By Jenn Lindsay VATICAN CITY — Recently I attended an audience with Pope Francis with the International Council of Christians and Jews. It was my second audience, as I had also gained access to the Vatican’s elaborate reception room through the Pontifical Institute for the Study of Arabic and Islam. The journey into the heart of […]
San Diego woman tells of her selfie with the Pope Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionBy Anav Silverman JERUSALEM – The Temple Institute is working together with an Israeli cattleman to raise a red heifer in Israel, in strict accordance with the Biblical commandment. The project is the culmination of years of research at the Temple Institute that fuses ancient religious texts and modern science. “We’ve been working on this
Red heifers to be raised in Israel by Temple Institute Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — I recently read a book by Aaron David Miller entitled, The End of Greatness – Why America Can’t Have (and Doesn’t Want) Another Great President. Miller asserts that there have only been three great American Presidents: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt. He also asserts that not
Why we don’t have the greatest of leaders Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Roads to hell. We know they’re paved with good intentions. Jews wanting to improve things for themselves and others have been as guilty as anyone. The latest example is Jews, including some Israelis, who participate in BDS for the sake of humanity as they see it. We’ve been paving those
Hurting ourselves in the name of ‘humanity’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The collusion between secular Israelis and extreme Orthodoxy has a long and ignominious history. The mixture of cynical indifference and a seemingly visceral belief that authentic Judaism must be Orthodox continues to dominate the political realm in the land. To repeat the old adage: Many Israelis insist that the synagogue
Orthodox out- maneuver Reform in Israeli politics Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — While delighted and supportive of the Supreme Court’s recent decision that denying same sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional, I disagree with the many who commented, “Love Wins.” The Supreme Court’s decision has no effect on the ability of people to love one another. There are
In support of the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — It’s summertime and in many parts of the Lower 48, it’s hot. In Alaska, it’s not so hot, and it rains and drizzles a lot, especially in Juneau. But the summer of 2015 is going to go down as not just a very hot time but also as the
Pope, rabbis agree: world must deal with climate Read More »
Jewish Religion, The World We ShareBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO –For over forty years of my life I began my day (6 days a week) with a morning ballet class. Learning to dance is only part of the matrix that one learns in such a class and my life was changed by that experience. I often feel like a survivor
Ballet dancing and the study of Torah Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Stephen Hazan Arnoff NEW YORK –A light faded from the world in recent days. Rami Wernik of blessed memory, zichrono l’vracha, was a phenomenal friend, husband and father; a scholar, teacher, mentor and leader; a man of dignity, humor, loyalty, generosity and truth — a light gone elsewhere after a heroic struggle with cancer. Something like
Eulogy for Rami Wernik, dean at AJU Read More »
Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, USAHow Free Will Works: The Blueprint to Take Charge of Your Life, Health, and Happiness by Dovid Lieberman, Feldheim Publishers, New York; ISBN 978-1-4675-6353-6 ©2015, $19.99, p. 324, plus glossary By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Judaism has a theological problem with regard to free will. People have a sense of self-agency and self-determination;
Free- will means deciding about morality Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By David Ogul SAN DIEGO – At a time when fewer American Jews call themselves religious, and when even fewer are attending services regularly, a series of bold initiatives at Tifereth Israel Synagogue has led to a thriving membership and growing programs. The synagogue’s strategies have drawn notice from congregations throughout the nation who are
Synagogue that eliminated dues is growing Read More »
David Ogul, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — Some believe that there are two types of congregations: destination congregations and neighborhood congregations. A destination congregation is so compelling, so well known for its theology, programming, school or rabbinical leadership that people will travel from anywhere in the region to attend or become a member. A neighborhood congregation
Shul, Ken, and SDJA to share the campus Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County
SAN DIEGO – The Hadassah Foundation, headquartered in New York, NY, awarded the Bernice N. Tannenbaum Prize to Jessica Nare, Director of Leadership Programs at Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS), in a June 8 ceremony at the UJA-Federation of New York The Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize recognizes emerging professionals who have made innovative
JFSSD’s Jessica Nare honored in New York City Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Speaking on Tuesday night to introduce his forthcoming book, Not in God’s Name, Jonathan Sacks, the former chief rabbi of modern Orthodoxy in Britain, argued that sibling rivalry is a fundamental cause of violence, also in religion. The Book of Genesis offers many telling instances – beginning with Cain’s
Sibling rivalry: why religious groups fight each other? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East