By Rabbi Hersh Tzvi Weinreb NEW YORK — I am sure that you have a most favorite activity. I know that I do. I am also sure that you have a least favorite activity, as I do. My most favorite activity is visiting Israel. One of the experiences I especially cherish during my visits […]
On giving–and receiving–the priestly blessing Read More »
Jewish Religion
Sacred Trash: The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole; ISBN 978-0-8052-4258-4 ©2012, $26.95, p. 384, including notes Reviewed by Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — The word geniza, from the Hebrew root gimmel, nun, zion, means a hidden treasure, an appropriate name for a millennium’s worth of
‘Sacred Trash’ tells story of Cairo Geniza Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — On Shabbat we begin reading the book of B’midbar, Numbers in English. At the conclusion of Shabbat we celebrate Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. According to rabbinic tradition, the Children of Israel received the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Torah from God on Shavuot, exactly fifty
New Jews join our people in spirit of Ruth Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — The generation that stood at Har Sinai was the greatest generation of all time. Their leader was the greatest leader of all time. This was not a coincidence. Hashem gives us leaders in proportion to the generation. The greater the generation, the greater the leader. Young Rabbi Yechezkel
How Rabbi Landau survived a test Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — My first exposure to the study of the Bible was in the Yiddish language. We spoke only English at home, but almost all the teachers we had in the yeshiva I attended were Holocaust survivors who had escaped to the safety of these shores only a few
Good manners preceded the Torah Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — When one takes a gaze at the Jewish horizon, one gets the distinct impression that many synagogues find themselves confronted by a spiritual problem they can scarcely understand—much less articulate: Irrelevance. Judaism may someday die—not by genocides—but by apathy. Yes, as rabbis we love to sermonize
Recovering Jewish spirituality Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO– It was just another sermon on a Friday night at my beloved congregation of elders here in Southern California—though I regard every opportunity to preach and teach as an honor and a privilege. Who should ever presume the license to stand before people who have to come pray
Reflection on Germany leads to poignant moment Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –A question came up recently in my congregation regarding the use of music at a Jewish funeral. The Reform Movement has long permitted the use of music at a Jewish funeral—provided the music does not derive from the Christian liturgy, e.g., Amazing Grace. Most Conservative and all
Is music at a funeral kosher? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
TORONTO, Canada — Michael Glassman spotted a sleepy car — or driver? — in front of him.
Jewish-interest license plate: Shlufy Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK –It is an old word, and it describes a behavior that has been around since the very beginning of history. Yet the word seems to me to be used more and more frequently these days, and the behavior it describes has gotten out of control. The word
Curbing the bully within ourselves Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — The New York Times has now published an article that carefully chronicles a disquieting, alarming social reality brimming inside the fundamentalist Jewish community of Brooklyn: adult members of the enclave who have reported the sexual abuse of youngsters on the part of rabbis, teachers, and other professionals are
Whistle blowers who protect children must not be ostracized Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — President Obama’s revelation surprised me. I wondered: Why did it take him so long to state his opinion? Wasn’t it obvious? True, the President indicated that he had reservations on whether he should personally endorse same sex marriage, or not. Although I think the President would
Halacha may be adjusted to societal reality Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
TORONTO — Michael Glassman spotted this expert’s license. He tells us there are many other license plates with Yiddish words are to be spotted in Canada. We thank him and hope he will send in others as he sees them.
Jewish-interest license plate: Maven Read More »
Jewish ReligionA LOOK BACK OVER MY SHOULDER By Garry Fabian Editor’s Note: In 1936 Garry Fabian’s family fled Germany to Czechoslovakia, hoping to escape Nazi persecution, but in vain. By 1942 Garry, aged eight, was interned in Theresienstadt. He was to spend till May 1945 in that ‘model’ concentration camp and was one of only about
Garry Fabian’s updated Holocaust memoir, ‘A Look Back Over My Shoulder’ now on line Read More »
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