By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–Avraham was visited by three angels, one of whom was there to heal him after his recent bris milah (ritual circumcision). This brings to mind the following story: Rav Shlomo Kluger ztz”l accepted a new position as Rav. Shortly thereafter, there was bris (ritual circumcision) to which he of course […]
Why a mitzvah must be performed as soon as possible Read More »
Jewish ReligionJERUSALEM (WJC) — The Dead Sea scrolls, containing some of the oldest-known surviving Biblical texts, are to go online as part of a cooperation project between Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) and the internet giant Google, the French news agency AFP reports. The US$ 3.5 million project by the IAA and Google’s Israeli branch aims to
Dead Sea Scrolls’ photographic archives to go on line Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your native land and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” (Gen. 12:1) There is a general consensus among rabbinic sources that God’s command to Abraham to leave his family and all that he knew in
Why God didn’t identify the ‘land I will show you’ Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Avraham grew up in a world where the norm was idolotry. His father was a card carrying idolator. That was the family business. But Avraham, through his penetrating insight and honest analysis, realized that this norm was wrong. Despite the social mores, despite fierce, even violent resistance he held on
Avraham would have been proud of bridge builder’s spirit Read More »
Jewish ReligionSAN DIEGO — Two veteran members of Congress, who also are members of our Jewish community, deserve reelection to Congress. They are Bob Filner and Susan Davis, both Democrats. Filner currently serves as chairman of the House Veteran Affairs Committee, and has campaigned tirelessly for recognizing the rights and needs of veterans. He is particularly
Two endorsements for the U.S. Congress Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Not long after the flood (“Noah, he built him, he built him an ark-ee, ark-ee…”) human beings got into mischief once again. (Humans, it seems, are very slow learners!) “Everyone on earth had the same language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon
Did God make a mistake scattering the people from Babel? Read More »
Jewish ReligionCARLSBAD, California (Press Release)– Rabbi Karen Sherman of Etz Rimon Synagogue on Oct. 13 will conduct the first class in a three-session class on the prophets and their impassioned messages of justice and peace. “We will explore the prophets’ contributions to our history as well as their influence on our contemporary lives,” said the rabbi. Participants may attend
Etz Rimon begins classes on the prophets Oct. 13 Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — Sixteen ways Jerusalemites know Sukkot is coming: 1. The clang of metal poles and the sounds of hammering are practically constant as Jerusalem’s apartment dwellers hurry to erect their sukkot and squeeze them into small balconies, odd-shaped gardens and otherwise derelict rooftops. 2. The tourists have landed! Overwhelmingly religious,
16 ways Jerusalemites know Sukkot is coming Read More »
Jewish Religion, Travel and Food
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO–On Tuesday, September 21, the movie 100 Voices: A Journey home will air across the country at 488 select theatres, including seven movie complexes in San Diego County. It’s a must see movie for Jews and non-Jews alike, but bring tissues. The documentary traces an historic trip to Poland by no
‘100 Voices: A Journey Home’ explores Poland’s cantorial past Read More »
Carol Davis, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — When I was a child attending summer camp, I dreaded pool days. I did not know how to swim and hated being forced in the water. I always made sure to stay in the shallow end of the pool and no amount of coaxing would entice me to
Venturing from the shallow end of Jewish life Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–One of the great things about living in Israel is how easy it is to really “feel” any upcoming holiday. Just take a walk through the shuk and the stacks of honey jars, piles of perfectly ripe pomegranates and barrels of shiny Golan apples all make it easy to anticipate the
Poetry abounds in Jerusalem as Rosh Hashanah approaches Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and FoodEDISON, New Jersey. (Press Release)–Rabbi Bernhard Rosenberg, pulpit rabbi at Congregation Beth El here, is tired of counting swastikas and hearing antisemitic cat calls when he heads home from synagogue. It happened to him again on Friday night August 20th on Route 27, where Jew-baiting by local teens has become trendy over the last year.
Rabbi seeks help from other clergy in stopping hate Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Parashat Shoftim contains the obtuse ritual of the eglah arufah (heifer whose neck was broken). If a murder victim is found outside of one or more towns and the slayer is unknown, the residents of the town closest to the victim must take responsibility for their burial. Before doing so
What’s the meaning of the ‘eglah arufah’ ritual? Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–The Sephardic Educational Center in Jerusalem’s Old City celebrated the completion of a new Torah scroll Wednesday night, July 28, in a lively celebration of Jews from around the world. A scribe dips his quill pen into special ink and puts the finishing touches to a new Torah scroll before
Completion of Torah Scroll in Old City prompts celebration Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA