By Ira Sharkansky JERUSAELM–We are never far from a reminder that the Israel-Palestinian conflict has a strong element of religious animosity. Those who aspire to solve this with a simple agreement about lines on a map will be better off refereeing a football match (American or European). The Middle East is not for them. […]
Religion, not land-use politics, at heart of Mideast dispute Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion
From Within the Tent: The Haftarot by Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman and Stuart W. Halpern, Editors; Yeshiva University Press, New York; ISBN 978-161-329-0316 ©2011, $29.95, p. 719 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California– Ezra and Nehemiah, prophet and governor respectively, introduced the first public reading of the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, in the late
‘From Within the Tent’ is a book for those wanting intense Jewish study Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — When the Torah speaks about Moses and Aaron, it sometimes puts Moses first and at other times, Aaron. For example, in Ex. 6:26 Aaron comes first: “It is the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said….” and in the very next verse it is Moses: “….these
Side conversations in the sanctuary not necessarily disrespectful Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Religious societies probably grapple with the problem of shame more so than your typical secular community. Rigors of ordinary Orthodox Jewish life are daunting enough. When compared to the members of the Haredi community, Orthodox Jews might just as well consider themselves, “Reform,” or even Unitarian. The
In many haredi homes, women are the resented breadwinners Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Reb Yisroel Salanter, founder of what is now the worldwide Mussar Movement, said, “When I was younger I wanted to change the world. When I realized I couldn’t do that, I decided to change my city. When I realized I couldn’t do that, I decided to change my
Some self-improvement parables to ponder Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Whenever I read the Lubavitcher website, it seems as if we are reliving history. The Lubavitcher character assassination of Shmuley Boteach reminds me of how the 17th century Dutch Jewish community treated one of its heretical spirits and his name was Uriel da Costa (1585-1640).
Critics of ‘Kosher Jesus’ author reminiscent of 17th Century Dutch Jewish community Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — In reading a book (“Galileo’s Daughter” by Dava Sobel) about the sixteenth and seventeenth century scientist, astronomer, and philosopher Galileo Galilei, I learned that despite his run-ins with the Catholic Church, Galileo was a deeply religious man. His religious beliefs, however, were out of synch with the orthodoxies
Bible’s “truths” are spiritual not necessarily historical Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–One of my congregants asked a recent synagogue class, “How can we try to be respectful and understanding of the ultra-Orthodox when they are at the forefront of hostile activities like rioting at places which are open on Shabbat and more recently, vandalizing a girls’ school in Bet
Is everyone worthy of our respect? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–The other day, I came across an interesting story, worthy of a Sherlock Holmes tale. Some time ago in 2011, Lubavitcher women sponsored a special collection for Shaarei Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. Deena Yellin writes, “The herd of brightly-colored stuffed animals filled our front porch with all the panache of
In defense of unkosher animal toys Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi“[My] book is telling the Jews to reclaim Jesus, the authentic Jesus, the historical Jesus, the Jewish Jesus” and to be inspired by his “beautiful” teachings, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach said this week in Jerusalem. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Shmuley Boteach reminds me a lot of Paul, the Apostle. In fact, I
‘The Kosher Jesus’ raises eyebrows but is not very deep Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — One of the more noticeable differences between Reform and more traditional worship services is how the congregation says the first two lines of the Sh’ma. Most Reform congregations stand for the Sh’ma while more traditional congregations remain seated. Additionally, Reform congregations say the second line of the
Why some sit and others stand for the Sh’ma Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Some time ago, I had a friendly discussion with Rabbi Yisrael Goldberg, a young Chabadnik who lives in Israel. In the course of our talk, he told me that Rabbi Avraymo Levitanski (a former teacher of mine) had recently died. Avraymo was a great man;
Should a Chabadnik say “Today is Thursday, January 5th, in Santa Monica”? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The commotion over the place of women in buses and on sidewalks reminds us that religion plays a central role in Israeli politics. There is no formal separation of religion and politics. Moreover, Judaism is a religion that gives a central role to political history, political criticism, and political maneuvering.
Israel’s democracy nourished by biblical arguments Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–A benevolent calendar coincidence, occurring every few years, brings us on Dec. 24 to the shared lighting of solstice calendars by both Christians and Jews. The solar and lunar calendar cycles have intertwined, and so this Christmas Eve will share the fifth night of Hanukkah, 5772. The circumstances should work
The co-incidence of Christmas and Chanukah Read More »
Jewish Religion