By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Included among the agricultural laws in Parashat B’har is the verse: “Do not wrong one another, but fear your God; for I the Lord am your God.” (Lev. 25:17) Although in context this verse refers to the fair amount to pay for the purchase of land during […]
Business or speech, one must not hurt another Read More »
Jewish ReligionUnderstanding the Talmud: A Systematic Guide to Talmudic Structure and Methodology by Rabbi Yitzchak Feigenbaum; Feldheim; 2nd edition (1988); ISBN By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Some Aramaic scholarly friends of mine who speak and know Talmudic Aramaic often complain about the poor syntax of the Talmud. To most English readers, it almost
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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiLOS ANGELES, May 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — On Friday, May 12, U.S. District Court judge André Birotte, Jr. granted a legal victory to the Chabad of Irvine, a small Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Irvine. The judge dismissed a lawsuit brought against the synagogue by animal rights activists, who sought to end a 1200-year-old Orthodox Jewish
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Jewish Religion, USAInspectors open probe into fire at landmark shul in Lower East Side, once home of oldest Russian Jewish Orthodox congregation in US By Times of Israel staff A fire broke out at the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol synagogue in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, May 14, 2017. (Screenshot) New York City firefighters put out a massive blaze
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Jewish Religion, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — It was a double first Saturday night at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. It was the first time that the Conservative Jewish congregation had ever hosted a gospel choir. And, it was the first time that the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir San Diego had ever performed in a synagogue
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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsAre You Eating or Damaging Your Food? By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — Terumah is the first of the tithes that are taken by a farmer from his crops that are grown in Israel. The farmer separates from his produce a portion between one-sixtieth and one-fortieth and gives it to a Kohen (priest). Terumah
Weekly Torah portion: Emor Read More »
Jewish ReligionWINCHESTER, California (Press Release)–The story of the Jewish calendar, which begins with the Exodus from Egypt, is more than 3,500 years old. Over the millennia, the twelve individual Jewish tribes coalesced into the nation of Israel, adopting, adapting, and ultimately developing their own religious calendar, which has withstood the vagaries of the ages. At one
Reiss writes book on the Jewish calendar Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The important distinction made by the late Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, the most significant contemporary exponent of modern Orthodox Judaism, between the covenant of fate and the covenant of destiny has important ramifications beyond Jewish theology. The covenant of fate is rooted in the paradigmatic experience of Egyptian bondage and
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Jewish ReligionSteven Abraham The day I was ordained from rabbinical school was one of the proudest days of my life. I was thrilled to have completed my studies, knowing that my journey and learning as a rabbi was just beginning. As I entered the world of the rabbinate, I found fault with the education I had
I say yes to mixed & same-sex couples Read More »
Jewish ReligionThe Progressive Party in Norway, one of the two ruling parties in the country (along with the Conservative Party) has announced that it intends to initiate a law banning circumcision in the country for males under the age of 16. Over the weekend, the party held a national assembly, in which the bill was put
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International, Jewish ReligionBooks of the People: Revisiting Classic Works of Jewish Thought by Dr. Stuart W. Halpern, Editor, Maggid Books, Jerusalem, © 2017, ISBN 978-1-59264-470-4, hardcover, p. 350, including list of contributors, $29.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – The editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, in the early 1950s, basing their judgment on just three simple criteria:
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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionThe European Jewish Congress has strongly condemned the decision of the Walloon region in southern Belgium to back the formal proscription of the slaughter of non-stunned animals as of 2019, thereby effectively banning shechita, the Jewish form of humane slaughter for meat. EJC President Dr. Moshe Kantor described the decision as “scandalous” and said it
‘Banning kosher slaughter attacks our status as equal citizens’ Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionThe Wedding Plan written and directed by Rama Burshtein, distributed by Roadside Attractions; Hebrew with English subtitles. To be presented May 26 at Hillcrest Cinemas. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — There is a scene in The Wedding Plan in which Michal (Noa Koler) is being driven to the wedding hall. She has on her
Chutzpah or faith? Bride plans wedding without groom Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Theatre, Film & BroadcastI Can’t Wait – Is a Weight! By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — “And when you come to the land, you will plant all types of fruit trees. For three years, the fruit will be prohibited; in the fourth year, it will be sanctified to praise G-d, and in the fifth year and from
Weekly Torah portion: Kedoshim Read More »
Jewish Religion