By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –There is a long running dispute in Jewish tradition over which is more important: the study of Torah or the performance of mitzvot. It is generally accepted that Torah study is more important, but only because it leads to the performance of mitzvot. Nevertheless, Torah study, in and of […]
Study Torah or do the mitzvot? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — If after all these hardships befall you, you continue to act improperly, “Those remaining from you will perish in the land of your enemies because of your sins and even from the sins of your fathers which are with you, you will perish.” (Leviticus 26:39) This statement presents
Weekly Torah portion: Bechukosi Read More »
Jewish Religion
-59th in a series– Exit 33, Willows Road, Alpine (eastbound) By Donald H. Harrison VIEJAS INDIAN RESERVATION, California — I wrote the following story for the Sept. 19, 1997 edition of the San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage, of which I was editor. The sentiments expressed in this excerpt still apply today, and provide background for any
I-8 Jewish Travel: Jews and Native Americans Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USATwo babies were hospitalized at Schneider Children’s Hospital in Petach Tikva for being infected with herpes during circumcision, Kikar HaShabbat reports Wednesday night – and a prominent mohel has demanded that fellow mohels get checked for the disease before performing the ceremony. Mohel Rabbi Shlomo Mahfoud told the daily that mohels must “check themselves first
Mohels warned to get checked for herpes after babies infected Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationIn 1990, Jihad Al-Mohammed moved into an abandoned building in the old city of Sidon in south Lebanon. The Lebanese civil war had just come to end. The Palestinian refugees who had been sheltering in the centuries-old structure had gone. “But it was filled with rats and garbage,” says Mohammed. “So I cleaned it up.”
It took this man 10 years to realize he was living in a synagogue Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastA special event was held Monday evening at the Kotel in the Old City of Jerusalem for some 500 Jewish converts from across Israel affiliated with the Ami Ulpan network. The event, in honor of the upcoming holiday of Shavuot, celebrated the converts” journey to Judaism. Shavuot, which marks the giving of the Torah to
‘I wanted so badly to be Jewish’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastWARSAW — On the face of it, Maciej Pawlak is an unlikely Jewish day school principal. Born in Szezecin, in northwestern Poland, he was raised in an atheist household and did not even realize he was Jewish until he was a teenager. His father, Zbigniew, was Catholic, and his mother, Alina, was Jewish. “I suspected
He found Judaism at 14. Today he’s at the forefront of Poland’s Jewish revival Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionLag Ba’Omer fires may have sparked the massive blazes in Emek HaArazim, Ramot, and Jerusalem’s Romema neighborhood the Fire Department announced Monday. A campfire in Emek HaArazim, near Ramot, probably started the blaze as Lag Ba’Omer festivities ended, spreading due to northwest winds at approximately 12:05 pm Thursday, the Investigative Department of the Jerusalem Fire
Lag Ba’Omer bonfires caused Thursday’s major wildfires Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastThe number of Jews around the world is no more than 15 million, and despite their small number, their presence internationally and their influence – politically, scientifically, technically and economically – is manifold their number. It is not known, accurately, why they are so vastly distinguished and superior compared to others, as they are the
Kuwaiti ponders success of the Jews Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle EastAn anxious job-seeker in the Ukrainian town of Medzhybizh tried finding work at the local synagogue, but when he was told to come back later he became incensed – and tried to stab the rabbi. The rabbi in question says it was a miracle no one was hurt and that the man could have murdered
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International, Jewish ReligionA unique celebration took place at the Yeshivat Hesder Meir Harel in Modi’in Thursday, on Lag Ba’Omer: a special needs boy celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. The Bar Mitzvah boy, an autistic teen, was the first to celebrate the milestone since the inception of the Bar Mitzvah program Shahak LeBnei Mitzvah eight years ago, complete with
Autistic teen celebrates Bar Mitzvah in special ceremony Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO–Every once in a while it is interesting to type one’s name into Google and see what comes up. It almost never fails to be amusing and upon occasion perplexing as well. On one such recent excursion I came across an item which caught my eye: “Moral Issues and Christian Responses:
Internet surprise: I’m quoted by a Christian philosopher Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Since I was ordained in 1980, the Jewish community and its institutions have been going through a period of significant change and restructuring. Rabbis and Rabbinical organizations have not been insulated from these transformations. This week I attended the International Rabbinical Assembly Convention in New York City. I
Conservative rabbis debate proposed reforms Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — “If you will observe my statutes and my laws, then you will dwell in the land safely. The land will produce its fruit, and you will eat to satiety and you will dwell in the land in security.” (Leviticus 25:18-19) With this G-d promises us that if we
Weekly Torah portion: Behar Read More »
Jewish Religion