By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — There are two things I have been saying, and then a third item came along and surprised me. I mentioned often that there is no concept of “sin” in the Hebrew Bible as a distorting stain upon the soul that requires a kind of supernatural atonement […]
Sin versus ‘chet,’ ‘pesha’ and ‘avon’ Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– Jordan Gorfinkel, a former DC Comics editor who managed the Batman franchise for nearly a decade, will be at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego on Wednesday, April 10, for a free-to-the-public discussion of his work, which includes a newly published The Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel that brings the Exodus experience into
Comics’ Gorfinkel to visit Tifereth Israel Synagogue Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Rabbi Simcha Weiser SAN DIEGO — Is anyone more motivated than a parent is to make the best choice in guiding their child? You would think not, right? But in these divisive times, when every viewpoint is instantly categorized as progressive, conservative, religious, racist, …. even when it comes to discharging our parental responsibilities
Should we separate the genders in middle school? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Rabbi Joshua Dorsch SAN DIEGO –This Shabbat is referred to across the Jewish world as Shabbat HaChodesh, the Shabbat of “the month.” We will be welcoming the Hebrew month of Nisan, and officially begin preparing ourselves to celebrate Passover. There are many different ways that we prepare ourselves. For some of us, it involves
Shabbat HaChodesh signals time to prepare for Pesach Read More »
Jewish Religion
Story by Donald H. Harrison; site photos by Shor M. Masori ISLA VISTA, California – The news media often finds it easier to focus on bad news than on good news. Bad news is more dramatic. It’s easier to tell. It makes more compelling reading. Take the weather for instance. A storm will make
Hillel at Santa Barbara promotes campus harmony Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, USABy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel’s book Gentle Judaic Wisdom is a brilliant work, very wise, easy to read, and deceptively simple. The book is filled with quotes that have significant information. It is a rich cornucopia of wisdom quoted from sources such as the Torah, Mishna, Tosephta,
Book Review: ‘Gentle Judaic Wisdom’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Mensch-Marks: Life Lessons of a Human Rabbi by Joshua Hammerman; © 2018 Helth Communications, Inc.; ISBN 9780757-321771; 250 pages plus appendix, $14.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Rabbi Joshua Hammerman is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El in Stamford, Connecticut, as well as a journalist whose column appeared regularly in the Jewish
Book Review: ‘Mensch-Marks’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, Travel and Food, USAThe Jewish Journey Haggadah: Connecting the Generations by Rabbanit Adena Berkowitz, Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, © 2019, ISBN 978-965-229-912-3, p. 211 plus appendices and bibliography, $29.95. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Over one thousand Haggadot (plural of Haggadah) are listed in Amazon books, covering a wide variety of genres, from traditional to women-centric. Is
Book Review: ‘The Jewish Journey Haggadah’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
Story by Donald H. Harrison; photos by Shor M. Masori BERKELEY, California – For some two dozen years, Dr. Robert Alter, now a professor emeritus of comparative literature at UC Berkeley, retranslated various portions of the Hebrew Bible. He was distressed that most previous translations “were not only deficient, but I would say that they
Berkeley professor translates the Bible anew Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori
Can’t Start Passover without the Bread by Leba Lieder and Israel Drazin; © 2013; ISBN 9781481-995467; 30 pages, available via Amazon. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Our columnist, Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin, and his schoolteacher daughter Leba Lieder, created this storybook for children between the ages of 4 and 8. It is a
A Passover story for young readers Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Joshua Dorsch SAN DIEGO –In our Torah portion this week, Shemini, we read what is considered by the Talmud to be the epicenter of the Torah. According to the Talmud, if you count up all of the letters in the Torah, we find ourselves in this week’s Torah reading, on the Hebrew letter
Weekly Torah portion: Shemini Read More »
Jewish Religion, Travel and Food
LOS ANGELES – It has always been accepted that this nation was founded on a code of Judeo-Christian ethics and that our founding fathers recognized the importance of spiritual practices as a basis for moral behavior. But it sadly seems that the current leadership of the Democratic Party needs a reminder in basic ethical behavior.
OpEd: Democrats should do tshuvah Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
By Ryan C. McKim LOS ANGELES — In a remarkable opinion, a California appellate court held that the “ministerial exception” – a constitutionally based defense to employment claims brought against religious organizations – does not apply to religious school teachers. The “ministerial exception” is intended to ensure the autonomy of religions to select and control those
OpEd: Court ruling affects Jewish preschools Read More »
Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Last December, not long before the date of the next general election in Israel was announced, the two stars of Habayit Hayehudi (Jewish Home), Naftali Bennett (the minister of education) and Ayelet Shaked (the minister of justice) left that political party to form a new one called, Hayamin Hechadash
Post- secular Judaism emerges in Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East