Simple answer to your last question about eating hot food. Many of us do serve cold cuts, but since on Shabbos we're also supposed to have a hot meal, since our Shabbos seudah is a festive meal. The most common hot disk is chulent. Most of us make chulent in a crock pot. And we leave it on overnight. But don't try to convince me that there isn't a reader here, of any religion or practice who doesn't know of people who put up dinner in the morning in their slow cooker and then leave for work.
Sorry Mr. Goldberg, but this article doesn't in any way excuse your first. Those of us who often read your columns know that you don't exactly love most Orthodox Jews, and here was an opportunity for you to make it seem as though now, in addition to all our other negative traits, you can now add pyromaniacs. Your true colors cannot be hidden by this attempt to "apologize". Too little, too late.
You shouldn't expect more from this deadly combination - Haaretz and the Forward. Isn't it ironic that with the current rate of assimilation, there won't be anyone left to read the Jewish Forward somewhere not too far down the line? BTW, Israel is a Jewish state (albeit one where non-Jews are welcome). Get over it. And keep in mind that Christians observe their Sabbath on Sunday, while Muslims observe theirs on Friday. Why can't Jews have one on Friday night? Just like they have for millennia.
It seems to me that the those responding in the article aren't hearing your message, that being with your family at this point in your lives is minimizing the spiritual growth you're seeking. This is a very common phenomena among those who have become Orthodox, and increasingly feel isolated from the family they love. Perhaps skip spending the High Holidays with your family, choosing instead a venue where you can find other like minded people to share with. A great opportunity to have a family gathering is Chanukah. Also, when you and your wife are the hosts, it affords you the opportunity, as pointed out before, to show the rest of the crew some of the traditions that they may not be aware of, but it a non-judgmental way. And inviting some people for The Shabbos Project (Oct 24-25, 2014) will give them an opportunity to experience a Shabbos without feeling threatened that some one is trying to "convert them".
Back in the 1980's Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled that the Ethopian Jews were 100% Jewish and did not require further conversion. Shame on this rabbi.
This most recent war with Gaza has rendered Peace Now and JStreet even more irrelevant then they were before. Gush Etzion has been a Jewish area for quite some time.
Israeli women are particularly artsy with elaborate scarves called tichels. They tie them in many ways, and they can indeed be very beautiful. But for those of us who are working "outside the velt", the sheitel is the way to go.
Litvish or Litvaks generally today refers to non-Hassidic Orthodox Jews, particularly those who are part of the Yeshiva world, such as Lakewood. Just as many Hassidim (but not all) can trace their lineage to Hungary, most Litvaks came from Lithuania and Poland.
This article was very well balanced. And having been dressing tznius (albeit not hassidic) for many many years, I don't find myself uncomfortable at all. Cotton saves the day! Not having the sun directly on my skin seems to work very well. It's the winter that I can't stand, all those layers of clothing just to get out the door. And BTW, most of us do shower during the 9 days, just making it quick showers to "take care of business". As for whether or not some hassidic men smell, I wouldn't know, I never happen to be that physically close to one. But plenty of people smell, you don't have to be Jewish.
Terms such as the one used in the first sentence of this article; "kidnapped in June in the occupied West Bank" have no place in an allegedly Jewish publication in an article about our collective mourning.
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Medley