This parsha opens with the death of Sarah in Hebron. It is followed by Abraham’s negotiation with the shrewd Hittite landowner Ephron to purchase the cave of Machpelah as the burial site for her and subsequently the patriarchs and other matriarchs. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Sarah’s and other ancient death rituals Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
Who doesn’t want to stay young while growing older in years? The Torah is telling us that with faith in Hashem, all things work out in the end. After all, Sarah had a child at age 100 and Abraham lived to 175 years old. [Michael Mantell, PhD]
Sarah’s pregnancy: A lesson in trusting God Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) report that its recent San Diego fundraiser attracted 650 contributors, who honored Sydney and Denise Selati of San Diego, and met five IDF soldiers who, according to security protocols, were identified by their first names or initials only. [Donald H. Harrison]
FIDF gala showcased IDF diversity Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County
Aviva Gottlieb Zornberg is an exceptionally good scholar. In her book Moses, she offers her readers an interesting, generally different but thought-provoking look at the life and deeds of the biblical Moses. She approaches the telling of Moses’ history based on Midrash … [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A scholarly look at the midrashic Moses Read More »
Jewish Religion
Never able to shake off the painful memory of having his fingers shot off by an intruder at Chabad of Poway nor of seeing congregant Lori Gilbert-Kaye murdered and two other congregants wounded, Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein has decided to retire. [Donald H. Harrison]
Chabad of Poway’s Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein retires Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastVaYera is an eventful parsha, from which I take note of two items: (1) a dispute between Abraham and God, (2) overt incest between Lot’s daughters and Lot. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Disputing God, incest, themes in VaYera Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Becky Krinsky, who organized the Pink Challah Bakes, both in Bonita and across the border at the Centro Social Israelita of Tijuana, said there were several reasons for merging Shabbat San Diego with breast cancer awareness. Noting that women traditionally make the challah that Jewish families eat on Shabbat, she commented that “breast cancer affects mainly women. We all have either one person who died from cancer or we know someone who is struggling with cancer, so I think it is a beautiful idea to unite us in praying for everybody and getting both things at the same time.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Event marries Shabbat, Breast Cancer Awareness Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food
At the beginning of our Torah portion this week, VaYera, we find Abraham, fresh off his self-inflicted circumcision, waiting at “Petach HaOhel,” at the opening of his tent. According to a Midrash, Abraham had a habit of doing this because whenever anyone would walk by, he would he would run to greet and welcome them. In this week’s Torah portion, in the heat of the day, while recovering from his surgery, he ushered three random travelers into his tent. He gave them food; water, shelter; he and his wife Sarah went out of their way to make them feel comfortable. He had no reason or ulterior motives in doing so, other than the fact that he wanted to welcome them. [Rabbi Joshua Dorsch]
Abraham set precedent for welcoming strangers Read More »
Jewish ReligionAnd Sarah laughed within herself, saying:… and my master is old (Gen. XVIII, 12); but [when He repeated this] to Abraham, He said: [Sarah said]: And I am old (ib. 13) [Michael Mantell, PhD]
Why God told Abraham a white lie Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Sha’ar Hanegev, the partnership region in Israel of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, has been experiencing a lot of tension, but so far no casualties in the current barrage of rockets being fired at Israel from Gaza. [Donald H. Harrison]
S.D partnership region under rocket attack Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & EducationI Kings covered the history of ancient Judah and Israel from the coronation of King Solomon in 967 BCE through the split of ancient Israel into two nations, Judah and Israel, because King Solomon’s son overtaxed the people as his father did, though the reign of King Jehoshaphat who died in 846 BCE. II Kings resumes the story and tells readers about the twelve kings of the northern kingdom of Israel from 846 BCE, ending in 721/722 BCE when the kingdom was destroyed, and the sixteen kings of the southern kingdom of Judah from 846 BCE until it was destroyed in 587/6 BCE. It describes the kings of the two nations, Judah and Israel, the politics, wars, and a significant problem of the era in both kingdoms, idolatry. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Middle East was politically unstable in biblical times Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East
* San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez predicts “it’s very likely we will be outspent” in the race for the 53rd Congressional District. “Heavily outspent. We won’t have financial support from extremely wealthy donors, nor will we be accepting any corporate PAC checks to this campaign.” While she didn’t name her opponent, it was clear she had in mind Sara Jacobs, granddaughter of Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and daughter Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacob, founders of High-Tech High School. Gary also has served as president of the Lawrence Family JCC and the Jewish Federation of San Diego county. [Donald H. Harrison]
A potpourri of local Jewish-interest news Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, The World We ShareMany people are convinced that Isaac was angry with his father Abraham because he lied to him when he said that the two were going on a trip to offer a sacrifice to God, implying that the sacrifice would be an animal, and that Abraham tied him up on top of a stone altar, planned to kill him, and only stopped when he heard a voice from heaven telling him to desist. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Was Isaac angry that Abraham tried to kill him? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionThe passage I have chosen to explore is offensive to modern sensibilities: Genesis, Ch. 12, vv. 11-13 “As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘I know what a beautiful woman you are. If the Egyptians see you, and think, She is his wife, they will kill me and let you live. Please say that you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may remain alive thanks to you.'” Sarah was carried off by Pharoah’s officials, and placed in his harem. According to the story, she was not violated, because of God’s intervention.
Female beauty: Torah, mythology, and ancient history Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles