VISTA, California (Press Release) – A capacity crowd attended Congregation B’nai Tikvah’s annual, “2nd Night Seder” Saturday evening, April 7. Congregation B’nai Tikvah was honored to host a very special guest, Corporal Samuel Roochnik from Bethesda, MD, who is currently stationed at Camp Pendleton Marine Base. The seder, officiated by B’nai Tikvahs’ Rabbi Ben Leinow was “lively, entertaining and spiritually moving,” according [...]
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Some of our seder customs were originally introduced to help children pay attention during the service (for example the youngest child asking the Four Questions and the hide and seek game played with the afikoman). Over the years most of us have found it is just as challenging to keep [...]
By Sandi Masori SAN DIEGO — Oh, oh, first night of Passover is coming Friday night, April 6, and with it, a big, big meal. What is a weight-conscious Jew to do? That’s the question I put in the video embedded below to Shari Marks, a rebbitzen who, having shed 60 pounds herself, is now [...]
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Pesach is a time of salvation and redemption. Despite our bitter bondage, we were faithful to Hashem (G-d) and the ways of the Torah. Against all odds, open miracles occured to sustain our lives and freedom. This happened then and it still happens now as the following true [...]
By Leah Singer SAN DIEGO — Many of you have heard of the December Dilemma — the conflicts that arise when interfaith families need to chose how to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas. But few talk about what I’m calling the Spring Dilemma — Passover and Easter. I hesitate even mentioning them in the same sentence [...]
By Sheryl L. Rowling SAN DIEGO –As usual, the Money Maven needs to take a break for “tax season.” Luckily, the Passover Fairy has agreed to answer your questions. The Money Maven will return next time! Dear Passover Fairy, I’m trying to save money. Passover food is so expensive! Nobody even likes to eat matzo! [...]
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Children have an unusual ability when it comes to confronting our spiritual hypocrisy as parents and as adults; very often they get to the essence of the problem as they perceive things. Frequently, as parents, we often fail to hear the questions our young people ask of [...]
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–Surprised? Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reveals in their latest data that 88 percent of Israelis will take part in a Seder and 47 percent eat only kosher for Passover items during the holiday. Meantime, as Pesach approaches, latest figures from the National Insurance Institute’s 2011 poverty report indicate there are [...]
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Although we are free from the physical bondage our ancestors suffered in Egypt, this does not mean that we are no longer enslaved. I realized this during a recent trip I took out of the country. Judy and I were vacationing in a city where our cell phones [...]
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –As we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Passover and give thought to the meaning of freedom. The Passover Hagadah brings us to an important realization: We are not merely the products of the present. In the words of the Hagadah, “And had the Holy Blessed One [...]
