Parasha Nitzavim By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s Torah portion Nitzavim, is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana. It asks us where we stand as we enter the new year. The parasha teaches that G-d tells us, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the […]
D’var Torah for September 28, 2019 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The thrust of this parasha is modeled after the format of an ancient covenant treaty. The scene is set in the Plains of Moab on the east side of the Jordan, shortly before the death of Moses. This is to be followed by entrance to the promised land under Joshua’s leadership.
A word about ancient covenants. Unlike modern times wherein parties sign an arranged legal contract, the ancients performed ceremonies, characterized by proclamations, writings of the terms, proclamations of blessings and curses, erection of steles, and sacrifices. Curses include acts that symbolized the fate of violators. They would cut up the body of an animal, then the parties passed between the pieces, symbolizing what would happen to either if he/she violated the treaty.
Notes on Torah reading for September 28, 2019 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Making It All Work: A Practical Guide to Hashkafah & Halacha in the Workplace by Avi Wasserman and Miryam Wasserman; Philipp Feldheim publisher; ISBN-10: 16802-50310; 538 pages; Price $25.00 By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The authors of Making It All Work present the Orthodox Jewish community with an interesting book about some
An Orthodox guide to workplace behavior Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin JERUSALEM — Judaism Reclaimed: Philosophy and Theology in the Torah by Shmuel Phillips, a rabbi and lawyer with a law degree from the University of London, is a book filled with interesting information inspired by his understanding of the views of Maimonides and Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch. The book has
Rabbi Phillips authors tome on Jewish philosophy and theology Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Items in today’s column include:
*Tel Aviv Foundation applauds San Diegans’ philanthropy
*Father Joe Carroll endorses Joe Leventhal for City Council
*Rabbi Dorsch and Cantor Leberman star in Tifereth Israel High Holy Days video
*Israeli Idol Haggit Yaso to perform at StandWithUs gala
*Meet the Family Eilfort
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 24, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyExcerpt: When God dictated the Bible to Moses, it was perfect – every word and every letter was flawless. But a so-called scholar Laumentenkup recopied the Bible and made many mistakes. He couldn’t see the dirt under his fingernails and drank too much fermented grape juice. Methuselah wants to correct as many errors as he can. The following are some of his corrections.
There was no snake in Eden. God created a toothless tortoise as a companion for man so he wouldn’t be lonely. When this didn’t work, God put Adam asleep and created a woman from his third tonsil and ever since then women have spoken a great deal. (Please click headline to read full story)
‘Methuselah’ offers some humorous corrections to the Bible Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
I have met other people who can recall song lyrics from the 1950’s on, but none, absolutely none, whose memory is as phenomenal as that of Judy Gumbiner, the retired San Diego State University director of career services.
With the High Holy Days approaching, soon thereafter to be followed by Succot and Simcha Torah, Judy and I were discussing the impressions of the Jewish Bible that a popular music fan might derive from pop music and Broadway show tunes.
Here are some of the “lessons” we (mostly she) came up with:
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 20, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
Co-author Dave Barry is a well-known syndicated humor columnist; Alan Zweibel has written comedy for television programs including Saturday Night Live and Curb Your Enthusiasm; and Adam Mansbach is the author of Go the F*ck to Sleep and You Have to F*****g Eat – the titles of which indicate a certain enthusiasm for F-bombs, which, in my opinion, appear all too frequently in the current collaboration.
Co-authors Barry, Mansbach and Zweibel have their comedy credits – and that may be enough to make this book popular, despite its very questionable taste. Mixing Torah and F-Bombs, to my way of thinking, is more derision than humor, and the fact that two of the co-authors are themselves Jewish (Barry is a Presbyterian) doesn’t excuse that.
Book Review: ‘A Field Guide to the Jewish People’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionI have chosen today to elaborate on a sexual verse which is not for polite company. However, since the Torah writers were not reluctant to list it, and it has relevance to this day, here goes. Chapter 27, v. 21 states “Cursed be he who lies with any beast…” i.e. sex with animals. (Please click on headline to read more.)
Notes on Torah Reading for September 21, 2019 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Items in today’s column include:
*Eight Jewish candidates to date; two more would make a minyan
*Beth Israel Quarterly provides personal insights into congregation’s leaders
*The Israel Philatelist Finds Jewish Stamp Stories the World Over
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 19, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAThis is the time of the year when we reflect, when we turn inward, review our past year’s successes and disillusionments, with the purpose of looking forward to a better year…in other words, gezunt, hatlacha and parnassa.
The parasha begins with “When you arrive,” and ends with “When you have arrived at this place.” We are to be joyful, to be sameach, not simply because we feel we’ve succeeded, but because it is a commandment to do so.
D’var Torah for September 21, 2019 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Items in this column include:
*Local businessmen fly to Bahamas to help victims of Hurricane Dorian
*Councilmembers Bry and Campbell often find common ground
*San Diegans will host IDF veterans as they sort out combat memories
*Bible Players to enliven services this weekend at Tifereth Israel Synagogue
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 18, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Items in today’s column:
*San Diego County teens, successful in past, may apply for Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards
*Bible, Holocaust, and Israel subjects of new books by local authors
*Barbara Bry gets backing of neighborhoods group in mayoral race
*Sukkot activity planning well underway in the county
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 16, 2019 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
San Diego History Center in Balboa Park and author of The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle, told Rowe that instances of men playing females have long been considered family entertainment. Furthermore, she said, “Some of the highest paid drag queens in the past have identified as heterosexual. It has nothing to do with sexual behavior. It has everything to do with entertainment.”
All of which brings to memory that the 1959 Billy Wilder film, Some Like It Hot, one of the most celebrated movies ever to be filmed at the Hotel del Coronado, starred Marilyn Monroe as a member of an all-girl band that Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon joined, in drag, in an effort to escape from some gangsters.
Our Shtetl San Diego County, September 15, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast