By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — This past week, I went to the local sushi bar for some Nova Scotia sushi rolls. While I was there, I noticed the large screen television featuring a bout that took place at Wrestlemania. Despite some of the usual shtick, the bad guy won fair and […]
Man doesn’t find spiritual connection by intellect alone Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — In the early years of his life the patriarch, Jacob, was not a paragon of virtue. He came out of Rebecca’s womb hanging on to the heel of his older twin, Esau. He tried, in vain, to keep Esau from becoming the first born. A few years later,
Who did Jacob fight throughout the night? Read More »
Jewish ReligionNEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed disappointment that George W. Bush has decided to move ahead with plans to speak at a fundraising event in Texas for an evangelical group that aims to convert Jews to Christianity. The former president is scheduled to speak on November 14 at a fundraiser for the
ADL ‘disappointed’ Bush to address ‘Messianic Jews’ Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Both Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung point out that it is through dreams we can better understand the unconscious mind. “Dreams” said Freud, “are the royal road to the unconscious.” The Talmud itself attests, “A dream that it is not interpreted is like a letter that
The two dreams of Jacob Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–After Jacob tricked Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing, Jacob fled to Haran to escape his brother’s wrath. One night he stopped to rest. He lay his head on a stone, fell asleep, and dreamed. In his dream he saw a ladder with angels going up and down. God appeared
The care of holy places Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –It started as a joke. I was on the way out the door to work one day when my wife told me to take my hat and raincoat. “It’s going to rain today” I said, “But it’s nice out now. I’ll take my chances.” I came home soaked. A
Who makes the rain, daddy? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Rabbi Kamin’s interesting article on the subject of Halloween reminded me of many of my own childhood experiences. Is Halloween “permitted”? Is the children’s ritual of “Trick and Treating,” considered forbidden because it emulates the practices of the non-Jewish world? Many years ago, a learned colleague
Halloween superstitious? How about tefillin and mezuzot? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Sharing is a difficult concept for young children to understand and embrace. “Mine!” When my older grandson was around 18 months old, I brought him to our Shekhter Playground while preschool was in session. He made a beeline for one of the toy trucks. When another toddler eagerly
The spiritual battle between Jacob and Esau Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO– Yitzchak, son of Rav Shlomo, Rabbi of Vienna, was once walking in a forest park on the outskirts of Vienna. He was immersed in thought, mentally reviewing his Talmud studies. He enjoyed these walks so that he could concentrate and clarify the finer points of his lessons. On this
Was this shidduch made in heaven? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California –A 2009 Coen brothers movie, A Serious Man, would have no premise whatsoever without its extended opening, supernatural sequence featuring a “dybbuk” (an evil spirit in the form of a recently deceased person) visiting an unfortunate and hapless couple. Bad luck and spooky things then plague the family for
Who says Halloween isn’t Jewish? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Aryeh Savir For the first time ever in Israel, more than 200 of the rarest and most important Biblical manuscripts and texts are on display in Israel in an historic exhibition, titled “The Book of Books,” at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. On display are the original fragments from the Septuagint, the earliest
Earliest Bibles now in traveling display Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Isn’t it amazing that Americans are living longer than ever before in recorded history More than 87 million Americans will be over 65 by the year 2040, according to the National Institute of Aging. Today, the over‑65 group accounts for about 30 million people; the
Abraham, Sarah, Moses turn the ‘Paige’ on age worries Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Although I am embarrassed to it admit it, one of my guilty pleasures is the television show Fashion Police. On Fashion Police Joan Rivers and three co-hosts analyze, praise, and trash various celebrities for the outfits they wear. I watch the show because Joan Rivers is outrageously funny,
‘Fashion Police’ vs Torah values Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — A man once brought some beautiful material to a tailor and asked him to make him a pair of pants. When he came back a week later, the pants were not ready. He came back two weeks after that, and they still weren’t ready. Finally, after six weeks
Are there righteous among us? Read More »
Jewish Religion