By Beth Sarafraz BROOKLYN, New York — Meet Albert Mammon. You may already be familiar with his name because some of his good deeds were reported on TV, in newspapers, and on social media – where the stories went viral and comments under them numbered in the stratosphere. The fact that Mammon is unique — […]
Orthodox cop is everyone’s hero Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
By Donald H. Harrison OAKLAND, California – Generally when we think of the Bible and the heavens, we think of Genesis 1 which describes how God created the universe. However, here in Oakland, Genesis 29 also comes to mind. That is because the names of the two refractor telescopes at the Chabot Space and Science
The far- sighted Leah and Rachel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — With the Paris climate talks concluded, and with most climate commentators agreeing that the COP21 ”agreement” still needs some fine-tuning and follow-up, things are looking good for the future of humanity. For Sarah Newman, a 50-something Jewish writer in Cincinnati, this is is also a time to start
Young adult cli-fi book hopes to shape values Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, The World We ShareBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — Neil Folberg’s And I Shall Dwell Among Them: Historic Synagogues of the World, Aperture Book Publisher; 1st edition, September, 1995, is a very special treasure. Each of the almost two hundred large color photographs is an individual work of art about Judaism’s places of worship. Folberg brings expertise and
Photo book of synagogues deeply touching Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
-34th in a series- Exit 10, College Avenue, San Diego ~ Beth Jacob Congregation By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Approaching Beth Jacob Congregation, the first thing most people notice is the unusual protrusion from the red roof. No matter what might have been intended by the architect, Synagogue Administrator Rand Levin says the story is told
I-8 Jewish Travel: Beth Jacob & the pomegranate Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — It isn’t every day I come across a theologically provocative news story headline like the New York Daily News did this morning in the terrible aftermath of the mass shooting that took place in San Bernardino, California—which claimed the lives of fourteen people, while injuring over
True, God can’t fix this; we must! Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
— 33rd in a series — Exit 10, College Avenue, San Diego ~ Mikvah Israel By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Susan Shapiro estimates that 200 women in San Diego County regularly go to a mikvah (ritual bath) every month to infuse their marriages with spirituality and passion. Of these, the mikvah attendant estimates, between 60
Mikvah Israel: Immersing oneself in Judaism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyThe Weekly Mitzva by Binyamin Tabory, Maggid Books, Jerusalem; ISBN 978-1-59264-435-24 ©2015, $24.95, p. 228 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–A mitzva is a religious commandment. Traditional Judaism expects that each person will, to the best of his or her ability, fulfill in letter and spirit the 613 commandments identified in the Torah, the Five Books of
How to interpret, understand the mitzvot Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Ryan M. Greiss NEW YORK — The Jerusalem-based nonprofit Shavei Israel has launched a Portuguese-language e-book called “Do You Have Jewish Roots?” offering a practical guide to uncovering one’s Jewish ancestry. The unprecedented 109-page guide is aimed at assisting the millions of people in Brazil, Portugal and elsewhere who may have a long-lost Jewish lineage.
Helping Portuguese, Brazilians, others find Jewish roots Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionLessons in Leadership: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Maggid Books, Jerusalem; ISBN 978-1-59264-432-2 ©2015, $18.00, p. 311 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in a 1964 ruling on a pornographic film, said, “I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of
Torah teaches about leadership Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
-32nd in a series- Exit 10, College Avenue, San Diego ~ Chabad at SDSU By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The large menorah standing two stories tall on the front lawn immediately differentiates this house at 6115 Montezuma Road from the fraternity houses nearby. And if you go inside to the large, comfortable
I-8 Jewish travel: Teaching the mitzvot joyously Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food
By Eric George Tauber CHULA VISTA, California — One doesn’t normally expect to hear Hanukah music in a church. But when that church is Iglesia Restauración in Chula Vista, the meeting place of Latinos por Israel, the rules change. It’s taken 500 years, but many B’nei Anousim (Jews forcibly converted to Catholicism during the Inquisition)
Rekindling the Lights of Januká Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–In the almost sixty years that I’ve been involved with Israel I’ve observed the conscious or unconscious collusion between Israel’s secular majority and its Orthodox, now growing, minority. It seems that the former believe that Orthodoxy is the only authentic manifestation of the Jewish religion, but having given up religion they
Reform’s weak status in Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion
Tempting The Devil in the Name of God: The Heavy Hand of Fate by Howard Beckman; Inspire on Purpose Publishing; 2012-2015; ISBN 978-1-941783-24-8; 373 pages, $19.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – One of my favorite apocryphal stories concerns the Jewish woman who traveled to India to see the guru. She was told that
Drug dealer becomes a spiritual leader Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion