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 […]
Stop Burning Masks: Choose Life Over Death Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA
By Fred Reiss, Ed.D WINCHESTER, California – The Book of Genesis is quite clear: God created time during the chaos of creation, measured by the motions of the moon and sun, equivalent to a lunisolar calendar. The Torah refers to days, months, and years quite often, but presents a calendar only once, in parasha Noaḥ,
The Noah Chronicles: Calculating Biblical Times Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg EDISON, New Jersey — I begin with a question that Jews have been asking for millennia. Why do they hate us? This year we saw a surprising rise in anti-Semitic attacks in America—attacks that never happened before on American soil. Rav Moshe Feinstein—the prime decisor of Jewish Law of the
Why Do They Hate Us? Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA
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.
Torah for Children: Yay! We get to do it again Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger, Science, Medicine, & Education
Does this Holiday have Soul (or is that sole) or What?! By Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort CARLSBAD, California — It is time to dig deep into those closets and pull out those old dancing shoes! Simchat Torah is upon us! This holiday epitomizes and serves as the climactic conclusion to the Sukkot Holiday, known as
Simchat Torah: A Time to Dance Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Compiled by Laurie Baron, Ph.D All times Pacific Daylight Time Sunday, October 11 11am Mikhal Dekel, “Tehran Children: A Holocaust Refugee Odyssey,” Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum. Monday, October 12 10 am Elai Rettig, “Israel’s ‘Special Relationship’ with the US,” Israel Center, Washington University. 10 am Eliezer Diamond, “Generosity, Gratitude, and Faith: Rav Eliyahu Dessler’s
Streaming Jewish programs (Oct. 11-16) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — When a gunman attacked Chabad of Poway on the last day of Passover 2019, killing Lori Gilbert-Kaye and wounding three other people, one of the first people too rush to the synagogue and offer comfort was Mayor Steve Vaus of Poway, who is also well-known as a country
SDJW Endorses Steve Vaus for County Supervisor Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — People who pay attention to what they read realize that none of the Jewish holidays are practiced today as
How did the building of sukkot originate? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Shemini Atseret, 8th day of Sukkot, Deuteronomy 14:22-23:44 By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — This essay covers: ancient moneychangers; debt and slavery relief; and dealing with the needy. These readings are part of parasha RE’EH, which was read on the Shabbat of August 15th.. I have, to the extent possible, avoided redundancy to
Moneychangers, debt, slavery, and charity Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A major source of the coronavirus spreading is the ultra-Orthodox or Haredi communities. We don’t know exactly the extent of infections, due perhaps to the reluctance of politicians, health personnel, and the media to publicize it. We do know that it is extensive, a third or more of the total,
The Haredim and coronavirus Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Sheryl Rowling and Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — The news of the tax fraud scheme perpetrated by Chabad of Poway’s Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein has shocked the country. Ancillary questions beyond the income tax fraud have arisen related to: Why was Goldstein permitted to meet with the U.S. president even though the FBI was
Does disgraced rabbi owe $2m in property taxes? Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Sheryl Rowling
Other items in today’s column include *Susan Davis honors Justice Ginsburg in Congressional Record *Jewish organizations By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — It wasn’t all that long ago that the City of San Diego had a City Manager form of government. That meant that the mayor was like a super councilmember, who had a
We endorse Barbara Bry for S.D. Mayor Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
By Marcia Berneger SAN DIEGO — As soon as Yom Kippur ends, preparations begin for a new holiday, for Sukkot is just around the corner. Many synagogues begin to build their sukkah the very next morning. This year, the week-long celebration of Sukkot begins on tonight, (October 2). This is a festive holiday that celebrates
Torah for Children: Sukkot is Here! Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia BernegerBy Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort CARLSBAD, California — This year we have the great privilege of ushering the joyous holiday of Sukkot on the holy Shabbat! It is a double ‘whammy’ of spiritual greatness. Sukkot is the holiday on which we celebrate the Divine Protection enjoyed by the Jewish people during their 40-year sojourn in the
Sukkot – The Time of Our Joy! 5781 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi