By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — For over the last 2,300 years, the subject of circumcision has always been controversial. When one considers the latest attempts to ban circumcision, one can see the subject will continue to awaken strong emotions in people—Jews and non-Jews alike. Freudian analysis would probably suggest that the [...]
By Leah R. Singer SAN DIEGO — The 19th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival is now in full swing at the Lyceum Space, North Coast Repertory Theatre, and various other North County locations. While this year’s festival offers class Jewish performance and Klezmer fare, it also offers different performances that are sure [...]
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — When one takes a gaze at the Jewish horizon, one gets the distinct impression that many synagogues find themselves confronted by a spiritual problem they can scarcely understand—much less articulate: Irrelevance. Judaism may someday die—not by genocides—but by apathy. Yes, as rabbis we love to sermonize [...]
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Among the comments heard in connection with the imploding of the Greek economy and politics is the prospect that emigration will increase. With unemployment estimated at above 50 percent among young Greeks, and a long history of exporting surplus population, the outflow appears to be a natural response to economic [...]
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –A question came up recently in my congregation regarding the use of music at a Jewish funeral. The Reform Movement has long permitted the use of music at a Jewish funeral—provided the music does not derive from the Christian liturgy, e.g., Amazing Grace. Most Conservative and all [...]
By Leah R. Singer SAN DIEGO –The 19th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival kicked off last week with a host of different productions. This year’s festival, which runs through June 7, features everything from baseball to Klezmer to Spanish language performances. Todd Salovey, who has been the Jewish Arts artistic director [...]
-Staff Report- Kurt Sax, 89, a former president of Temple Beth Sholom in Chula Vista who had been in ill health since his first stroke six years ago, died Friday, May 11 at La Jolla Nursing and Rehabilitation, after celebrating Shabbat for the last time. His daughter Sandi had helped him on with his [...]
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — This column is immodest, and is likely to provoke condemnation. It makes an appropriate nod in the direction of Jonathan Swift’s classic of a slightly different name. It also fits within my concern for politics, and the plight of Americans, old enough to vote and do other things, who are not [...]
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM—Among the glories of a professor emeritus is a capacity to wander the stacks of a good library in search of something that looks interesting, without worrying how it will fit into this semester’s courses. I found by chance FDR, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church in America, 1933-1945, Edited by [...]
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — President Obama’s revelation surprised me. I wondered: Why did it take him so long to state his opinion? Wasn’t it obvious? True, the President indicated that he had reservations on whether he should personally endorse same sex marriage, or not. Although I think the President would [...]
