By 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
This tale for tots conflates the light of Shabbat candles with other pleasant and helpful lights that they might encounter. These include a flashlight helping people to find their way; lanterns at an evening picnic; a lighthouse that aids sailors; the moon and stars; fireflies; and a soft nightlight in a child’s room. [Donald H. Harrison]
Book for Toddlers Tells of the Lights of Shabbat Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
By Sam Glaser LOS ANGELES — I love the connection of numbers and Torah. In macro terms, Torah is the blueprint of the universe. What is the secret of six? According to the famous Passover song, Who Knows One?, one is God, two are the tablets, three are the forefathers, four are the matriarchs, five
From PJ Library comes two Passover-related books suitable for reading to children. Meet the Matzah is the kind of silly story that children will giggle over. In this case, different kinds of breads and matzah have been anthropomorphized as students in a classroom where they learn about all kinds of holidays and the breads that are served. For example, one might eat naan during the Hindu festival of Diwali and tortillas on the Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos. [Donald H. Harrison]
PJ Library Serves Up Stories About Passover and Mimouna Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East
Haftorah reading for the first day of Pesach is Joshua 3:5-7, 5:2-6:1, 6:27. By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — The readings for this Shabbat, the first day of Passover, are from the Book of Joshua. The text is entirely in prose. I use the translation of Robert Alter of the University of California
Haftorah for April 16, 2022 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
“Choosing Hope: The Heritage of Judaism” by David Arnow; The Jewish Publication Society: March 2022; ISBN 9780827-615205; 352 pages; $30. By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In less than one second, searching for the word “hope” brings almost 2.5 billion references through Google. Wow! That’s a popular topic, and for good reason. I’ve
Book on Hope Through a Jewish Lens Comes Just in Time for Passover Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael MantellHaftorah Reading for Metzora is Malachi 3:4-24 By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — The readings for this week could be either of two, respectively, the above from Malachi, or 2 Kings 7:3-20. Once again, the rabbis who made the selection did not concur. I prefer to delve into the Malachi source. [1] However,
Haftorah for April 9, 2022 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In less than one week, our approaching celebration of liberation, Passover, will be within us. This Shabbat, Shabbat Hagadol, brings with it an opportunity for even more preparation than we’ve already been doing for the holiday, a special preparation, one that is spiritual. Our Torah is called
Parashat Metzora-Shabbat Hagadol: Pass Over the Lashon Hara Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellHaftorah reading for Tazria is 2 Kings 4:42-5:19 By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — The readings for this week are two different ones: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18 and 2 Kings 4:42-5:19. For unclear reasons the rabbis have offered these both. I will ignore the Ezekiel passages, having read my fill of this unduly greatly disturbed
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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In this week’s parasha, Tazria, we discover tzara’as, which we have come to know in modern terms as leprosy. While this disease is uncommon today, who hasn’t found a spot or two on their body, had a biopsy and been told, B’H, “all is clean?” This seems
Parashat Tazria-Hachodesh: Connecting Our Physical and Religious Lives Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Night of Beginnings: A Passover Haggadah; Text and art by Maria Falk; Published March, 2022, University of Nebraska Press as a Jewish Publication Society book. By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — When a Haggadah is written by a founding mother of feminist Judaism, as poet and author Marcia Falk is described, the reader
‘Night of Beginnings:’ A Spiritually Moving and Thoughtful Haggadah Experience Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellThe two offered Haftorah Readings for Shemini are 2 Samuel 6:1-7:17 and Ezekiel 36:16-38 By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — The readings for this week are two widely different ones. The rabbis apparently couldn’t agree to get their act together, so left us with two to choose from. Accordingly from one source, we
Haftorah for March 26, 2022 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Of course, thousands of years before we began learning that “we are what we eat,” Judaism was already teaching the importance of the food we put inside of our bodies and its significance in living optimally. This week’s Torah education brings us a long list of nourishing
Parashat Shemini-Parah: Kosher Laws and Spiritual Discipline Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell