Jewish Religion

Blessings and Pats on Their Heads

Not only humans gathered around computer screens, but animals too, for Internet Shabbat services Friday night conducted by Rabbi/ Cantor Cheri Weiss of the San Diego Outreach Synagogue.  This Shabbat, Jews around the world read Parshat Noach — the story of Noah’s Ark — and the rabbi figured it would be the perfect occasion to recite a “Blessing of the Animals” composed by Rabbi Jonathan Aaron of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, California. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, USA

Judaism’s response to Covid19

More than 220,000 Americans have died of Covid19. One of them was Steve Silverman, 71, my college roommate and friend for 55 years. An active sportsman, a successful and compassionate doctor, he had suffered for three weeks, alone and hooked up to a respirator. His wife, two grown children, grandchildren and friends “attended” the funeral and shiva on Zoom. [Michael Ginsberg]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Ginsberg

A Word of Torah: Noah’s Flood

By the time ten generations had passed Noah lived in a world where people were constantly at each other’s throats. Raping, pillaging, murder were all abundantly prevalent. The profound immorality had even penetrated the animal kingdom, where there were ubiquitous instances of cross-species breeding, something which goes against nature itself.
Noah and his clan were different. The Torah attests that he was a Tzaddik / a saintly person in his generation. They stood on an island of virtue in a sea of depravity. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Humor, song lyrics, and Jewish practice

Sam Glaser’s The Joy of Judaism contains 407 pages of very interesting insights into Jewish practices offered to readers by a very accomplished communicator in a clear, often humorous, always insightful and inspiring way. Glaser’s book covers virtually all aspects of Judaism. He shows readers how they can enjoy Jewish practices. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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

Torah for Children: Be a Friend

This week’s Parshah has two stories. The first is the story of Noah and the big flood. God tells Noah of the plan to “put an end to all flesh” because the earth is filled with lawlessness. God instructs Noah to build an ark and bring aboard his family and two of every animal on Earth, plus enough food to feed everyone. You’re probably familiar with the story. [Marcia Berneger]

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Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger

Ancient Flood Stories and The Tower of Babel

There are over 500 collected non-Biblical flood stories from around the globe. The most famous is contained within the epic legend of Gilgamesh. He may have actually been a historical person, a wise Sumerian king on an adventure to win fame. He encountered Utnapishtim, the actual flood figure, who survived in a vessel, a Great Deluge that destroyed mankind. Gilgamesh learned the details from Utnapishtim. [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and Food

Kids Team as Hanukkah Detectives in this Internet Production

Hanukkah is coming! Here is a wonderful entertainment opportunity for kids ages 6-12 that incorporates the Hanukkah story into a fun mystery they can solve at home. Becky Cherlin Baird is the founding Artistic Director for the J’Company Youth Theatre at the Lawrence Family JCC. She is the proud owner of Kids on Stage Productions and has worked in a variety of Broadway productions, including Fiddler on the Roof. [Marcia Berneger]

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Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Two Jewish tales to read to your youngsters

With illustrations accurately depicting life as it was in the 1880s, this is the tale of Nate, a king-size, gentle spirit who loves helping people.  His magic can stretch a small lump of chocolate big enough for an entire family or a small jar of oil long enough to last eight days. He takes a special liking to the Glaser family as they journey from Europe in the late 1870s and follows them as they work side by side with their neighbors, the O’Malleys in their new American life. [Marcia Bernegere]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Fiction, Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger

A Word of Torah: A New Beginning, Again

Adam and Eve were very special souls, created from the earth by the ‘hands’ of the Almighty. They were infused with the Divine Spirit as, ‘G-d blew into his nostrils a living soul,’ and from Adam fashioned Eve. G-d created the first humans in His ‘image,’ which means they were endowed with a G-dly spark to serve as their soul and the great gift of free choice. It is only by virtue of the fact that we have free choice that we are able to refine and uplift the world in a way that nothing else can. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi