Jewish Religion

California Here I Leave

After two weeks in California, with all its delights and attractions, it is a relief to be back in the humble abode that is our home in Israel. In California everything, or almost everything, is large. Most of the homes we visited are grand, the people generous and hospitable, and the wide streets and huge stores provide an array of goods and facilities that keep the mind on constant alert for the next attractive bargain or delightful display. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, USA

A YouTube Channel featuring Jewish Women Performers

The ATARA organization and Spotlight on Women have joined forces to create the Jewish Women’s Chanukah Playlist 2021 Channel on YouTube, featuring music videos exclusively from Torah-observant (Orthodox) female artists from around the world. [Toby Klein Greenwald]

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International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Despite Organizer’s COVID Absence, Chanukah Celebration Goes On

Even the most thought-out plans can be derailed by a last-minute change, especially when a leader falls ill. This wasn’t true for the Chabad of East County on Sunday, Nov. 28, though, as they pulled off their first night of Hanukkah event at the El Cajon Civic Center without a hitch, despite the absence of Rabbi Rafi Andrusier and his wife Chaya, who tested positive for COVID-19 the day before.  [Elijah McKee, East County Magazine]

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Jewish Religion, Joe Gandelman, San Diego County

The Cain v. Abel Trial

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Rabbi Dr. Dan Ornstein has written the easy-to-read “Cain v. Abel: A Jewish Courtroom Drama,” an interesting, thoughtful, eye-opening, and thought-provoking book based on the two-dozen biblical sentences in Genesis 4 that report the fraternal murder of Abel by his brother Cain. Rabbi Ornstein includes the

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

San Diego Congregations Join in National Hanukkah Happening

With people eager for community experiences, more than 300 congregations, JCCs, Federations, schools, camps, independent minyanim and Jewish organizations are mounting gatherings this Hanukkah marking a worldwide rededication of relational communities. Under the banner, Hanukkah Homecoming, events around the world will be held onsite and online November 28 – December 5, 2021, inviting those engaged and those not-yet-engaged to connect with community and each other. [Hanukkah Happenings]

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Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

Joseph, Zechariah, the Maccabees, and modern-day Chanukah

This week’s parasha, Miketz, falls out during Chanukah. Yet, Chanukah isn’t mentioned even once in all of our Torah. Recall that in last week’s parasha, Vayeishev, Joseph was thrown into a pit. Joseph prayed and Hashem answered his prayers. This week, we read how his life changed, how Hashem saved his family and by extension, our lives as Jews as well, and how Joseph prayed prayers of thanksgiving…as do we, for Hashem delivering us miraculously as he did Joseph. Our endurance has little to do with military capacity or political perceptiveness, both clearly important, but rather from our own inner determination that is launched in our faith. This is the link between Miketz and Chanukah. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

3 Subjects Worthy of Deep Study: Torah, JCC’s, Mideast History

The great Jewish texts and sources are an enormous trove of knowledge, insights, traditions, and wisdom. His months at Pardes will barely scratch the surface and are tantamount to studying the initial pages of the first volume of a 32-volume encyclopedia—just enough to know that he’ll hardly know anything. But through these months, he will have evolved both respect and appreciation for the works’ scope and breadth. [Doron Krakow]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Haftorah Reading for November 27, 2021

This short passage, mainly in good ancient poetry, is from minor prophet Amos, who arose from Judea to condemn both Judea’s and, more specifically, the Northern Kingdom’s ethics violations c. 784-748 BCE under King Jeroboam II. The violations, though referencing idol worship, mainly condemn behavioral sins against defenseless and vulnerable poor Northerners.  [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion