By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Yaakov beseeched Hashem (G-d) that his descendents should not be unworthy (vis. Rashi – shelo tehay psul b’zari). It was crucial to Yaakov that Torah carry on throughout the generations. When we study, practice and transmit Torah, we are bringing nachas (pride and joy) to our patriarch Yaakov. […]
The good examples of Reb. Aharon Kotler Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — It was prayer as usual at the Jerusalem synagogue on Wednesday morning following the devastating Palestinian terror attack that left four rabbis and a Druze policeman dead the previous day. The morning Shacharit prayer services were full of worshipers and men studying Torah, as security guards and border police milled
Symbolic brit milah held day after synagogue massacre Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastArabs riot after bus driver found dead despite police assessment of suicide (JNS.org) Riots broke out in eastern Jerusalem late Sunday night after rumors spread that an Arab bus driver had been murdered by “Jewish extremists.” According to the Israel Police, however, the bus driver in question committed suicide. The body of Yusuf Hassan Ramouni,
JNS news briefs: November 17, 2014 Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I have known Dick Sharkansky since my first memory. Our families lived for a while in the same building on Belmont Street, and sometime during our second year, I’m pretty sure that he bit my finger . He may have a different set of memories. We were in the same
Should columnist say ‘Gentiles’ or ‘Goyim?’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–A few years ago our daughter, Margalit, called Judy on a Monday afternoon. Knowing it was my day off she asked, “What are you doing?” Judy hesitated and said, “You don’t want to know.” Margalit persisted, “Why won’t you tell me?” Judy said, “Alright, if you really want to know,
Grave matter: Buy now, die later Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– Both Chief Rabbis are in the news, doing their part to soothe or disturb in different corners of the complex phenomenon that is Judaism. The Sephardi Chief Rabbi has weighed in on the issue of the Temple Mount, and has aroused the ire of Naftali Bennett, head of what considers itself
Many options for people dealing with Israel’s rabbinate Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East
Gracie’s Night: A Hanukkah Story by Lynn Taylor Gordon, Illustrated by Laura Brown, © 2013 Cookie & Nudge Books, , ISBN 978-0-9857353-2-6, 30 pages, $8.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—In this beautifully illustrated story, Gracie lives in New York City with her father, who is a hard-working bus driver, and their dog, cat and
Children’s Literature review: ‘Gracie’s Night’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — There is a well-known Chassidic story about a man who treated an unkempt fellow traveler at an inn dismissively and disdainfully. They ended up traveling together to the next city. When they came to the next city the unkempt fellow was greeted with honor and affection by the
Abraham and Lot: Who truly welcomed strangers? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Arnon Groiss JERUSALEM (IRNA) — On the 11th of Heshvan, which in 2014 fell on November 4, Jews observe the “yaarzeit” memorial for Rachel, the Biblical matriarch who bore Joseph and died in child birth as Benjamin was born. As part of our agency’s continuing reportage of the PA school books now used in the
P.A. redefines Rachel’s Tomb in textbooks Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
MUNICH, Germany (WJC)–German police have a possible lead on who was behind the theft of the ‘Arbeit macht frei’ (Work sets you free) sign from the former Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, near Munich, over the weekend. The entrance door containing the slogan was stolen under cover of darkness from the memorial site at Dachau
‘Arbeit macht frei’ sign at Dachau stolen Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Jewish wars. Not really wars, but a continuation of disputes going back at least to the time of Ezra. Jews have been quarreling about who is a Jew since then, and over the centuries have added numerous other squabbles. It all amounts to disputes among people who have been literate
Conversion battles date back at least to Ezra Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — This past Friday night, we rejoiced when we heard the news about Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, who was finally released from having spent 214 days in a horrible Mexican prison. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this story, Tahmooressi was arrested on March 31 after
Obama failed in his duty to redeem the captive Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USAAdon Olam: A Search for Meaning by Rabbi Zalman Weiss, Menorah Books, Jerusalem; ISBN 9978-1-940516-12-7 ©2014, $24.95, p. 350, plus glossary. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Ezra the Scribe, in 458 BCE, led a group of about eighteen hundred Jewish men together with their wives and children from the Babylon Captivity to their new home in
Adon Olam is catchy but do you know what it means? Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Avraham was a model of chesed (kindness) and rachamim (mercy). His tent had a door on each side so that he could invite geusts wherever they might come from. These beautiful traits have been hallmarks of the Jewish people, handed down from generation to generation ever since, as
Paying attention to the homeless Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA