By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — The formation of the new nation had materialized. The Holy Tabernacle was erected, a census was performed, the army was established, and the tribes were given their flags and assigned positions around the Tabernacle. Then G-d commanded: “Send out all people with Tzoraas (individuals who contracted a spiritually-generated skin […]
Weekly Torah portion: Naso Read More »
Jewish ReligionThe following article responds to one about Rabbi Shlomo Riskin: https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2016/06/14/rabbi-riskin-urges-israelis-end-war-reform-jews/ Rabbi Gordimer is a member of the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America, and a member of the New York Bar. His writings on Jewish topics are published widely. It is sometimes hard to believe what we are reading, as things are
No, Rabbi Riskin: Reform and Conservative Movements are a danger Read More »
Jewish ReligionAs the controversy over the so-called “Mikveh Law” rages on, prominent Modern-Orthodox Rabbi Shlomo Riskin has weighed in, urging Israelis not to view non-Orthodox Jews – such as the Reform and Conservative movements – as their enemies. Instead of attempting to legislate against them, the Orthodox establishment needs to find a way to work with
Rabbi Riskin urges Israelis: End the ‘war’ on Reform Jews Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastA group of conservative rabbis recently voted to implement a resolution that creates “safe spaces” in synagogues for transgender congregants. The Rabbanical Assembly, an international association of Conservative Rabbis, passed the “Resolution Affirming the Right of Transgender and Gender Non Conforming” in late May. The resolution seeks to establish “the full welcome, acceptance, and inclusion
Rabbi Group Creates Dictates That Synagogues Accept All Transgender Congregants Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — And G-d spoke to Moshe and Aaron saying: “Each man under his flag with the signs according to the house of their fathers they will camp, at a distance and around the Tabernacle they will camp.” (Numbers 2:2) The Midrash Rabbah (Numbers 2:7) is concerned that the phrase “…according
Weekly Torah portion: Bamidbar Read More »
Jewish ReligionRabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, legendary head of the Migdal Ohr Institutions in Migdal HaEmek in the Jezreel Valley – known as the “Disco Rabbi” because of his practice of entering noisy nightclubs to find potential returnees to Torah – related the following extraordinary incident in his most recently column in the weekly BaKehillah. In the
When a rabbi wore jeans and a wig to save a Jew Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego’s oldest and largest Jewish congregation, has engaged Interim Associate Rabbi Alyson Solomon along with Rabbinic Intern Jeremy Gimbel, Development Director Meg Mandel and Program Director Ilene Tatro. Rabbi Alyson Solomon studied at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Massachusetts and at the American Jewish
Beth Israel announces personnel additions, changes Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –There is a long running dispute in Jewish tradition over which is more important: the study of Torah or the performance of mitzvot. It is generally accepted that Torah study is more important, but only because it leads to the performance of mitzvot. Nevertheless, Torah study, in and of
Study Torah or do the mitzvot? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — If after all these hardships befall you, you continue to act improperly, “Those remaining from you will perish in the land of your enemies because of your sins and even from the sins of your fathers which are with you, you will perish.” (Leviticus 26:39) This statement presents
Weekly Torah portion: Bechukosi Read More »
Jewish Religion
-59th in a series– Exit 33, Willows Road, Alpine (eastbound) By Donald H. Harrison VIEJAS INDIAN RESERVATION, California — I wrote the following story for the Sept. 19, 1997 edition of the San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage, of which I was editor. The sentiments expressed in this excerpt still apply today, and provide background for any
I-8 Jewish Travel: Jews and Native Americans Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USATwo babies were hospitalized at Schneider Children’s Hospital in Petach Tikva for being infected with herpes during circumcision, Kikar HaShabbat reports Wednesday night – and a prominent mohel has demanded that fellow mohels get checked for the disease before performing the ceremony. Mohel Rabbi Shlomo Mahfoud told the daily that mohels must “check themselves first
Mohels warned to get checked for herpes after babies infected Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationIn 1990, Jihad Al-Mohammed moved into an abandoned building in the old city of Sidon in south Lebanon. The Lebanese civil war had just come to end. The Palestinian refugees who had been sheltering in the centuries-old structure had gone. “But it was filled with rats and garbage,” says Mohammed. “So I cleaned it up.”
It took this man 10 years to realize he was living in a synagogue Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastA special event was held Monday evening at the Kotel in the Old City of Jerusalem for some 500 Jewish converts from across Israel affiliated with the Ami Ulpan network. The event, in honor of the upcoming holiday of Shavuot, celebrated the converts” journey to Judaism. Shavuot, which marks the giving of the Torah to
‘I wanted so badly to be Jewish’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastWARSAW — On the face of it, Maciej Pawlak is an unlikely Jewish day school principal. Born in Szezecin, in northwestern Poland, he was raised in an atheist household and did not even realize he was Jewish until he was a teenager. His father, Zbigniew, was Catholic, and his mother, Alina, was Jewish. “I suspected
He found Judaism at 14. Today he’s at the forefront of Poland’s Jewish revival Read More »
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