Jewish Religion

Rabbi under the huppa may boost intermarrieds’ Jewish engagement

At a summit held in October at the National Museum of American Jewish History, several hundred communal professionals, rabbis, scholars, philanthropists, and young intermarried couples discussed engagement of interfaith families in Jewish life. There is widespread communal agreement that intermarriage has reshaped the landscape of American-Jewish life, but a lack of consensus regarding how best […]

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Jewish Religion, USA

Was Moses tripping when he saw the burning bush? Should you try?

A growing number of Jews are using psychedelics to reach spiritual highs, and you might be surprised to learn some Orthodox don’t frown upon the practice By Madison Margolin NEW YORK — Spiritual leader Ram Dass was born Richard Alpert, a nice Jewish boy from Boston. But in 1963, the former psychologist prof was expelled

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Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Shabbat San Diego to provide rest after the election

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Following one of the most bitter, divisive and exhausting presidential races in the history of the United States, the opportunity to celebrate a well-deserved Sabbath as a global community will take place on the very first weekend after Election Day on the Shabbat of November 11th and 12th, the Third Annual

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Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

Hamburg, in Germany, Celebrates a Somber, Progressive Jewish First

November 1, 2016: The Reform congregation in Hamburg of Germany has dedicated its very first Jewish Cemetery. The community’s section of the Ohlsdorf cemetery was inaugurated by Rabbi Moshe Navon, head of the Liberal Congregation in Bad Pyrmont, earlier this month. The inauguration was supported with $3,280 worth of gift for plantings at the area

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion

A mahzor for Sukkot

The Koren Sukkot Maḥzor; Introduction, Translation, and Commentary by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Koren Publishers, Jerusalem, © 2015, ISBN 978-965-301-659-0, p. 1465, $24.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California –  When a knowledgeable Jew hears the Hebrew word maḥzor, more than likely an image appears of a sanctuary filled with Jews praying during the High Holidays,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

‘Just Kidding’: Regulating extreme shuckling

By Joel H. Cohen   NEW YORK — A group of Brooklyn pulpit rabbis, heads of yeshivas and prominent laymen has quietly enacted an informal, non-binding agreement to rein-in “extreme” shuckling. The compact applies to themselves, their students and congregants. The action came in the aftermath of  injuries suffered by an unidentified 12-year-old boy, who swayed so

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Jewish Religion, Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Highest-ranking Jewish chaplain in Marines says so long — but not goodbye

Rabbi Irving Elson is retiring from the armed forces, but will continue to serve the troops as the incoming director of the Jewish Welfare Board By Rich Tenorio Shortly before the start of the High Holidays, Rabbi Irving Elson concluded a historic 35-year career serving his country. Elson retired on September 29 as deputy chaplain

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Jewish Religion, USA

UNESCO vote opens door to continued terrorism against Israel by in essence labeling Jews as usurpers

By Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON, Massachusetts –Seeming to parallel the dystopian world described by George Orwell in 1984 in which history and fact are manipulated to serve political ends, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently voted 24-6 to approve a resolution stripping the Temple Mount and Western Wall of its

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts