Jewish Religion

Streaming Jewish programs (Oct. 18-23)

Compiled by Laurie Baron, Ph.D SAN DIEGO — All times are Pacific Daylight Time. Sunday, October 18 8 am  Luca Ascoli, “The Jews of Italy,” Sephardic World. 8 am  Yevilah McCoy, “Keynote Address,” Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity Virtual Conference. 8 am Moshe Halbertal and Jonathan Sacks, “Strange New World- Conversations in Times of Crisis- Religious […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Bereishis and Ancient Creation Stories

  By Irv Jacobs, MD LA JOLLA, California —  This essay covers creation stories; rivers in the Eden and pagan stories; and snakes and serpents in mythology. Genesis 1:1-6:8 The creation stories, and Genesis in general, offer a different focus in my year-long project, because they are more legendary than historical in flavor. I have

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Trump and the Rise of U.S. Violence

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Right-wing thugs plotted to kidnap Michigan’s governor while New York authorities walked a tightrope to contain the Covid-19 virus amid Orthodox Jewish protests that escalated to violence. President Trump’s role: He encouraged the revolting antics (conveniently, two meanings in one) of militias and even suggested that New York

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Bruce Ticker, Jewish Religion, USA

Former San Diegan aids Sephardim seeking Spanish citizenship

UPDATE: March 14, 2026 — Nichole Martinez Kruse reports that she has closed the Welcome Home Sefardi business and therefore is no longer offering to facilitate for a fee citizenship applications for Portugal and Spain. — Editor, San Diego Jewish World. By Nichole Martinez Kruse ZARAGOSA, Spain — Throughout my life, I was drawn to

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County

Sephardic rabbi says youths attacked him

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Sephardic Rabbi Yonatan Halevy of Kehillat Shaar Hashamayin (Community of the Gates of Heaven)  has told police that he was attacked by teenagers during the Sukkot holiday last Saturday as he walked with his father Shalom Halevy, a stroke victim, near his congregation at 3232 Governor Drive, Suite

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Jewish trivia quiz: Birkat Kohanim

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — On the Jewish festival holidays, and additionally in some communities on Shabbat, the Birkat Kohanim–the Priestly Blessing–is traditionally offered as part of the Musaf service, the additional service that follows the Torah reading. But on Simchat Torah, which we just celebrated, the Birkat Kohanim is traditionally offered

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Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman

Stop Burning Masks: Choose Life Over Death

By Rabbi Benjamin Herman MIAMI, Florida — In seeing footage of members of the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn publicly burning masks has filled me with outrage and disgust. I recognize that this came in reaction to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s increasing restrictions largely affecting Orthodox Jewish communities where COVID is spreading like wildfire. Yet I

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA

Torah for Children: Yay! We get to do it again

By Marcia Berneger SAN DIEGO — Simchat Torah is almost here! This Saturday evening we begin the celebration of Simchat Torah. This is a joyous holiday that celebrates the reading of the very last words of the Torah. But the Torah is like a never-ending circle. Once we finish reading it, we immediately begin again.

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Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger, Science, Medicine, & Education