Jewish Religion

Torah for Children: Yom Kippur, a Time to Reflect

Yom Kippur begins on Sunday evening. It is considered to be the most holy day of the Jewish year. It is the only holiday even more special than Shabbat. But what makes this one day so important? It is a day devoted to thinking; thinking about yourself, thinking about your friends and family, about the world, and about God. It is finding out how you fit in and what you can do to make this world a better place for everyone. [Marcia Berneger]

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Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger

SDJW Endorses Sean Elo-Rivera for City Council District 9

Conflict of interest allegations and failure to report contributions in a timely manner militate against Barrios’ candidacy.  He needs to get his own house in order before he can become a steward of the people’s. Luckily for the voters, Sean Elo-Rivera, a trustee of the San Diego Community College District, is also a candidate in the 9th Council District, which Gomez is vacating to run for Congress.  [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

A Word of Torah: A Poem to Memorize

This Shabbos we read the portion titled Ha’azinu which means to hearken. The portion is primarily a warning of the consequences of disloyalty and betrayal. If the Jewish people will make poor choices, G-d forbid, there will be consequences – sometimes very harsh. Moshe imparted these words of wisdom in a poetical form. This particular song is written in a unique style within the Torah scroll, with each column split signifying that is a song or poem. Speaking of unique, in general we do not commit to memory the exact wording of the Torah, and if we do know it by heart we do not recite the words by heart. This portion we specifically do try to commit to memory so that we can recite it by heart. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

GI Film Festival spotlights a Jewish violinist

When Enlisted Man Stuart Canin boarded a  European-bound U.S. Army transport ship near the end of World War II, he carried with him his barracks bag, rifle, and a violin. Challenged by an officer about what he thought he’d need a violin for, Canin, then a teenager, replied “You Never Know.” He was so right. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County.”

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Melanie Rubin, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

A Torah song of privilege and poverty

What’s with Moshe and his songs? We’re familiar with the “Song of the Sea,” יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ אָ֣ז, in Exodus where we sing of praise for the miraculous redemption following the crossing of the sea while Ha’azinu  הַאֲזִינוּ — “listen” – teaches us in a dramatic artistic way something more broadly about the important role of our attitude in life. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

The evolution of sacrifices

With Yom Kippur upon us, it is the time when most people reflect on all the wrong they have done and seek forgiveness. It is customary for people to call or send letters of apology to others. In ancient times, Yom Kippur was accompanied by ritual animal sacrifice, rest from work, and fasting (see Leviticus 16 and 23). This was first done in the wilderness with Moses and his tabernacle, then later at the First and Second Temples. [Teresa Konopka]

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Jewish Religion, Teresa_Konopka

Study underway of S.D.’s South African Jews

The South African Jewish American Community, better known as SAJAC, has issued its annual magazine for 2020, reporting that San Diego State University Prof. David B. Cline is conducting oral history interviews with community members. The magazine’s writers also offer suggestions on coping with COVID19, and Alzheimer’s Disease, and additionally they profile young entrepreneurs, visual artists, and poets, among other articles. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, San Diego County

Let go and Let God

People are worried about jobs, rallies, protests and yes riots. The real question now: is it more important to open up the world than to live? Is it worth partying on the beach, drinking alcohol en masse at a bar or living for a future time? Young people are dying and many are killing their parents by bringing the virus in their homes. Wake up. It is your life. Do not take it for granted. And this advice applies to people of all faiths. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]

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Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Jewish Religion

High Holidays: Why Are We Here?

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are truly portals to newness. I’ve heard “you never get a second chance to make a first impression,” but God gives us that very gift during these holidays. We have a completely fresh opportunity to be the people we want to be. The Talmud illustrates that free will only exists in the present. We are judged where we stand at any given moment. On Rosh Hashana, we can establish a radical new direction, regardless of previous transgressions. This opportunity to become new again isn’t just semantics. Our cells are continuously regenerating. We know change is possible because we have changed as a result of our deepest experiences, both triumphant and traumatic. [Sam Glaser]

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Jewish Religion, Sam Glaser

Three Jewish women in competitive local races

Three Jewish women are in highly competitive races for spots in Congress, Mayor of San Diego, and the County Board of Supervisors. Respectively, they are are Sara Jacobs (53rd Congressional District); City Councilwoman Barbara Bry (Mayor of San Diego), and Terra Lawson-Remer (3rd District County Board of Supervisors. Here’s a look at the recent news being made by them and their opponents, respectively Georgette Gomez, Todd Gloria, and Kristin Gaspar. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Dorian de Wind, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

A book filled with knowledge

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks is a world-wide respected religious leader, the former chief rabbi of the English Commonwealth, the author of more than thirty books, and the winner of numerous prizes. His new book Judaism’s Life-Changing Ideas,” with a Foreword ‘”The Secret of Our Staying Power” by Bari Weiss, the award-winning author and op-ed editor and writer of the New York Times, introduces readers to a life-changing Jewish idea from each of the more than fifty weekly biblical portions. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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

Covid19, Jewish divisions: somber prospects for 5781

We are about to celebrate the Jewish New Year, a Rosh Hashanah like no other. Synagogues across America and the world are adjusting their services to the Covid-19 restrictions limiting physical gatherings. Besides the loss of lives, individual members and entire congregations have been deeply affected by the pandemic’s economic blows, wreaking havoc in rippling waves, which have fueled anti-Semites to blame Jews for the creation and spread of the virus. A somber future looks like the most realistic scenario, but this can definitely be changed if only we will see our fate as a single, seamlessly-shared project. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles