Judaism

Why Is There Suffering in the World?

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Bart Denton Ehrman, born on 10/5/55, a PhD American New Testament scholar and author or editor of several dozen very popular, fascinating, and informative books, began life as a fundamentalist Christian, became a minister, and preached in churches. But he gave up Christianity and became an […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Book Expands Cerebral Understanding of the Jewish Faith

“The Foundation of Judaism,” by Akiva Aaronson (originally published by Targum Press, Inc. 1997, 2000); Feldheim Publishers, 2021; ISBN: 978-1680254815; 216 pages. By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — I just finished composing my weekly D’var Torah on parashat Terumah, focusing on gifts, and a surprise parcel arrived at my front door. A delightful

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Did Maimonides Believe That God Produces Miracles?

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — I was requested to write on the question, “Did Maimonides believe that God produces miracles?” This question has been debated for centuries. I will give the ideas held by those who state that Maimonides contended that God does not perform miracles. To understand this view, one

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Book Provides an Ideological Scaffolding of Jewish Life

“Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood,” by Zack Bodner; Gefen Publishing, Jerusalem, ©2022; ISBN 978-965-7023-68-6; 196 pages, plus references and index; $18.00. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Prognostication is very difficult, particularly as it pertains to the future. Zack Bodner, having extensive background in Jewish communal life and currently

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Judaism

Who Should Have the Final Say on Acceptance Into the Baseball Hall of Fame?

By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — There is an old joke that most rabbis probably know: From where in the Torah do we know that God is a great baseball fan? The answer is simple: Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim v’et ha’aretz: In the big inning, God created heaven and the

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Sports & Competitions

Soviet Jewry Book ‘Hidden Heroes’ Will Both Haunt and Inspire You

Hidden Heroes: One Woman’s Story of Resistance and Rescue in the Soviet Union by Pamela Braun Cohen; Gefen Publishing House © 2021; ISBN 9789657-023365; 393 pages including appendices and an extensive index. By Toby Klein Greenwald EFRAT, Israel — How did the prisoners of Zion and refuseniks have the courage, strength and dedication to apply

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Toby Klein Greenwald, USA

Carl Lutz: The Mystery Savior

By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls out on January 27, permit me to share with you the remarkable story of Charles Lutz. A friend visiting Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov community was walking on Charles Lutz Street. The street sign mentioned that Lutz was among the Chasidei Umot Ha’olam

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Gedaliah Borvick, Jewish History, Middle East, Travel and Food

Entrepreneur Tells of Taking 2 Companies Public and the Deal He Made for the San Diego Jewish Academy

This memoir tells of a man bouncing on the exceedingly rough seas of entrepreneurship and finding emotional safe harbor again and again in the warmth of his family.  It is not your standard how-I-made-a-bundle-and-you-can-too motivational book; it is a very intimate autobiographical portrait of Del Mar resident Richard Jaffe, which he wrote with the assistance of his daughter Charly.  [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA

Did the Prophet Elijah Act Properly?

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The biblical story of the prophet Elijah is interesting, but it is subject to radically different interpretations. A literal reading of scripture, without imagining acts that are not explicit in the verses, yield a negative interpretation of Elijah’s behavior with God being dissatisfied with him, criticizing

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Bible Inspired Name of Cemetery in Nestor Neighborhood

In Nestor, a neighborhood of San Diego northwest of San Ysidro, a small, two-acre, formerly abandoned burial grounds, recently undergoing restoration, is named the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Located at 2127 Iris Street, it is so small, it sometimes is called Mount Oliveito Cemetery. It is surrounded by single-family residences. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA