A Hanukkah Reading Contest!!! Catch Me - I May Plotz!

I almost fell out of my chair, but yes indeed, there is one going on called The Glowing Lights of Chanukah. It's almost over, but you can read about the details here.

It ends on Sunday, so hurry!!

I whined over the lack of Jewish romances here, and now here are some. Granted, these aren't your traditional romances, but still... I don't mind M/M (I really liked Eight Nights by Keira Andrews, so I'm stoked to see that there is a sequel, Daybreak, as part of this contest).

Beginning Wednesday, December 17th join ten authors who have gathered romance stories with Jewish heroes and heroines from all walks of life, gay men and straight: From the days of the Maccabees to Regency England to modern day America to parallel worlds; from sweet to spicy hot. Each day listed and continuing through the 22nd you can enjoy their entries. Tell us the names of their heroes and heroines and send them to borntowrite@writeme.com to be entered in a drawing of Gifts for the Season.

The winner will be drawn December 22nd, the first day of Chanukah!

Start the celebration with authors:
Keira Andrews, Astrid Amara and Cheryl Dragon

on Wednesday, the 17th
The Celebration begins with Keira Andrews at: http://slash-and-burn.blogspot.com
Astrid Amara at: http://astridamara.livejournal.com/
Cheryl Dragon at: www.myspace.com/cheryldragon

Thursday, the 18th:
Melissa Glisan at: dogwild.blogspot.com
Jeanne Barrack at: http://thesweetflagmenlove.blogspot.com/
EM Ben Shaul at: http://embenshaul.livejournal.com/

On Friday, the 19th:
Samantha Kane at: http://www.kissandtellgirls.blogspot.com
Eva Gordon at: http://evagordon.blogspot.com/

And on Sunday, the 21st
KZ Snow at: http://kzsnow.blogspot.com
James Buchanan at: http://eroticjames.livejournal.com

Rock on! And thanks for the stories!

Hanukkah/Jewish romances, anyone?

So, Jessica and I have been having this conversation about Jewish romances, or at least a romance with a Jewish hero or heroine.

Hanukkah is fast approaching, and I would love to read a story without a stereotyped family. Just a great Jewish romance. And I'm looking for traditional romances (or erotic romance), but none of the "not really a romance, but..." type. Oh, and I'm not a huge chick lit fan, either... There's no "Love Inspired" line for Jewish romance, so...

Any suggestions? (not really picky, am I, LOL!)

And what I really want is one where not just one of the characters is Jewish, but both are. A book about a H/H who just happen to be Jewish, just like in most novels they happen to not be Jewish. No stereotypes, no loud, obnoxious parents, no dysfunctional Uncle Arthurs or Aunt Selmas. Just normal people falling in love, who just happen to go to temple on Friday night instead of church on Sunday morning. I challenge you authors out there to write this novel.

Having said that, here's what we've come up with between us:

Never Deceive a Duke by Liz Carlyle
A Candle for Nick by Lorna Michaels
Hostile Makeover by Wendy Wax (a meh read for me)
Love in Bloom and Blooming All Over by Judith Arnold
Lick and a Promise by Jo Leigh
Fallen From Grace by Laura Leone
Crooked Hearts by Patricia Gaffney
Eight Nights by Keira Andrews (note - this is M/M. Thanks to JenB for the rec!)

Please!!! Add to my list!

Please note that I have deliberately left Chasing Stanley off my list, as I was so completely offended by that book that I refuse to recommend it to anyone at all. So don't even bother mentioning it in the comments. Click through the link to read my review and find out why I disliked hated this book so much.

Yom Kippur... Christian Style?

I occasionally post about my faith, as do others. So I realize that there aren't a lot of Jews out there in romanceland that read this blog, and that SB Sarah is about the only other one I can think of who blogs. Everyone examines their faith at some point, and lots of folks learn about the faith of others. I'm often asked questions about Judaism, since many of you don't know a lot about it, and many in my community don't either. I've shared stories about my kids, their bar mitzvahs, Jewish traditions, and I've never before encountered anything from you all but acceptance about my Judaism, and I've never offered anything but acceptance in return for your feelings about your own faith. 

To understand my upset, I should give a little background. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and the 10 days between are the 10 holiest days in the Jewish calendar. They are sometimes called the High Holidays, but the true term is the High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, the time when we celebrate a new year, a new beginning. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. Once a year (or really over the entire 10 day period) Jews all over the world reflect upon their lives, ask forgiveness for their transgressions from themselves, from others they have wronged, and from God. Additionally, they forgive those who have wronged them. The High Holy Days are filled with beautiful prayers and are incredibly meaningful. Even traditionally non-religious Jews tend to go to shul on these days. It has been this way for a really damn long time (we are in the year 5769).

I sometimes liken the High Holy Days to those Christians who don't normally go to church during the year, but feel compelled to go on Christmas and Easter, because those are the most important holidays of the year, correct? There is even a term for these folks - they are referred to as High Holy Day Jews. I don't fit into that category, since I go year-round, but there are those that do, and I don't judge them.

The Torah portion (Old Testament, I must say, as I'm sure you are all aware, but you'll see in a moment why I stress this) that is read during the High Holy Days is that of Abraham, who was to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to show his loyalty to God, but at the last moment, God stops him, and Abraham sacrifices a ram instead.  Lessons to be learned notwithstanding, you'll see in a moment why I tell this story.

OK, now that you have a little bit of background.... I came across this ad in my local newspaper, and I wonder if it's just me that is taken aback by it. Or if there is something to my irritation. To me, it is the equivalent to a temple advertising that Easter is all about the Jews because Jesus was Jewish, and the Last Supper was a Seder, after all.  So I ask you, am I overreacting? Maybe I am....  Here's the ad for a local church...

"Changed Forever by His Presence"

XXXX Church will present a special service celebrating the the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur  at 6 pm on Saturday, Oct 12. According to the event organizers, the service will present Yom Kippur as the most holy day of the year for the Jews when the High Priest of Israel would offer a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people.

In the service, Pastor xxxx will represent the role of the High Priest and will offer evidence from the New Testament as Jesus Christ as he acted as the High Priest and became the atoning sacrifice.

Ummm, pardon me, but the High Priest of Israel? No matter your feelings on this, if they are referring to Jesus, then to use that term in the same sentence as "the most holy day of the year for Jews" is highly offensive to me. So, am I wrong to be offended by this? If this were a temple making Easter, what I consider to be the most holy day of the Christian calendar, out to be their holiday, would you be offended? I think I would, certainly.