By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO– The people are about to enter the land. After forty years of wandering and waiting, they have prepared themselves and built a close relationship with G-d. It is now time to enter the land and serve G-d through both the spiritual and physical aspects of man. Before they enter, […]
Weekly Torah Portion: VaYelech Read More »
Jewish ReligionKids from Newark club and Kushner day school inaugural visitors Mayor Ras Baraka, right, cuts the ceremonial ribbon with Manischewitz CEO David Sugarman, surrounded by children from the Boys and Girls Club of Newark and students from Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School. PHOTOS BY JOHANNA GINSBERG All decked out in their official touring gear, Mayor
Mmmm — Manischewitz opens factory to group tours Read More »
Jewish Religion, Travel and Food, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Seventy-five years later, Lazar Abramovitch finally had his bar mitzvah on Thursday, Oct. 6, at a special ceremony held at Jewish Family Service’s Jacobs Family Campus. Abramovitch, 88, had hoped to celebrate the advent of Jewish adulthood on his 13th birthday, but the German Nazi invasion of the
88-year-old finally becomes a bar mitzvah Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – In the space of an afternoon, Tifereth Israel Synagogue developed an enthusiastic corps of some 40 shofar blowers ready to sound off during Yom Kippur services Oct. 11 and 12. It all started when Olga Worm, a former president of the Conservative congregation’s Sisterhood signed up to blow
Young army recruited for shofar service Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyNew year’s greetings poured in from around the world Sunday as Jews celebrated Rosh Hashanah — the beginning of the year 5777. President Barack Obama reflected on the “great privilege” of working with the Jewish community in his final Rosh Hashanah message as president. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president, also delivered Rosh Hashanah
From Trump to Trudeau — Rosh Hashanah greetings roll in Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionOmri Balit IDF Spokesperson’s Unit My name is Omri Balit and I was born in the USA. My parents grew up in Israel and moved to the states before I was born because of my father”s work. I was born in New York but I grew up in Los Angeles. As a teen, I took
Apples, honey, and fatigues Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastReform and Conservative congregations in the US have launched a campaign of protest against the government of Israel. The Reform and Conservative movements cited as reason for the effort the ritual bath (mikvaot) bill banning use of public facilities for conversions not performed by recognized authorities -which passed its second and third readings in the
Reform movement to protest Israel’s laws on mikvahs, Kotel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — In many Sephardic communities, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated with a seder meal, a custom which dates to the Talmud (Horayot 12a), when Abaye, a Babylonian rabbi, listed a variety of foods that should be eaten at the New Year. The foods are placed on a “Yehi Ratzon platter,” and
Jewish trivia quiz: Sephardic Rosh Hashanah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — In other denominations, confession is a personal event, often realized between the confessor and a priestly intermediary. The cleric is charged with admonition but also the release, by virtue of so many devotions, mantras and other rituals. Not so with the Jews: As the community gathers for the
High Holy Days are for group confession Read More »
Jewish ReligionWhat critics and fans are calling Leonard Cohen‘s darkest song yet has turned out to be a bright spot in a Montreal cantor’s career. “You Want It Darker” — the first track released this week from the 82-year-old Cohen’s new album of the same name — features the voice of Cantor Gideon Zelermyer of Congregation
Montreal cantor helps Leonard Cohen on road back to his Jewish roots Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsA survey by the European Jewish Association suggests few Jews in Europe will attend synagogue for this year”s Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur holidays as security fears grow and with harassment by Muslims on the rise. According to the study, which spanned 700 Jewish communities from England to the Ukraine, 70% of European Jews said
Poll: European Jews afraid to attend holiday services Read More »
International, Jewish Religion
Nine Essential Things I’ve Learned About Life by Harold S. Kushner; Anchor Books (c) 2015; IBSN 9780804-173452; 171 pages, $15. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Harold Kushner, famous since he wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People, has a personal ritual which I found fascinating. “Before I sit down to write,
Kushner offers mixture of theology, practical advice Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionAs evening begins in the Colombian coastal city of Santa Marta, the sun descends into the Caribbean Sea, captivating residents with its picturesque tableau. In an area noted for its sunsets, the sun is now rising on two recent Jewish congregations made up entirely of converts. They are Shirat Hayyam in Santa Marta, and Javura
With the Caribbean as their ritual bath, Colombian converts flow to Judaism Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionBy Arkady Mamaysky TARRYTOWN, New York — Jews constitute only 0.2% of world’s population of 7.4 billion people. And yet anti-Semitism and hatred of the Jews is widespread and continues for centuries despite our honest efforts and dedication to be good citizens of the countries in which we live. So why to continue to be
Some reasons for remaining Jewish Read More »
Arkady Mamaysky, Jewish History, Jewish Religion