Jewish Religion

Torah Hints at Encouraging a Child’s Individuality

Parents, Rabbi Schwab emphasizes, might inadvertently fall into the trap of molding their child into a preconceived image, stifling the child’s unique potential. The Torah here hints at the directive for parents to go beyond imposing predetermined expectations and, instead, understand the essence of their child – honing in on what makes them unique. [Rabbi Daniel Reich]

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Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Some Facts about the Torah and its Laws

The weekly portion of Mishpatim, Exodus 21-1-24:1, begins with laws concerning an eved ivri, translated “Hebrew Slave.” But the term is not explained. It continues with laws when a man sells his daughter as a slave, a death sentence to a person who kills another, the law of an accidental killing, the rule that holding on the altar does not protect a murderer, injuries are punished “an eye for an eye,” and striking a father or mother and kidnapping result in the death penalty. There are many more laws. The rabbis changed all of these listed laws. This is not unusual. As I will explain, the rabbis saw multiple hints in the Torah that the Torah wanted the change. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Parasha Mishpatim: Finding Meaning in Brokenness

Healing requires patience, understanding and seeing the imperfect humanity of one another. We all make mistakes in our search for purpose and belonging. Parasha Mishpatim is teaching us to have compassion when those around us falter on their journey, binding up hearts broken by rage and judgement. If together we pick up the shattered pieces with care, perhaps we’ll find wholeness awaits on the other side. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Democratic Senate Candidates in California Split on Israeli Ceasefire; Agree on Combating Domestic Antisemitism

The most significant difference among the candidates was their answers to the ceasefire question.  While she favors eliminating Hamas as the power controlling Gaza, Lee said, “what I don’t think will assure Israel’s security is killing 26,000 women and children and civilians.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Stephen Schwartz’s Midrash: ‘The Children of Eden’

Just as Stephen Schwartz has yet to be recognized widely as a great commentator on the Torah, so too has Children of Eden lacked its moment in the spotlight. Both Schwartz and this musical are well-kept secrets that beg to be brought
into conversation with the study of Bereshit. [Adira Rosen]

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Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Parasha Yitro: Care for Yourself, as Yitro Instructed Moses

Like Moshe, burdened by his flock, we often wear ourselves thin in service. But just as Yitro offered wise counsel to Moshe to share the burden, remember that neglecting your own wellspring weakens you and those you serve. Self-care isn’t indulgence, it’s sacred stewardship. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Rabbi Nevarez Hopes to Calm Troubled County Human Relations Commission

“I’m not adding to the vitriol. My goal is to do my small part to help move the HRC away from that and into the effective, on-the-ground work that it was meant to do.” [SDJW staff]

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Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Berkeley Lecturer Found a Sanctuary in San Diego

Recently, as I was traveling and looking for a shul in San Diego for a few weeks I found respite and much more than that at Ohr Shalom near Balboa Park – joy and  inspiration, warmth and hospitality that energized me. [Noam Schimmel]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Parasha Beshalach: Who Is the True Physician?

“And He said, If you hearken to the voice of the Lord, your G-d, and you do what is proper in His eyes, and you listen closely to His commandments and observe all His statutes, all the sicknesses that I have visited upon Egypt I will not visit upon you, for I, the Lord, heal you.” The above verse appears immediately after the Shira (Song at the Sea of Reeds). It teaches us in no uncertain terms that it is Hashem, and no other, who heals us. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jerusalem Library Receives 45,000 Jewish Manuscripts from Yemen

The items were endowed to the museum last Thursday by the family of the late Yehuda Levi Nahum (1915-1998), a Yemenite Jew who immigrated to pre-state Israel in 1929 at the age of 14. Over six decades, Nahum assembled the world’s most extensive collection of Yemenite-Jewish manuscripts. [JNS]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Is Reincarnation a Fact, a Lie, or True?

Philo (25 BCE-50 CE) was the first Jewish philosopher to introduce the idea that there is such a thing as a soul that exists separate from the body. It contains the intellect and personality of a person. Platonic theories influenced him. He considered the soul to be eternal. However, he did not have the belief in reincarnation. The soul remained somewhere in limbo until the messianic age when it would be revived. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors