Dr. Susannah Heschel said century of studies led to interfaith harmony Dr. Susannah Heschel said Jewish scholars’ admiration for Islam enhanced their own connection to Judaism. Photos by Debra Rubin Heschel speaks to attendees at her program, “Jewish Scholars and the Study of Islam.” At a time when both Jews and Muslims faced discrimination in […]
Scholars enhanced Islamic- Jewish relations Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East
The video was produced, tongues-in-cheeks, by the ROI Community and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.
How airlines would explain Passover customs Read More »
Jewish Religion, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Video has emerged of Iranian Jews preparing for the upcoming Passover festival by baking matzah, the unleavened bread that is the key traditional food eaten during the festival. The video, published by the Kikar Hashabat website last week, shows several members of the Tehran community manning a small matzah-baking production line. Strict religious rules govern
Tehran Jews begin making matzah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Michael Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO — Of course, those who really need this article probably won’t read it. That’s the way arrogance works. It makes you feel that you are better than the next person, that you certainly don’t need to change, and besides, no one is really smart enough to teach you anything. In
Arrogant? Here’s how to become humble Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — We all love bee honey. No Rosh Hashanah meal would be complete without it. Yet, in this week’s Torah portion of Shemini, we find ourselves asking a conundrum that has puzzled many rabbinic minds since the days of Late Antiquity. I am referring to the verse in Leviticus, “But
The kosher paradox of the bumble bee Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –As we read about the various permitted and forbidden animals in this week’s Torah portion of Shemini, I found myself remembering some thoughts I once penned about this particular subject. Several years ago, I came across an interesting story, worthy of a Sherlock Holmes tale. Actually to
In defense of non-kosher animals Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
It’s going to be a busy weekend for Donald Trump. Just ahead of what’s expected to be a close Republican primary in Wisconsin, Trump’s newborn Jewish grandson is to be circumcised. The GOP frontrunner anticipated Theodore James Kushner’s arrival in his speech to AIPAC last week, announcing: “My daughter, Ivanka, is about to have a
What role for Trump in grandson’s brit milah? Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Parashat Sh’mini is one of the primary sources for Kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws, in the Torah. Specifically, Sh’mini contains the specifications for Kosher and non-Kosher mammals and seafood and lists of Kosher and non-Kosher birds. The underlying reason for the laws of Kashrut is often misunderstood. People
Kosher laws should lessen not increase one’s arrogance Read More »
Jewish ReligionPlease Don’t Eat the Marshmallow! By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — The Torah lists the specifications for the living creatures which, according to the laws of kashrut, a person may or may not eat. Mammals must have split hooves and chew its cud. Fish need to have both fins and scales. The non-kosher birds
Weekly Torah portion: Sh’mini Read More »
Jewish ReligionRabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — Have you ever been in a situation where there seemed to be no positive ending and maybe things got even worse than you thought they could and then your “luck” changed and you have this sense of liberty and you wanted to scream out thank you!? The Talmud brings four
Weekly Torah portion: Tzav Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — A commentary on a verse from this week’s parasha reminds me of how synagogues often conduct their budgeting process. In parashat Tzav we read: “And the flesh of his thanksgiving sacrifice of well-being shall be eaten on the day that it is offered; none of it shall be
Faith vs. reality in the budgeting process Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Arkady Mamaysky TARRYTOWN, New York — The word “soul” is repeated in many different situations by the adherents of various religions. But God has not given us the capacity to fully understand what a soul is. Most religious people believe that humans are not just physical and biological creatures. What makes us love or
Some reflections on the soul Read More »
Arkady Mamaysky, Jewish Religion
Story by Donald H. Harrison; Photos by Shor Masori SAN DIEGO – They fractured the lyrics of numerous popular American songs, and twisted the tale in the Book of Esther to fit those lyrics, but nobody objected. In fact, the audience loved it. It was the annual Purimshpiel on Wednesday evening, March 23, at
Annual shpiel twists plot, lyrics in Purim fun Read More »
David Ogul, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Shor M. Masori
God and Politics in Esther, 2nd Edition, by Yoram Hazony; Cambridge University Press; (2015); ISBN-10: 1107583454; $18.27 on Amazon. Rating ***** out of 5 Stars. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Yoram Hazony’s exposition of the Book of Esther is priceless. In my Judaism 101 class, everyone read a little bit from God
God needs worthy people as partners for His miracles Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi