Jewish Religion

Book Review: Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel

Click here for related story By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin  BOCA RATON, Florida — Jordan B. Gorfinkel and Erez Zadok’s 2019 Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel, published by Koren Press, will delight parents and children. There are humorous comics explaining the Haggadah and Seder ceremonies in about half of the book’s 170 pages with the chad

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

Superman, Batman and deeper Torah concepts

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Superhero comics have been influenced greatly by Jewish life in the United States and by Torah learning, according to Jordan Gorfinkel, 51, the entertainment entrepreneur who managed the Batman franchise for a decade before creating his own Avalanche Comics Entertainment company. In the sanctuary of Tifereth Israel Synagogue

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Why Was first Passover different from all others?

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida –The Israelites’ first Passover, celebrated in Egypt just prior to the exodus and described in Exodus 12:1-11, was radically different from the Torah mandated holiday observed after the exodus. Exodus 12, which describes the Egyptian ceremony, raises many questions. (1) Why does the Torah command that “this

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food

Book Review: ‘Radical Inclusion’

Radical Inclusion: Engaging Interfaith Families for a Thriving Jewish Future by Edmund Case, © 2019 Center for Radically Inclusive Judaism, ISBN 9781732-938809l, 265 pages, $19.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – If I understand author Edmund Case’s basic premise, it is if people “do Jewish,” then for all practical purposes, they are members of

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion

Book Review: ‘Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentaries’

Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentaries, Genesis 1-21 by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel, First Edition Design Publishing, Inc., Sarasota, FL, © 2016, Published January 2019, ISBN 978-1506-907-16-1, p. 294 plus bibliography and index, $21.95. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel, author of Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentaries, is also the author of a multi-volume

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

Comics’ Gorfinkel to visit Tifereth Israel Synagogue

SAN DIEGO  (Press Release)– Jordan Gorfinkel, a former DC Comics editor who managed the Batman franchise for nearly a decade, will be at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego on Wednesday, April 10, for a free-to-the-public discussion of his work, which includes a newly published The Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel that brings the Exodus experience into

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Should we separate the genders in middle school?

By Rabbi Simcha Weiser SAN DIEGO — Is anyone more motivated than a parent is to make the best choice in guiding their child? You would think not, right?  But in these divisive times, when every viewpoint is instantly categorized as progressive, conservative, religious, racist, …. even when it comes to discharging our parental responsibilities

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Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education

Hillel at Santa Barbara promotes campus harmony

  Story by Donald H. Harrison; site photos by Shor M. Masori ISLA VISTA, California – The news media often finds it easier to focus on bad news than on good news.  Bad news is more dramatic.  It’s easier to tell.  It makes more compelling reading.  Take the weather for instance.  A storm will make

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, USA

Book Review: ‘Gentle Judaic Wisdom’

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel’s book Gentle Judaic Wisdom is a brilliant work, very wise, easy to read, and deceptively simple. The book is filled with quotes that have significant information. It is a rich cornucopia of wisdom quoted from sources such as the Torah, Mishna, Tosephta,

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

Book Review: ‘Mensch-Marks’

Mensch-Marks: Life Lessons of a Human Rabbi by Joshua Hammerman; © 2018 Helth Communications, Inc.; ISBN 9780757-321771; 250 pages plus appendix,  $14.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Rabbi Joshua Hammerman is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El in Stamford, Connecticut, as well as a journalist whose column appeared regularly in the Jewish

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, Travel and Food, USA

Book Review: ‘The Jewish Journey Haggadah’

The Jewish Journey Haggadah: Connecting the Generations by Rabbanit Adena Berkowitz, Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, © 2019, ISBN 978-965-229-912-3, p. 211 plus appendices and bibliography, $29.95. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Over one thousand Haggadot (plural of Haggadah) are listed in Amazon books, covering a wide variety of genres, from traditional to women-centric. Is

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion