JERUSALEM (Press Release) — The annual debate in Israel about the placement of Christmas trees in malls or hotels – this year in Ashdod – shouldn`t fool anyone. For most Israeli Jews, the holiday season is celebrated in the Hebrew month of Tishrei, not in December. For a significant majority of Israeli Jews (78%), December […]
Most Israelis indifferent to secular New Year Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — This past week, a newspaper featured a picture of a Lubavitcher rabbi putting tefillin on Santa Claus. It reminded me of a story from Eli Plaut’s book, Kosher Christmas. It mentions how an old Ukrainian Jewish immigrant dressed up as Santa Claus and spoke Yiddish. When
Ridding ourselves of ancient prejudices Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — A court of law in Israel may soon have to decide whether to call someone Reform is an insult. Adina Bar Shalom – the daughter of the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, the sister of the current incumbent of that office and the wife of a prominent Tel
Some in Israel consider the term ‘Reform’ an insult Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastDonorBox removes BDS funding campaign from its site Shurat HaDin announced it has “achieved another important legal victory against the BDS movement as we finish the year! We managed to shut down a vital crowdfunding channel for the central boycott organization, the BDS National Committee (BNC), located in Ramallah. Last week, we sent urgent cease
Editor’s E-Mail Box: December 24, 2018 (3 items) Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USASiddur Avodat HaLev (Hebrew and English Edition) Hardcover by Rabbinical Council of America; Editor: Rabbi Basil Herring, by Koren Publishers Jerusalem, 97896530-19362; 1346 pages By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The brand new Siddur Avodat Halev is a fabulous new commentary on the traditional siddur, but unlike most commentaries you have read, the writers of this project
Book Review: Siddur Avodat HaLev Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Orthodox Jewish groups support Latin Cross on public property in Maryland In a friend-of-the-court brief filed today with the US Supreme Court, national Orthodox Jewish organizations defended the constitutionality of a governmental war memorial in the shape of a large Latin cross by citing and explaining six historic rabbinic rulings issued between the 13th and
Editor’s E-Mail Box: December 21, 2018 (4 items) Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Joshua Dorsch SAN DIEGO — In our Torah portion this week, before Jacob passes away he blesses his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh. Afterwards, the Torah teaches that all of Israel is to be blessed by them. That is why traditionally, on Friday night, when children are blessed by their parents they are blessed to
A Word of Torah ~ Vayechi Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Mimi Pollack LA JOLLA, California — As an ESL teacher who has worked for 35 years with people from all over the world, I was very interested in going to see the presentation at the Gotthelf Gallery at the JCC last Monday evening on December 17th. First, there was the presentation by civil rights attorney
Yes, Virginia, there are Jews there too Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County
American Jewish Congress cautions against hasty U.S. exit from Syria The American Jewish Congress issued the following statement on Wednesday: “It was announced that President Trump is considering a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. The reason given is that the terrorist organization ISIS no longer holds territory in Syria, thus the primary objective
Editor’s E-Mail Box: December 19, 2018 (4 items) Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Sir Simon Schama, celebrated historian, best-selling author, and TV personality was in Jerusalem the other day to give a lecture called, “Jewish Arguments Then and Now.” Starting with the two creation stories in the Book of Genesis and moving on through literature and history to important thinkers like Maimonides,
Outside influences always have impacted Judaism Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Joshua Dorsch SAN DIEGO — Unlike many characters in the Torah, Joseph has no problem showing emotions. He cries on at least seven different occasions. Sometimes he cries in public, other times in private. Sometimes, so loudly others outside can hear him. Which is why it is intriguing that at the end of the
A Word of Torah ~ Vayigash Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Sacred, now streaming at https://www.pbs.org/wnet/sacred/sacred-full-episode/, views life cycle events and religious practices through the lenses of more than 40 videographers stationed on five continents – Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. We see not only the well known western and eastern religions, but also tribal and
Film Review: ‘Sacred’ from PBS Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel ENCINITAS, California — Now that Chanukah is over, some people may still be wondering what it was all about. Here are four facts about Chanukah, of which you may have been unaware. 1-The first Chanukah was a delayed Sukkot. What about that? During the battle for religious freedom in the
Four little known facts about Chanukah Read More »
Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
Siddur Avodat Halev by Rabbi Basil Herring, Editor-in-Chief, Toby Press, New Milford, CT © 2018, ISBN 978-965-301-936-2, p. 1346, plus an introduction and essay section, $34.95. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Siddur Avodat Halev, the newest prayer book from the Rabbinical Council of America, one of the largest Orthodox Jewish rabbinical associations in the world,
New Orthodox siddur provides modern translations Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion