Stuart Weinstock, an Escondido businessman and former owner of Salsa Market in Vista, was sentenced in federal court Monday to eight months in custody for evading over $180,000 in taxes as part of an eight-year tax-evasion scheme with former Chabad of Poway Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein. [U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Diego]
8-Month Prison Term for Defendant in Chabad of Poway Fraud Case Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
Since the average Jew and non-Jew in the seventeenth century believed in such things as the ever presence of God, a soul, the inerrancy of the Bible, faith rather than reason, the power of prayer, and the existence of helping angels, and since the Christians killed even their fellow religionists who rejected these notions, the Jewish officials excommunicated several Jews who held contrary views to protect the rest of the Jewish community from Christian outrage and death. One of these was Spinoza, who was excommunicated at age 24, in 1656. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Was Baruch Spinoza Wrong or Wholly or Partially Correct? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Tanakh, the all-inclusive Hebrew word for the Bible—Torah, Prophets, and Writings—holds many problems and puzzles: What does an infrequently used biblical Hebrew word actually mean? Does the Bible describe true historical fact, or just fantasy? What is the origin of particular prayers? Attorney and independent biblical researcher Mitchell First, in his newest book Links to Our Legacy, continues his mission to find lost meanings and correct inaccurate historical accountings. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]
A Modern Look Into the Hebrew Bible Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
This week’s Torah portion is titled Korach, who was known as a very bad person who came from wonderful stock. Korach was a rebel. He accused Moses and Aaron of nepotism. Korach was an expert at making populist pronouncements while in fact he was an elitist. Korach was insincere. Korach ridiculed the Torah and its number one expert, Moses. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Korach, Rebel with the Wrong Cause Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Many Great scholars attempted to prove that God exists, including the Jewish Maimonides and Roman Catholic Thomas Aquinas, who offered what he felt were five ways through which God could be known. They all failed. We are unable to prove God’s existence. Maimonides went so far
Can We Prove That God Exists? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education
This simple short prose extract from I Samuel comes from the group of books artificially designated as the ‘Former Prophets.’ These are: Joshua; Judges; I & II Samuel; and I and II Kings. All of these arguably contain little of recognizable prophecy. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah Reading for June 12, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
What was Korach openly displaying about himself when he was criticizing Moshe and Aaron? I believe he was saying, “It’s all about me.” He demonstrated what self-absorption and evil are all about. Korach could have been a vehicle of Hashem’s words. But he certainly was not. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Korach Thought Only of Himself; Are Others Like Him Today? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Bar-Giora Goldberg’s The Mind is Mightier: Reflections on the Historic Rise of Cognition and Complexity offers a novel and panoramic view about the cognitive evolution of the human race—not an easy topic, but it is one that the author transforms into an exciting intellectual journey. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
How Humans Mentally Shape Our World Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced on Thursday the development of a new phone app to help members of law enforcement be more culturally sensitive when they have interactions with any of 12 ethnic and religious groups. The dozen groups include 1) African American Youth; Asian; Chaldean; East African/ Somali; East African/ Somali Youth; Karen/ Karenni (from Burma); Latinx Youth; Mexican and Mexican American; Muslim; Native Americans, Samoans, and Vietnamese. It was not deemed necessary to include Jews among the groups, but I think this was a mistake. [Donald H. Harrison]
App Unveiled to Help Law Enforcement Be More Culturally Sensitive Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA
By Liam Aron JERUSALEM — In his book The Big Leap, bestselling author and successful life coach Gay Hendricks outlines something he calls the Upper Limit problem. “Many people go through life,” he writes, “believing that they only deserve a certain amount of happiness and success. This is known as an ‘upper-limit mindset.’” Hendricks writes
The ‘Big Leap’ Soul Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, JudaismThis prose extract from Joshua described as the work of ‘Former Prophets.’ It tells of an alleged event en route toward the conquest of Jericho as inserted by the Deuteronomist writer(s). [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah for June 5, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
I am who I am thanks to Shabbat. Due to this biblically mandated institution, I have peace of mind, a flourishing community, a great relationship with my family and a career where I traverse the country singing its praises. All this benefit for just taking a day off! The Torah emphasizes Shabbat more than any other ritual because it provides the most profound physical, financial and emotional evidence that one is serious about a relationship with God. [Sam Glaser]
Fear, “false expectations appearing real,” puts the brakes on a good life. Faith, “fear ain’t in this house” takes the brakes off and promotes a more enjoyable life. This week, Sh’lach reminds us just how powerful and limiting fear can be. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Fear Not, This Week’s Torah Portion Advises Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
What Jewish beliefs do Jews of all stripes agree on? I would assume that monotheism and Tikkun Olam are two safe guesses. [Rabbi Tuvia Teldon]
Recognizing Small Daily Acts of Tikkun Olam Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA