By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–As Governor Chris Christie’s staff recently found out, the truth always rises to the surface. During the week of reading parashat Mishpatim, Rabbi Menachem Mendle of Kotzk explained to his chassidim the meaning of the verse: “Truth springs from the earth.” (Ps. 85:12) He said that nothing grows from the […]
Biblical prophesy: The truth will out Read More »
Jewish Religion
WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release) — The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will open a new exhibition, “Camilla’s Purse,” Jan. 24 in the Albert Small Documents Gallery. The exhibition examines the life of Holocaust survivor, Camilla Gottlieb, through a display of letters, official documents and personal possessions. The records, collected and secured by Gottlieb in a
‘Camilla’s Purse’ new Shoah exhibit at Smithsonian Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion
A New Psalm: A Guide to Psalms as Literature by Rabbi Benjamin Segal; Gefen Publishing House (2013); ISBN-10: 965229618X; Price: $31.29 (on Amazon). By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Rabbi Benjamin Segal’s new commentary, A New Psalm: The Psalms as Literature is an excellent medley of numerous thoughts that Judaic commentaries have expressed on the Psalms
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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — There is nothing physically imposing about Lou Dunst—a cherubic, dignified man with a sweet smile yet deep, sorrowful eyes. At times, when he walks slowly by, it seems that a stiff wind could knock him down. But then you realize that not even the wind could do such
A Holocaust survivor celebrates a second bar mitzvah Read More »
Jewish ReligionA Social History of Hebrew: Its Origins Through the Rabbinic Period by William M. Schniedewind; Yale University Press, New HavenISBN 978-0-300-167668-1 ©2013, $45.00, p. 261, including notes, bibliography, and index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–William Schniedewind, UCLA professor of Mediterranean studies, Near Eastern languages, and the Bible, and author of A Social History of
Book Review: ‘A Social History of Hebrew’ Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
ROME (WJC) – A delegation of 15 Argentine Jewish leaders was hosted Thursday for an informal kosher lunch at the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse by Pope Francis. Latin American Jewish Congress Executive Director Claudio Epelman, who organized the meeting together with Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka, said it was an “extraordinary gesture by Pope Francis to
Pope hosts kosher lunch for Argentine Jews Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–This week’s parasha begins: “Yitro priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.” (Ex. 18:1) So he decided to pay Moses a visit. Rashi asks: “What exactly had Yitro heard that
Why Yitro wanted to visit Moses Read More »
Jewish Religion
Editor’s Note: Rabbi Baruch Lederman, whose column regularly appears in San Diego Jewish World, this week introduces Rabbi Yehuda Simes as a guest columnist. In 2010 Rabbi Simes suffered injuries that left him a quadriplegic. The following true story is told in his own words. By Rabbi Yehuda Simes OTTAWA, Canada — Over the course
How the rabbi was able to observe yahrzeit Read More »
Jewish Religion
JERUSALEM (Press Release) — The Knesset of Israel held its first ever Tu’Bshvat Seder on Wednesday, Jan. 15. It was hosted by the Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein. The seder, which replicates the four cups of wine of the Passover Seder and includes traditional readings associated with land and produce, was conducted jointly by
Knesset Speaker hosts first Tu B’Shevat seder Read More »
Jewish ReligionChumash Mesoras Harav – Chumash with Commentary Based on the Teachings of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik – Sefer Bereishis by Dr. Arnold Lustiger: OU Press and Ohr Publishing; First edition (2013) ISBN-10: 0989124606. Price: $38.24 Rating: 5* By Rabbi Michael Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — As one of the most important Orthodox thinkers of his time,
Soleveitchik via Lustiger illuminates the Torah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
NEW YORK (Press Release)–Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Thursday, January 16, 2014—is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new
Tu B’Shevat comes Thursday, January 16, this year Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — This Shabbat lucky Torah readers will chant Shirat Hayam, the Song of the Sea. Shirat Hayam is the poem the Israelites sang after they safely crossed the Sea of Reeds. Looking back, they saw the waters closing upon the pursuing Egyptians and knew that they were finally safe.
Another aspect of ‘The Song of the Sea’ Read More »
Jewish Religion
MUNICH (WJC) — The government of Bavaria, one of the 16 German states, announced on Tuesday that it would introduce a bill in the upper house of the German legislature aimed at facilitating the restitution of Nazi-looted art. If adopted, the new legislation would eliminate a 30-year statute of limitations in the German Civil Code
Lauder: Bavarian bill on looted art ‘insufficient’ Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion
By Judy Lash Balint/JNS.org JERUSALEM—It’s 9:30 a.m. on a sunny Monday morning in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. Two large groups of revelers almost collide in the alley leading to the main square. Both groups are accompanied by a clarinetist and a drummer belting out traditional “simcha” tunes, and in the middle
Putting more ‘mitzvah’ into that bar mitzvah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East