Judaism

Good News from Israel – December 26, 2021

NETANYA, ISRAEL — In the December 26, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–An Israeli treatment for Parkinson’s has successfully finished trials.
–Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where Christians are thriving.
–Israeli nanomaterials are reshaping the manufacturing industry.
–The UAE hosted an event in its Embassy to showcase Israeli technology.
–An Israeli woman has won Israel’s first World Championship swimming gold medals.
–Three major archaeological discoveries in Israel. [Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions

New Sunday Series Will Probe Jewish Stories Along the Interstate 5

Every Sunday of 2022, with the permission of San Diego Jewish World’s new publisher and editor Jacob Kamaras, I will be posting an installment of a new book that I am writing, tentatively titled Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5. [Donald H. Harison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jacob Kamaras, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Maimonides on the Morality of Our Choices and Behavior

Maimonides’ understanding of the Book of Exodus ought to have great relevance to people who study the weekly Torah portion. Although he did not write an exposition on this book of the Torah, he writes about it profusely in his Mishneh Torah and his Guide for the Perplexed; the same may be said about his other voluminous writings. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Rabbi Eliezer Waldman, Hebron-Based Rabbi

Much has been written about the Jewish community in Kiryat Arba and Hebron, but I would like to share three personal memories of Rabbi Eliezer Waldman, of blessed memory, who was among the founders of the renewed Jewish community in the city of our forefathers, who passed away on December 18th. [Toby Klein Greenwald]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Toby Klein Greenwald

Haftorah for December 25, 2021

These mainly poetic passages come from two separate parts of  Isaiah I’s writings. Most are commonly dated ca. 730s BCE, but there are some earlier and many later contributors’ insertions.  This has muddled previous date assignments of these materials. Modern scholars now think a good bit arose from the time of the fall of the Babylonian empire to Persia in 539 BCE. It is arguable that some of what are called predictions actually were formulated ‘after the events.’ [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

Ever Met a Famous Jew? / This Book Tells of Quite a Few!

It’s never too early for a child to be inculcated with Jewish pride.  This board book will be enjoyed both by parents (or grandparents) and the children sitting on their laps both because of the caricatures of famous Jews and the rhyming couplets with which they are described. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History

Artist Frieda Salvendy Commemorated in British Town of Her Retirement

Frieda Salvendy moved to Malvern sometime after the end of the Second World War, and died here, in obscurity, in 1965.  A short notice of her death was placed in the local paper and probate details gave her address in Alexandra Road.  Beyond that, it would appear that very few, if any, knew of her existence, or that she had been an eminent European artist. [JASHP}

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Ethics Trump Halakha in Jewish Religion

Most people, Jews and non-Jews, think that Judaism prefers that Jews observe Jewish Law, called halakha, rather than ethics, and if the two come in conflict the Jew must follow the halakha. Rabbi Dr. Eugene Korn shows in his excellent easy to understand book To be a Holy People: Jewish Tradition and Ethical Values that they are wrong. What are Jewish Ethics? How does it differ from Jewish law? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

What We Don’t Know about The Matriarch Rachel

We know, or think we know, that Jacob was attracted to Rachel as soon as he saw her the first time. Genesis 29:11 tells us that he kissed her and wept. In verse 18, we are told, “Jacob loved Rachel.” He even agreed since he had no money, to work for seven years for her father if he would give her to him as a wife. But how long did this love last? We do not know. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Judah, Reuben, David, Bill Clinton, and Other Flawed Leaders

The theme of leadership is an important topic in Parshat Vyehi. Although Joseph was the nation’s political leader, the brothers never chose Joseph to be their family leader. Instead, they chose Judah. Historically, in the days of the First Temple, Israel became divided between the nation of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel. Rivalry persisted between these nations for centuries. Yet, history proved that the tribe of Judah retained its leadership over the other tribes. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA