Jewish Religion

Common Sense Teachings in Terumah

The idea established by Jewish ancestors to read the entire Pentateuch yearly and derive benefits from it is very sensible. But very few people take advantage of this gift. They pay scant attention to the Torah reading in the synagogue, do not bother to read it at home, and get as much out of the portion as people who never open the Bible and mock people who read it. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jason Nevarez on Grief, Mourning and Jewish Tradition

In Jewish tradition, this recognition of personal grief is supported by rituals that provide comfort and connection at every stage of loss — before a person’s passing, in the moment of transition, and throughout burial and mourning. [Elizabeth Ireland, Times of San Diego]

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Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Times of San Diego

Jews and Blacks are Natural Allies, IBSI Founder Tells Ministers and Rabbis

In contrast to Black-Jewish amity, Dumisani Washington said, Arab Muslims have historically enslaved millions of Africans, a practice that still goes on today.  The Palestinian Liberation Organization and its political rival, Hamas, have cynically cozied up to Black leaders to portray themselves as interested in civil rights, but “they couldn’t have cared less; they just wanted other people to think that they did,” Washington declared. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Our Twins’ Birthday Celebration Saddened by News of the Bibas Family

Devasting this must be for Yarden Bibas, the father, who was released from captivity on Feb. 1. The coffins carrying his children, Kfir and Ariel, were paraded through the streets like it was a festival.  So was a coffin that Hamas said contained the remains of Yarden’s wife, Shiri, but which Israeli authorities discovered not to be Shiri, but an unknown Gazan woman. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Self-Defense versus Turning the Other Cheek

The statement “an eye for an eye” is in this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1–24:18). At first glance, this familiar saying appears to promote revenge. However, by carefully studying related biblical passages, we can understand why Judaism never understood this passage literally. Furthermore, to do so would contradict the Torah directive, “Do not seek revenge among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). [Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz]

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Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Parsha Mishpatim: ‘We Will Do and We Will Hear’

This week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, is a profound exploration of law, ethics, and relationships, offering deep psychological insight into emotional well-being. Through a mental health lens examining this section of the Torah, we can extract valuable lessons about trust, mindfulness, and interpersonal dynamics—critical components of mental health and emotional resilience. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Children’s Literature: A ‘Mitzvah Fairy’ Performs Six Good Deeds in a Single Day

A little boy has styled himself “the Mitzvah Fairy,” and does six good deeds in a long, rewarding day. He brings chicken soup to his grandmother, who has the sniffles. He waters the plants for his neighbor, Mr. Gordon, whose leg is in a cast. He also fills up Mr. Gordon’s bird feeder. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Biography: Arnold Schoenberg, Composer and Latter-Day Jew

After the Nazis came to power, Schoenberg emigrated to the United States. On his way there, in 1933, he underwent a rite of conversion to Judaism in a synagogue in Paris. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Presentation of Purim Recorded Music at the JCC on Thursday, Feb. 20

Three familiar songs “Chag Purim (Purim Holiday),” “Shoshanas Yaakov (The Rose of Jacob),” and Abraham Goldfaden’s “Heint Iz Purim Brider (Today is Purim, Brothers),” will be part of the dozen selections for this coming Thursday’s Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library.  [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Documentary Charts Journey of Honduran Refugees Helped by Jewish Congregation in Seattle

All We Carry is an 87 ½ -minute documentary distributed for sale by Good Docs that follows Honduran refugees through Mexico to their detention at the Tijuana/ San Diego border and later, as adoptees of a Seattle, Washington, synagogue as they awaited a decision on their applications for asylum in the U.S. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA