This essay covers ancient stories of murder of a sibling; pagan stories of widows acting as whores; pagan stories of married society women seducing outsider men. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Torah (Va-Yeshev) Compared to Ancient Practices Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
It’s Hanukah! Time to celebrate! Spin the dreidel, light the menorah, fry the latkes, and don’t forget the presents. These are all Hanukah traditions. But what is the real reason we celebrate? [Marcia Berneger]
Hanukah for Children: The Reason for the Holiday Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia BernegerParashah Vayeshev is the story of Joseph, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. Jacob loved Joseph and favored him over his other sons. He even gave Joseph a beautiful coat, often called the Coat of Many Colors, or even the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Joseph wore his coat all the time and his brothers got very jealous. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah for Children: Making a Bad Situation Better Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
The idea of a Holocaust Haggadah is fabulous; we have a Tu’B’ Shevat Seder Haggadah, why not one on the Holocaust—especially since Yom HaShoah occurs within a week after Passover ends? Historically, the Passover Haggadah provided a practical template how to convey the meaning of Passover; Rabbi Rosenberg’s Holocaust Haggadah aims to create a practical syllabus on how to make the Holocaust relevant to the themes of Passover and redemption. For the children of Holocaust survivors (like myself), we must find new and creative ways to preserve the sacredness of Jewish memory. This is similar to the way the retelling of Passover serves to challenge new generations with the seminal thoughts since the time when the traditional observance of Passover ceased with the destruction of the Temple. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
A Holocaust Haggadah To Help Preserve Memory Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
As we here in San Diego face a new set of lockdowns, many continue wondering, okay, complaining, about the decisions of those who are “in charge.” This week’s Torah reading answers the question of who is in charge quite clearly. Just when we think all is well with our health, in our family, with our career, in our lives, G-d shows us He has another lesson for us to learn. It seems the only thing predictable about life is how unpredictable it can be. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Joseph learned Who really is in charge Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
In their efforts to bring meaningful and uplifting Chanukah events to the Jewish community the 25+ Chabad Centers throughout San Diego County have joined together to host the first ever Drive-In Chanukah Concert at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The featured entertainer is Israeli superstar Gad Elbaz, who is known for his high energy and powerful voice! The opening act will feature Rabbi Yossi Rodal, himself a local Chabad rabbi and Director of Chabad of Carlsbad-North. [Press Release]
Drive-in Chanukah Concert Dec. 14 at Del Mar Fairgrounds Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
What are we created for? What is our destination? What is the destination of this endlessly-large and incomprehensible universe? These are centuries-old questions which come to the mind of every thinking human being. The Torah tells us: “To glorify Gd!” But other purposes for which everything was created, and the final destination of humanity and the universe in general, are known only to Gd. We humans can only come up with some guesses and assumptions based on our experience and observations. [Arkady Mamaysky]
Debating Life’s True Meaning Read More »
Arkady Mamaysky, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
Many Jews, even those who do not observe any Jewish practice other than Yom Kippur and Passover, observe Hanukah, mostly because their children want gifts, but they have wrong ideas about the history relating to the holiday. Even most observant Jews have wrong ideas, as do many non-Jews. The late Dr. Howard Rubenstein of San Diego published a fascinating book about the history of Hanukah called Maccabee: An Epic in Free Verse. Based upon the Books of Maccabees. The book is very readable. One should not be turned off by the words “free verse.” In fact, Rubenstein’s free verse is easier to read than the average novel written for the general population, and is more interesting. I recommend the book. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Some little known facts about Hanukah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionThe Torah portion read earlier today in synagogues was Vayishlach. Jacob wants to meet with his brother Esau. But Jacob fled from his home years ago to keep away from Esau. Jacob tricked his father into giving him the blessing his brother was supposed to receive. He stayed away because he knew how mad Esau was. But now, Jacob sends many cows, donkeys and sheep to his brother, hoping to make up for what he did. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah for Children: Better Now than Later Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
Following are streaming Jewish programs of academic and general interest from Sunday, Dec. 6, through Friday, Dec. 11. All times are Pacific Standard Time. (Laurie Baron, Ph.D)
Streaming Jewish Programs (Dec. 6-12, 2020) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
President Donald Trump speaks during a Hanukkah reception at the White House in 2019. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta President Trump’s plan of holding an in-person Hanukkah reception at the White House on Dec. 9, despite concerns over the coronavirus, is getting much attention on social media. Some asked whether anyone would be reckless enough to
How Hanukkah came to be an annual White House celebration Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
This week we read of the brotherly reunion of Yaakov and Esav after their long separation. As a brief reminder Yaakov (Jacob) hurriedly left the house of his righteous parents Yitzchak (Isaac) and Rivka (Rebecca) due to the homicidal rage of his (evil) twin Esav who wanted to murder him. Why did Esav want to murder his twin brother? He was enraged that Yaakov, through stealthy means, acquired his father’s blessing instead of him. Ultimately, everyone agreed-including Esav himself-with Rivka’s assessment that the potent blessing would find an appropriate vessel within Yaakov rather than Esav. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Appeasing Evil? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
It all comes down to “promote the general welfare” vs. “the free exercise…of religion.”
On Nov. 8, Satmar Grand Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum more than freely exercised his religious traditions by hosting a family wedding in Brooklyn reportedly attended by 7,000 guests at a time when coronavirus cases persisted at high levels of infection. On Nov. 23. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio promoted the general welfare by socking the organizers with a laughable $15,000 fine. On Nov. 26, our dysfunctional Supreme Court stamped a final judgment on a synagogue attendance case – rooted in Brooklyn – prioritizing “the free exercise…of religion” over “the general welfare.” [Bruce S. Ticcker]
Free Exercise of Religion vs. Promoting the General Welfare Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USAThis essay covers: Jacob’s anxious strategy for meeting Esau after 20+ years; Jacob’s wrestling with an ‘angel’; the circumcision and double-dealing against the Schechemites by Jacob’s sons. I have chosen three passages, for comparison, via the Internet, with writings attributed to ancient Israel’s neighbors. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Comparing Torah (VaYishlah) with Ancient Practices Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion