How could they complain after all they had experienced? Time and again, they witnessed the hand of God caring for them. How could they think, let alone complain, that Hashem wasn’t taking care of them? [Rabbi Daniel Reich]
Parshat Beshalach: Is There Such Thing as Spiritual Invincibility? Read More »
Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
“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]
Parasha Beshalach: Who Is the True Physician? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
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]
Jerusalem Library Receives 45,000 Jewish Manuscripts from Yemen Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East
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]
Is Reincarnation a Fact, a Lie, or True? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Published by ANI News Tel Aviv [Israel], January 21 (ANI/TPS): Amichai Jackson, a bar mitzvah boy from the Gush Etzion community of Elazar, decided that in lieu of a party to mark the milestone event his parents should use the money to treat Israeli soldiers to dinner. Amichai was slated to celebrate his bar mitzvah
Israeli Bar Mitzvah boy forgoes party, treats 200 soldiers to dinner Read More »
Israel, Jewish Religion, Nordot
Zuckerman’s last trip to Israel was in October. On that occasion, he visited an IDF reserve unit near the Lebanese border, which had no trucks to move around the reservists’ gear. He promptly contributed $2,000 for the unit to purchase a trailer for hauling its equipment. [SDJW staff]
Our Shtetl San Diego County: Israel-bound Rabbi ‘Zucky’ Returns to San Diego Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The Arts, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA
Published by Reuters UK WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland’s parliament has voted to remove the immunity from prosecution of a lawmaker who used a fire extinguisher to put out Jewish Hanukkah candles in the country’s parliament in December, an incident that caused international outrage. The vote opens the way for prosecutors to press charges against Grzegorz
Polish lawmaker who extinguished Hanukkah candles loses immunity Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, NordotCan we consider ourselves a moral society if we do not help needy people? The Greek philosopher Aristotle writes that man is a social being. Is it our nature that requires us to help others or something else? Author Ayn Rand took a different approach. She insisted that people should look out for themselves intelligently and be enlightened. Who is right? Is there a middle path? Should stronger nations help poorer nations? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
This Week’s Torah Reading: Bo Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe invisible power of fear, the dread of solitude, finds its only remedy in the recognition that we are never truly alone. The profound message from parashat Bo resonates: “Come with Me.” Embrace the divine companionship that dispels the illusion of isolation. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Parasha Bo: Fear Results from a Sense of Aloneness Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
“Growing, learning, sharing kindness, and acceptance of others” are the watchwords of Sesame Place. The Sesame Street theme park’s employees say they practice these values whether in day-to-day activities or at special events like last December’s Chanukah celebration that featured playing dreidel with Elmo. [Donald H. Harrison]
Elmo’s Not Good at Dreidel and Other Tidbits from Sesame Place Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
One and a half million priceless Jewish children were murdered. What was their sin? The answer I give myself and others is that mankind caused the Holocaust, not God. It is the only answer I can live with. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
OpEd: Can a Holocaust Happen Again? Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
In the basement synagogue where the Meshichisten pray, there is a banner on the wall with their credo. What does the banner read? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Chabad Tunnel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Faulconer, now running for a seat on the County Board of Supervisors, commented, “It is a privilege today to ride with 100 others in strong solidarity with Israel and our Jewish community in San Diego.” Zimmerman said, “Today is the 100th day since the brutal Hamas attack and for the hostages still in captivity. They must be all be safely returned now. We pedal in solidarity with our sister city Sha’ar Hanegev and all of Israel.” Essakow pointed out that the riders were of all faiths, who pray for the safe return of approximately 130 hostages.[SDJW staff report]
A songwriter who couldn’t read music, Carlebach composed the popular “Am Yisrael Chai” (The People of Israel Live), which is now a Jewish standard, and thousands of other songs. He gained fame as “the singing rabbi” and he founded the Carlebach Shul in New York City’s Upper West Side. [SDJW staff report]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Shlomo Carlebach Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA