Jewish Religion

Notes on Torah reading for October 5, 2019

This passage led me to explore whether other ancient conquerors also made such a claim that their gods marched with them. In exploring the internet, I found no such claims for other nations. There, in fact, is the story in II Kings 3:27 that King Mesha of Moab, about to suffer a military defeat, sacrificed his eldest son, followed by withdrawal of the appalled enemy.

The Internet did yield a review of the military mights of “10 of the Greatest Ancient Warrior Cultures…” Hereby I offer you a sample of their military actions. (To read more, please click on the headline).

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East

D’var Torah for October 5, 2019

Remember leaving services last Yom Kippur, the grandeur of Neilah upon us, filled with promises to live better lives? Yet so soon afterwards many old habits reemerged – maybe even before that first morsel of food was swallowed, after the long fast. Like January’s New Year’s resolutions to “eat less and move more” that quickly fade before February, we make promises to transform during the Days of Awe, that are fleeting and short-lived. We’re human. We are filled with introspection, we repent, we make promises, and then fall asleep until the next Yom Kippur. And here we are again. (To read more, please click on headline.)

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Jewish Trivia Quiz: The Shofar

Jews around the world will once again hear the sound of the shofar as Rosh Hashanah is celebrated this week. The shofar is typically made of a ram’s horn, but in Yemenite tradition the horn of a kudu is used. The shofar ceremony comprises two blessings followed by a series of blasts consisting of three different notes: tekiah–one long blast, shevarim–three broken sounds, and teruah–nine staccato notes. The total number of blasts is traditionally 100 for Ashkenazic Jews and 101 for Sephardim, with Yemenite Jews sounding 41 blasts. The shofar has also made appearances in popular movies, songs, and television programs, including which of the following? (To read more, please click the headline)

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Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Actual year of Hebrew calendar quite debatable

Many people, secular and religious, of different cultures and worldviews, have attempted to calculate the age of the world. There is no agreement between them, simply because it is an impossible task. Christians, Muslims, and Jews have tried to do the calculation based on a literal reading of the Bible and have come up with different times. The following shows the impossibility by focusing on the widely used Jewish version.

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 27, 2019

Items in this column include:
*Gun Show this weekend and next year seem a legal certainty
*Political dots and dashes
*Jewish community conundrum: safety vs. welcoming the stranger
*Laura Walcher shares lighter memories of the ate George Mitrovich
*A speaking engagement at Congregation Beth Israel
*As we enter the Jewish New Year

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County

Notes on Torah reading for September 28, 2019

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.   

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

An Orthodox guide to workplace behavior

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

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Rabbi Phillips authors tome on Jewish philosophy and theology

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

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 24, 2019

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

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

‘Methuselah’ offers some humorous corrections to the Bible

Excerpt: 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)

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion