By Rabbi Joshua Dorsch SAN DIEGO — In our Torah portion this week, Pinchas, we read about the daughters of Tzlafchad. Tzlafchad had no sons, only daughters. According to biblical law, only sons could inherit from their fathers, which would have left his daughters with nothing. So they petitioned Moses for the rights to their […]
Weekly Torah portion: Pinchas Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyProclaim Liberty Throughout the Land, The Hebrew Bible in the United States: A Sourcebook by M. Y. Soloveichik, M. Holbreich, J. Silver, and S. W. Halpern, editors, The Toby Press, New Milford CT, © 2019, ISBN 978-1-59264-465-0, p. 344, $29.95. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Historians generally acknowledge the importance of the Protestant pulpit
How the Bible has been used in U.S. history Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — One of the fundamental principles of Orthodox Judaism is the belief that there is a Written and an Oral Torah, both of which were revealed by God to Moses. Quite a few Orthodox rabbis declare that if a Jew does not accept this teaching, the Jew is not
A novel opinion about the Oral Torah Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionPinhas Numbers: Chapter 25, verse 10 through Chapter 30, verse 1 By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — This week I focus on the episode of the five daughters of their deceased father Zelophehad, who had no son to inherit his lands. (Numbers, Chapter 27, vv.1-7) The prevailing policy was that inheritance of land
Notes on Torah reading for July 27, 2019 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — God is described in the Bible as Y-h-v-h, which is called “the
The meanings of the names we associate with God Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Joshua Dorsch SAN DIEGO — This week, in Parashat Balak, Bilam is sent by the Moabite King Balak to curse the Israelites. After a series of rather peculiar events, instead of cursing them, Bilam offers the Israelite camp what traditional biblical commentators consider to be a blessing. He says “How goodly are your
Weekly Torah portion: Balak Read More »
Jewish ReligionNumbers: Chapter 22, v. 2 through Chapter 25, v.9 (Balak) By Irvin H. Jacobs, MD, MPH, MFA LA JOLLA, California — The gist of this parsha is a story of an intended curse of the approaching Israelites by a fearful pagan ruler, through a seer named Balaam. (f1) Though there are lessons to be learned,
Notes on Torah reading for July 20, 2019 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin
Jewish views of Satan and demons Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Joshua Dorsch SAN DIEGO — This Shabbat, Tifereth Israel will be marching in the San Diego Pride Parade. Together, we will celebrate and support the LGBTQ community and our society’s journey towards equality and acceptance, both legally, as well as in all of our hearts and minds. Over the years there has been
Taking part in the Pride parade Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego CalendarHukkat (Numbers: Chapters 19-21, v.1) By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California —Commentators loved to comment on and justify the laws in the Torah. In most cases, they reasonably understood the logic of individual laws, as they made sense. However there are some laws that defy logic. Though the rabbis attempted explanations, they eventually threw
Notes on Torah reading for July 13 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The “Yeshiva world,” is comprised for the most part of schools where far-right rabbis teach Jewish students their view of Judaism, a religion that rejects secular studies as harmful and heretical. Many far-right rabbis respect Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, his code of Jewish laws, but not his
How later rabbis distorted the Rambam’s teachings Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA
The myths behind Judaism’s summer fasts Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — The search for a new senior rabbi will be a principal topic for Congregation Beth Israel’s new president, Kimberly Carnot, when she addresses the Beth Israel Men’s Club at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 17. Rabbi Michael Berk retired at the end of the fiscal year, a day before Carnot took
Beth Israel’s search for a rabbi to be July 17 topic Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego CountySAN DIEGO — Here is a collection of songs recorded by Cantor Sheldon Merel during his tenure as cantor at Congregation Beth Israel. Click on any title to hear Cantor Merel’s recorded rendition. In some cases, the songs are accompanied by an explanatory article indicated by a date alongside. Adon Olam Adon Olam, Jazz Version
Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel’s shares his songs Read More »
Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County