By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The story of Noah and the ark is one of my favorites. After the flood, God decided that God would never destroy the world again by flooding because “yetzer lev ha-adam ra mi-ne’urav”-human beings, by their very nature, have an inclination to do evil. God realized that humans are […]
Why did God choose a rainbow? Read More »
Jewish ReligionSAN 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
Shabbat San Diego to provide rest after the election Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USABy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —The Book of Judges speaks of a time of great social chaos in the generations leading to the formation of the ancient Israelite monarchy. The author of Judges bluntly says, “In those days there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in
Hillary Clinton and Abimelech Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USANovember 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
Hamburg, in Germany, Celebrates a Somber, Progressive Jewish First Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionThe 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,
A mahzor for Sukkot Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy 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
‘Just Kidding’: Regulating extreme shuckling Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & SatireFor the second time in days, a Mexican synagogue was vandalized. The walls were sprayed, windows were shattered and furniture broken. Local Jews see this as a reaction to the Mexican vote in favor of the UNESCO decision regarding the connection between the Jewish nation and the Western Wall and Temple Mount and the attendant
Mexican synagogue vandalized Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle EastRabbi 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
Highest-ranking Jewish chaplain in Marines says so long — but not goodbye Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy 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
By Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — I am touch with a broken mother who has just lost a second child—who can even attempt to offer words? A freshman college student agonizes about his parents’ difficult and contentious divorce. There is a lot of anonymous suffering in the world—much more than the terrorizing open dramas
Miracles are when we bestir ourselves to do good Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — We’ve come a long way from the time when Jewish garment workers and others who wanted to observe Shabbos were told on Friday, “If you don’t come in tomorrow, don’t bother coming in on Monday.” Observance today is easier, thanks to such advances as the five-day work week, and
Dilemmas of taking off work on Jewish holidays Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joel H. CohenEvery year, Jews around the world seek repentance before the holiday of Yom Kippur through an atonement ritual known as kapparot. In exchange for a donation, a rabbi gently waves a chicken over one’s head, reads a blessing, and then the bird is humanely slaughtered according to Jewish dietary laws. Animal rights groups have repeatedly
Animal rights activists can’t stop a religious rite Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A clip is circulating among alumni of the Fall River Jewish community that has Cantor Marcus Gerlich along with the Temple Beth El choir. singing Kol Nidre, It brings back memories from the best of my Jewish youth. Cantor Gerlich was a fine teacher and role model, who saw me and many others through
Kol Nidre: Its style and substance Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastAmid tight security, worshipers invited to special sukkah by chief rabbis, rabbi of the Western Wall By Times of Israel staff Thousands of people gather at the Western Wall for the Priestly Blessing on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 (Israel Police) Thousands of Israelis flocked to the Western Wall in Jerusalem Wednesday, for the traditional biannual
Thousands flock to Western Wall for Priestly Blessing Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East