-Third in a series– The Gaon of Vilna and His Messianic Vision. By Arie Morgenstern, Translated by Naftali Greenwood. Jerusalem: Gefen Publishing House, 2012, Pp. xiii + 446; plates. Cloth, $29.95. I would give this book 4 stars! By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — When I received Morgenstern’s book, The Gaon of Vilna and His […]
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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Most modern Jews have considerable difficulty understanding why the Satmar, Chabad, Belzer, and other Hassidic movements oppose Zionism. In this short article, I will try to explain some of the theological and exegetical background regarding the history of this problem. In the course of the
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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –The Kapischnitzer Rebbe, Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel (1888-1967), was renowned for his love of every Jew. He lived in a very modest apartment. The furniture was simple and the floors were worn. Yet that was all he and his wife needed. One day, the Rebbe’s daughter said to him,
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Jewish ReligionThe Gaon of Vilna and His Messianic Vision by Arie Morgenstern, translated by Naftali Greenwood. Jerusalem: Gefen Publishing House, 2012, Pp. xiii + 446; plates. Cloth, $29.95. I would give this book 4 stars! -First in a series — By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –The Vilna Gaon’s life is the stuff that
The Vilna Gaon: a rationalist and a mystic Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
SAN DIEGO– Melanie Rubin, our license plate maven, spotted this vanity plate, owned by Safta L, who no doubt is very proud of all her grandchildren. Whatever else the “L” stands for, it stands for “love.”
Jewish-interest license plate: Safta L Read More »
Jewish Religion, Melanie RubinBy Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — “Words, words, words!”, he shouted at me. He was a young man, raised as an observant Jew, but now in rebellion against his traditional upbringing. His parents had asked me to meet with him for several sessions to see if I could at least temper his
Judaism not just ‘words, words, words’ Read More »
Jewish ReligionThe Fed-Up Man of Faith: Challenging God in the Face of Tragedy and Suffering by Shmuley Boteach, Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, New York; ISBN 978-965-229-606-1 ©2012, $24.95, p. 340, plus addenda By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — World-renown Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, in his latest book The Fed-Up Man of Faith, continues on the path
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Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Purim is here once more. For me, it is a bitter-sweet holiday. The year was 1996. Earlier that day, I went to the hospital to wish my father a “Freilach Purim” (Happy Purim). I was reading the Megillah for my synagogue, when suddenly, somebody informed
A Survivor chooses the day to die Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo SamuelCHULA VISTA, California — Purim Fest 1946. During the Holocaust years, Purim celebrations were forbidden to the Jews. Christians and Jews could not even own the book of Esther. Such decrees did not stop the Nazis from poking fun at the Jews on this Jewish holiday. With diabolical glee, the Nazis
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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Nothing in Jewish life is easy. What could be complicated about a triangular shaped pastry with filling inside? Hamantaschen, the preferred perennial Purim treat, seem simple enough at face value. But a little research proves that this holiday delicacy has a vast and perplexing history. First of all,
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Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — It seems strange, but there is scarcely a day when we don’t hear about some person losing his or her grip on reality. We are bombarded by a series of rampage shootings that we hear on the radio and television that occur with almost clockwork regularity. Christopher
Dorner rampage: How war can taint a soul Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — Whenever I think of people I knew who dressed impeccably, I recall three of my favorite people. One was my maternal grandfather, a businessman who was firmly dedicated to religious observance, but who chose his clothing carefully and was proud of his collection of cufflinks, tie clips, and
Clothes make the man… and the woman Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — It’s one thing to visit in a synagogue and talk with God about life and death, fate and fortune, mortality and miracles, cruelty and compassion. It’s another thing to share this conversation with a sweet old man who has experienced all of these things and could easily debate
Lou Dunst, a victim turned philanthropist Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The Chafetz Chaim was one of the greatest Jewish ethicists and moralists of all time. He took his name from the verse from the book of Psalms, chapter 34: “Who is the man who is eager for life; who desires years of good fortune? Guard your tongue from
The privilege of sustaining a holy community Read More »
Jewish Religion