By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — If you’re looking for a love story, this week in Toldot, we read a magnificent one, in fact the first. You see, we are told that husband and wife are to, “cleave to each other and become one flesh.” This is precisely what Isaac and Rebecca teach […]
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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The question of when did Jews begin to observe the practices and prohibitions of biblical laws is one of the most important yet thorniest questions that has bothered scholars for centuries. While traditional Jews believe their ancestors accepted and practiced Torah laws since the time of
When Did Jews Begin to Observe Biblical Laws? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
If you look at the menorah on the cover of Hanukkah Nights, you’ll see that each candle flame is of a different color. What you can’t see—until you read the actual book—is that each flame was created with a different artistic technique. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Primer on Hanukkah and Art Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — In Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed, book 3, chapter 51, in the easy-to-read translation by Michael Friedlander, Maimonides tells readers: “The present chapter does not contain any additional matter that has not been treated in the (previous) chapters of this treatise. It is a kind of
How Does God Want People to Behave? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Special problems faced by the preschool-through-12th-grade school district in Sha’ar Hanegev (Gateway to the Negev) are security for the students in a region often targeted by missiles fired by terrorists in neighboring Gaza, and persuading the students that there are jobs and good futures for them in that rural, agricultural area. [Donald H. Harrison]
Sha’ar Hanegev School Superintendent Tells of Missile Zone Challenges Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Over the past several years when writing about this week’s Torah portion, I often shared two very contemporary lessons – never give up hope and be in control, emotionally, when dealing with oneself and with others. As the years pass, it appears these lessons are even more
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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
At 11:11 a.m. on November 11, or what might be written as 11:11/11/11, former South African enlisted man Norman Kort blew taps on a World War II bugle that he had purchased at an estate sale in England. As he did so, David Schlichtman raised the U.S. flag at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in honor of America’s Veterans Day. The occasion marked 104 years since the Nov. 11, 1918 Armistice that brought World War I to a close. [Donald H. Harrison]
3 Jewish Vets Recommend Universal Military Service Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The Chaim Grade masterpiece, “The Yeshiva II,” is subtitled “Masters and Disciples” because it tells of dozens of lives of people in a manner unequaled by other writers. Each of the many people who populate this story has interesting and exciting lives that will fascinate readers.
‘The Yeshiva’ Volume II: Interesting and Exciting Lives That Will Fascinate Readers Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Trestman was a medical doctor long before he became a rabbi. He still is a pulmonary specialist with the Palomar/ Pomerado Hospital Group. But now, he is also a Chabad rabbi who, with his wife Debra, hosts Bais Betzalel Chabad of North County Inland at their home in Rancho Bernardo near the Poway city line. At the hospital, his colleagues call him “Ken” whereas at the shul he is known by his Hebrew name “Yehuda.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Doctor Who Became a Rabbi Runs Chabad Shul in Rancho Bernardo Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — It may be difficult to imagine that the purpose of an entire week’s Torah reading is to teach us about the importance of acts of kindness, in particular, hachnasat orchim, but that is just what Rabbi David Kimcha, the Radak, suggests to us. Do you run, not
Parashat Vayeira: The Importance of Acts of Kindness Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Journeys to Heaven and Hell by Bart D. Ehrman, a highly respected New Testament scholar, tells some of the different notions various nations and people had about the afterlife in ancient times. He describes a wide variety of katabases and anabases, but not all. Katabasis means
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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Want to move beyond your limits and extend your potential? To do so requires that you forcefully replace any limiting thinking, and “Go out of your land, our native country, and your father’s house.” Contemporary self-help and self-awareness meant to help us grow and shift, suggests asking,
Parashat Lech Lecha: Why Torah? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In the whole of the Torah, there are only six portions that are named after an individual. Don’t look for parasha Avraham or Moshe. But we do have the Noach Ish Tzaddik Tamim Hayah BeDorotav the wholehearted, righteous man, “perfect in his generation.” Yes, there are of course
Parashat Noach: Seeking Out Righteousness Over Arrogance Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
In Stein’s version of the story, illustrated by Sabina Hahn, Jonah is a teacher, whose class of elementary school students meets under a tree. He told the children stories, brought them snacks of figs and raisins, and gently reproved naughty behavior. He was such a good teacher that God decided he would be ideal for teaching the people of Nineveh {Mosul, in modern-day Iraq) that they must change their evil ways. [Donald H. Harrison]
Story Book Interprets the Jonah Tale for Children Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion