Shabbat Bereshit 5784 By Rabbi Daniel Reich LA JOLLA, California — Earlier this week, the RCA (Rabbinical Council of America) hosted a Zoom call for congregational rabbis with Dr. Norman Blumenthal, a renowned Jewish psychologist, and Rav Dovid Miller, the Rosh Kollel of the YU Gruss Kollel in Yerushalayim. Their goal was to provide insights […]
Shabbos: Finding Strength Amidst the Chaos Read More »
Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion
As Morocco rebuilds in the aftermath of a horrifying earthquake that struck High Atlas Mountain ranges last month, this article considers the guiding premises for sustainable societies established in the first chapter of the Torah, “In the Beginning.” [Yossef Ben-Meir]
‘In the Beginning’ in Morocco Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Yossef Ben-Meir
Hitler’s fanaticism and the legacy of his henchmen in implementing his “Final Solution” against the Jews cannot begin to compare with the Islamic fanaticism of Hamas. Unlike the Nazis, who did their best to conceal their genocidal crimes against the Jews, the followers of Hamas take immense pride in carrying out their acts of mayhem against the Jew, as we saw in the recent October 7th attack against the Jews on Shabbat and during the holiday of Simchat Torah. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Hamas Merged Nazi and Islamist Ideologies Read More »
Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
Let us call them out for what they are. They are Nazis. They are wannabe Putins. They are war criminals. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Worse than Nazism: It is Babi Yar All Over Again Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East
Jane Carol Ginsburg directs Columbia Law School’s Kernochan Center for Law, Media and the Arts. Asked what she would like the civilian crew who will serve aboard the Ruth Bader Ginsburg to know about her mother, she replied in an email that they “might peruse two of her books: My Own Words and Justice, Justice Thou Shall Seek. The latter title was taken from Deuteronomy 16:20: Tzedek, tsedek, tirdof. For for a keepsake, or memento of her mother’s, she suggested the ship may wish to display the poster that accompanied the issuance in October 2023 of a U.S. Post Office stamp in Judge Ginsburg’s honor. [Donald H. Harrison and Emily Scalmanini}
A Ship for Justice Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, San Diego County, Technology, USA
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — As we learn from “The Parsha Song” from Torah Island by Suki and Ding, “With Bereishit we begin learning Torah, How precious we hold our Mesorah, Bereishis, Noach, Lech Lecha, Vayeira, Chayei Sarah, Sarah lived for 127 years…” And on we go. Yes, new beginnings often combine excitement
Parashat Bereishit: A Fresh Start Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — In San Diego and across the Jewish world, this past Simchat Torah holiday won’t be forgotten anytime soon. While I was on volunteer security duty at Congregation Adat Yeshurun during Shabbat/Shemini Atzeret, bits and pieces of the devastating news in Israel began to emerge. We heard that 100
Editor’s Notebook: Navigating an Unforgettable Sense of Limbo on Simchat Torah Read More »
Israel, Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, Opinion, San Diego County
Ceramicist Josh Herman’s tile work is on display throughout the upscale Paridisea Restaurant in the remodeled interior of the Piano Building in La Jolla’s Bird Rock neighborhood. His “modern, sensual, organic” ceramic sculptures made the cover of the French edition of Architectural Digest in July 2016 when the authoritative magazine profiled the La Jolla Farms Road home known as the Razor House, now owned by singer Alicia Keys. [Donald H. Harrison and Emily Scalmanini}
Ceramicist Herman’s Works are ‘Intentionally Not Conceptual’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
William Medwied, 90 a Holocaust survivor from Ukraine, passed peacefully on September 30. There is a tradition that when people die on Shabbat they are immediately in heaven with G-d. [Sandy Scheller]
William Medwied, Holocaust Survivor, 1933-2023 Read More »
Holocaust, International, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller
By Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg EDISON, New Jersey — The chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, claimed that Jews were murdered in the Holocaust not because of their Jewishness. “This is explained in many Jewish books,” Abbas said. “They say that Hitler killed them because of their Jewishness. Not so. They (the Nazis) fought
P.A.’s Abbas Tells Terrible Lies About the Holocaust Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Middle East
(Press Release) OneTable, a North American non-profit best known for empowering people in their 20s and 30s to envision new rituals and build community through Shabbat dinner, is launching a new program aimed at older adults. Those aged 55ish+ are invited to register at Together @OneTable, a peer-to-peer platform dedicated to connecting people to create
OneTable Expands, Creating Meaningful Shabbat Dinner Practices for New Generations Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA
High Holiday Music will be featured as the first of a series of three Jewish Holiday Music programs from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library. This free presentation will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon, September 28, in the second floor library of the Lawrence Family JCC. [Eileen Wingard]
Famous Cantors, Past and Present, Featured in High Holy Day Music at the JCC Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
the personal stories told from Rabbi Zedek’s own experiences were the ones that most resonated with me as I read this slim volume. Perhaps this is because I know from personal experience that we can intellectually quote from the works of others without taking their meanings deep into our hearts, but when we relate our own experiences, we are telling about something that in the everyday course of living made us take special notice. [Donald H. Harrison]
Recognizing the Miraculous in the ‘Mundane’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The weekly portion of Haazinu (chapter 32), the penultimate Torah’s ending, is “The Song.” In it, because he realizes the significance of his message, Moses reemphasizes the benefits and consequences derived from observing and disobeying the divine law. Jewish law generally requires, with few exceptions, two
Two Witnesses Prove God Exists Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion