By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–When I first encountered Zionism as a child in post-war Poland, I heard much about the dream for Jews to become like all other peoples. After all that we had been through we now wanted to be like everybody else. Living in Israel today, not only when I’m in Tel Aviv, […]
Terrorism in the guise of piety Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — As I gazed into the wedding canopy where my younger daughter exchanged marriage vows with her betrothed some two and a half years ago, all of the fears floated out of me. The professional dreads, the generational anxieties, the clinging grudges, and the pounding griefs of this existence—they vanished.
Life cycle events and visions of the immortal Read More »
Jewish ReligionThe Debate Over Jewish Achievement: Exploring the Nature and Nurture of Human Accomplishment by Steven L. Pease, Deucalion, Sonoma, California; ISBN 978-0-9825168-4-3 ©2015, $19.95, p. 275, plus bibliography and index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — The Jewish people are an enigma to historians, social scientists, and pundits of various stripes who cannot quite fathom
Why do Jews achieve so much? Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Numerous speakers during a Sunday, July 26, rally at Balboa Park passionately decried the nuclear arms deal that the United States and other major world powers recently reached with Iran, but the San Diegan who easily was the hero of the day chose the printed word-not the microphone-to
Hundreds rally in San Diego to stop Iran N- deal Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, USABy Toby Klein Greenwald JERUSALEM–A little while ago, as we broke our fast at the end of the mournful day of Tisha B’Av, I was suddenly overcome with this strong sentimental thought – perhaps prompted also by a friend who wrote in a Facebook message that when he drives on Begin Highway and sees new
Jews, despite differences, must love one another Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Toby Klein GreenwaldBy Michael R. Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO — What lesson have we not learned from one of the most basic principles in Judaism, “Love your fellow Jew as yourself”? It’s preached on pulpit after pulpit, regardless of the sex of the rabbi, the color of the rabbi’s talit, whether the rabbi wears a kippah or not,
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Jewish Religion, Michael MantellBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–A man once told me that he became a more observant Jew when he changed from being a person who remembers the Sabbath Day, according to the first set of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:5), to a person who observes it, as per the second set (Deuteronomy 5:12). Using the same
The danger of excessive Tisha B’Av mourning Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Here is an amusing story based on this week’s parasha which speaks not only of rabbinic discretion and the limits of rabbinic authority, but the independent nature of Jews as well! The book of D’varim (Deuteronomy) begins, “These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel”” (Deut.
The need for modesty in law- giving Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Skip the miracle stories; they are more like cartoons than remedies. Don’t depend on messiahs—they usually wind up flawed, exposed, or defeated. The best prescription in Scripture is the lean and inclusive behavior manual we all call The Ten Commandments. That gnawing dread that follows us around now, that
His Top Ten will endure Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Every now and then, I think about the morning, some fifteen years ago, when I experienced something all too familiar to many Americans: termination from a long-held position. Though I had no verifiable notice, I just knew they were coming to fire me. Sitting apprehensively at my cherry wood
The day the rabbi was fired Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO–Imagine waking up in the next century with those words made famous by Regis Philbin, sandblasting its way into our popular lexicon: “Is that your final answer?” Along with “Where’s the beef?” and “Yada Yada Yada,” not to mention, “You look mahvelous,” “I’ve a feeling were not in Kansas
Forget TV catch phrases; try these Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and FoodIncreasing Wholeness: Jewish Wisdom & Guided Meditations to Strengthen & Calm Body, Heart, Mind, & Soul by Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, Vermont; ISBN 978-1-58023-823-6 ©2015, $19.99, p. 151, plus notes By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — The expression “wholeness is peace” might be considered an aphorism in English, but it
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Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — Isser Harel, head of Israel’s Mossad from 1953 to 1963 is remembered for his capture of Adolf Eichmann. Few remember Harel for his capture of Yossele Schumacher. The former was the notorious Nazi war criminal in charge of mass deportation of Jews to extermination camps while the latter was
Search for Yossele divided secular and ultra- religious Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
By Erin Philips SAN DIEGO– Kicking off San Diego REP’s 40th season, The Pianist of Willesden Lane is the story of Lisa Jura, a young Jewish girl from Austria whose passion for music and skill as a pianist sustains her through the dark and terrible years of World War II. As told by her daughter
A moving musical journey through WWII Read More »
Jewish Religion