Jewish Religion

The Proper Way to Read Lamentations

Most Jews who read the book do so like they daven (read) the prayers, in a rush, with no intent of trying to understand what they are reading. I once saw a bearded synagogue rabbi fire a very nice highly intelligent un-bearded man because he was not pious enough by the rabbi’s standard to read the book from the Writing to the congregation, and had a bearded man recite the book from the pulpit. While the un-bearded man read the book for the congregation at a fair pace, the bearded man rushed through it as he sped through his prayers. Both the reader and the rabbi failed to understand why Jews were advised by their ancestors to read the Tanakh, including the book of Lamentations. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

‘Russians’ vs. the Haredim in Israel’s Latest Political Battle

For years, Avigdor Lieberman has been calling for a limitation of what the Haredim have demanded, and received. He’s called for a liberalization of marriage laws, allowing the joining of those not Jewish according to Orthodox Rabbis, with those who are Jews. Or the union of two people who can’t satisfy the demands of the Orthodox, who insist on those born of a mother who can prove that she was born of a Jewish mother [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East

The Importance of Plants in Religious Art

What is the message conveyed by the representation of plants in religious text? What do the images that these references bring to our minds tell us about a people and a society? These are questions posed by award-winning artist and author Gloria Abella Ballen, whose book Garden of Eden: Plants of the Hebrew Bible was the subject of a recent webinar sponsored by the American Sephardic Federation. [Ellen Hernandez]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Suit Okayed Against Gun Manufacturer, Store in Chabad of Poway Shooting

Unless overturned on appeal, a case brought against gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson and gun store San Diego Guns will be permitted to proceed on behalf of the victims of the April 27, 2019  shooting at Chabad of Poway, which occurred on the last day of Passover. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

3 California Synagogues Among 35 Receiving Grants to Welcome Congregants Back

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, has awarded $100,000 in grants to 35 synagogues in 15 U.S. states — including three synagogues in California — and one Canadian province in an effort to bring communities back to synagogue

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Jewish Religion, USA

Haftorah Reading for July 10, 2021

Two non-continuous extracts, all in verse, form the second of the three Haftorahs of admonition, recited between the 17th of Tammuz and Tish-a b’ Av. Each has no literary connection to its accompanying Torah portion. In these verses, Jeremiah poetically goes after the southern nation’s universal violations against God’s law, in a ‘jeremiad.’ [1]  The northern nation of Israel had already been destroyed over 100 years earlier, by Assyria.[Irv Jacobs, M.D.]

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

S.D. Synagogues Welcome Palestinian Speaker, Executive Director

Activities and staffing are returning to pre-pandemic levels at various San Diego County synagogues, with Temple Emanu-El in the San Diego State University area hosting a Palestinian refugee who is highly critical the Palestinian Authority’s human rights record. Tifereth Israel Synagogue in the San Carlos neighborhood, meanwhile, has announced it has hired a new executive director. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Torah Reading for July 10, 2021

When you walk into a synagogue what do you feel? This week’s double reading, Matot and Massei, on the Shabbat that is the first day of the auspicious month of Av, offers us some insight into this question. After all, these readings teach of a new phase in the history of our heritage, the settlement period when we began to find permanent homes for ourselves. Is that what your synagogue is for you? [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Let’s Have Compassion for the Rabbi’s Spouse

I believe some of the most important unsung heroes of non-Orthodox Judaism are the spouses of pulpit rabbis.  We don’t pay them, but more often than not, we expect them to devote their lives to our synagogues.  We want them to attend every social occasion, be there near the front of the sanctuary on Shabbat evening and morning,   to recognize all of us by first and last name, and to be able to chant the blessings before and after the reading of the Torah whenever someone is needed for an aliyah. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA

Jewish faith fuels hope and outreach after Surfside collapse

Published by Reuters By Katanga Johnson SURFSIDE, Fla. (Reuters) – Hundreds have gathered every day at The Shul of Bal Harbour, a synagogue near the Florida condominium complex that partially collapsed last week, to pray that survivors will be found. Other members of Surfside’s Jewish community have offered food, water and emotional support to search

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Jewish Religion

Planning for Locally-Based Israel Trips Resumes

As vaccination rates increase and the coronavirus pandemic seemingly is being brought under control, group trips to Israel from San Diego are again being organized.  One of the first to be publicized is a joint trip planned for May 15-29, 2022 and sponsored by the San Diego Outreach Synagogue and the Desert Outreach Synagogue, to be led respectively by Rabbi/ Cantor Cheri Weiss and Rabbi Jules King. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA