By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — A long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away…) I was an ozer (Counselor-in-Training) at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California for a summer. One of the senior counselors made an indelible impression upon me. He was a nice guy and a good counselor, but he could go […]
Moses’s love conquered his anger Read More »
Jewish Religion
VATICAN CITY (Press Release) — AJC President Stanley Bergman led a leadership delegation in a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday, Feb. 13. A pioneer in advancing Catholic-Jewish relations over many decades, AJC enjoys close, cooperative relations with the Vatican, as well as with American Catholic leadership. “I am very grateful
Pope Francis reaffirms Catholic-Jewish friendship Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO– One person, imbued with belief, can accomplish astounding things as the following true story illustrates: Gary was a boy in a Jewish elementary school in Pittsburgh who was known throughout the school as a big behavior problem. Year after year, by teacher after teacher, he was found to be
What turned the ‘behavior problem’ around Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — I remember reporting in a Jewish travelogue in 1991 about Victoria, British Columbia, that Selim Franklin was elected in 1860 to the second Legislative Assembly on Vancouver Island, and that in 1866 his brother, Lumley Franklin, was elected as Victoria’s second mayor, the first Jew to hold the
Quarterly tells of pioneer Jews of Victoria, B.C. Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — A story is told about a self-centered and egotistical man who went on a date with a woman he had just met. As they sat at dinner, he proceeded to tell her of all of his abilities, accomplishments, and fine qualities. He eventually realized that he was dominating
Moses teaches qualities of true leader Read More »
Jewish ReligionNEW YORK (Press Release) –The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Thursday, Feb. 6, welcomed a statement by Member of Knesset David Rotem in which he apologized for “any misunderstanding and offense generated by the contents of my comments yesterday,” regarding his remarks on Reform Judaism. According to reports, Mr. Rotem, the Chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law
MK Rotem apologizes for Reform Judaism remark Read More »
Jewish Religion
NEW YORK (Press Release)– AJC is challenging the Presbyterian Church (USA) commitment to Israeli-Palestinian peace, following the publication of Zionism Unsettled: A Congregational Study Guide. This study guide, billed by the church as an educational resource, was produced by the Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN), one of the church’s educational arms. “It is a devastating distortion
Jewish groups hit Presbyterian study guide on Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release) — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday, Feb. 5, called on Facebook to remove a “Jewish Ritual Murder” page that has been the subject of public criticism. Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement: “The ‘Jewish Ritual Murder’ page on Facebook perpetuates age-old anti-Semitic propaganda, and it should
FB should remove ‘Jewish ritual murder’ page – ADL Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Rabbi David Hartman, the distinguished exponent of contemporary Judaism, who died a year ago, built his monument while he was alive and named it after his father: the Shalom Hartman Institute. The Institute has become a powerful presence in Israel dedicated to opening the eyes of Israelis to pluralistic Judaism and
Can there be worldwide Jewish unity? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California– As Creator, and the Source of our being, God continuously brings our existence out of the abyss of nothingness, and is renewed with the possibility of new life. God’s love and compassion is bio-centric and embraces the universe in its totality. God’s power is not all-powerful (in
Creating an inner space for God to dwell Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Anathea E. Porter, Apocalypse Against Empire: Theologies of Resistance in Early Judaism Apocalypse; Wm. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI; ISBN 978-0-8028-7083-4 ©2014, $35 p. 462, including bibliography and indexes By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — I enjoy the amusement created by modern-day “prophets” declaring a forthcoming date to be the end of the
Apocalypse now …. and then Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — In this week’s parasha the Children of Israel are commanded to build the Mishkan, the traveling Tabernacle (tent) in which they will worship God while traveling through the Sinai desert. Although the Torah records that God told the Israelites, “Build me a Sanctuary so that I may dwell
Talmud teaches importance of appearance Read More »
Jewish Religion
WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)- Faith questions from a groundbreaking new poll of 3839 members of the disability community were released today by RespectAbilityUSA, a non-profit organization working to enable people with disabilities to have the opportunity to achieve the American dream. The poll shows that Jews with disabilities and their families are far less engaged
Poll: Disabled Jews unlikely to affiliate Read More »
Jewish ReligionBook: Sasha and Emma: The Anarchist Odyssey of Alexander Berkman and Emma Goldman, by Paul Avrich and Karen Avrich. Harvard University Press, 490 pages, 2012. By David Strom CHULA VISTA, California — What is an anarchist? As we know, there are so many different types of Jews that it is safe to conclude that there
Book Review: ‘Sasha and Emma’ Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion