Jewish Religion

A Word of Torah: Strong women of Judaism

This week when thinking about these catastrophes I couldn’t help but think about the triumph of one particular segment of the Jewish people; Jewish women. The major failures that come to mind include the story of the Golden Calf, the Spies, the Rebellion of Korach and his cohorts, and consorting with the Midianites. The lack of participation by the Jewish women is in stark contrast to their Jewish brethren. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Why the great Talmudists valued contrary opinions

The Talmud has always been a champion of free speech. It is a unique document of human history where rabbis engage philosophers, wise women, emperors, Roman centurions, and a host of other people as they debate the meaning of life and the message of Judaism. Rabbinical discourse is dialectical. It presents a no-hold-bars approach to virtually any topic, from war and peace to the laws governing sexual relations. But be forewarned: the Talmud is not for the faint of heart. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

Torah for children: Pinchas

This week’s Torah Parasha, Pinchas, is all about family. We’ll start with a quick history lesson. In the first book of the Torah, we’re introduced to the families of several important people: 1) Abraham and his wife, Sarah, 2) their son, Isaac, who marries Rebecca, and 3) Isaac’s son Jacob. Jacob marries two women, which was okay back then, and winds up with twelve sons (and a daughter). It is the families of those twelve sons who appear, many years later, in this week’s reading. God is about to divide up the land among these different families. Moses is told to make a list of the different members of each family. This is such an important idea, that this entire parasha is mainly a listing of those names. (Marcia Berneger)

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Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger

Moses knew how to relinquish leadership

There’s a Jewish maxim, “Every generation receives the leader it deserves.” Parasha Pinchas seems to provide a foundation for this old adage. The parasha distinguishes between the leadership of Moses, who in today’s language would be described as a wise, dauntless, self-aware, “we” not “me,” conscious leader, and Joshua, of whom the Talmud, in Baba Batra 75A, says, “The Elders of that generation said: The countenance of Moses was like that of the sun; the countenance of Joshua like that of the moon. Alas, for such shame!” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Deuteronomy, midrashim, and current police practices

In one of its first San Diego presentations, Avodah held a webinar on Tuesday, July 7, on the issue of police accountability. Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein, director of the Justice Fellowship in Avodah’s Chicago offices, began by quoting Deuteronomy 16:18-20: [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Local Jewish agencies, synagogues set web lectures

A full schedule of local lectures and seminars is being offered this week on Zoom or Facebook, thereby providing some Jewish-themed diversion and learning for those who are sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

What is the Book of Esther really about?

Maggid Books has just published an excellent comprehensive 493-page study of the biblical Book of Esther called Esther: Power, Fate, and Fragility in Exile by Erica Brown, Ph.D, an award-winning author of many books, lecturer, and Jewish teacher. Brown tells readers exactly what the Bible text is saying, not what people read into it. She does so in clear, easy to read language. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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

Six valorous Jewish women of San Diego

When it comes to the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival, not even COVID19 can stand up to the chutzpah, commitment and ingenuity of Associate Producer Ali Viterbi and co-writers Leah Salovey, Sarah Price Keating and Becca Myers, Associate Producer of JFest, as they bring us the 11th annual “Women of Valor.”  This virtual show is a tribute to our local women, some unsung and others, banner-waving, who have created a more humane, compassionate, and impactful Jewish San Diego.  [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

A Word of Torah: Three kinds of commandments

We are taught that there are three categories of commandments; Judgments, Testimonials, and Decrees. Judgments are the commandments that we understand on our own that they need to be done. For instance, we realize the importance of having fair weights and measures, or of making sure our property doesn’t damage another, or that we should return lost objects. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi