Some Jewish film festivals that were scheduled during the pandemic are streaming their films for the price of a ticket. Others are streaming films they’ve shown in the past or interviews with filmmakers and lectures. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Film Festivals Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
This week we are again treated to a double portion, Behar-Bechukotai, which translate as “On the Mountain (Sinai),” and, “In My Statutes”. The first portion goes into great detail concerning the Mitzvot of Shmittah / the Sabbatical year and Yovel / the Jubilee year. Every seven years the fields in Israel must lie fallow. Farmers are ‘freed’ from working the land and even the beasts of burden are allowed to rest. The land itself rests and its nutrients are allowed to be naturally replenished. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Looking heavenward and earthward Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Chag Sameach! Happy Holiday! This week’s Lag BaOmer was a day on fire. This is historically the day to signal triumph over oppression, and to drive away a deadly plague. A Lag BaOmer Kumzits, a Yiddish loanword, is a traditional musical gathering, usually by a campfire, meaning come (kum) sit (zit). So come sit, and enjoy Moshav Band’s Lag BaOmer Facebook watch party: [Omer Zalmanowitz]
Music review: Moshav Kumzits: The Light of Rabbi Shimon Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Dr. Irv Jacobs scours the Internet to find parallels and contrasts between biblical ideas and those of the pagan world on such subjects as leaving land fallow every seven years, duties of slaveholders to their slaves, and the concept of divine rewards and punishment.
Ancient ideas: agriculture, slavery, divine punishment Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish ReligionProf. Laurie Baron, Ph.D., rounds up streaming Jewish content from a variety of sources for those who wish to deepen their Jewish educations.
Streaming Jewish content this coming week Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
Editor’s Note: Parsha Behar (Leviticus 25:1-26:2) will be read in synagogues around the world on Saturday, May 16. Poet Jeremy Friedman notes its special significance in this time of the coronavirus pandemic. By Jeremy Friedman Parsha Behar tells of the Sabbatical year – the Shmita, when work ceases for people and beasts Not something we
The Rest of Ourselves Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion
As this third book of the Torah, the middle book, comes to an end, we are given nechemta, with a hopeful view of future generations. The parasha tells us, “If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them, I will give you rains in their time, the Land will yield its produce, and the tree of the field will give forth its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage…and I will grant peace in the Land…You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you…” (Leviticus, 26:3-7). A lovely thought, a tranquil image, comforting indeed. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Keeping faith amid the turmoil Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
But how do you celebrate such a festive occasion when the plague of our own era demands that we distance ourselves from one another and avoid gatherings? Make it a drive-through. Welcome to the Lag Ba’Omer Drive Thru Circus Experience. Chabad Hebrew Academy located along Pomerado Road in Scripps Ranch set up multiple stages in their parking lot. Festival patrons slowly drove through in their cars. They were greeted by arches of red and yellow balloons (representing flames) Chasidic music, stilt-walkers, unicyclists, acrobats, jugglers, hula hoops, puppets and clowns. [Eric George Tauber]
Celebrating safely at a drive-thru circus Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Epicurus was not as bad as he is portrayed. Judaism describes a non-believer in God as an Apicorus, a name most likely derived from the Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BCE), as Professor Marcus Jastrow states in his famed Dictionary, although Maimonides in his essay “Chelek” states it is an Aramaic word. The rabbis thought that Epicurus denied the existence of God and was a hedonist who stressed that people should pursue happiness. According to the Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin chapter 10, an Apicorus would have no life after death. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
In defense of Epicurus Read More »
International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
My wife, the former Nancy Zeiden, having a last name that started with “Z,” typically found herself at the end of the line, or the person whose name was printed last or near last in any program. This being mother’s day, I thought I’d correct this alphabetical injustice for anyone who has found herself in the same situation. Therefore, we are running our Mother’s Day salute in reverse alphabetical order! We start with Shelley Zimmerman’s mother, Elaine Zimmerman… [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
We celebrate our Jewish mothers! Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Eric George Tauber, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, USAQ: Why do we need to use a Siddur (prayer book) to pray? Why can’t I simply share with G-d my personal feelings, wants, and needs? Why would someone think that the men who wrote the prayer book a couple of thousand years ago would have a better approach for me to reach G-d than I would myself? [Ask the Rabbi column by Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
Ask the Rabbi: Why do we need prayer books? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbihank G-D for music. The miracle of splitting of the Red Sea is done to the sound of music, as the Hebrews are all in song, following the lead of Miriam in Shirat Hayam–the Song of the Sea. The fall of the walls of Jericho is done to the sound of trumpet. David plays the lyre. The entirety of the Psalms–Tehillim–are under the direction of a choirmaster/conductor. [Omer Zalmanowitz]
Five women cantors celebrate Shabbat Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsThe beginning of this week’s portion deals with many of the laws directed to the Priestly class, known in Hebrew as Kohanim. The verbiage in the first passage is unique, which means it has profound lessons for all of us. The passage says multiple times to transmit information through ‘saying’ it to others. This, in and of itself, is not so unusual, but the words used Emor and Vi’Amarta, typifies a specific type of articulation. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Differences in how we say things Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiI have chosen three passages from Leviticus 21-24 for comparison with ancient paganism, from internet sources. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Priestly duties, animal sacrifice, blasphemy in ancient societies Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion