Jewish Religion

Singing Ernest Bloch’s sacred songs was a thrill

By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel ENCINITAS, California — In the early 1930 s, visionary Cantor Reuven Rinder of San Francisco ‘s Temple Emanuel raised $ 10,000 to commission the world acclaimed composer, Ernest Bloch to write a setting with the Reform Jewish Sabbath Morning Prayer book of the `1930s. Bloch was already an acclaimed composer

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Rabbi in Florida enjoys learning about San Diego

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Donald H. Harrison’s book Schlepping and Schmoozing through San Diego County, Vol. 1 is enjoyable, really fun to read, as one can tell by the book’s title. He has been a journalist since 1962 and is an excellent writer. His articles are not only enjoyable, sometimes witty,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Waiting for divine help can result in tragedy

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Relying on prayer and divine help in daily life and when problems arise and not following the wise advice of Maimonides to use one’s intelligence, study the laws of nature, and act according to these laws, laws created by God, can, and usually does result in

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

How the Bible has been used in U.S. history

Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land, The Hebrew Bible in the United States: A Sourcebook by M. Y. Soloveichik, M. Holbreich, J. Silver, and S. W. Halpern, editors, The Toby Press, New Milford CT, © 2019, ISBN 978-1-59264-465-0, p. 344, $29.95. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Historians generally acknowledge the importance of the Protestant pulpit

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

Weekly Torah portion: Balak

By Rabbi Joshua Dorsch SAN DIEGO — This week, in Parashat Balak, Bilam is sent by the Moabite King Balak to curse the Israelites. After a series of rather peculiar events, instead of cursing them, Bilam offers the Israelite camp what traditional biblical commentators consider to be a blessing. He says “How goodly are your

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Jewish Religion