Rebbetzin Chaya Andrusier discussed the Torah portion of the week, Miketz, which continues the story of Joseph. Pharaoh gave Joseph a wife, Asenath and they had two sons together: Manasseh and Ephraim. [Cailin Acosta]
Jewish Women’s Circle Discusses Joseph’s Resilience Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
It has been devastating to turn on the news or check social media to see the homes lost and evacuations of homeowners and animals due to the wildfires in Los Angeles. San Diego congregations are aiding some of the victims. [Cailin Acosta]
San Diego Congregations Helping Southern California Fire Victims Read More »
Cailin Acosta, California, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
When Jews were expelled from Portugal, many moved East to form the Sephardic community we all know, but as many Jews, perhaps 100,000, moved West to the Americas in the 16th century. Today it is estimated that a quarter of Hispanic Catholics in the Americas derive from Jewish stock, with many now awakening to their heritage. [Mark A. Schneegurt, Ph.D.]
Sephardic Prayer Songs Found in Church Records of Mexican Inquisition Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors
While the events of our lives are commonly beyond our control, the way we interpret them—and how we choose to react to them—are abilities within our own mind. This teaching echoes through the story of Joseph, who reinterprets the betrayal of his brothers as part of Hashem’s divine plan, and through Jacob, who blesses his children with wisdom. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Parsha Vayechi: Transforming Suffering into Divine Purpose Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
I live the struggles of the Jewish people,
every day,
anywhere they happen.
Aren’t Jews one wherever they are?
Aren’t we one with the Jewish state of Israel? … {José Galicot}
Jewish Poetry: I Live Here Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Jose Galicot, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
While this fire follows a string of others that have ravaged large swaths of America’s west coast, we need not let this become “the new normal.” We are not powerless to confront this reality. We can demand changes that will reverse the trend toward more frequent and extreme climate disasters. [Rabbi Jennie Rosenn]
OpEd: Los Angeles Fires Result from Dependence on Fossil Fuels Read More »
California, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
In 1966, a fire that started on a top floor of the 10-story Jewish Theological Seminary building in New York City destroyed 70,000 books and other written items. Many were extra copies of the books stored below; others were irreplaceable items such as the Torah scrolls sent for safekeeping from Danzig during the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]
Questioning the Bible leads the questioner to consider possible solutions. This, in turn, can lead to learning, prompting the questioner to act. Action is the goal. It leads to self-improvement, which, in turn, improves other humans and all creation. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Benefits Derived from Questioning the Bible Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsDoes anyone get a little sad or in a “lull” a few days after New Year’s? All the excitement of the holidays in the fall and then everything is over in January. [Cailin Acosta]
After the New Year, a Sad Lull Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
In the USSR, Jewish life, Jewish religion and Jewish education were forbidden. Anyone who wanted to learn about Jewishness had to seek out ways to learn about it at his or her own risk. Jewish melodies could pour from different and unexpected sources. Lord George Gordon Byron suddenly turned out to be one such source for me. [Alex Gordon]
Lord Byron, Heinrich Heine Were Contributors to Jewish Music Read More »
Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined ContributorsI read somewhere that people stick to their New Year’s Resolutions for only two weeks. Two weeks after New Years Day, people give up. I found that a little sad.[Cailin Acosta]
New Year’s Resolutions Are Kept for an Average of Two Weeks Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
This book written for children between the ages of 4 and 9 will have adults chuckling and children delighted. The collaboration between author Sutton and illustrator Chappell prompts readers to wonder who is babysitting whom. [Donald H. Harrison]
In Children’s Book, Is Zayde the Babysitter or Vice Versa? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Mia, having learned from Edie Rose, makes a list and goes around to an interreligious and interracial group of neighbors in the building, who immediately agree to contribute foods for a seder … [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s Tale Tells of a Kindness Being Reciprocated at Passover Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors– This week, as we read וַיִּגַּשׁ (Vayigash), we encounter what many consider to be one of the most emotionally powerful moments in the entire Torah. We witness the remarkable story of Joseph—the first person in the Torah to teach us how to heal and transform the way we think, feel, and respond to life’s challenges. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Parsha Vayigash: Joseph Found Divine Meaning in Adversity Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors