By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha, literally meaning, “When you go out…” opens with a description of facing war with enemies. Maimonides tells us that 72 mitzvot spring from this week’s Torah portion, from weights and measures and collecting debts in a righteous way, to proper ways to divorce, keeping promises, […]
Parashat Ki Teitzei: Refining Our Souls Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
“Sometimes, I will do a creative service,” she continued. “I will have a theme and I will have some of the basic prayers, but I also ask people to bring poems or stories or something unique that speaks to the theme that I provided. Those were really received well because people could feel that they were participating. I am much more interested in participation than I am in performance.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss Combines Love of Judaism and Music Read More »
Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The parasha Shoftim (16:18-21:9) begins with Moses requiring the Israelites, “You must make judges and officers in every gate that Y-h-v-h gives you for your tribes. They must judge the people with righteous judgment. They must not show any [special] respect to anyone nor take gifts
Why Do We Need Judges? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Parshat Shoftim 5783 By Rabbi Daniel Reich In his farewell address to the Jewish people, our greatest teacher, Moshe Rabbeinu, continues to share the critical and fundamental ideas that the Jews will need to remember once he is gone from the biblical narrative. In our Parsha, we learn more of these critical teachings. One of
Basic Training for Hashem’s Army Read More »
Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha presents an intriguing perspective for those with an inclination towards environmentalism. It articulates, “When besieging a city for an extended period, preparing for war to conquer it, refrain from felling its trees with axes. These trees are for sustenance, and you must not cut them
Parashat Shoftim: Profound Concern for Our Surroundings Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
McKinney and Rabbi Marko renewed their friendship over the August 11-13 weekend, when McKinney served as Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s scholar-in-residence. She outlined what Jewish life is like in the Abayudaya villages, covering Jewish holiday and life cycle observances, and told of the efforts the foundation she heads is making to help impoverished families and children with disabilities. (Donald H. Harrison)
Speaker Tells of Life Among the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Shoshana McKinney, Travel and Food, USA
Former U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman, who left office on August 4, recalls a High Holy Day service he attended that was held outside during the COVID pandemic. “I looked up to the roof and I could see armed guards,” he said during an interview on Thursday, Aug. 10. “It was just stunning to me how that could be happening at a time when you really want to be engaged in prayer and anything other than security.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Former U.S. Attorney Grossman Reflects on His Career Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USABy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Human nature leads us to believe what we think is correct in our own eyes – “hayashar be-einav.” This week’s psychologically insightful portion however, tells us that what we would be wiser to do is to follow what is correct in the eyes of Hashem, “hayashar be-einei Hashem,”
Parashat Re’eh: Is Seeing Really Believing? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellParshat Eikev 5783 By Rabbi Daniel Reich LA JOLLA, California — “The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact,” a book by Chip and Dan Heath (New York Times Bestseller, 2017), highlights the fact that not all moments are created equal. Throughout our lives, we encounter various experiences, some of which hold deep
The Significance of Moments Read More »
Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — There are multiple changes in spellings and repetitions in Deuteronomy. This contradicts Rabbi Akiva’s view that God dictated the Torah to Moses, even every letter. He claimed that God is perfect and has no need to repeat what is communicated. If there is a change in
Disobedience to God’s Ways Has Consequences Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — We’ve all heard inspirational messages, stories that lead to a few moments of emotional response. But for a story to lead to lasting impact, to change the course of our behavior, we must see that story as connecting to the very foundation of our life’s purpose, what many
Parashat Eikev: Connecting to Our ‘North Star’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Between the time a Jew utters the Vidui (confessional prayer) on his or her deathbed and is buried in any of seven Jewish areas at El Camino Memorial Park, there is a flurry of activity involving groups of people intent on complying with Jewish rituals for the proper treatment of the deceased. [Donald H. Harrison]
From Death to Burial: A Jewish Ceremonial Primer Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyParshat Va’etchanan / Shabbat Nachamu 5783 By Rabbi Daniel Reich LA JOLLA, California — Another Tisha B’Av has come and gone…The Jewish people are still in a deep exile…Jerusalem has yet to be rebuilt…to put it lightly — it is exhausting! Every Tisha B’Av, we sit on the floor mourning the destruction of Yerushalayim and
Finding Comfort in Our Unity Read More »
Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Wow! Talk about a special Shabbat. First, this is Shabbat Nachamu, the Sabbath of Comfort, based on the first verse of the Haftarah reading that says, “Console, console my people, says your G-d.” This, of course, follows Tisha B’Av in which we deeply re-experienced a litany of tragedies
Parashat Va’etchanan/Shabbat Nachamu: Comfort at a Time of Hardship Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell