Jewish Religion

In Morocco difference is a strength

By Caroline Kirk MARRAKECH, Morocco — This country’s belief in the strength of pluralism has energized me and shown me that difference can serve as a strength for any country, whether it is religious or secular, large or small, developed or developing. I was told that there are spiritual answers to the question, “Why Morocco?”—every […]

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International, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food

Massive tree planting program may save planet

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — It might surprise most people to know that ecological themes form an important part of the Torah and Tanakh. For example: Genesis begins with an important ecological truth: “The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and

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International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, The World We Share, USA

Comparing the biblical and Roman creation stories

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — It is basic psychology that people cannot understand a subject unless they understand its opposite. In fact, this was the first lesson I learnt at Johns Hopkins in my first psychology class. Peter Kamara’s Ancient Roman Mythology contains a description of a Roman creation myth. It is

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International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

The Ramban vs. Maimonides in theological debate

Nachmanides: An Unusual Thinker by Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin, Geffen Publishing House (c) 2018, ISBN 9789652-298874. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most interesting books I have read in years is Rabbi Israel Drazin’s excellent primer on the Ramban, entitled, Nachmanides An Unusual Thinker about a brilliant rabbinic scholar

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

Rabbi/ Cantor Arlene Bernstein’s spiritual journey

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – As Arlene Bernstein became less and less “observant”of halacha in her religious practice, she became more and more deeply involved in Jewish life.  Today she is a cantor as well as a rabbi.  And for the next year, she is serving as the Acting Senior Rabbi of the

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Donald H. Harrison, Eileen Wingard, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

San Diego County celebrates Israel’s day of love

By Donald H. Harrison ENCINITAS, California – Up and down San Diego County, Jewish congregations and organizations are beginning to embrace the celebration of Tu b’Av, a relatively unknown holiday in the United States, but considered to be the equivalent of Valentines Day in Israel.  This secular year, it arrived on the evening of August

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Videos

Weiss propounds ‘Open Orthodoxy’ in new book

Journey to Open Orthodoxy by Avraham “Avi” Weiss, Ktav Publishing and Urim Publishing, New York © 2019, ISBN 978-1-60280-318-3, p. 592, plus appendix and index, $29.95. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Reform Judaism in eighteenth century Germany and Hasidism in the Ukraine in the same century represent the first modern ruptures in traditional Judaism;

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion