By 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, USABy Ben Cohen/JNS.org WASHINGTON, D.C. (JNS.org)– On Sept. 17, the Regents of the 10-school University of California (UC) system will discuss a statement of principles against intolerance. Alarmed by a rash of anti-Semitic incidents on UC campuses, a large number of Jewish scholars and activists have urged that the Regents adopt, in the context of their
U.C. to debate anti- Semitism’s definition Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Did you know that despite the commonly held view that the Torah is perfect, it contains mistakes and questionable readings? At a certain point in time (between the 7th and 10th centuries) a scholarly group known as the “Masoretes” decided on a definitive text, choosing from the different
Masorete mysteries within the Torah Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit)–This year, the call of the shofar will be made accessible to thousands of Israelis, many of whom have never previously heard the blast of the shofar traditionally sounded on Rosh Hashanah in the synagogue. After 15 years of expanding Yom Kippur programs to 295 locations across the country, Tzohar, the
Secular Israelis to hear the sound of the shofar Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Chabad Hebrew Academy and the various Chabad houses within San Diego County are staging a one day fundraiser beginning at noon Wednesday, Sept. 9, and ending at noon Thursday, Sept.10, with the object of raising $1.1 million for the many Chabad institutions in the county. Each Chabad unit is in
Chabad sets 1-day fund goal of $1.1 million Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Yom Limmud lived up to its name once more as some 400 participants, including Jewish educators and lay people, gathered to imbibe a day of Jewish learning on Sunday, August 30 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Jewish religion, culture and nationhood encompass such a vast spectrum, that it is difficult to include sessions
Jewish spirituality was focus of Yom Limmud Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Parashat Ki Tavo contains a list of blessings and curses. If the Israelites are faithful to the Covenant and obedient to God they will receive the blessings. If they turn away from God and don’t observe the mitzvot they will receive the curses instead. In introducing the blessings
Where can you find true blessings? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Rosh Hashanah is almost here! According to Jewish mystical tradition, Elul is a period of spiritual awakening. The name of Elul is an acrostic for: אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לִי “I belong to my beloved and my beloved belongs to me …” (Song of Songs 6:3). Hence, the time of
When God and humankind are lovers Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Michael R. Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO — There is nothing so Jewish as self-improvement. And all this time, you thought gefilte fish or bagels and lox were the ultimate Jewish experience. No, you see, when it comes to improving yourself, making yourself into an elevated, more refined, more civil person, nothing in psychology has ever
Spiritual self- improving, Jewish style Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The Jews That I Knew: Voices From the Invisible Ghetto by Ed Schwartz; Create Space © 2014, ISBN 979-1500-1507-61; 96 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – From its cover to its conclusion, too few pages later, this is a quirky yet enjoyable book. You might get the idea looking at the cover that
Only a shlemiel would judge this book by its cover Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, USAVatican demands removal from Palestinian flag bid at U.N.(BreakingIsraelNews.com/JNS.org) Despite its recognition of a “State of Palestine,” the Vatican has requested it be removed from a Palestinian-prepared United Nations General Assembly draft resolution that calls for the flags of “Palestine” and the Holy See to be flown at U.N. headquarters in New York City. The
Jewish news briefs: August 26, 2015 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAChanging the Immutable: How Orthodox Judaism Rewrites Its History by Marc B. Shapiro, Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, Portland, Oregon; ISBN 978-1-904113-60-7 ©2015, $19.95, p. 285, plus bibliography and index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Changing the Immutable by Marc B. Shapiro, who holds the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Chair in Judaic Studies at
Censorship in the haredi community Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison CARLSBAD, California – Chabad of La Costa on Sunday, Aug. 23, celebrated the completion of what its spiritual leader, Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort, called the “floor of the present” containing an 88-seat sanctuary, offices, a small library, and a kosher kitchen. Already roughly constructed, but needing such important finishing touches as an
Chabad of La Costa celebrates ‘floor of the present’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiBy 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
Tis the season to seek to be forgiven Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell