Below are the names of writers who are currently active. For others, living and deceased, please type their name into the search box above the masthead on our home page, www.sdjewishworld.com
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One might wonder: Why did the Israelites worship a Golden Calf? Why does the Torah forbid the making of graven images in the Ten Commandments? For one thing, our ancestors believed graven images of a person or a god gave them power over deities and mortals […]
How Judaism and other religions regard idols Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California — I recently was walking through a parking lot of Grossmont College when I saw a car bedecked with a multiplicity of bumper stickers, three of which attracted my attention: They proclaimed “Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History,” “Freedom of Religion Means All Religions” and “The Truth Is We Are
Bumper stickers that make you think Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — Members of Tifereth Israel Synagogue presented a joyously anachronistic dramatization of the Book of Esther — “The Thrillah Megillah” — retelling the Purim story on Wednesday evening, March 7, with the songs, dances and costumes of the late Pop/ Rock Singer Michael Jackson. After Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal recited an abbreviated version of
‘Thrillah Megillah’ sung to Michael Jackson melodies Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Cremation or Burial? A Jewish View by Doron Kornbluth, Mosaica Press, 2012, 192 pages including appendices, ISBN 978-1-937887-01-8, No retail price listed. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Doron Kornbluth is a prolific writer, having fairly recently published two books: Raising Kids To Love Being Jewish and Why Be Jewish? ,both of which have
Book sets out the case for burial instead of cremation Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — During the Holocaust years, Purim celebrations were forbidden to the Jews. Christians and Jews could not even own the book of Esther. Such decrees did not stop the Nazis from poking fun at the Jews on this Jewish holiday. With diabolical glee, the Nazis frequently orchestrated
Some uncanny Purim coincidences Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — In nearly every costume imaginable, including some Esthers and Mordechais, members and friends of Tifereth Israel Synagogue on March 4 held a Purim carnival, featuring a wide variety of games, prizes, activities and, of course, hamantaschen, looking forward to the joyous holiday that will be officially celebrated
Purim carnival delights Tifereth Israel congregants Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel–I finished reading Howard Jacobson’s book, The Finkler Question, and was still pondering its manifold messages in the evening as I attended a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore. This was given in Jerusalem by an amateur troupe composed mainly of immigrants from English-speaking countries.. Friends had tried to
Greatly to their credit, most Jews hold Israel close Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Travel and FoodKosher Jesus by Shmuley Boteach; Gefen Publishing House; ISBN-10: 9652295787 ©2012, $26, 300 pages. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Shmuley Boteach is a complicated man. At the risk of sounding obvious, Shmuley is not your typical Chabad rabbi. His past associations with singer Michael Jackson and his book on Kosher Sex
What Shmuley Boteach could have written in ‘Kosher Jesus’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
San Diego Judge Mayor: How Murphy’s Law Blindsided Leadership with 2020 Vision by Dick Murphy, Sunbelt Publications, 2011, 191 pages, $22.50 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –As a local historian, I am very pleased that Dick Murphy, the 33rd mayor of San Diego, has written a book about his life and career. I wish
Murphy’s memoir a welcome treasure for future historians Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —A congregant shared with me a wonderful story about his little nephew who lived in the State of Illinois. One day, his uncle was trying to teach him some Hebrew blessings. After he taught him the blessings, he went home. A week later, he asked his nephew,
Words must be chosen carefully in international affairs Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA — This month students will have their turn when the final “Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices” evening of the year is presented at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the Astor Judaica Library at the Lawrence Family JCC . The program will feature Becca Meyers from High Tech High School, Lily Greenberg
Adults share original poems; next it’s students’ chance Read More »
Eileen WingardBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — National Public Radio commentators recently discussed a very interesting question: Should President Obama have “apologized” for the accidental burning of the Qur’an? Some argue that the President should have expressed “regret” over the incident, which acknowledges some degree of culpability. Regret does not contain any element
Who’s right in debate over President Obama’s apology? Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USABy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — An old former congregant and friend of mine (who happens to be a Cohen) recently lost his father, and he asked me the following question. Is a Jewish Priest’s ritual purity compromised by coming into contact with ashes of a cremated person? Your question could also
How does Judaism treat cremated human remains? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Rasputin and the Jews: A Reversal of History by Delin Colón; ISBN 978-1-4610-2775-1 ©2010, $15.00, p. 110, including bibliography By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — The controversies over the deeds and exploits of Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin, an illiterate faith healer and prophet from nineteenth century backwater Russia, continue to swirl around his legacy nearly
Was Rasputin actually a friend of the Jews? Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, International