By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Temple Mount (to Muslims Noble Sanctuary or Haram al Sharif) has returned to world headlines for God may know how many times, according to Jews, since the time of Solomon. Whatever happened there, and happens now, is a matter of intense concern. It is not a stretch to conclude that it […]
Temple Mount crux of Arab – Israeli dispute Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–“Hiddush – For Religious Freedom and Equality” is an organization headed by Rabbi Uri Regev, the former president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and, before that, the head of Reform Judaism’s Israel Religious Action Centre. Hiddush regularly surveys the religious preferences of the country’s Jews. The latest poll indicates
Israel’s Progressive Jews now equal Haredim’s numbers Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–There’s more to religious divisions in Israel than those between Orthodoxy and Liberal (Conservative and Reform) Judaism. There’re also many opposing forces within Orthodoxy: Ashkenazim and Sephardim; Hasidim and their opponents; Zionists and anti-Zionists. Yet they’re together in the Knesset and currently all in the government. In recent years, however, yet
A new schism in Israeli Orthodoxy Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Jenn Lindsay ROME, Italy–On Kol Nidre night that year, it was raining at dusk. I decided not to ride my bike to the progressive Yom Kippur service on the Boston University campus. If I rode my bike, I would get too thirsty coming home and I wouldn’t keep the holiday fast. So I went to
A Progressive Jew experiences Orthodox Yom Kippur Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are called aseret yemei teshuva, the Ten Days of Repentance. These days are considered a particularly appropriate time to review our lives and correct our faults. The Shabbat which falls during these ten days is called Shabbat Shuva, the
When is the proper time to repent? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An American cousin sent me a link to the PBS documentary, 1913: Seeds of Conflict, and asked if it was a fair and accurate presentation. I clicked, and received a message, “We’re sorry, but this video is not available in your region due to right restrictions.” The Internet being what it
Arab – Jewish holy-day battles have many precedents Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — With the Yom Kippur judgment pending (perceived as a moral threshold by most Jews, a time for cleansing souls), this is really one of the rare times of the year when our spiritual community actually ponders evil straight on. Most of the year, we’re thinking about good works. We’re
Repentance is how Jews deal with evil among us Read More »
Jewish Religion(JNS.org) A New York City judge upheld the right of Jews to conduct the Kapparot ritual for Yom Kippur despite the opposition of animal rights activists. Traditionally, Jews who engage in the practice will wave a chicken over their heard while chanting “this is my substitute, this is my exchange, this is my atonement. This
Judge upholds Kapparot custom for Yom Kippur Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAThe Aura of Torah: A Kabbalistic-Hasidic Commentary to the Weekly Readings by Rabbi Larry Tabick, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia; ISBN 978-0-8276-0948-8 ©2014, $24.95, p. 291, plus appendices By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Traditionally, Kabbalah is the secret knowledge in the Torah given to Moses on Mt. Sinai, passed down orally through the ages,
New book offers kabalistic view of the Torah Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s not an auspicious beginning. Or maybe it is. The year is 5776, according to the Hebrew calendar, תשע”ו as you’ll find it on Israeli documents. By tradition, the calendar began with the creation of the world, but we needn’t let doubts about that bother us. As it is beginning, the
Jewish year 5776 starts ominously Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — A lawsuit has been filed in California against a number of synagogues, including Young Israel of Beverly Hills, alleging a violation related to the High Holidays. What is the lawsuit about? A. On the High Holidays, these synagogues do not open their parking lots as it is a violation of
Jewish Trivia: High Holy Day lawsuit Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Michael R. Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO — According to Jewish tradition, on the tenth day of the Hebrew month Tishri, Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the second set of tablets of the Ten Commandments after Hashem forgave the Jews for the sin of worshipping the golden calf. That day is called Yom Kippur,
A 4-step guide to repentance Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — On Sunday, September 13th, at sundown the High Holiday of Rosh Hashanah begins. This is my prayer for the coming Hebrew New Year: 5776 I pray for peace. Let it begin with me – and you – and then spread in concentric circles to include every living soul. Peace
Some prayers for the Jewish New Year Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Somebody wrote me a nasty letter recently after something I wrote about Jews and social justice. “You just wrote that because you’re a Jew,” spouted my critic. To this branding, I say, thank you! Thank you! Thank you for attributing to me the greatest possible ethnic compliment. Call me
New Year’s resolution: ‘Call me a Jew!’ Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA