Jewish Religion

San Diego races attract big-name endorsers

With less than two months to go until election, Democratic candidates in technically non-partisan local races are touting endorsements from big-name Democrats. For example, Assemblyman Todd Gloria, who is running for mayor of San Diego against City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, is sending out a short video showing U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for vice president, endorsing him. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

A Word of Torah: The first fruit of the Almighty

This week we read the portion titled ‘Ki Tavo’, which means ‘When you will come (into the Holy Land). The beginning of the portion details the laws of the Bikurim – the First Fruits. The Jewish people were commanded to bring a yearly first fruit offering in the Holy Temple. In fact, the Jewish people are called the first fruit of the Almighty. Why? [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Jewish Teen Foundation invites high schoolers to apply

The Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF) is recruiting San Diego County Jewish high school students to learn about philanthropy, tikkun olam, and tzedakah. Under auspices of the Jewish Community Foundation, “teens will learn grant making, collaboration, public speaking, and constructive discourse skills while building their own personal networks,” according to a JTF news release. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”

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

Streaming Jewish Programs (Sept. 6-11)          

Laurie Baron, Ph.D, rounds up streaming programs of Jewish interest for scholars and lay people, from Sunday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Sept. 11

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA

Father-son reflections before the High Holy Days

If we want to keep Yiddishkeit alive, if we want to make Bubbie and Zeide in heaven shep nachas and be proud, if we want to feel the Presence of Gd in our lives and know Gd has our back, then we must show some enthusiasm about Gd and Jewish life. I would like to read to you a series of email letters that a father from Atlanta, writes to his son in Los Angeles that brilliantly illustrates this. Let me first tell you that the letters are a complete figment of my imagination, yet I see much of myself in them. Maybe you too, will see reflections of your own life in these very private and intimate letters. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]

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Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Jewish Religion

A High Holy Day guide for children

Rosh Hashanah and Yon Kippur are almost here. This year’s celebration will definitely be different from those of past years. There will be services to be watched from the safety of our homes, both for adults and for kids. But how will children be involved by watching without interacting? PJ Library has come up with the perfect solution. They have assembled a fifty-page packet of information, crafts, recipes and conversation starters to engage children of all ages and encourage interaction between all family members. [Marcia Berneger]

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

Doing mitzvot with joy or with oy?

Couldn’t we all use some genuine happiness about now? This week’s parasha may be just the thing that can bring it. Do you encounter your Judaism as a “get to” or a “have to” experience? This week’s Torah reading, Ki Tavo, asks us to consider how we serve Hashem, with joy…or with oy,“…because you did not serve the Lord, your God, with happiness and with gladness of heart, when [you had an] abundance of everything…you will serve your enemies.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Jewish Legislative Caucus amends Ethnic Studies bill

The State Legislature on Monday gave final approval to a bill requiring that ethnic studies be made a requirement for graduation from California high school.  Members of the Legislative Jewish Caucus sent out a news release seeking to allay fears expressed in the Jewish community that the content of those courses might include anti-Israel or anti-Semitic material. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Israel muddled by coronavirus, school openings, High Holidays

School, High Holidays, travel to Uman. They are all problematic, and causing squabbles for us, as well as the government of Ukraine with its Jewish President. Most immediate is the opening of school, set for today. Until now we’ve been wondering about a teachers strike, the prospect of paying an extra several thousand teachers and aides to allow smaller classes, and how the various grades will be treated with respect to masks, teaching in class or from home, as well as the thousands of students still without computers or internet connections that would allow some kind of distant learning. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Torah for Children: Return lost objects

An important part of this parashah are rules to follow when you find something that belongs to someone else. If you find an animal that has wandered away from its home, the Torah says you must return it. If you don’t know to whom it belongs, you can keep it until the owner claims it and then you must give it back. The Torah says “…and so too shall you do with anything your fellow loses and you find.” [Marcia Berneger]

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Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger