By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Eli Rosenholtz told me that Reb Dovid Leibowitz ztz”l, Rosh U’meyaseid Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim (RSA), used to cite the Talmudic dictum, that one should learn not only from the teachings of his rebbe, but from his actions. Reb Dovid would then exhort his talmidim (students): It looks […]
Not by words alone but by our actions are future Jews influenced Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Parashat Naso contains one of the most beautiful passages in the Torah: Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing. Every Friday evening parents use these words to bless their children at the Shabbat table. It is also used by rabbis to bless their congregants on special occasions. “The Lord bless
Priestly Blessing: A reminder of the True Source Read More »
Jewish Religion
Nachas Ruach: Torah-Based Psychotherapy and Tools for Growth and Healing by Dr. Naftali Fish, Targum Press, Brooklyn, NY; ISBN 978-1-56871-50099-9 ©2011, $29.95, p. 304 plus bibliography By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., founder and medical director emeritus of Gateway Rehab, in Pittsburg, PA, relates in an opening letter to the book Nachas
Psychotherapy for the haredim Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–For years CNN.com has been my homepage. I like to check out national and international news at the beginning of my work day. (The second web page I always check is haaretz.com.) One article in particular caught my eye this morning: “17 Recent Political Sex Scandals.” (http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/17/political.sex.scandals/index.html?hpt=Sbin) The article highlights
Why do powerful men stray from their wives? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Hashem counts us over and over again. Each new census is a new show of His great love and affection for us. There is one natural response to this, as Rav Chaim Volozhin teaches, “How is it possible for us to declare in the Shema prayer that we
Attention San Franciscans: why banning circumcision is a bad idea Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–We often wonder where our happiness will come from – and when? The Torah tells us the answer, “Im Bechukosai tailaichu” If we follow in Hashem’s ways we will find happiness and fullfillment. The Mishnah tells gives us the same message, “Eizehu ashir hasameach bechelko” “Who is wealthy? He who
The golden house across the valley Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — This week we begin our exploration of the Torah with a trivia question. For 613 Mitzvah points, which Jewish singer-songwriter helped pen the following opus to the virtues of hard work? Money for Nothin’ Now look at them yo-yo’s, that’s the way you do it You play the
Working hard six days will make rest on seventh more meaningful Read More »
Jewish ReligionJesus of Nazareth, Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection by Joseph Ratzinger, Ignatius, San Francisco; ISBN 978-1-58617-500-9 ©2011, $24.95, p. 293 plus appendices By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–Nearly two thousand books on the Amazon website are linked to the words Jesus and Passion. With so many books one might wonder
Pope’s book on Jesus important interreligious document Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Shortly after the death of Osama Bin Laden by American Special Forces, Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles posted the following comment on his Facebook page: “Yesterday, Yom Hashoah, Bin Laden was killed. The proper reaction is sobriety, not revelry. This is a time to remember those
Bin Laden’s death cause for some satisfaction but not for revelry Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Joel A. Moskowitz, M D, FAAP, FAPA LA JOLLA, California — Visiting the sick is a Jewish obligation. The Talmud enjoins that those who visit the sick cause him/her to live These days, it is just good health sense for you to be there to protect a loved one who has to be hospitalized.
Prescription for assisting one who is hospitalized Read More »
Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – There had been a community-wide commemoration of the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah, the day before. but on Monday night, in the surroundings of the synagogue that has been home to the New Life Club, Holocaust Aurvivors held another, more intimate remembrance service. Prayers and readings were preceded by
Tifereth Israel holds an intimate remembrance of the Holocaust Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–During Pesach Jews are obsessed with ridding their homes of chametz. (fermented wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt.) They remove bread, cookies, and beer (sigh), clean and scrub their counters and sinks, vacuum their carpets, and blowtorch their ovens (or use the self clean mode!). The process of getting rid
The symbolism of ridding our homes of chametz Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — There’s some controversy about President Barack Obama’s Passover message. The key passage is this: “The story of Passover…instructs each generation to remember its past, while appreciating the beauty of freedom and the responsibility it entails. This year that ancient instruction is reflected in the daily headlines as we see
President Obama’s Passover problem Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–French Hill is a largely secular Jewish neighborhood, with families who are religious and ultra-Orthodox, as well as a few Arab families and Arab plus East Asian singles and young couples who are students at the nearby university. The neighborhood synagogues are one Ashkenazi, one Sephardi, one mixed Ashkenazi-Sephardi, one Conservative, and
Passover, French-Hill style Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion