By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — In other denominations, confession is a personal event, often realized between the confessor and a priestly intermediary. The cleric is charged with admonition but also the release, by virtue of so many devotions, mantras and other rituals. Not so with the Jews: As the community soon gathers for […]
Rosh Hashanah is special time for the Jewish collective Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Not all the religious fanatics are Muslims. One can think of candidates under the umbrella of Christianity, but here our concern is Jews. Two cases recently in the headlines provoke shame or something else, depending on one’s sense of responsibility or cynicism. One is a bearded, well-coiffured man whose trial on
We Jews also have our fanatics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion
SAN DIEGO (SDJW)– A new Jewish magazine, L’Chaim San Diego, began delivering its inaugural issue to Jewish venues and early subscribers throughout the county. Its publisher, Diane Benaroya, said it was timed to come out prior to Rosh Hashanah so the San Diego Jewish community could begin a New Year and a new magazine together.
‘L’Chaim San Diego’ makes its debut Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County
PARIS (WJC)–The European Jewish Congress (EJC) on Tuesday expressed outrage after the publication of an open letter by former French actress Brigitte Bardot in which she called for a ban on religious slaughter of animals. EJC President Moshe Kantor said Bardot’s text was “deeply offensive and a slur against the Jewish people.” It also showed
Brigitte Bardot opposes kosher, hallal animal slaughter Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionHere is an article by San Diego Jewish World’s regular reviewer Eric George Tauber. Another of our writers, Rabbi Ben Kamin, who made a presentation prior to one of the performances also was moved to write a review, which is linked here. By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO–If you love to take in a rich
A Holocaust play of note Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Jewish HistoryThis is a bonus review of ‘The Pianist of Willesden Lane by Rabbi Ben Kamin, who made a presentation before one of the performances. An article by our regular reviewer, Eric George Tauber, is linked here. By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — There are but three “characters” on the stage of the deeply-realized, lyrically expressed,
Holocaust story touchingly told by pianist Read More »
Jewish HistoryBy Fred Reiss, Ed.D WINCHESTER, California — Many people believe that the Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar because the months are determined by the motion of the moon, resulting in a year of twelve full-lunar cycles, or a little less than 354½ days. However, if the Jewish calendar were a lunar calendar, then each
You think your personal calendar is complex? Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education
Editor’s Note: Following is the text of an address delivered in August on the 70th anniversary of the liquidation of the Lodz ghetto by Prof. Goldie Morgentaler, Ph.D., who teaches English and Yiddish literature at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. Dr. Morgentaler was the subject of a recent feature story in San Diego
Lodz Ghetto again comes alive in book, lecture Read More »
International, Jewish History
WEST BRIDGEWATER, Massachusetts (Press Release)– Equal Exchange, Fair Trade Judaica, and T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights have announced the launch of the Jewish Fair Trade Partnership, through which Jewish institutions and individuals can purchase kosher Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate while supporting Jewish communal efforts to end modern-day slavery and support worker
Does your coffee taste good ethically? Read More »
Jewish ReligionDefining Jewish Difference: From Antiquity to the Present by Beth A. Berkowitz, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY; ISBN 978-1-107-66361-9 ©2014, $27.99, p. 247, plus Bibliography and indexes By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — After delivering a speech at American University in 2005, in which she defended the use of foreign law when deciding
Book Review: ‘Defining Jewish Difference’ Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionTransgender and Jewish by Naomi Zeveloff, editor, The Forward Association, Inc., New York, NY; ISBN 978-1-499339-72-7 ©2014, $9.00, p. 43, plus A List of Contributors By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — American Jews seem to always be at the forefront of cultural and social change, such as with the Abolitionists, Suffragettes, and Feminists. Now
Halacha and the trans- gendered Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
Running From Giants: The Holocaust Through the Eyes of a Child by Margareta Ackerman, Ph.D. Illustrations by Vivien Mildenberger. © 2013, ISBN: 9781492330967, 81 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—This book retells the stories of author Ackerman’s grandfather Srulik, who against all odds survived the Holocaust as a child after running away in
Book tells of 10-year-old who eluded the Nazis Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — It’s not often that one sees a verse from the weekly parasha brought to life. In Parashat Shoftim God demands: tzedek tzedek tirdof – Justice, justice, shall you pursue. (Deut. 16:20) Our Etz Hayim commentary observes: “The well-being of society depends neither on the goodwill of the ruler
Justice, justice do they pursue Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—I don’t know if it is more environmentally sensitive to go to a movie house or to watch the same film at home on a DVD. I suppose it would depend on the driving distance required for each option divided by the number of people in your party intending to
The moral taught by the movie ‘Noah’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion