At Jew-ish.com, we are always so proud of all of our stringers who are, as the subject line of this post suggests, interesting and talented people. Case in point: Music writer Sarah Shay recently started a band with her little brother and another friend. They are called The Mongrel Jews and play music of a vaguely bluegrassy nature. I had the fortune of hearing them play a few songs at the Ravenna Kibbutz last month. Really a delightful ensemble.

This Friday night, The Mongrel Jews will play their first public show at the Beery House on Capitol Hill. They will be accompanied by Painted Horses (which is also a band and not, you know, just some colorful equines or something). The Beery House can be found at 1419 19th Ave. Music starts around 8 p.m. Go support your local Jewish music writer!

The much-anticipated (at least in the world of the Jewish blogosphere) Simpsons episode in which the family takes a trip to the Holy Land aired last night. The premise is that Ned Flanders invites the Simpsons to join him on a church trip to learn about Jesus’ home. Homer, in a moment of both hilarity and clarity responds, “Let me think, take my family to a war zone on a bus filled with religious lame-o’s in a country with no pork in a desert with no casinos?”

But then Marge insists they go because it will be a good experience. There are a lot of satisfying Jew jokes, and much fun poked at loud Israeli tour guides, Israeli food, and krav magra.

But I think we all need some good Israeli music. Enjoy this Shlomo Artzi classic, made better by the fact that someone else wrote the lyrics!

Those inclined toward deeper questions of faith may use this video as an opportunity to speculate on the meaning and significance of ritual. What should we take from the knowledge that machines can go through the motions of a Passover seder?

Those not inclined toward thinking about things can just enjoy these delightful and adorable (and pious!) robots.

Hat tip to Jewcy.

Thomas Friedman’s column on Israel’s ill-conceived recent actions is right on. I haven’t been much of a Friedman fan in the past, but he’s growing on me. If only Israel—or, for that matter, the U.S.—would listen to him.