BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

This is as inane as it is frightening... Maryland man develops Christian salt Did you ever wish there were a Christian version of kosher salt? I thought not. But apparently a retired barber, Joe Godlewski, did. Godlewski, who lives in western Maryland, has named his new product Blessed Christian Salt. It went on the market this week. It's simply sea salt that's been blessed by an Episcopal priest, which is kind of an odd choice of denomination when you think about it. I would get a celebrity TV evangelist for more endorsement power. ... You can buy Blessed Christian Salt on the Internet or in Christian bookstores . Apparently some portion of the proceeds will go to charity, according to an AP story, but no one is saying how much or which charities. Also according to the AP story, Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, kosher administrator for the Chicago Rabbinical Council, said he doesn't blame Godlewski for seizing a business opportunity, even one that plays on public misconceptions ab...

BOTH NEW & YOUNG REFORM JEWS ARE MORE OBSERVANT Sue Fishkoff A new online survey of the most active Reform Jews reveals a younger generation that is more comfortable with Jewish ritual than their elders but just as committed to communal causes and improving the world. The increased ritual observance comes despite the fact that 19 percent of the under-40 group surveyed grew up in intermarried homes. Reform leaders say that proves their position that intermarriage in itself is not a deterrent to Jewish identity, but that Jewish upbringing is a more important factor. In addition to increasing ritual observance, the younger Reform Jews showed a strong commitment to communal and ethical priorities. More than 95 percent of both the under-40 and over-40 crowd said “leading an ethical life,” “making the world a better place” and “celebrating Jewish holidays” were important parts of being Jewish. And similar numbers of both groups -- about 80 percent -- said remembering the Holocaust, carin...

Are Blogs Kosher? Free-wheeling blogs — unrestricted news, opinion, and discussion Web sites that break, make and spin the latest on any number of topics — have been proliferating for years. Now there are a number of Jewish sites that scrutinize everything from Israeli politics to shul gossip. They’re the new “Bubbie Hotline.” Several of them have recently brought to light a number of rabbinic abuse cases and have succeeded in generating community interest and outrage , forcing a few rabbis from their positions, and casting aspersions on the characters of others . To some, these sites are cesspools of unfettered, unaccountable tripe and vilifying slander that malign individuals and besmirch the community. To others, they are the Hyde Parks of protest and free speech, a place where victims can finally speak without fear of counter attack, and interested parties can press for justice by doing end-runs around denial and cover-up. So are these blogs kosher — are they the right place for...