CHURACHANDPUR, India (Press Release) – The Bnei Menashe community throughout the remote northeastern Indian state of Manipur today began preparing for Passover – including by baking matzah, the holiday’s traditional unleavened bread – at the Shavei Israel Hebrew Center in Churachandpur. “The experience of seeing the entire community kneading, rolling, and then baking the dough – all […]
Love Yourself as You Would Your Neighbor! By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — The momentous occasion had arrived. After months of dedicated and selfless work, the Mishkan (the portable tabernacle) was completed and assembled. Moshe and all the people stood in awe and trepidation as they watched G-d’s glory descend and rest upon the
Weekly Torah portion: Vayikra Read More »
Jewish ReligionJERUSALEM, March 29, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews gathered yesterday (Tuesday) to protest Israel’s Military Draft Law, resulting in the forced enlistment of many Orthodox Jews. The protestors also decried Israel’s brutal tactics to crack down peaceful protestors. The demonstration was organized by the Edah HaChareidis – a Rabbinic umbrella association
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Jewish Religion, Middle EastRedemption, Then and Now: Pesaḥ Haggada with Essays and Commentary by Rabbi Benjamin Blech; Menorah Books, Jerusalem, © 2017, ISBN 978-1-940516-73-8, p. 310, $24.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Considering the long arc of Jewish history, the Haggada, a book containing the Passover Seder, the traditional ordered meal recreating God’s redemptive acts through the
A haggada for those who want more Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish ReligionErik Ross As noted in my last post, Christians are in the midst of Lent — the annual 40-day season of penance in preparation for Easter. We focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In Poland as in Jerusalem, we meditate with special attention on the mystery and the scandal of the Cross. In song and
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Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — Moshe faced a monumental and daunting task: the building of the Mishkan (the portable tabernacle). Enormous amounts of gold, silver, and bronze had to be procured and fashioned. Many varieties of dyed wool, linen, goat hair and ram skins needed to be processed according to complicated and intricate
Weekly Torah portion: Vayakhel Read More »
Jewish ReligionHistoric Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia vandalized This new wave of anti-Semitism, delivered via bomb threats, cemetery vandalisms, swastika desecrations, and specific acts of violence, reawakens an old and bittersweet mantra in every Jewish soul: we are as vulnerable as we are enduring. I remember: somebody once wrote me a nasty letter after something I circulated
“Yes, call me a Jew” Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish ReligionLOS ANGELES (Press Release) — — A new Passover Haggadah is being distributed by StandWithUs, an international Israel education organization, that emphasizes not only the themes of slavery and freedom but also underscores Jews’ 3,000-year-long connection to their ancestral homeland, Israel. The Haggadah, From Ancient Egypt to Modern Israel, is the brainchild of StandWithUs co-founder and COO, Jerry Rothstein. “According to a
StandWithUs publishes modern Israel Haggadah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USATwo new Torah scrolls donated to Prague’s Great Synagogue were inaugurated on Sunday during a festive ceremony. This is the first time since World War II that the Prague Jewish community received new Torah scrolls. During the Holocaust, Prague’s large Jewish community was almost completely wiped out: Prior to World War II, 125,000 Jews lived
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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle EastWhite House special envoy Jason Greenblatt met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for three hours Thursday evening, the second time the two had face-to-face talks since Greenblatt arrived in Israel for a fact-finding mission earlier this week. Greenblatt also met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin this week, and traveled to Ramallah for talks with Palestinian
When the White House envoy made a minyan with the Prime Minister Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAWhat could be wrong? It’s kosher! By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO –“They rose early in the morning and they offered burnt offerings, then they offered peace offerings. Then the nation sat down to eat and drink and performed idol worship.” (Exodus 32:6) Worship a golden calf?! How could such a thing happen? After witnessing
Weekly Torah portion: Ki Sissa Read More »
Jewish ReligionCommentators on social media wondered why White House special envoy Jason Greenblat did not wear a kippah (a Jewish skullcap) during his meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday. Orthodox Jewish men traditionally wear kippot. Greenblat studied at the Har Etzion yeshiva and attended Yeshiva University. He is a successful and respected lawyer and lives
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Jewish Religion, Middle East, USACanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said, “Tomorrow at sunset, Jewish communities in Canada and around the world will join together to celebrate Purim. “Purim is a joyous holiday where loved ones wear costumes, exchange gifts, give to charity, and partake in traditional feasts. “During this time, friends and family will come together to
Trudeau wishes Jews a happy Purim Read More »
International, Jewish Religion