Parody: A Happy Hanukkah
Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah,
Things are getting better.
Last year our party
Was a super spreader. … [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
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Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireJewish Religion
Local Christian Ministers Unite Against Antisemitism
Federation is committed to recognizing and addressing antisemitism, and this year we are part of a national campaign to “Shine A Light” on antisemitism. Here in San Diego we are engaging non-Jewish clergy in dialogue around antisemitism and working to strengthen “allyship” across the region. [Heidi Gantwerk]
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Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyHaftorah for December 4, 2021
This short all-prose episode describes a famous story c. 965 BCE attributed to the rule of King Solomon. It is about his wise determination of the rightful mother of a son, for whom two prostitutes competed. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionWhat We Don’t Know about God’s Behavior
Many people, if not most of them, are convinced that they know quite a lot about God and the people mentioned in the Bible. They would be surprised and some even angry to discover that most if not all that the Bible states about them is obscure. It clearly wants us to think about all that is in scripture and to act properly. The following are some examples about God: [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionCalifornia 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, USAA 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, USAThe Miraculous Bread Menorah: Celebrating Chanukah in a Russian Prison
It was Chanuka, 1986. I had arrived at the Gorky Prison in June. In September I was sentenced to three years of hard labor. As the time drew close for my appeal, to be held in Moscow, Chanuka also drew near. [Ari Volvovsky]
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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Toby Klein GreenwaldDespite 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 CountyWhat we don’t know about God’s names
Most people do not attempt to define words, even words they use daily, such as religion, spirituality, and the various words used to describe God. As a result, they usually have only misconceptions about God. The following are some words used to describe God in Judaism. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionThe 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 ReligionSan 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, USAKaifeng Dreidels Inscribed in Mandarin
In honor of Chanukah, the Jerusalem-based nonprofit Shavei Israel designed and produced hundreds of dreidels with Mandarin lettering for the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng, China, as well as for 20 members of the community who have already made Aliya to Israel with the organization’s assistance. [Shavei Israel]
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International, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionDouglas Emhoff Celebrates Chanukah with Lighting of National Menorah
The nation’s Second Gentleman, Douglas Emhoff spoke at the ceremony lighting the National Menorah on Sunday evening, the first night of Chanukah. Following are a transcript of his remarks as released by the Office of the Vice President. [Doug Emhoff]
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Jewish Religion, USAJoseph, 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