Obstacle or Opportunity? You Decide! By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — When Moshe originally spoke to the Jewish people about G-d’s plan to redeem them, Moshe performed the signs G-d had given him. The people, upon witnessing the signs, were convinced that G-d had, indeed, sent Moshe to redeem them. They enthusiastically bowed down […]
Weekly Torah portion: Vaerah Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — There’s something about helping out with a minyan, especially to enable someone to say kaddish, that draws even some of the least observant among us, as does the obligation to say say kaddish itself. And, as solemn a mitzvah it is, there sometimes are humorous sidelights. When my father died in
Saying kaddish can have its lighter moments Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & SatireProposal could face ministerial vote next week; Chief Rabbinate claims High Court does not have jurisdiction over holy sites By Raoul Wootliff Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men yell and protest Liberal Jewish men and women as they hold a prayer service in front of the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on June 16, 2016. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
Shas moves ahead with anti-Reform Western Wall bill Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Power not only breeds paranoia, it also gives free range to greed. The current cluster of investigations of Prime Minister Netanyahu (and members of his family) is a case in point. Several of potential charges have to do with receiving “gifts” that in the eyes of the law are
Israeli rabbis behind bars Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastGathering in Washington, young Jewish women say that they were moved to activism by the election and the new president’s rhetoric By Rebecca Shimoni Stoil WASHINGTON, DC — Jewish organizations faced challenges organizing for a march scheduled for the Sabbath, but that didn’t prevent the youngest generation of activists from being out in force for
For some Jewish millennials, anti-Trump march is a first step Read More »
Jewish Religion, USADaughter of Donald Trump Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, who are orthodox Jews, have reportedly received rabbinical permission to travel to Donald Trump”s Presidential inauguration by car – after the onset of Shabbat. In an interview with Kol Barama radio, Mark Zell, the chair of the Republican Party in Israel, said that the couple
Report: Jared and Ivanka allowed to ride in car on Shabbat Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Moses flees for his life after killing the Egyptian taskmaster who was beating an Israelite slave. He settles in the oasis of Midian, which was located at the base of Mt. Sinai. He marries the Priest of Midian’s daughter and becomes a shepherd. One day as he was
Why God chose to speak from a bush Read More »
Jewish ReligionTo Free, You Must Be Free By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — Moshe is one of the most selfless leaders to ever guide a nation. As a young man being raised in the palace of Pharaoh surrounded by luxury and the choicest material pleasures the world had to offer, Moshe would daily walk out
Weekly Torah Portion: Shemot Read More »
Jewish ReligionMembers of group kept away from site after refusing to undergo body searches, which the High Court had banned By Times of Israel staff Members of the Women of the Wall group praying outside the entrance to the Western Wall after they were denied entry to the site for refusing to undergo body searches, despite
Women of the Wall denied entry to Western Wall Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastIraqi forces battling so-called Islamic State (IS) fighters this week made a grim discovery in a Mosul neighborhood, confirming reports from 2014 that the group had leveled the shrine that is said to have housed the tomb of the prophet Jonah, a key figure in the Judaic, Christian and Islamic religions. “Counterterrorism forces liberated Nabi
Iraqi Forces Say IS Destroyed Historic Tomb of Jonah in Mosul Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastWith Hollywood celebs, far-left activists, and even some congressional Democrats still unwilling to accept President-elect Donald Trump”s surprise victory in November’s democratic elections, disavowing their new Commander in Chief with slogans like “Not My President” and a movement to boycott the inauguration, one prominent left-wing rabbi has found his own unique way to protest the
US rabbi rewrites prayer – to avoid blessing Trump Read More »
Jewish Religion, USASusannah Heschel was just a child in the spring of 1965, when her father left for Selma, Alabama, to march with those demanding that everyone be allowed to vote regardless of their skin color. “He kissed me goodbye,” says Heschel. “And I remember thinking ‘I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again.’” Just a
To one Jewish professor, Martin Luther King Jr. was an idol and a mensch Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USAFLUSHING, New York (Press Release) — Citifield was at full capacity on Sunday — not for a baseball game, but for a day of Torah learning, presented by the Orthodox Union. Torah in the City, an event created and presented by the OU, drew close to 1,500 men and women from the tri-state area and beyond
A Sunday, a stadium, and … Torah study Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAIsrael’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday held a ceremony welcoming a Torah scroll to its synagogue in Jerusalem’s government complex. Attending the ceremony were Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) and Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi David Lau, senior officials in both the Religious Services and Foreign Ministries, and representatives from Romania’s Jewish community. The “new” Torah scroll
Foreign Ministry welcomes Torah scroll from Bucharest Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East