By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida –There are many interpretations of biblical event that people were taught to believe which are clearly untrue. The following are three examples. Adam lied to his wife resulting in a catastrophe Genesis 2:16-17 states that before Eve was created, “The Lord God commanded the man, saying: ‘You […]
Some common mistakes about Bible stories Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion“We keep on being told that religion, whatever its imperfections, at least instills morality. On every side, there is conclusive evidence that the contrary is the case and that faith causes people to be more mean, more selfish, and perhaps above all, more stupid.”― Christopher Hitchens By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —
Violence, fanaticism are the curse of many religions Read More »
International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – In the American History Theater’s current production of The Diary of Anne Frank, some American theater history is being reprised. Back in 1959, Shelley Winters won an Oscar as best supporting actress for her performance as Mrs. Van Daan in the movie version of that play, which dramatized
Niece reprises Shelley Winters’ role in ‘Anne Frank’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USABy H. Applebaum SAN DIEGO — What do parents do if they are raising a Jewish child, yet have no resources at hand? The cause could be intermarriage, or living far from family or other Jews, or all of the above. When Jews leave traditional Jewish enclaves, and children come along, it presents a challenge.
PJ Library helps families seeking more Jewish context Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The Torah says count weeks, but Jews count days. As I described in detail in my book Mysteries of Judaism, the ancient religious Jewish group Pharisees, who existed from about 320 BCE until 70 CE, and the rabbis who followed them changed all of the Jewish practices
Rabbis, not Torah, decreed counting days of the Omer Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion
Streit’s Matzo and the American Dream by Michael Levine, © 2017 Menemsha Films, 83 minutes; available via Amazon. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Those of us with Eastern European origins could visit Ellis Island where immigrants were processed, then go to New York’s Lower East Side to tour the Tenement Museum, which recreates
DVD Review: ‘Streit’s Matzo and the American Dream’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The late Bernard Lewis, the great scholar of Islam, has written about how Muslims have adopted Christian anti-Semitism for their own polemics against Jews, Zionism and the State of Israel. A recent illustration of a notorious, persistent and lethal lie is provided by a video posted on YouTube last
Matzah and the blood libel Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – A line formed after Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank, spoke recently at Chabad of Poway. When it was the turn of 15-year-old Bryn Williams to kneel next to the chair of the 90-year-old Schloss, they had a particularly animated discussion. Williams, a veteran of the Pickwick Players
Junior high girl prepares for Anne Frank role Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego Calendar, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Many Jewish practices are not as old as people think and many had no religious significance when first introduced. We do not even know how or when most Jewish practices began and why they began. We can only guess. And in many instances our guesses reveal
Passover Haroset’s mysterious origin Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — As Jews are observing the Passover holiday this coming weekend, recalling a time when our ancestors left Egypt, the land of their oppression, we are witnessing a new kind of Exodus taking place today: Jews are leaving France in record numbers amidst the rising anti-Semitic attacks that have
Sometimes, “It’s Hard to Be a Jew” Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Simmy Allen JERUSALEM — The Pesach holiday – which marks the Jewish people’s exodus from enslavement in ancient Egypt – was never more reminiscent in modern times as during the Holocaust. In the Pesach Haggadah, which recounts the miraculous story, Jews are told to proclaim: “This year we are here; next year we will
Pesach during the Holocaust Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Michael Jeser SAN DIEGO — My grandfather Morris Cohen was the youngest of 28 children. Yes, you read that correctly. His father, my great grandfather, was in his 70s when my grandfather was born in a town near Vilnius, Poland. My great grandfather was actually married twice (not at the same time), and had
S.D. Yom Hashoah focuses on preserving memory Read More »
International, Jewish History, San Diego CountyBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Unlike Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which I describe in my book Mysteries of Judaism, the holiday of Passover did not continue to exist in a radically modified fashion with a new name after the temple was destroyed in 70 CE. It disappeared entirely and Chag
Where did those Passover traditions come from? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion
By Genia Kutner Florida Jewish Journal DELRAY BEACH, Florida — During the war I was lucky to survive with my parents and brother; another died from pneumonia. He was 2 years old. I was 11. My brother was 13. When the Nazi’s neared our town – Pinsk in Poland – in 1941, we fled towards
Holocaust survivor recalls miracle of Israel’s founding Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA