By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — The reunion between the twin brothers, Yaakov and Esav, after a twenty-year separation, appears to be a simple story: Yaakov sends a gift, they meet and hug. Esav says he doesn’t need the gift because ‘I have a lot’ (Genesis 33:9). Yaakov says, ‘I have all that I […]
Weekly Torah portion: Vayishlach Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — I’ve always felt that Esau gets a bad rap. Perhaps it’s because I was always chosen to play Esau in Hebrew School plays (I had dark skin and hair when I was a child). More likely, it’s because I felt badly for Esau who was more the victim
Jacob, Esau, and the duplicity of evil Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Edwin Black WASHINGTON, D.C. Susan Abeles’ saga began in 2013 when she took time off to observe the last two days of Passover, just as she had done annually for the past 26 years. During those years, Abeles, an Orthodox Jew, worked for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), mainly as a data specialist.
Employee disciplined for observing Pesach’s last 2 days Read More »
Edwin Black, Jewish Religion, USAFive weeks before Trump assumes power, president tells American Jews: ‘We look forward to working with you on the other side’ By Eric Cortellessa Mika Almog, granddaughter of the late former Israeli president Shimon Peres, lights a menorah candle as Rabbi Rachel Isaacs says a blessing during a Hanukkah reception in The East Room at
At final Hanukkah party, Obama extols religious freedom, ignores elephant in room Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAMore than Enough is Nothing! By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — Yaakov had just left his parent’s home and his birthplace to journey to a foreign land in search of a wife. An encounter with Eliphaz, the first-born son of Esau, had left him penniless. Early darkness forced him to camp in an unfamiliar
Weekly Torah portion: VaYatzei Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — Early one December at my cousin’s retirement party, we were introduced to his replacement as engineering company head and the man’s wife, both not Jewish. The young woman was very outgoing and, though we were meeting for the first, she was as friendly as if we had been
Friendly Christians often confused about Chanukah Read More »
Jewish Religion, USARabbi Yair Melchior, the chief of rabbi of Denmark and a member of the Council of European Rabbis, clarified on Wednesday evening that the Danish Medical Association did not recommend a legal ban on circumcision before the age of 18. The clarification came following reports in the media that the Danish Medical Association had considered
Denmark’s chief rabbi: No legal ban on circumcision Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionThe Danish Medical Association intends to pass a law banning the performance of circumcision until the age of 18, since “this is a decision which must be taken by a mature person themselves.” Will Danish Jews be able to perform a circumcision on their children? The heads of the Danish Medical Association demand legislation which
Denmark may ban circumcision under the age of 18 Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionAt New York’s Central Synagogue, five female ‘firsts’ discuss their experiences pioneering the clergy in ‘Breaking Bounds’ panel By Cathryn J. Prince NEW YORK — They’d never be able to lift and carry the Torah. They’d look strange standing there on the bima (pulpit) wearing a yarmulke and prayer shawl. They don’t know how, or
Women rabbis who waded into a sea of opposition still fighting the waves Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAInterior Minister Aryeh Deri addressed a special conference of 100 Sephardic rabbis from around the world in the Knesset Tuesday. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein also participated in the conference. Deri criticized the Reform Movement during his speech. “I am asked, ‘Why fight for Jewish causes? Why don’t you make a
Interior Minister: No recognition for Reform Movement Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– For the first time in its almost 200-year history, the University of Alabama will allow a Jewish student group to display a menorah on campus during the Chanukah season, December 24 through January 1. This new seasonal display demonstrates the University’s desire to create a campus life that embodies collaboration, collegiality,
Menorah to be displayed at University of Alabama Read More »
Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USAUnreachable by road, the city of Iquitos must be accessed by air or boat — yet the tiny Jewish community still imports clergy and exports a love of Israel By Rich Tenorio After their ancestors journeyed across an ocean from the edge of the Sahara to the center of the Amazon, their current numbers have
Amazonian Jews thrive in the depths of the rainforest Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and FoodBy Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — The motto on a bumper sticker in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn — “Stamp Out Lashon Hara” — seemed like a wonderful idea. Curbing our “evil tongue” — ridding ourselves of the inclination, if not the desire, to gossip about, slander, defame, disparage, ridicule, belittle or simply embarrass another person — was and is certainly a
Real challenge: Eliminate lashon hara Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joel H. Cohen, USA
NEW YORK (Press Release)–Rabbi Irving Elson, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and as a Navy captain the highest-ranking Jewish chaplain in the U.S. military when he retired in September, has become the new director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council. The nearly 100-year-old organization is the only agency that endorses Jewish chaplains
Elson takes helm at JWB Jewish Chaplains Council Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA