Judaism

Dutch Protestant Church ‘confesses’ antisemitism guilt

The Protestantse Kerk Nederland or PKN (Protestant Church in the Netherlands) announced that it will, for the first time, “confess” its guilt for contributing to a climate of anti-Semitism before, during, and after World War II. It will admit to falling short “in speaking and in silence, in acting and in not acting, in omitting, in attitude and in thoughts.” [Dorian de Wind]

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Dorian de Wind, International, Jewish History

Examining Jesus as a human

According to James is an interesting and thoughtful book. Whether readers are Christians, Jews, Muslims, or something else, and even if they strongly disagree with the story Howard Rubenstein tells about James, an older brother of Jesus, they will find that the story prompts them to think about many aspects of religion. The story is fiction. But it is based on the views of many scholars. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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

Pakistani prince visited Rancho Lilac

There is no shortage of world-class leaders who have visited and left their mark on Valley Center, among them a future king of England (Edward, Prince of Wales);  a president of the United States (Dwight Eisenhower), and a widowed First Lady (Eleanor Roosevelt). But there also was a prince — not a fairytale prince, but a legendary blue-blood better known as a playboy, socialite, racehorse jockey, and husband of one of the world’s most famous movie stars. He was also a diplomat and United Nations official, and it was in that role that he came to Valley Center in 1959. {Robert Lerner]

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International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

Feds evaluate death penalty for Poway Chabad shooter

Federal prosecutors still haven’t decided whether to seek the death penalty for the assailant who killed Lori Gilbert Kaye and wounded three other people at Chabad of Poway during a Passover 2019 observance, Kristina Davis of  The  San Diego Union-Tribune reported on Saturday.  The newspaper said that the defense team for defendant John T. Earnest, 21, has reported that the coronavirus pandemic has hampered “mitigation investigation critical to a meaningful penalty phase in a capital prosecution.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County

Blessings and Pats on Their Heads

Not only humans gathered around computer screens, but animals too, for Internet Shabbat services Friday night conducted by Rabbi/ Cantor Cheri Weiss of the San Diego Outreach Synagogue.  This Shabbat, Jews around the world read Parshat Noach — the story of Noah’s Ark — and the rabbi figured it would be the perfect occasion to recite a “Blessing of the Animals” composed by Rabbi Jonathan Aaron of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, California. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, USA

Judaism’s response to Covid19

More than 220,000 Americans have died of Covid19. One of them was Steve Silverman, 71, my college roommate and friend for 55 years. An active sportsman, a successful and compassionate doctor, he had suffered for three weeks, alone and hooked up to a respirator. His wife, two grown children, grandchildren and friends “attended” the funeral and shiva on Zoom. [Michael Ginsberg]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Ginsberg

A Word of Torah: Noah’s Flood

By the time ten generations had passed Noah lived in a world where people were constantly at each other’s throats. Raping, pillaging, murder were all abundantly prevalent. The profound immorality had even penetrated the animal kingdom, where there were ubiquitous instances of cross-species breeding, something which goes against nature itself.
Noah and his clan were different. The Torah attests that he was a Tzaddik / a saintly person in his generation. They stood on an island of virtue in a sea of depravity. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Biden likens North Korea to pre-war Nazi Germany

Former Vice President Joe Biden compared the U.S. relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un today to America’s “good relationship with Hitler before he, in fact, invaded Europe — the rest of Europe.”

The comparison came during one of many sharp exchanges Thursday night between Biden, the Democratic nominee for President, and  President Donald J. Trump, the Republican,  in their second and last debate before the Nov. 3 election.  [Donald H. Harrison)

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Humor, song lyrics, and Jewish practice

Sam Glaser’s The Joy of Judaism contains 407 pages of very interesting insights into Jewish practices offered to readers by a very accomplished communicator in a clear, often humorous, always insightful and inspiring way. Glaser’s book covers virtually all aspects of Judaism. He shows readers how they can enjoy Jewish practices. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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

Torah for Children: Be a Friend

This week’s Parshah has two stories. The first is the story of Noah and the big flood. God tells Noah of the plan to “put an end to all flesh” because the earth is filled with lawlessness. God instructs Noah to build an ark and bring aboard his family and two of every animal on Earth, plus enough food to feed everyone. You’re probably familiar with the story. [Marcia Berneger]

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Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger

Ancient Flood Stories and The Tower of Babel

There are over 500 collected non-Biblical flood stories from around the globe. The most famous is contained within the epic legend of Gilgamesh. He may have actually been a historical person, a wise Sumerian king on an adventure to win fame. He encountered Utnapishtim, the actual flood figure, who survived in a vessel, a Great Deluge that destroyed mankind. Gilgamesh learned the details from Utnapishtim. [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and Food