By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In this week’s parasha, Naso, “to lift up,’’ the longest single parasha in the Torah with its 176 pasukim, the Torah reading, following Shavuot, opens with a description of the responsibilities placed on the Levites, who are “lifted up” to perform their duties. We are introduced to […]
Parashat Naso: Waking Up to the Messages Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Doron Krakow Spring is a time of renewal. Longer, warmer days. Blooming trees and gardens. It is a season of beginnings—of new life. A season of weddings and graduations, major milestones in the lives of individuals and families. A season in which we come together, in settings both large and small, to mark these
To Everything There is a Season Read More »
Doron Krakow, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, USABy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha is read on the Shabbat before the celebration of Shavuot (this year beginning on Saturday evening, June 4, and concluding on Monday evening June 6). Both the parasha and the holiday involve counting. In the parasha, we learn of the importance of counting each
Parashat Bamidbar and Shavuot: The Multifaceted Importance of Counting Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. With a network of 35 regions, including the Pacific Western Region across North America and 60 countries around the world, BBYO reaches 70,000 teens annually. BBYO is proud to partner with the
Jewish Teen Org BBYO Partners With San Diego’s Congregation Beth Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Many people are under the impression that the brothers Cain and Abel built an altar with Cain burning fruit of the ground, and Abel offering the firstlings of his flock and that God only accepted Abel’s offering. Actually, there is no mention of an altar or
An Unusual But Sensible Interpretation of the Cain and Abel Tale Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha is the 33rd weekly Torah reading we’ve been learning from this year. With this parasha, we complete the reading of Sefer Vayikra, the book of Leviticus. It reads with a direct — or so it seems — promise that if we follow Hashem’s commandments, we will
Parashat Bechukotai: Learning Continuously From Every Experience Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha, Behar, instructs us not to wrong another with ona’at mamon, “wronging one another with respect to monetary matters,” and with ona’at devarim, “wronging one another with words.” “And you shall not wrong, one man his fellow Jew, and you shall fear your God, for
Parashat Behar: Words Can Hurt Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Yoatzot Halacha, an organization that is Advisors of the Law, has published this 376-page book Nishmat Ha-Bayit (The Soul of the Home), by Maggid Books, Nishmat, and OU Press. It contains a collection of 63 common questions that Yoatzot Halacha have been asked. The goal
Advice for Religious Jewish Women Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
By Jacob Kamaras L’Chaim Magazine LA JOLLA, California — Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic with renewed energy, Congregation Adat Yeshurun of La Jolla this month will host “Breath of Fresh Aire,” the synagogue’s first in-person gala event since 2019. Long known for its welcoming atmosphere of caring and spiritual growth, one of San Diego’s premier
La Jolla’s Adat Yeshurun Keen on Communal Growth Ahead of ‘Breath of Fresh Aire’ Gala Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha, Kedoshim, sums up an all-encompassing responsibility we have: “Kedoshim tihyu, ki kadosh ani Hashem Elokeichem,” translated as, “Be holy, for I, Hashem your Lord am holy.” Rashi tells us that most of the Torah depends on this parasha. Is that why it’s in the
Parashat Kedoshim: Behaving in a Holy Manner Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — The readings for this Shabbat are taken from Amos, one of the earliest of the “classical prophets.” He, a cattle herder, arose from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, delivering his brief nine-only chapters of mainly artistic poetry between 784-733 BCE, to both Kingdoms. He criticized cultic sins
Haftorah for May 7, 2022 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionHaftorah reading for Aharei Mot is I Samuel 20:18-42. By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — The readings for this Shabbat are taken from I Samuel, of the “Early Prophets,” [1] though one can find another reading, from Amos, when in another year Aharei Mot’s haftorah is combined with that of Kedoshim. [2] The
Haftorah for April 30, 2022 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — About a month ago, we read in parasha Shemini about the deaths of Nadav and Avihu. This Shabbos, in Parasha Acharei Mos, once again, the Torah takes the time to mention their deaths. In this week’s parasha, Aaron and his family are forbidden to mourn their loss,
Parashat Acharei Mos: The Value of Tears Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Lazard, a social worker employed by the County of San Diego to determine financial and residential eligibility for cradle-to-21-year-old residents with major disabilities, says he is happiest when he gets to sing, particularly Jewish prayer songs. Through his tutoring of Ruth Sax, he got to know other Jewish residents of Paradise Village, and before long he was asked to officiate at the monthly Shabbat service. He met with Paradise Village’s Chaplain, Harry Bennett, before accepting the volunteer gig. Services are held in the non-denominational chapel, which has a stained-glass window bearing a picture of a dove. [Donald H. Harrison]
Social Worker Serves as a Lay Rabbi for Elderly Residents of Paradise Village Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA