Shavua Tov – this week’s Jewish news, Sukkot edition

Jerusalem SukkahShavua Tov and Happy Sukkot! As you cluster together this next week in the little huts in your backyards, porches, or apartment balconies to celebrate this holiday of harvest, family, food and history, we hope you’ll bring your laptop with you, or at least print out these Jewish news stories.

Here’s a look back and what happened this past week in the Jewish world – Gilad Shalit spoke, the Coen Brothers movie opened, and Haifa scientists made a revolutionary breakthrough (again!). Check it out.

Noam Shalit: Concerned by images of Gilad” – Ynet News (view the first images and video of Gilad Shalit, Israeli soldier captured three years ago; 20 Palestinian prisoners, including a would-be suicide bomber were released in exchange for the video)

Human Bible Project launched to web” – Jpost (Facebook users and others can now comment on the Torah online)

Sukkot Customs I’d Like to Change” – The Sisterhood Blog on the Jewish Daily Forward (powerful reflections on the messages of gender differences around the Sukkot holiday – at least in the way it’s traditionally celebrated)

Haifa scientists successfully ‘reprogram’ human skin cells into heart cells” – Jpost (the “Israeli accomplishment can already be utilized for in-depth study of genetic diseases and the development of personalized drugs for inherited disorders, such as those involving irregular heartbeat”)

“Our Barbara” – The Sisterhood blog on the Jewish Daily Forward (musing on Barbara’s new album released this week, her music, and her Jewish identity)

Calls to God: Always a Busy Signal” – NY Times (the Times reviews the Coen Brothers’ “A Serious Man,” describes its Jewish and biblical roots, and calls it a must-see)

(Photo: RahelSharon)