Judaism

Deuteronomy, midrashim, and current police practices

In one of its first San Diego presentations, Avodah held a webinar on Tuesday, July 7, on the issue of police accountability. Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein, director of the Justice Fellowship in Avodah’s Chicago offices, began by quoting Deuteronomy 16:18-20: [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Local Jewish agencies, synagogues set web lectures

A full schedule of local lectures and seminars is being offered this week on Zoom or Facebook, thereby providing some Jewish-themed diversion and learning for those who are sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

What is the Book of Esther really about?

Maggid Books has just published an excellent comprehensive 493-page study of the biblical Book of Esther called Esther: Power, Fate, and Fragility in Exile by Erica Brown, Ph.D, an award-winning author of many books, lecturer, and Jewish teacher. Brown tells readers exactly what the Bible text is saying, not what people read into it. She does so in clear, easy to read language. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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

Danger to Jews comes mostly from the Left

While it is true that the far-right has been expanding in recent years, which could be interpreted as a reaction to the far-left tilt of the nation; the numbers according to FBI statistics are relatively small. What HAS expanded exponentially is the growth, power, and influence of both the radical left and Islamists, with an unconventional alliance between them; the ultimate goals of which is the destruction of Israel and the United States. [Caren Besner]

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Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Six valorous Jewish women of San Diego

When it comes to the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival, not even COVID19 can stand up to the chutzpah, commitment and ingenuity of Associate Producer Ali Viterbi and co-writers Leah Salovey, Sarah Price Keating and Becca Myers, Associate Producer of JFest, as they bring us the 11th annual “Women of Valor.”  This virtual show is a tribute to our local women, some unsung and others, banner-waving, who have created a more humane, compassionate, and impactful Jewish San Diego.  [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

A Word of Torah: Three kinds of commandments

We are taught that there are three categories of commandments; Judgments, Testimonials, and Decrees. Judgments are the commandments that we understand on our own that they need to be done. For instance, we realize the importance of having fair weights and measures, or of making sure our property doesn’t damage another, or that we should return lost objects. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Jewish unity at risk

Though I live in Jerusalem within walking distance to the Western Wall (the Kotel), I never go to pray there – for religious reasons. Abraham Joshua Heschel, the great 20th century Jewish thinker, has taught that Judaism doesn’t have holy places, only holy events. We celebrate time, not space. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

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Jewish History, Middle East

The man behind the ‘chrain in Spain’ and elsewhere

Marc Gold hoped he could combine his love of writing and sports into a career; and after college graduation, he worked for newspapers and had a  fantasy of owning one. But, like his father, uncles, cousins and a brother, he took a different career path, joining the world-famous condiment company Gold Pure Food Products and was involved in all aspects of the business, including production, quality control, accounts receivable and payable Eventually he was the chief of all sales, shipping and public relations/publicity for decades.  [Joel H. Cohen]

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Jewish History, Joel H. Cohen, Travel and Food

Dueling Holocaust imperatives: Never again vs. Never ever

As I focus on the debate among Jews about the relationship our community ought to have with the Black Lives Matter movement, I realize that discussion is driven by how traumatized our entire Jewish people have been by the Holocaust and its aftershocks. In my view, both the Jewish Right and the Jewish Left have patterned their behavior on what they have learned — and suffered — as a result of the Nazis’ slaughter of our Six Million ancestors, relatives, and friends. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Torah lesson for children: Moses punished for acting angrily

Moses and Aaron leave to chat with God. They are given a rod and told to hold it up to a nearby rock, telling the people that God will provide water for them from that rock. What happens next is a surprise. Whether Moses is angry with the people for their constant complaining, or he isn’t quite sure if God will send the water flowing, or both, Moses strikes the rock and the water appears. Now God is the angry One. And the punishment for not following God’s directions is severe. Neither Moses nor Aaron will be allowed to go into the Promised Land of Israel. [Marcia Berneger]

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Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger

Telling Israel’s positive story with tomato plants

Whenever I’ve been to Israel, whether on a mission or an independent tour, I’ve been impressed by that country’s fresh vegetables, especially its tomatoes. Maybe it is because the country is so small that tomatoes can be shipped from farm to market to the salad plate in a relatively short time, compared to how long the same process takes in the United States. Israeli tomatoes taste juicier, fresher, and sweeter than American tomatoes. They are among the special taste treats of Israeli cuisine. [Our Shetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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