(no subject)

I do get a bit tired of people saying "Modern Orthodox women don't wear tefillin," because it simply isn't true. You know? You could say "In my experience, MO women don't wear tefillin," or "It's very unusual for an MO woman to wear tefillin," or "MO women who wear tefillin are freaks" (if you must), but don't make sweeping generalisations which aren't true and then expect me to take you seriously.

(no subject)

It occurred to me the other day, teaching someone about wood glue, that I've been building up to this work for twenty years. I haven't been doing calligraphy for twenty years, far from it - more like six or seven. I took up calligraphy in college, because I didn't have space in my college room for all my other craft stuff. But I've been doing crafts since I was five, when my mum taught me how to sew things for my toy Bunny, possibly as a ruse to get me off her back.

( Why crafts are good )

Twenty years of dollshouses don't make you a sofer, but they certainly help.

(no subject)

Here, this is a good one:

I get a rambling email accusing me of all kinds of horrid things, telling me how I'm (via Barbie) profaning the writer's beliefs, desecrating the name of God, mocking, creating animosity, nurturing anti-Jew feelings amongst non-Jews, being repulsive, disgusting, disrespectful, etc - and I think well, okay, maybe you think that, but ranting at me isn't going to make me want to be like you.

So I file it under "hatemail" (I'm keeping them; it'll make a fun chapter when I write the book), and then the last sentence catches my eye. "Why not create peace and respecting everyone by allowing them to believe as they please, instead of radically spreading this hatred!!!"

Why not, indeed.