Netanel Epstein, born and raised in Jerusalem by British Olim, has a natural talent for drawing comics. As a child, he dreamt of creating an internationally popular comic book series on the scope of Tintin and Astrix. Netanel’s goals and very life perspective changed when his close friend, Yoni, was murdered in a terror attack. […]
Teaching Torah through comics Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastA constitutional court in Belgium ruled on Wednesday that traditional Jewish shechita is permitted under Belgian law and will be allowed to continue unimpeded. “Restrictions on kosher shechita”, the judge ruled, “contradict basic human rights laws and religious rights in Belgium.” In recent months some members of the Flemish parliament have proposed bans on kosher
Belgian court rules shechita bans unconstitutional Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionBy Joel H. Cohen Jacob had an urgent, primal need To disperse his patriarchal seed. But doubted his wives’ ability When it came to their fertility. So Leah and Rachel deemed it fine For him to engage a concubine. If one is good, two are surely great, Jacob thought, to help him procreate. So effective
Justice for Bilhah and Zilpah Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Joel H. CohenThe Jewish community in Hevron is demanding that action be taken following recent Arab vandalism and theft at the Cave of the Patriarchs compound. On Friday night, Arabs stole the mezuzah from the front door of the Cave of the Patriarchs, and also broke into a nearby storage room and stole thousands of shekels worth
‘We vow to beautify the Cave of the Patriarchs’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
Nehemiah: Statesman and Sage by Dov S. Zakheim; Maggid Books © 2016; ISBN 9781592-643691; 246 pages including appendices; $27.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – From the standpoint of one in whose family there have been several intermarriages in which the children have been raised as Reform Jews, I read this biography of the
Biography of Nehemiah prompts mixed emotions Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — My history with Rabbi Shlomo Riskin goes all the way back to 1977. He visited a Hillel Academy in Binghamton, New York, where I taught Talmud many decades ago. At the time, I knew he was already a well-respected rabbi who had brought many Jews back
Orthodoxy and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiMUMBAI, India (JNS.org) — The Indian state of Maharashtra has become the second Indian state to grant official minority status to its Jewish community, which contains about 3,000 of the approximately 4,500 Jews who live in all of India. Among other new state benefits for Maharashtra’s Jews, the ruling means that those Jews will join
Jews receive official minority status in Maharashtra Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Back in March, I wrote about the Israeli government agreeing to establish an egalitarian prayer space along the Kotel extension, south of Robinson’s Arch. At that time I wrote: “From now on the State of Israel recognizes three Western Wall prayer areas: Male Orthodox, Female Orthodox, and a
Israeli gov’t backtracks on Kotel promise Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastNehalel beChol: Weekday Siddur devised by Michael Haruni; Introduction by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, Nevarech Press, Jerusalem, © 2015, ISBN 978-965-92180-1-1, p. 665 plus Photo and Credits Appendix, $29.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – At first blush, one cannot help but be moved by the attractiveness of the color photographs permeating the Nehalel beChol
Illustrated prayer book follows Ashkenazic tradition Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
-61st in a Series- Exit 47, Sunrise Highway, Mount Laguna, California By Donald H. Harrison MOUNT LAGUNA, California – Jackie Lucas dropped in on the Serra Museum in Presidio Park, San Diego, in 1975, to look around the museum that focuses on early San Diego history. She saw on display a photo of a Kumeyaay woman. She
I-8 Jewish Travel: Kwaaymii, Arden and oral history Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
HANNATON, Israel (SDJW) — Students from the Hannaton Educational Center, a pluralistic school at Kibbutz Hannaton, participated in an egalitarian service at the Kotel last Thursday which was disrupted by Haredi men opposed to the genders praying together. Pushing and shoving and numerous insults such as “You are not Jews” marred the occasion. The prayer session
Hannaton students not deterred by Haredi protests Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastThe President of the Conference of European Rabbis has challenged the Swedish government to lift all restrictions on Jewish practices in Sweden, after its Ambassador to Israel claimed his prime minister wants to lead the fight against worldwide anti-Semitism. In a letter to Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt – who also serves as
Leading rabbi challenges Sweden: End bans on milah, shechita Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionThe ministerial legislation committee today rejected a bill proposed by MK Yael German (Yesh Atid) that would allow the local authorities to decide whether to operate public transportation on the Sabbath. German told “Globes” today, “We won’t give up. We’ll submit the bill again in six months, and again in a year, and again and
No buses on Jewish Sabbath, ministerial committee rules Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Judaism holds that human life is absolutely and fundamentally sacred. With three exceptions (murder, sexual assault/incest/adultery, and public idolatry), any mitzvah in Judaism can be violated in order to save a human life. It may even be argued this violation is not voluntary but obligatory: mitzvot must be
No religious justification for Orlando murders Read More »
Jewish Religion