Mazel tov! I’m 38, which means my Hebrew birth date and my secular calendar birth date coincide. For most folks, this occurs first on the 19th birthday, and then every 19 years, but in my case my 19th birthdays were a day apart (I was engaged that year!), so this is a first for me.
May I ask for a birthday gift?
May I ask for a birthday gift?
In the comment section, would you take a moment to share what was your favorite OOTOB post and why? I’d love that!
Thanks, readers – whether you read sometimes or always, are a commenter or not, agree with me or don’t, or sometimes share my posts. I appreciate every single one of you.
‘Till 120: l’chaim!
Happy birthday!!!
My favorite so far was the interview with Libby. I love your blog in general for opening me up to new ideas and discovering the ways in which we are both the same and different, and the interview with Libby was such a great example of that. I would never have the opportunity to speak to a hassidic person in my everyday life, let alone ask them such in depth questions, so it was fascinating to read all of Libby's thoughtful answers. Thanks for organizing that and have a lovely birthday. 🙂
Thanks so much, Becca!
Good morning, Happy Birthday to you! I really like and appreciate all of your posts so it is hard to pick one in particular. If I were to pick one, it would be your first blog. There you set the stage for what has become a wonderful forum for so many of us. May this year and all the years to follow be filled with health, happiness, joy, and blessings.
Amen and thank you Stacy!
Happy Birthday(s)! I don't have a favorite post yet (I've only been reading your blog for a relatively short while), but I'm really enjoying your open and broad perspectives. Looking forward to continuing to get to know you…
Thanks for reading, Maya, and I look forward to getting to know you too. You're famous now because when I posted this to Facebook, FB grabbed your picture in the link. Enjoy! 🙂
Happy Birthday! My favorite post was the one where you discussed cursing. I decided I would try my hardest not to curse any longer, and I read that blog over and over for inspiration. Thank you for that one. Ialso really enjoyed the question and answer with Libby. Thank you for your good work. Happy happy birthday. May you live to 120!!
Fruma Chava,
I am so touched by this comment! Who knew?? Really impressed. Amen to the good wishes!
Happy Birthday! My two favorites are: the interview with a Hassidic woman; and, the other, details things you want people to know about coming to your house for Shabbat. Thank you.
Thanks for the comment and thanks for reading!
Yom Huledet Sameach, Ruchi – Happy Birthday!
One of the most helpful aspects of your blog for me is your teaching on how we can improve our behavior traits. "May it Be an Atonement" is a wonderful example – instead of being angry or annoyed at events in our lives, we can ask that the difficulty be an atonement for something wrong we've done. Just as the teacher did for you, you help change our thinking.
Yesher Kochichaych – may you continue to go from strength to strength and enjoy your birthday
Amen! Thanks, Shoshana!
wishing you a very happy birthday, and many more, from this regular reader in Scotland……I'm Alex, a 57 year old woman, and pretty newly observant….I get a lot from reading your blog…..my favourite(though there are many I love) has to be this week's one about the teacher and the kaporrah….it brought back memories of my maternal grandmother.
mazel Tov from across the Pond 🙂
Alex
Wow, Alex – that is very cool. Thanks for reading and for writing in!
I have so many favorites. One that was educational and made me laugh was on definitions of Yiddish and Hebrew sayings. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUCHI!! I'm so so blessed to merit learning from you and having you as my mentor and friend. Look forward to seeing you later.
Thanks girlfriend 🙂
I liked the one about why your son doesn't have a girlfriend, you explain difficult concepts so eloquently.
Happy birthday!
-Jenny
Thanks Jenny! I appreciate that. Hope to see you at WIK this year.
Happy birthday!
1. The record-breakingly long and stunningly civil exchange about how O Jews view Reform Jews (and its many eddies and sidenotes) was my fav. I learned a lot and there were so many different views exchanged, it was beautiful.
2. Your expression of horror at and condemnation of the Beit Shemesh events was very important. I'm so glad you wrote it.
3. For myself I loved the 49 days by SMS. Very moving and motivating.
4. Black hat and O-women's clothing/modesty posts were really illuminating. Made me get something that always just felt very foreign and not-understandable.
5. Wish the Israel debate had taken off. But I understand it might be difficult to get people to talk about that.
Thanks for the blog. I know it must be a lot of effort to run and moderate, more than we non-bloggers could ever appreciate. I feel like I've "met" a lot of Jews I would not otherwise ever 'talk' to.
P.S. Also loved the discussion about "Saturday Joggers" and the followup post to that. The mundane made really important!
Thank YOU sbw for all you do to enrich the blog, and for this characteristically detailed response to my question. I appreciate the appreciation for the blog. I love doing it and I love the interactions. It is quite amazing where technology can go.
I can't identify a favorite, but I can tell you that your blog is a breath of fresh air. No nasty comments, no insults, no attacks. Just people who agree or disagree communicating respectfully, learning from one another, and making each other think.
Just one complaint: You've raised my standards for blogs so high that I have a hard time finding others that I still enjoy!
Awww thanks DG! And I'm so glad you've become a regular commenter lately. Always love hearing what you have to say.
Happy birthday! 120! I hope you're having a fabulous day.
I loved so many of your posts, it's hard to name them all (and sometimes I like your initial post and then love the debate that ensues in the comments), but I'd have to go with the Libby interview, the one about what you want your guests to know, and the once called Meet Me in Chapter 3.
Thanks W! So glad you found the blog.
It's so hard to pick just one! But a recent favorite was the interview with the Chassidic woman. So interesting!
Thanks Wendy!
Agree with everyone that it's impossible to pick one. But I'll tell you how I knew you were the real deal–the post about what to expect when people come to shabbat dinner in an Orthodox home. It was educational for people who'd never attended an Orthodox Shabbat, but also helpful to Orthodox families not used to hosting non-Orthodox Jews. It was also forthcoming, funny, and just spot on in every way.
Wow, thanks Nina!