By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — My grandmother had a deep-seated distrust of non-Jews. Given her childhood, this was understandable. My grandmother grew up in Russia during a time of turmoil, ferment, and rabid anti-Semitism. She told me of the pogroms she and her family survived, and of the Cossacks beating her younger brother. […]
Living among gentiles — and enjoying it! Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –Yaakov dwelt for years with the wicked Lavan. Nevertheless, he did not diminish his stringent mitzvah observance (vis. Rashi: Im Lavan garti, v;taryag mitzvos shamarti). A mitzvah is a precious gift for us to cherish always, wherever we are, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, as the following true story
Serving good kosher food after treif Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — In the midst of the battle between Israel and Hamas, I read a provocative article by Rabbi Daniel Gordis on “The Times of Israel” website (if you would like to read the original article, click here). Rabbi Gordis, who lives in Israel and is Senior Vice President and
Measuring out our compassion Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO– In 1991, our three month old son Shlomo Moshe Lederman returned his soul to his creator. While we were sitting shiva, a number of people offered words of consolation. I found these words very inspiring. I wrote them down in a notebook (not a laptop, an actual paper notebook)
Living the allotment of our years Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — Up until this point, the seventh session of the class using the book of Genesis to explore the concept of leadership, my role as teacher was a very easy one. The students not only participated eagerly, but vied for opportunities to speak. Moreover, they invariably had a
Was Jacob abusive to Rachel? Read More »
Jewish ReligionRabbi Wayne Dosick, The Real Name of God: Embracing the Full Essence of the Divine; Publisher: Inner Traditions; Date 2012; ISBN-10: 1594774730: 224 pages; Price $19.95. Rating: **** ___________________________________________________________________________ Rabbi Wayne Dosick responds to the review below: https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2012/12/05/r-dosick-responds-to-book-review-of-the-real-name-of-god/ __________________________________________________________________________ By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Hassidic interpretations have an endearing quality that is often ignored by
Is God’s real name ‘Anochi?’ Author and reviewer disagree Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
SAN DIEGO — Eagle-eyed Melanie Rubin, remembering her Book of Genesis, spotted this Jewish-interest license plate, which recalls the name of the patriarch Abraham’s brother.
Jewish-interest license: Harran Read More »
Jewish Religion, Melanie RubinBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — As I read the opening words of this week’s parasha, I found them to especially appropriate: “eleh toldot – these are the generations.” While the Torah is speaking about the generations, or story, of Isaac and his decendents, I was applying the words to my own family. This
Celebrating the arrivals of baby girls Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — When Yaakov was garbed in Esav’s clothing, he was still polite and respectful of his father. He was still Yaakov inside. His goodness could not be suppressed. The goodness of tzadikim (the righteous) still shines even in the most incongruous situations, as the following true story illustrates: November
Righteousness shines through Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Garry Fabian MELBOURNE, Australia — While the aim in life should be take each day as it comes, and generally always be forward looking, occasionally a significant date brings back a past event into sharp focus. On the 20th November 2012, one such landmark comes sharply into focus for me. Seventy years before, on
Grim 70th anniversary observed by columnist Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — Here it was, the sixth session of the class which was using the book of Genesis as a source for studying the nature of leadership. It was proving not to be the kind of class in which the teacher lectured and the students listened passively. Rather, it
Why couldn’t Isaac tell Esau and Jacob apart? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Is revenge or vengeance permissible in Judaism? Has the view of revenge changed over time? Answer: You ask a difficult question and the answer is far from simple. Numerous laws and passages proscribe revenge and vengeance. Conversely, revenge plays an important role in rectifying injustices that occurred. The
What Judaism says about revenge Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org BALTIMORE—Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the Reform movement’s congregational arm, was an atypical choice as scholar-in-residence for the 2012 Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) General Assembly—by his own admission. “First of all, it’s an honor,” Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), said in an interview with JNS.org in
Jewish Federation pick Reform movement head as its scholar Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion
First in a series By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Natural catastrophes such as a floods or earthquakes are frequently referred to as an “act of God.” A deer crossing in front of a car that causes an accident is also considered an “act of God.” When “acts of God” occur, it exempts
What was God’s role in Hurricane Sandy? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi