Following the loss and destruction of the 1st Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 C.E., the rabbis decided the Jewish home should be a Mikdash m’at—a “miniature temple”—a holy space where the Shechina (Gd’s Presence) would live. How does one make a Jewish home? Let me share with you this little piece I found: [Rabbi Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
The Jewish home beautiful Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
The world has a saying, “The devil is in the details.” That is understood to mean that those details that many feel are minutiae, are actually quite important – essential even to achieving success. As Jews we look to the Torah for life-guiding wisdom. In this case we are saying that, “The G-dliness is in the details!” When we are mindful of the fine points of a Torah observant life we will indeed experience incredible blessings. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Blessings for those who do Mitzvot Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
JERUSALEM (Press Release) – Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz, one of the greatest commentators on Judaism of our generation, died Friday in Jerusalem, aged 83, after suffering from acute pneumonia. Rabbi Steinsaltz was born in Jerusalem in 1937. After graduating in chemistry and physics from the Hebrew University, he began his career as an educator and
Adin Steinsaltz, translator of Talmud, other Jewish texts Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials
If everything is good, it is easy to take it for granted that the good will always continue no matter what one does. Moses warns the people to continue following God’s laws. If they stray, if they decide they don’t have to do what the Torah tells them to do, then God will grow angry. Moses reminds them to be thankful and never forget: what God has given them, God can also take away. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah for children: Be thankful Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
Three themes dominate this enjoyable and informative memoir by a South African-born author who lived in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States before settling with her husband and three children in Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jodi Samuels’ memoir: ‘Chutzpah, Wisdom and Wine’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA
A compilation by Laurie Baron, Ph.D., of lectures on a variety of Jewish subjects ranging from music to history to contemporary affairs.
Streaming Jewish Lectures, Aug. 9-13 Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
I have chosen four passages for intended comparison with texts from ancient Israel’s pagan neighbors regarding patience, living on bread alone, giants, and powerless gods. (Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Ancient practices: patience, living on bread alone, giants, powerless gods Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
The Importance of the Community Rabbi: Leading with Compassionate Halachah shows that what is important for rabbis is not encouraging a strict life according to the finer points of Jewish law, but empathy and kind-heartedness. He demonstrates that rabbis need to rethink their method of issuing halachic rulings, and return to the compassionate traditional method of making legal decisions. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The case for compassionate halachah Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Once again, we are hearing more discussion about social distancing. Here is a chapter from my new book, God and the Pandemic, A Judaic Reflection on the Coronavirus. The concept of social-distancing at a time of pandemics is discussed in the Responsa literature. The term “responsa” refers to questions people have asked rabbis for almost 1500 years in matters of Judaic law, traditions, and values. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Social distancing in Jewish law Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education
In his newest book, God and the Pandemic, Rabbi Samuel starts with a historical look at plagues in antiquity, comparing and contrasting leadership skills combating them, praising Marcus Aurelius, a stoic, for guiding his nation through the Antonine Plague in the second century, and condemning Roman emperors in the following century for failing to protect the citizenry during the Plague of Cyprian. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]
Pandemics through history and the religious response Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USAThe Torah states, “You shall do what is fair and good in the eyes of G-d, so that it will be good for you, and you shall come and possess the good land that G-d swore to your forefathers…” (Deut. 6:18). The classic commentary simply explains the words, “fair and good,” as meaning, “compromise and going beyond the letter of the law.” [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
Seeking compromise; going beyond law Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiLaurie Baron, Ph.D., compiles a list of lectures on a variety of Jewish topics that will stream Sunday, August 2 through Friday, August 7
Streaming Jewish lectures: August 2-7, 2020 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAI have chosen four passages for a comparison with texts from ancient Israel’s pagan neighbors, concerning divine wrath, wisdom, divine rescue, and sacred voices. (Irv Jacobs, M.D.)
Ancient practices: divine wrath, rescue, wisdom, sacred voices Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionThere is a very famous, very holy wall in Jerusalem called the Kotel, the Western Wall. It is all that remains of the two great Jewish temples built over 2000 years ago. It is the destruction of those two temples that we remember when we observe the holiday called Tisha B’Av. (Marcia Berneger)
Judaism for children: Tisha B’Av’s lessons Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger