By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo has a lot in common with the late Rabbi David Hartman. Cardozo is, as Hartman was, an Orthodox rabbi. Both immigrated to Israel in the belief that only here can Orthodoxy, indeed Judaism, renew itself and remain relevant. Both created institutions in Jerusalem, one the […]
Orthodox peers shun Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — If you haven’t come across the ubiquitous word “mindfulness” over the last year or so, perhaps it’d be a good idea to read this. You see, there’s a love fest going on with mindfulness and it has captured the attention of nearly every magazine, self-help and coaching-therapy
Jewish mindfulness — being fully aware and accepting Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Donald H. Harrison SPRING VALLEY, California — Since 1983, Noah Homes has been offering refuge to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It provides residences and caretakers for 70 people spread over eight homes with such Spanish names as Casa de Fe (Faith) and Casa de Paz (Peace.) Currently the charitable organization, which was
Noah and his animals source of joy at Noah Homes Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — Moshe faced a monumental and daunting task; the building of the Mishkan (the portable tabernacle). Enormous amounts of gold, silver, and bronze, had to be procured and fashioned. Many varieties of dyed wool, linen, goat hair and ram skins needed to be processed according to complicated and intricate
Weekly Torah portion: Vayakel Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — This week we read the first of four special maftir portions which are read leading up to Purim and Passover. The maftir is called Shekalim. It describes the half-shekel tribute every Israelite was to pay to the Temple in order to purchase the animals for public sacrifices. After
Why did the Temple require only a half- shekel? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The decision to establish an egalitarian prayer area at the Western Wall on seemingly same terms as the two Orthodox ones that are now there (one for women and one for men) may be theologically dubious in the eyes of some of us, but it has been politically most
New Kotel section a victory for progressive Judaism Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –– Parashat Ki Tissa contains the story of the egel ha-zahav, the Golden Calf. After Moses ascended Mt. Sinai, he remained on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. It did not take long for the Children of Israel to become unsettled and anxious. They despaired of
Golden calf worship: clinging to old habits Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — Worship a golden calf?! How could such a thing happen? After witnessing the ten plagues, the exodus from Egypt, the splitting of the sea, the war with Amalek, the Manna from heaven, and the giving of the Ten Commandments from G-d Himself, how, within twenty-four hours, could anyone witnessing
Weekly Torah portion: Ki Tesaw Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Before Holocaust Survivor Lou Dunst died last year, he and his wife Estelle commissioned art to enhance the Holy Ark at Ohr Shalom Synagogue at Third and Laurel Streets in San Diego. Four artists competed for the honor of designing the works, with architect Amy Reichert of Chicago,
Ohr Shalom dedicates Pillars of Cloud, Smoke Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Although God is the central “actor” in the Torah, Moses plays a significant supporting role. In fact, from the story of his birth on, there is not one parasha in the Torah that does not mention Moses by name…except parashat T’tzavveh. In parashat T’tzavveh, Moses’ name does not
Why T’tzaaveh doesn’t include the name of Moses Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — The Mishkan (the portable Tabernacle) was built to be a place where G-d could dwell, presenting a more concentrated manifestation of Himself than He emanated to the rest of the world. It was the place where the people could go, with the proper preparation, to communicate with G-d
Weekly Torah portion: Tetzveh Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison CHULA VISTA, California –Temple Beth Shalom, a Conservative congregation that in 1958 became one of the first local Jewish houses of worship to locate outside the City of San Diego, was designated on Wednesday, Feb. 17, as a historic site of the suburban City of Chula Vista. The Jewish congregation, then
Temple Beth Shalom declared a historic site Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Jack Forman SAN DIEGO — Righteous Rebel: The Story of Rabbi Avi Weiss, a wide-ranging, celebratory feature-length documentary by filmmaker Phil Schneider honoring the life and the activism of the well-known and controversial Orthodox Rabbi who has been in the public limelight for almost a half a century screened before an attentive audience of
Jewish Film Festival Review: ‘Righteous Rebel’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Theatre, Film & BroadcastFalse Facts and True Rumors: LaShon HaRa in Contemporary Culture by Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman, Maggid Books, Jerusalem; ISBN 978-1-59264-441-4 ©2015, $29.95, p. 261, plus bibliography and indexes By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–The Hebrew expression lashon hara, literally meaning “an evil tongue,” is often translated as slander, gossip, and malicious or disparaging speech. In contemporary
How Judaism views evil speech Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion