Jewish Religion

Parsha Noach Brings to Mind What You’ll Do in Retirement

Noah’s age mattered. G-d needed someone righteous enough to rebuild humanity, not a young idealist trying righteousness on for size. And, truth be told, the bar for righteousness back then wasn’t sky-high. As the sages point out, being “good” in Noah’s day just meant being less terrible than everyone else. [Betzy Lynch]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Community Aids Families Affected by Federal Furlough

To qualify, applicants must be federal employees (including contractors) in the San Diego Jewish community who are directly affected by the federal furlough. The loan amount is up to $2,500. The guarantor is waived for this specific program only. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Parsha Noach: Building an Ark of the Mind

The Torah tells us, “Every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil continually” (Bereishit 6:5). The generation of the Flood wasn’t destroyed merely for what they did, but for how they thought. Their cognitive distortions, their rigid, self-centered, and morally detached thinking, gave rise to destructive behavior, ultimately drowning their world in chaos. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Book Tells of Works and Lives of Latter Day Biblical Prophets

Her book not only informs readers about the Bible, the history and mindset of the times, but also about the effects of all of this then and today. Most of the 286 pages are composed with the primary text in the top half, with an abundance of intriguing, informative details in the notes below. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Executive VP of the Orthodox Union, Dead at 60

“Rabbi Hauer was an exemplar of what it meant to be a Torah Jew. Torah framed his life, and he used Torah to frame our lives,” said Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the OU, who spoke in both Jerusalem and New York. “I have lost a brother,” Joseph said, describing his close working relationship with Rabbi Hauer as they led the OU together for the past five years. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Press Release, USA

Tifereth Israel Congregants Gather Ahead of Funeral to Mourn Volunteer Extraordinaire Phil Lorang

Formal funeral services will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at El Camino Memorial Park. More than 100 people gathered informally Sunday in the social hall of Tifereth Israel Synagogue to share their memories for more than an hour. Here’s a partial summary of what was said about Phil in a session moderated by Rabbi Hanan Leberman, who described him as “a role model of kindness and chesed.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

A Shabbat Celebration with Members of La Vid Church and 3 Israeli Soldiers

We arrived in the late afternoon to set up and warm the home-cooked meal we had prepared. As we entered the lush, plant-filled garden, we were greeted by Hebrew music and Israeli flags draped along the greenery and up the tiered retaining wall. What a welcome! [Betzy Lynch]

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Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

A Creative Way to Celebrate Chanukah with Children

A family vacations for several days at the beach at the start of Chanukah, but in their haste they forgot to pack a menorah. They have, however, packed the Chanukah candles. So they improvise each night of their vacation. The first night, they stick the shamash and another candle into the soft flesh of a banana. The second night they put candles into a bowl of granola. The third, into shiny foil. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Hispanic Heritage Month Includes Many Jews

Mexico has had a Jewish population since the early Colonial Era. Many individuals could not openly worship as they would be persecuted for practicing Judaism. Mexico eventually adopted freedom of religion and began receiving Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food