This parasha (Ysav) is largely a redundant version of last week’s reading, organized differently, and to my mind more incoherent. Sacrificial details are re-presented. Nevertheless I have found four useful passages for comparison with ancient pagan practices. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Eternal lights, ostracism, and sacrifices in the ancient world Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
People are queuing to obtain food for themselves and for their pets at a much higher rate than prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Jewish community members who are officers respectively of the Coastal Roots Farm and the San Diego Humane Society. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Food queues for people, pets Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
We were stunned. A seder with just our nuclear family? What does that even look like? It was wonderful. The center of the focus was undeniably and only the children. “Vehigadta l’bincha. – And you shall tell [the Pesach story to] your son.” We finished early, as they fell asleep, and we sang all the lovely fun songs at the end of the Haggadah the next day, at lunch. [Toby Klein Greenwald]
Our special nuclear Pesach seder Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Toby Klein Greenwald
Albert Einstein once observed, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” For several years I’ve been imagineering – well, truth be told, I’m always imagineering – but in particular, I’ve been prying into a vision of I’ve had of a “United Kehilla of San Diego.” Please, no eye rolling, just grow with this. I mean go with this. No, I categorically mean grow with this. I’ll explain. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
A call for a United Kehilla of San Diego Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, San Diego County
The following is part of a chapter from my book Mysteries of Judaism 1 in which I explain that every Jewish holiday, without exception, differs with what the Bible mandates. In fact, several biblical holidays ceased to exist. Passover is one of them. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Our Passover is not the biblical Passover Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionThis week’s parasha, Tzav, is filled with korbans, “offerings,” from burnt ones (“olah”), to thanksgiving ones (“todah”) , to peace ones (“shlamim”), the latter sometimes referred to as “goodwill” or “wellbeing” ones. We surely need peace and wellbeing now in the midst of the “coronapocalypse” we are asked to grow through. So, the timeliness of delving into the laws of the “sacrifice of the shlamim,”are especially timely. Why? Because as we as we learn in Tanchuma Tzav, 10, “Great is the shlamim, for they bring peace between Israel and their Father in Heaven.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
The Torah, quarantines, and wellbeing Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
On the first night of Nissan, we start counting until the moon is full on the fifteenth. This is Seder night, our annual birthday party as a nation. Some 3000 years ago, we were an enslaved people yearning for liberation from a decadent tyrant. Thanks to the genius of the Haggadah, every year we gather to start our calendar anew by retelling the saga of the birth of the unbreakable soul of our nation. [Sam Glaser]
Passover and the five levels of the soul Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Glaser
In ancient times, the rabbis knew much about the excesses of piety. In their effort to promote normalcy in the lives of their followers, the rabbis took a strident position toward those individuals.
The Jerusalem Talmud records a remarkable teaching that could certainly apply to today’s time: [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
The delusions of piety Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
Laurie Baron, PhD, provides a roundup of serious and comedic treatments of Passover that can be watched on home television sets.
Streaming Passover fare for home viewing Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & BroadcastIt is with surprise, one of Israel’s leading Modern Orthodox Rabbis, Kenneth Brander, who is the dean of the Israeli Ohr Torah Stone network of institutions, came out with an unexpected ruling: bodies infected by the coronavirus ought to be cremated in order to save the life of the living. One such person in Buenos Aires was cremated despite protests from his community. This ruling applies only when the government demands that cremations take place for the health of the public. In places like Italy or Britain, the governments there have made an exception to the faith communities. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Cremation, Judaism, and the coronavirus Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Bernie Rhinerson, 69, is seeking a third four-year term on the San Diego Community Colleges Board of Trustees. With the challenges that community colleges will face in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, he said, the board will need a seasoned advocate to make certain there will be sufficient funding from the federal and state governments to provide San Diego students with the classes and support that they need. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
The Jewish candidates: Bernie Rhinerson (S.D. Community College District B) Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
Laurie Baron rounds up national podcasts on Jewish topics for those interested in deepening their education.
There is probably no more meaningful and enjoyable service than the Passover Seder. The word “Seder” means “order.” The Seder service is arranged and celebrated in the Jewish home by the family to teach its participants about the message of the holiday: to recall the Exodus from Egyptian slavery, and recognize the need for freedom for all people from all kinds of enslavements today. Yet, a rather curious ceremony was inserted into the Seder. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Demons and magic in the Passover seder Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionOne of the fascinating aspects of the coronavirus and its impact upon our society is the impact it is having on the religious lives of people across the world. In Israel, the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi asked Jews to stop kissing mezuzahs because of the coronavirus, while a major European rabbinical group published its own directives how to contain the spread of the illness. For those who are unfamiliar with what a mezuzah is, a mezuzah is a small parchment that contains some of the most sacred Jewish prayers, most notably, the Shema. Some Jews are instructed not to touch the mezuzah, or a Torah scroll with their hands. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
The Mezuzah and the Coronavirus Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA