Jew-ish.com music columnist Sarah Shay tipped me off to this blog, Ready Set Draw, which appears to be something of an ongoing collaborative sketchbook. A recent post on the topic of “A ___ in a ___ suit” resulted in this creation.

In case you can’t tell, it’s a Jew-raffe.

The New York Times has a cute story about a Hebrew language charter school in New York that has become surprisingly popular with not only Jewish families, but Muslim and Christian families too. The article focuses primarily on the challenges the school faces to make sure it’s not crossing any church-state boundaries. The most interesting element though, I think, is why non-Jewish parents would want to send their kids to a school with a curriculum built around Jewish culture. Even if the kids aren’t learning about the religious aspects of Judaism, they are learning Hebrew and about Israel - not topics anyone besides Jews really feel their kids need to know about. The answer comes near the end of the article:

Some parents who are not Jewish said they applied because they were simply eager for their children to learn a second language. But others gave reasons the school would be unlikely to cite in its recruitment brochures.

“By going to school with Jewish children, they are going to be getting a good education,” said Mr. Moody. “In that community there’s no foolishness when it comes to education.” 

I totally believe Mr. Moody is not the only person sending his kids to a Jewish school because he feels that they will get a better education there. It’s a big decision to make based on a stereotype. But everyone wants the best opportunities for their kids, even if it means immersing them in a culture that isn’t their own. It’s a good thing, I think, for everyone in this situation - both the Jewish kids and the non-Jewish kids. A little diversity goes a long way.

It’s a sandal that’s also a brisket sandwich.

Hat tip to The Tablet.

Why?, (whom I have blogged about before, but it’s been a while) is a really excellent indie band fronted by a guy who is the son of a Jews for Jesus minister (rabbi? what do they call themselves?). Yes, yes, I know, Messianic Jews aren’t real Jews…because of the whole Jesus thing and what have you. But that’s neither here nor there. Why? is amazing, doubly so because in their song “Berkeley by Hearseback” they make what I believe to be the only reference to Jewish matrilineal descent (another of by favorite blogging topics) ever to appear in popular secular music. Listen. Also, some talk about The Book of Numbers as well.

There are three Jewish guys on the U.S. soccer team. The Baltimore Jewish Times profiles them in this piece and also explains why Israel has only played in the World Cup once. Not surprisingly, it has to do with politics.

As popular as soccer is in Israel, it has only sent one squad to compete in the World Cup, back in 1970 in Mexico City — before most of today’s star players were even born. This likely has much to do with the fact that the Israel National Football team, Nivkheret Yisra’el BeKaduregel, has had to qualify through its participation in UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) since being expelled from the less competitive AFC (Asian Football Confederation) in 1974.

Asked to leave the AFC by other Asian nations, which refused to play against Israel due to the ongoing political situation in the era, Israel spent the majority of the 1980s in soccer exile, playing against European teams and competing in the European qualification leg for the 1982 World Cup.