Welcome (Back) to Why-aanot

Hi All - 

For the uninitiated, Why-aanot is Ma'ayanot's Jewish Studies faculty blog, and it serves a number of related purposes.  First, as the name implies, it is a place for dialogue between teachers and students.  A student sends her question(s) to me (we're working to re-connect questions@maayanot.org, for now just use my e-mail) and I'll circulate it to the other teachers and hopefully, one of us responds to you on the blog for everyone to see.  If you're uncomfortable using your name, send the question anonymously.  Also, the comments are available to continue the conversation.

I also is a place where teachers post ideas, thoughts or links that we think you might find interesting; often about the parsha or chagim or current events. It has been somewhat dormant the last few years - the last couple of dozen posts have been Mrs. Cohen's weekly Parsha א-ב challenge.  

As yesterday was Rosh Chodesh Elul, we started blowing shofar daily at the end of davening.  The Rambam teaches "עורו ישנים משנתכם ונרדמים הקיצו מתרדמתכם" -“Awake, o sleepy ones, and slumberers, shake off your torpor." I couldn't think of a more appropriate time to poke this sleeping giant out of it's extended hibernation.  

So as we start getting some more material up here, feel free to look around, look through the archives from the good old days (particularly 2009-2011), get your questions in and put us to work.  Also, why not "like" us on Facebook?