classic Jewish text, sure, but G-DCAST (rhymes with Podcast) takes the Torah a step further in making it accessible for anyone. According to their website, they are “animating Torah for today!”  That’s right, they have 55 animated 4-minute videos that take you through the Torah with a prose, poetry, or musical (sung) explanation of events.  The current featured video is a dedication to Shavuot – a shouting out of the ten commandments. BUT, they aren’t stopping there, you can sign up to find out what they’ll animate next.

40. You might not believe all of the places that one can find a Jewish museum.  New York isn’t such a surprise, but what about Florida, Philly or Berlin? The first documents the life of Floridian Jews from when they were first allowed to settle in 1763.  In Philly, the brand new museum is dedicated to the whole American Jewish story. While you might assume that a Jewish museum in Germany was constructed after World War II, the one in Berlin actually opened it’s doors for the first time in 1933.  The Nazi regime closed the museum in 1938, but it was never entirely forgotten. In 1975 an “Association for a Jewish Museum” was formed and the museum officially reopened on September 9, 2001. Goes to show what a unique history we really do have.

39. Jewish Israeli writers have added a voice to Jewish literature of the world that is infused with the experiences of living in the midst of the Middle East conflict as well as the virtues and pitfalls of everything from Zionism to the mysticism and spirituality that permeates Jewish practice.  We’re talking about authors like Amos Oz, Yehuda Amichai, S.Y. Agnon, and Etgar Keret – just to name a few.  Each of them has their own unique style and approach to literature, but perhaps more than Jewish writers from anywhere else, there is something a little more inherently “Jewish,” and incredibly “Israeli,” about their work.  All great additions to your summer reading list!

38. The Gan Project, based out of Chicago, endeavors to create a vibrant, sustainable, and healthy Chicago Jewish community through recurring, action oriented environmental and agricultural programming. Founder and Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grantee Jill Zenoff believes that through working the land as our ancestors did before us, Jews from all walks of life can revitalize their connection to some of the most basic principles of Judaism.  Come to one of their events or get even more involved – they’re taking interns this year.

37.  Project Better Place is Israel’s solution to the world’s gas and oil problem. Electric and Hybrid cars have been around for a while, but Better Place has created a network of battery switch stations and charging ports all over the country.  See how Israel is revolutionizing the electric car industry.

36. The Jewish Women’s Archive online encyclopedia is massive, including 1,700 biographies and more than 1,400 photographs. In honor of Jewish Heritage Month, JWA is launching a Twitter campaign to showcase many of its articles in a mere 140 characters. Learn more and follow hashtag #jwapedia on Twitter to catch the latest!

35.  From cyber-latkes to Seders in space, no one really knows what Judaism will look like in the future.  But, that hasn’t stopped the Jewish Outreach Institute from convening some of the best and brightest Jews in the world (including, of course, Birthright Israel NEXT) to answer the question – “What will Judaism look like in the year 2030?”  Featuring presenters discussing questions of spirituality, peoplehood, and more, the Judaism 2030 conference is part get-together and part crystal-ball, giving participants a chance to speculate on what the Jewish world will look like 19 years from now.  Want to get in on the action?  Check out the #Judaism2030 hashtag to follow the conversation!

34. Interactive multimedia seems to be the way of the future and the Jewish community is jumping on the bandwagon.  Over the last few years, sites like The Open Siddur Project and Haggadot.com have started paving away for the communal, digital creation of those texts that we use to guide the services associated with Shabbat and holidays.  Allowing Seder and Service leaders alike to take true ownership over the treatment of their source material and then share it with the rest of the world wide web is, when you think about it, actually pretty cool.

33. The days in which we count the omer are considered a period of semi-mourning.  Often during this time, Jewish people will refrain from holding celebrations like weddings or cut their hair. Lag B’Omer, which is always celebrated on the thirty-third day of counting the Omer,  is a day of celebration in the midst of all that. Having a bonfire is a popular custom to celebrate the day – especially as it falls at the time of year for us that the weather is finally turning nice.

32. Ekar Farm is an Urban Jewish Farm all about connecting our historical roots with the literal roots of our food. According to their site, the simple rule to live by is “Grow. Learn. Sustain. Enjoy. Repeat.”  Check out their calendar of events for ways to get involved on the farm this summer.

31. Reboot is a one-of-a-kind Jewish organization. As a somewhat abstract network of change-makers, it aims to “‘reboot’” the culture, rituals, and traditions we’ve inherited and make them vital and resonant in our own lives.” Reboot is the mastermind behind several innovative initiatives, including Sukkah City – an architecture competition in Manhattan’s Union Square where 10 unique sukkahs stood on display while the public learned, explored, and voted on their favorite designs. Reboot also pioneered the National Day of Unplugging, in which people were encouraged to recharge themselves by refraining from using technology for 24 hours.

30. You’d never know it, but there’s an Israeli invasion taking place right now, as you read these very words.  No, it’s not a Mossad incursion into a terrorist safe-house.  And, no, there’s no rolling column of Merkava tanks.  In fact, this is one invasion that’s been taking place right in front of your eyes.  That’s right, 2011 is the year Israel invades…American television!  Starting with HBO’s reworking of Israeli mega-hit “BeTipul” into the American mega-hit “In Treatment”, Israel has become the go-to hotspot for network execs looking for their next big show.  This season, keep an eye out for FOX’s new sitcom “Traffic Light” (based on Israel’s “Ramzor”), and Showtime’s “Homeland” (based on Israel’s “Hatufim”).  Who knows?  If this television invasion keeps going the way it has been, learning Hebrew might not be a luxury, it might be a prime time necessity!

29. Interfaith relationships may always be a hot discussion topic, but for those members of the tribe interested in dating and marrying another Jewish person, the number of online options will blow you out of the water.  No longer are the days of JDate or bust – by our last count there are more than 15 (count ‘em 15!) Jewish dating sites.  Are we making your head spin?  Now there’s even a website to help you choose between them! Just to be clear – we’re not taking a stand on who you choose to marry, but when did finding your Beshert on the internet become such a trend?

28. Girls in Trouble‘s new album, HALF YOU HALF ME, drops Today, May 17th! They’re produced by JDub, a not-for-profit Jewish record label. Listen to full tracks streaming now including their first single “We are Androgynous.” The Jewish Chronicle calls the album “stormy, billowy, and beautiful.” The music created is similar to the works of Mirah and early Sufjan Stevens, with layers of instrumentation that are just as powerful as the words.

27. Jewish iPhone apps are cropping up all over the place, helping those fortunate users do everything from learn Hebrew phrases for travel in Israel (Mila-4-Phone from Birthright Israel NEXT) to count the omer.  With the development of mobile technology becoming more easy and accessible, just about everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.  Who thought they’d see the day that we need an online Jewish iPhone community? And Droid users, rejoice – these apps are quickly being developed for the Android Marketplace too.

26. In the last several years there has been a surge of independent synagogues and minyanim in LA. Two thriving communities are IKAR LA and Nashuva.  IKAR LA, led by Rabbi Sharon Brous, aims to reanimate Jewish life through soulful and traditional religious practice that is rooted in a deep commitment to social justice.  Nashuva’s Rabbi Naomi believes that prayer leads us to action. Nashuva is a service that leads to service. On the first Friday of each month the community comes together to pray together and on the third Sunday of each month they do community service.

25. Jewish Communal Living – Worldwide.  Moishe House was founded in 2006 and has quickly grown from four friends building a Jewish community for young adults in their 20’s out of their home in Oakland, California to thriving centers of Jewish life in 36 locations spanning 14 countries. In 2010, Moishe Houses hosted more than 2,500 programs for more than 50,000 total participants The center of Moishe House’s approach to building Jewish community is an open, welcoming home, created and facilitated by a group of 3-5 young adults. The residents of each Moishe House come from a variety of Jewish backgrounds ranging from liberal to traditional. And, they all share a strong desire to create a home that becomes a hub of Jewish life for the young adult community.

24. Look, we get it – it’s been a long week.  By the time we hit Friday afternoon, we at Alef are ready to collapse on the sofa in an overworked heap.  But, powering through our physical and mental exhaustion, we hit the work week homestretch with one final push of adrenalin in order to make it to a well-earned Shabbat.  Fortunately, there are plenty of ways of making that final push a little less…pushy.  After all, if Shabbat is the day of rest, it shouldn’t be nearly this exhausting to pull off.  Enter a whole host of Shabbat programs designed to help us all make our Shabbats a little easier and a lot more meaningful.  Our favorites?  Birthright Israel NEXT’s “NEXT Shabbat” which helps subsidize home hosted meals, and sends participants their own “Shabbox”, full of all the things they’ll need to host their own Shabbat dinner.  Similarly, Shabbat Manifesto, from Reboot, helps give meaning to Shabbat in a 21st century context with 10 guiding principals to maximize the meaning of Shabbat, and even an iPhone app helps even the most ardent technophile “unplug” for Shabbat.

23.  Erika Davis started writing the blog Black, Gay and Jewish to document her journey towards Judaism.  She’s approaching the one-year mark and while she doesn’t have a date of conversion she knows that her Jewish journey won’t end at the Mikvah. The blog began as a very personal journey but in writing it, she’s connected with many Jews who are queer, Jews of Color, Jews by choice and born Jews. While it is still very much about her journey, the journey has become more enriched by these dialogues with others.

22. THE BIG JEWCY is Jewcy.com’s annual list of “100 Jews everybody should know and love”! It’s 100 Jews in 1 week:  activists, foodies, writers, bloggers, music makers, troublemakers, and all other sorts of interesting people. Know somebody who is doing something exceptional?  Nominating them is easy. Stay tuned because starting June 1st, Jewcy brings you their second annual Big Jewcy list. Then on Wednesday, June 15th, they’re taking over Brooklyn Winery for a bash celebrating this group of amazing folks. Tickets are available for a mere 8 bucks in advance HERE or $10 at the door.

21. The Bay Area has seen a surge of pop-up urban farming co-ops and greenspaces in recent months but none are quite like Urban Adamah.  Starting with an empty dirt lot, the leadership at Urban Adamah works with a team of live-in Fellows to re-imagine and re-create the space into a living and breathing farm.  12 fellows will be selected next month for the inaugural three month program, but there are also volunteer days when anyone over the age of 16 can pitch in.

20. Yom HaZikaron, simply put, is Israel’s Memorial Day. This year Israel remembers 22,867 fallen soldiers and 2,443 civilian victims of terror.  Yom HaZikaron is always commemorated on the 4th day of the Hebrew calendar month Lyar.  American Jews mark the occasion in a variety of ways, but in Israel a siren sounds to call for a moment of remembrance and people stop what they are doing to show respect.  Even those who are driving on the highway. Yom Ha’atzmaut, the day following, commemorates Israel’s independence and the declaration signed in 1948 that made it a state.

19.  Mechon Hadar is not your grandfather’s Yeshiva. While the erudite teaching, engaged students discussing Jewish text and a general buzz of activity are reminiscent of a traditional Yeshiva, Mechon Hadar is something unique. Founded by Rabbis Elie Kaunfer, Shai Held and Ethan Tucker – all under 40 and all just named to the Newsweek/Daily Beast’s “Top 50 Rabbi’s List” – the place is loaded with a diverse, energetic group of men and women that give it a kind of buzz that is equal parts honor’s symposium, the perfect Havurah learning group and Jerusalem Beit Midrash but with a real presence of, and equality for, Women.  While the lectures are well beyond the typical Synagogue fare, there is a real effort to make learning accessible to all (including English translations) and relevant to young Jews; many of the seminars offered to the broader community are tackling some of the trickiest and most interesting topics in Jewish thought today.

Want to get a taste? Rabbi Ethan Tucker’ three part series on Jewish identity runs this and next Tuesday (May 10 & 17), or watch this clip from Rabbi Shai Held’s stunning series on “Non-Delusional Religious Zionism”.

18. “The Religious Jewish Guy Who Sings” genre has been around some quite some time now. Gaining credence with the success of Matisyahu, there are now a whole slew of Fedora-clad, scraggly-beard-wearing, black-and-white-suited musicians out there who rap, rock, re-mix, drop beats, and produce mostly odd and unappealing videos of them doing their music thing. Enter into the scene Moshe Hecht – a man who has the Hassidic look down, but offers a soulful, intense, visceral sound that’s based in both talent and craftsmanship. Moshe and the rest of his band have created music that is substantive and deep in lyrical expression while also catchy and accessible to listeners who are more about feel than language.

17. Rockin’ Friday Night Services in LA.  Friday Night Live at Sinai Temple is celebrating its Bar Mitzvah this year.  Rabbi David Wolpe, Craig Taubman and the FNL band have brought Shabbat ruach (spirit) through live music, singing and prayer.  Thousands of young adults have been inspired by this monthly service. Stephen S. Wise’s W Group started a special Shabbat Service exclusively for young adults. The W Shabbat includes a one-hour service guided by their very own siddur and band!

16. The Jewish Joint Distribution Committee puts its historic holocaust records online, just in time for Yom Ha’Shoah (#12 on our list) this year.  These documents, which were mostly inaccessible by the public until now, have allowed those interested to review the names of loved ones lost or discover relatives they never knew they had.  The JDC began as a humanitarian organization in 1914 to aid Jews in Europe during the war. Read about it now on the New York Times.

15. The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival is the preeminent producer and promoter of live, contemporary Jewish music experiences in Atlanta, providing opportunities for musicians and audiences to deepen their connection to Jewish music, culture and each other. While engaging Atlanta to the global Jewish music renaissance, AJMF adds to the diverse cultural landscape of Georgia’s capital and fosters a more vibrant Jewish community throughout the Southeast.

14.  He’s known for his lazy Sundays, below-the-belt presents, and having just had sex. Andy Samberg (first name = David) blew up YouTube with his comedy troupe, The Lonely Island, and continues to stun as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Samberg is Jewish (and according to Wikipedia, his maternal grandfather, Alfred J. Marrow, served as the executive chair of the American Jewish Congress), which makes this boy from Berkeley another Jewish comedian, actor, writer, and rapper to join the ranks of SNLers like Gilda Radner, Jon Lovitz, and Adam Sandler.

13. Based out of the Bay Area of California, Wilderness Torah encourages participants to tap into their inner spirit, the earth, and community through nature-based programs and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).  Education around sustainable life skills, nature festivals, and wilderness trips, empower participants to rekindle a relationship with the natural world and reconnects Judaism to its earthly roots.

12. Yom HaShoah is marked annually as Holocaust Remembrance Day.  It is always held on the Hebrew calendar date 27 Nisan, which  falls on May 1st this year.  Yom HaShoah began to be celebrated in 1953 with the signing of a new law by Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Israeli President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi.  You’ll find many kinds of events all over the country to remember those who were lost in the Holocaust – one of the most common is the readings of the names of the victims.

11. Believe it or not, there’s more to Yiddish than calling that guy who cut you off a “gigantic schmuck.”  The National Yiddish Book Center, based in Amherst, MA, describes itself as “the world’s only comprehensive supplier of Yiddish books.” Can’t read Yiddish?  The center has a full calendar of Yiddish events and programs, both online and in person.  So, nu?  Get going already!  Gay avek!

10. It’s no secret that we love to claim the Beastie Boys as members of the tribe.  Despite the fact that there’s nothing overwhelmingly Jewish about this epic 28 minute long video, promoting the release of the Beastie Boys’ latest release (Only one of the three actors playing the Beasties – of either time period – are actually Jewish) it’s still pretty good.  So is the new album.

9. PunkTorah is your online service for……well services.  Want to find a way to bring out the Jew in you through the comforts of your own computer, well PunkTorah allows you to do that.  Join Patrick and Michael in their new innovative-social media way of bringing the Jewish to you.  You can find D’var Torah (commentary on the Torah portion of the week), Rants (because who doesn’t need to vent once in a while), and videos that never let us forget that PunkTorah is dedicated to “independent Jewish spirituality.”

8. The Community Supported Agriculture model is growing as a Jewish movement.  “Farm-to-table” has become a  catch phrase in the food industry over the past few years, and can easily be done in the comfort of your own home. Hazon ‘s CSA program is among the best known in the Jewish community. CSAs allow you to buy into a farmers crop share in advance of the season. Each CSA’s time frame differs, but approximately every one to two weeks, the farmer will deliver that week’s crops to a local center for pick-up or deliver it straight to your door. There is some mystery behind what your weekly share will contain (whatever grows that week is what you get) – even more exciting than a trip to the grocery store!

7. Darim  Online is working hard to bring Social Media to Jewish Educators to help Jewish day schools “integrate social media into their strategies for home-school communications, student recruitment, alumni outreach, and fundraising.”  Huge thumbs up to them for leading this effort.

6. Jewish a cappella. A cappella groups are not new to the music scene – NBC recognized them in the show The Sing-Off and it’s hard to miss a beat of Fox’s Glee. Yet, over the past few months, Jewish singing groups have been going viral, taking pop songs and giving them a holiday spin. Take for instance the Hanukkah tribute by the Maccabeats or the Passover-centric stylings of Kol Ish.

5. Stuff Jewish Young Adults Like is a spinoff of the hit blog StuffWhitePeopleLike.com, SJYAL has been “chronicling our idiosyncracies” since 2008. Topping the list is #1: Ironic Jewish Themed T-Shirts, with appearances by Ultimate Frisbee (#4), Regina Spektor (#8), Practicing on Gentiles (#48), and Antibacterial Wipes (#103).

4. The Jewish Meditation Center of Brooklyn.  This unique org currently resides in Brooklyn, but someday may come to a city near you! The JMC strives to build a “replicable model of a grassroots, community-led Jewish Meditation Center, based on the belief that a truly sustainable tikkun olam happens from the inside out.”  Also, the Silent Meditation Retreats put on by the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center offer a longer, more intensive experience in mindfulness and Jewish meditation.  JMC Executive Director Alison Laichter writes more about spirituality and activism here.

3. The Homer Calendar is a Simpsons fan-friendly way to count the omer.  With Homer Simpson as your guide for the Hebrew, English and Transliteration, you can count the omer with daily, weekly, or monthly calendar views . For the mobile savvy set, you can even count with Homer on twitter.

2. The Omerathon on Jewcy.com.  A member of the L.A. Jewcy community is growing a beard through the counting of the omer to raise money for the Jewish family Service of Los Angeles and is challenging those of us with the ability to grow facial hair to do the same. It’s a new spin on an old springtime tradition, but you can think of it  like a Jewish playoff beard to fight hunger.

1. MyJewishLearning.com offers clear and interesting explanations of Jewish rituals and traditions.  Read more about the omer and how to count it.

Photo by Dave Stokes, licensed under Creative Commons.

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