Several years ago, when writing about this week’s Torah portion, I shared two very contemporary lessons I saw inside of the ancient text – never give up hope and be in emotional control when dealing with oneself and with others. Now several years later, several years older, these lessons appear even more valuable. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Torah Reading for October 30, 2021 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
In the past, Bannon has been accused of being anti-Semitic, an issue that particularly came up when President Trump appointed Bannon as Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor in 2016. At that time, which of the following people offered a defense of Bannon against the charge? [Mark. D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Steve Bannon Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The current selection for the PJ Library, mailed free to Jewish children whose families request, age-appropriate Jewish stories is about a self-sufficient farmer named Sarah, who knows how to change her tractor’s oil, how to handle his clutch, and the right way to switch his gears. They were a great team, Sarah and Yitzi. Every Friday night, they would power down and do no work until after Shabbat was over. It was their routine for Sarah to have a sip of wine at the beginning of Shabbat, and for Yitzi to have a sip of gasoline. [Donald H. Harrison]
The Tractor that Observed Shabbat Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
Donald and Bibi, friends and mutual supporters while in office. Now out, getting older, one of them standing trial, both aspiring to holding power again, and seeking how to get there. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Trump and Netanyahu: Birds of a Feather Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
A parade of speakers on Sunday rededicated a 50-year-old Holocaust monument, telling about the Jewish communal building where the monument is now located, about the artist who created the massive bronze sculpture, and most importantly, about the victims and survivors of the genocide launched against the Jews by Nazi Germany. [Donald H. Harrison]
Holocaust Memorial, Once at East County JCC, Finds a New Home Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
ongress, unwilling or unable to deal with legislation on voting, education, health, infrastructure or anything else of consequence, has now called an audible by deciding to investigate the Washington Football Team’s scandals. The criticism being showered upon the National Football League franchise formerly known as the Redskins involves, in part, the e-mails between Bruce Allen, its former general manager and president, and former Buccaneers and Raiders coach Jon Gruden. [Bruce Lowitt]
Sports Satire: Classic Matchup — Congress vs. Washington Football Team Read More »
Bruce F. Lowitt, Sports & Competitions, USA
This novel for young adults is set in Chicago at the time of the 1893 World’s Fair, when immigration to America was prohibited for people with diseases, but otherwise was unrestrained by quotas. Maxwell Street at the time was a bustling, crowded, impoverished neighborhood for Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, one of whom – the protagonist Alter Rosen – has dreams of earning enough money as a linotype operator to pay for passage from Romania to America for his mother and two young sisters. He also has nightmares that people will learn that he is a homosexual. [Donald H. Harrison]
Dybbuk Possesses a 19th Century Jewish Immigrant in Novel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
This fairly short prose passage from the “Early Prophets” is really a couple of folktales fused together, arguably from ‘annals’ of the early Northern Kingdom of Israel. In those days, storytellers were welcome to insert fantasy miracles into their stories. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Notes on Haftorah Reading for October 23, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Although most Judaic, Christian, and Muslim commentators and thinkers interpret the Akedah as having actually occurred while Abraham was in a wakeful state of consciousness, Maimonides hints that there may be another way of interpreting the story. Maimonides mentioned on many occasions how the Divine speaks to mortals in either a dream, or by granting them a visionary experience. Perhaps the Akedah was also a visionary experience. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Maimonides on The Akedah and Biblical Visions Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
The 6th Annual TAPESTRY: A Community Celebration of Jewish Learning will be presented on Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24, as a hybrid this year: [Eileen Wingard]
Tapestry Has Diverse Jewish Learning Opportunities Oct. 23-24 Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
As yet more evidence that Jewish students have continued to be targets of bias on university campuses, a Spring 2021 poll by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, together with the Cohen Research Group, revealed that 65% of students in the leading Jewish fraternity and sorority have “felt unsafe” on campus, while 50% of students surveyed have felt “the need to hide their identity.” [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]
Intimidation of Jewish College Students on the Increase Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — The title of the book is intriguing: Wiser: The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good by Dr. Dilip Jeste. I was eager to read it and hopeful that I would indeed become wiser. I will turn 95 on October 31. I still
How to Gain More Wisdom: Insights from Dr. Dilip Jeste’s New Book, ‘Wiser’ Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha JosefowitzBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. Radical Chesed…Kol Yisroel Chaverim. Are you open to holiness in your life? If so, how open are you? This week’s parasha, Vayeira, filled with abundant trials, passions and complications of family and communal life, can be a guide to doing just that. After all, it begins, “Now the Lord appeared
Parashat Vayeira: Being Open to Holiness Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellBy Bruce F. Lowitt The Jewish Press of Tampa Bay What once was something of a novelty – the televising of services from a synagogue into the homes of congregants – has become, with COVID-19, a widespread practice. And for two in Florida, including Temple Ahavat Shalom in Palm Harbor, it has made the leap
From Florida to Ukraine: Shabbat Via Zoom Read More »
Bruce F. Lowitt, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles