23-year-old streaker detained by police, to be sent for psychiatric evaluation By Times of Israel staff An Israeli woman streaks at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday, June 11, 2017 (screen capture: YouTube) A woman stripped off her clothes at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday and ran from the women’s section toward […]
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Jewish Religion, Middle East
Unusual Bible Interpretations: Jonah and Amos, by Rabbi Israel Drazin; Gefen Publishing House, 2016; ISBN-10: 9652298859; ISBN-13: 978-9652298850 By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — I would like to begin this book review with a conversation I had with the publisher of San Diego Jewish World, Don Harrison. He asked me whether there was
Was the whale created by Jonah’s subconscious mind? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Joel H. Cohen (A Shavuot highlight is the reading of the Book of Ruth, a remarkable widow who, rather than return to her native Moab and her own family, chose to stay with her mother-in-law and accompany her on her spiritual and physical journey, adopting her people and religion. How Ruth’s family reacted to that
‘Just Kidding:’ If Ruth’s Moabite family wrote to her Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & SatireThe Jewish Calendar: History and Inner Workings by Dr. Fred Reiss; (c) 2017; ISBN 9781544-72382. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The study of the Jewish calendar is not one of the easiest topics to research. It is an area that most rabbis have at best a general knowledge of the history.
How does the Jewish calendar work? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiRamallah – Fatah central committee official Jibril Rajoub’s recent remarks that Jerusalem’s Buraq Wall “must remain under Jewish sovereignty” sparked a wave of criticism among Palestinians. He told Israel’s Channel 2 television that he agrees that the Buraq Wall (Wailing Wall) should remain under Israeli control. US President Donald Trump visited the site, he noted,
Rajoub’s Statements on Buraq Wall Provokes Palestinian Ire Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastLisa Silverstein Tzur Many years ago when I was a student rabbi, our congregation was chosen to receive one of the 1800 Czechoslovakian torah scrolls confiscated by the Nazis during WWII. Decades after the war, one by one, these sifrei torah were redistributed to congregations around the world, and we were ecstatic to accept one
What I learned at Sinai Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — It is traditional to eat dairy products, such as cheesecake and blintzes, on Shavuot. Many reasons have been cited for this custom, including which of the following? A. In the Hebrew tradition of Gematria, where the numerical value of words is considered for interpretation, chalav, meaning milk, has a value
Jewish trivia quiz: Shavuot & Dairy Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Q: Why does it take 10 men for a prayer minyan? A: The custom of the minyan is rabbinic in origin. When examining the minyan’s origins, it is vital we remember that this custom is not something that is etched in stone. However, as a custom,
Ask a Rabbi: Do we need ’10 men’ for a prayer minyan? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — I never read the book Moby Dick in my youth. Now that I have more time, I decided to read it in my dotage. I failed miserably. Even though Moby Dick is considered one of the greatest works of American literature, I found it ponderous and boring. When
Delay tasks? You’re more a Melville than a Moses Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish ReligionWhat plus Why Is Unstoppable! By 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 2:1-2) The Midrash Rabbah (Numbers 2:7)
Weekly Torah portion: Bamidbar Read More »
Jewish Religion, Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Someone in my synagogue asked me an interesting question about Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner: What kind of Halakhic dispensation was given to them to drive on the Sabbath to the Inauguration of the President? The same question came up recently when the Trump entourage
Ivanka: A fitting successor to Queen Esther? Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USABy Stanley Tiger SAN DIEGO — Although today his name is not a household word, it may be a measure of his success – his success in remaining private. Herman Wouk, celebrating his 102nd birthday on May 27th, is known for the value he places on his privacy, yet this extraordinary writer remains a luminary in the
Happy birthday Herman Wouk on your 102nd Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Reform/Liberal/Progressive (henceforth Progressive) Judaism often reaches Jews that other movements don’t get to. This may not apply to the United States and a handful of other comparatively large Diaspora communities, but it’s definitely true of countries where there’re a few Jews and where the traditional congregations are too insecure
Welcoming Jews on the periphery Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA