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 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 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 [...]
-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 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 [...]
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved baseball. When I was about 7 or 8, I could rattle off the top ten pitchers, batters, along with their minor league and career averages. Yes, baseball is terrific. Yet, today, I must confess: I do not like [...]
Society and Self: On the Writings of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, by Gerald J.(Ya’akov) Blidstein. OU Press, 2012, 155 pages, ISBN-10: 1602802041, U.S. cover price: $25.00 By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Gerald J. Blidstein’s Society and Self: On the Writings of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik is an excellent introduction to the [...]
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Question: My mother is 90 years old, in frail health but of sound mind. Last year, one of her three grandchildren and the youngest of my two sons died in an accident at age 29. My son and my mom were close. As an adult, my son [...]
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — As a child, I used to love reading the golem stories attributed to Rabbi Judah Lowe, a.k.a., the famous “Maharal of Prague” (1525-1609). Since my father came from Czechoslovakia, I grew up hearing many family tales about the golem. These stories were especially delightful since my [...]
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Every custom has a remarkable history and story. In dealing with someone who has an unusual seminal discharge, the Torah defines that person as being ritually and ceremonially “impure” and is called a “zab” (cf. Lev. 15:8). Historically, such persons often experienced being shunned by the general [...]
