By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–Citizens of southern Israel face the prospect of yet another Passover under fire. The barrage of missiles and rockets on our southern cities and surrounding western Negev kibbutzim is almost taken for granted by the international community as they prefer to focus on whether a few hundred more apartments are being […]
18 Ways To Know Passover is Coming in Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Travel and FoodBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO, April 7 – Fueled by kosher pizza, members and guests of the Tifereth Israel Men’s Club participated Thursday night in a ceremony that was both solemn and light-hearted: the packing of yellow candles for congregants to light at their homes the evening of April 30, Erev Yom Hashoah – the evening
Somber yet light-hearted workers pack candles for Shoah rite Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — The Torah portions of Tazria and Metzora describe in detail, the procedure followed by a Kohain when he examines a person for tzaraas, a leprosy-like disease. One of the guidelines a Kohain utilizes while checking out a person’s skin, is the fact that every hair on the human
Yossi and Sheindel—a match, or not? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Current events invite consideration of a prayer said by religious Jews three times each day. The subject of Richard Goldstone came up in a conversation with a religious friend, and he responded with the opening of the 12th chapter of the Amidah. וְלַמַּלְשִׁינִים אַל תְּהִי תִקְוָה The first word (malshinim) may be
How Judaism views Jewish slanderers Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –On Wednesday evening I returned from attending this year’s Rabbinical Assembly International Convention. For the first time, this annual gathering of Conservative-Masorti rabbis took place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although the convention was held in the suburb of Summerlin in a quiet hotel far from the famed Las Vegas
Rabbinic impressions of Las Vegas Read More »
Jewish Religion
Beginnings: The First Love, the First Hate, the First Dream… Reflections on the Bible’s Intriguing Firsts by Meir Shalev, Translated from the Hebrew by Stuart Schoffman, Harmony Books, New York; ISBN 978-0-037-71718-4 ©2011, $25.00, 295 pages By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California– Americans relish someone accomplishing something first! Do you remember who flew the first airplane? How
Witty book examines ‘firsts’ in the Bible Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–The Talmud’s words: “I have learned from all of my students” certainly holds true for me. On Tuesday evening my eighth grade class at our Community Jewish High School was studying an ancient aphorism quoted in the Talmud: “When we were young, [we were treated] like grown-ups; now that we
Beware misconceptions about the young — and the old Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman JERUSALEM — The Torah details the regulations and specifications of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) which was a precursor to the Bais Hamikdash (Holy Temple) in the Jerusalem. Hashem gave us special Mitzvos to be done in the land of Israel, as well as the ability to carry out those mitzvos as the
Shemittah paid off for observant potato growers Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–When most Jews hear the words, “Remember – do not forget!” they think of the Holocaust. Survivors and members of the Jewish community recite these words as an oath to the six million Jews who perished during the Shoah. We pledge not only to remember them and preserve their Jewish
Haman, Hitler, and modern Amalekites Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –The following true story, submitted by Yaakov Lederman, is documented in Kids Speak 4: My name is Chaim. I am eleven. I live in Israel. At the beginning of the school year my father met my teacher on the street. At first he tried to cross to the other
The power of praise Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Most people agree that everyone has an obligation to give tzedaka. What they don’t agree on is how much money is an appropriate gift. When we hear, “give until it hurts,” we believe that our neighbors have a much lower pain threshold than ourselves. I am often envious of Mormons.
How much tzedakah should one give? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — The book of Vayikra deals primarily with the offerings of the Mishkan (Temple). The offerings we bring, bring us closer to Hashem and bring atonement. The Chofetz Chaim wrote that when an inexplicable personal tragedy occurs, it is a kapara (atonement) for the Jewish people: In 1991, the
The infant’s funeral and the busdriver Read More »
Jewish ReligionNEW YORK (Press Release)– The Interfaith Coalition on Mosques (ICOM) has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a Muslim congregation in Georgia whose mosque expansion project was unlawfully blocked. The brief supports the contention of congregation Dar-e-Abbas that the city of Lilburn, Georgia affirmatively prevented the congregation from building a new house of worship, and
ADL backs Muslims in effort to build new mosque in Lilburn, Georgia Read More »
Jewish Religion