By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There are attractions in the Jewish State, but also problems. Given its location and population, no surprise that they are the problems of living with Jews, and Arabs. They aren’t the same problems, and it isn’t obvious which are the most serious, or threatening. Arab citizens are some 20 percent of […]
Israel’s diverse population yields many factions Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastEditor’s Note: Rabbi Marmur wrote the following column just before the Israeli government decided to freeze implementation of egalitarian worship at the Western Wall. By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — I’m a member of the organization of Reform rabbis in Israel, and, together with my wife I belong to two Reform congregations in Jerusalem. I’m,
The fight over religious pluralism in Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastAmichai Lau-Lavie to leave Conservative rabbinic group; seeks new definition for non-Jewish partners. By Gary Rosenblatt If you had to describe Amichai Lau-Lavie’s rationale for breaking ranks with the Conservative movement, as he is about to do, on its prohibition against rabbis performing intermarriages, it might be this: Love trumps tribe. A popular and dynamic
Scion of chief rabbinical family breaks ranks over intermarriage Read More »
Jewish Religion, USACharges cite a 2013 article in which Yosef Elitzur said so-called ‘price tag’ assailants are those ‘who take responsibility for the security of Jews’ By Jacob Magid Rabbi Yosef Elizur (c) speaks with his lawyer in the Rishon Lezion court. August 2010 (Roni Schutzer/Flash90) A settler rabbi who praised and encouraged attacks against Palestinians in
Settler rabbi who praised attacks on Arabs indicted for incitement Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastIvanka Trump, President Donald Trump’s daughter and one of his personal advisers, incorrectly identified Judaism as one of the three largest world religions during her Monday appearance on “Fox & friends.” Read: Ivanka Trump To Appear On ‘Fox & Friends’: What To Expect From Her Interview During her appearance on the cable morning news show,
Ivanka Trump Mistakes Judaism As One of The World’s Largest Religions Read More »
Jewish Religion, USACovenant & Conversation, Numbers: The Wilderness Years, A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Maggid Books and The Orthodox Union, Jerusalem, © 2017, ISBN 978-1-68025-294-1, p. 171, plus glossary, $14.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – World-renown rabbi and scholar Rabbi Jonathan Sacks begins with the assertion that the Book of
Rabbi Sacks essays on the Book of Numbers Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion23-year-old streaker detained by police, to be sent for psychiatric evaluation By Times of Israel staff An Israeli woman streaks at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday, June 11, 2017 (screen capture: YouTube) A woman stripped off her clothes at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday and ran from the women’s section toward
Woman strips naked at Western Wall Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
Unusual Bible Interpretations: Jonah and Amos, by Rabbi Israel Drazin; Gefen Publishing House, 2016; ISBN-10: 9652298859; ISBN-13: 978-9652298850 By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — I would like to begin this book review with a conversation I had with the publisher of San Diego Jewish World, Don Harrison. He asked me whether there was
Was the whale created by Jonah’s subconscious mind? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Joel H. Cohen (A Shavuot highlight is the reading of the Book of Ruth, a remarkable widow who, rather than return to her native Moab and her own family, chose to stay with her mother-in-law and accompany her on her spiritual and physical journey, adopting her people and religion. How Ruth’s family reacted to that
‘Just Kidding:’ If Ruth’s Moabite family wrote to her Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & SatireThe Jewish Calendar: History and Inner Workings by Dr. Fred Reiss; (c) 2017; ISBN 9781544-72382. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The study of the Jewish calendar is not one of the easiest topics to research. It is an area that most rabbis have at best a general knowledge of the history.
How does the Jewish calendar work? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiRamallah – Fatah central committee official Jibril Rajoub’s recent remarks that Jerusalem’s Buraq Wall “must remain under Jewish sovereignty” sparked a wave of criticism among Palestinians. He told Israel’s Channel 2 television that he agrees that the Buraq Wall (Wailing Wall) should remain under Israeli control. US President Donald Trump visited the site, he noted,
Rajoub’s Statements on Buraq Wall Provokes Palestinian Ire Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastLisa Silverstein Tzur Many years ago when I was a student rabbi, our congregation was chosen to receive one of the 1800 Czechoslovakian torah scrolls confiscated by the Nazis during WWII. Decades after the war, one by one, these sifrei torah were redistributed to congregations around the world, and we were ecstatic to accept one
What I learned at Sinai Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — It is traditional to eat dairy products, such as cheesecake and blintzes, on Shavuot. Many reasons have been cited for this custom, including which of the following? A. In the Hebrew tradition of Gematria, where the numerical value of words is considered for interpretation, chalav, meaning milk, has a value
Jewish trivia quiz: Shavuot & Dairy Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Q: Why does it take 10 men for a prayer minyan? A: The custom of the minyan is rabbinic in origin. When examining the minyan’s origins, it is vital we remember that this custom is not something that is etched in stone. However, as a custom,
Ask a Rabbi: Do we need ’10 men’ for a prayer minyan? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi