By Leah Singer SAN DIEGO — Many of you have heard of the December Dilemma — the conflicts that arise when interfaith families need to chose how to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas. But few talk about what I’m calling the Spring Dilemma — Passover and Easter. I hesitate even mentioning them in the same sentence […]
The Spring Dilemma: matzo v. chocolate bunnies Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Sheryl L. Rowling SAN DIEGO –As usual, the Money Maven needs to take a break for “tax season.” Luckily, the Passover Fairy has agreed to answer your questions. The Money Maven will return next time! Dear Passover Fairy, I’m trying to save money. Passover food is so expensive! Nobody even likes to eat matzo!
‘Passover Fairy’ answers some Money Maven-type questions Read More »
Jewish Religion, Sheryl Rowling
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —Children have an unusual ability when it comes to confronting our spiritual hypocrisy as parents and as adults; very often they get to the essence of the problem as they perceive things. Frequently, as parents, we often fail to hear the questions our young people ask of
Answering the ‘wicked child’ at the seder Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–Surprised? Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reveals in their latest data that 88 percent of Israelis will take part in a Seder and 47 percent eat only kosher for Passover items during the holiday. Meantime, as Pesach approaches, latest figures from the National Insurance Institute’s 2011 poverty report indicate there are
20 ways to know Pesach is arriving in Jerusalem Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
SAN DIEGO — Our thanks to Melanie Rubin, who has spotted a license plate with double Jewish interest. MAZLTAV, of course, means good luck in both Yiddish and Hebrew. But there is also the specialty ‘Yosemite’ plate on which the happy expression is printed. Some pronounce it ‘Yo-Sem-It-Ee,’ but others, think of the
Double-interest license plate Read More »
Jewish Religion, Melanie Rubin
The Jewish Gospels by Daniel Boyarin; ISBN 978-1-5955846-8-7©2010, $21.95, p. 200, including notes and index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D WINCHESTER, Callifornia –Thanks to the Jewish general and historian Josephus and the Greco-Jewish philosopher Philo, we know a great deal about the internecine spiritual arguments among the Jews from the mid-second century BCE through the end
‘The Jewish Gospels’ examines emergence of rabbinic Judaism and Christianity Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Although we are free from the physical bondage our ancestors suffered in Egypt, this does not mean that we are no longer enslaved. I realized this during a recent trip I took out of the country. Judy and I were vacationing in a city where our cell phones
Why we are commanded to rid our homes of chametz Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Hashem (G-d) in His infinite mercy redeemed us from our bitter bondage. Not only did He free us physically, Hashem with boundless love restored our spirits emotionally and psychologically. We have the capacity both to pick ourselves up and to restore and comfort others, as the following true
Rekindling good spirits after a tragedy Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — For several years now, I have been taking a train to work every day. Not a subway train, mind you, but an old-fashioned inter-city railroad train, complete with a conductor who collects the passengers’ tickets and even shouts, “All aboard!” I enjoy my daily train ride
Spiritual conversations with the man sitting next to me Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–The word Korbon (offering) comes from the word karov (close). When we bring offerings to the temple, it brings us closer to Hashem. The korbonos have many seemingly daunting details; but we can never lose sight of the big picture. The korbonos offer us an intensity of closeness that is
God’s gifts must be understood to be utilized Read More »
Jewish ReligionTales of the Righteous, by Simcha Raz and Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, Foreword by Elie Wiesel, Gefen Publishers, 2012, Jerusalem, ISBN 978-965-229-540-8. $24.95. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — I enjoyed reading a translation of Simcha Raz’s latest new book, Tales of the Righteous. This book reminded me much of Louis Newman’s
‘Tales of the Righteous’ is an inspiring book Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK– “There is no such thing as privacy anymore.” “There are no secrets anymore.” These are two complaints that are heard frequently nowadays. We live in a world of cell phones and e-mails, blogs, Facebook and Twitter. We have no privacy, for almost anyone can reach us wherever we are, whatever
Courtesy and confidentiality taught in the Torah Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Though official spokespersons for Zionist organizations have largely given up on shlilat hagolah, the rejection of the Diaspora, some Israelis still take every opportunity to make declarations that seek to invalidate Jewish life outsideIsrael. Two such pronouncements that got media attention have been made in the last few days.
Do you have to be Israeli to be fully Jewish? Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Joel A Moskowitz M D LA JOLLA, California — Why go to Synagogue? A recent lecture from a rabbinical leader of Reform Judiasm induced us to write this essay. It is from a personal experience, not from a member of the religious hierarchy. With almost eight decades of being a Jew, with various involvements
A doctor’s prescription for what ails synagogues Read More »
Jewish Religion