Jewish Religion

Why is Passover Different From All Other Nights? 3 Essential Reads

Published by The Moderate Voice Amitai Gross reads from the Haggadah while preparing to dip parsley into salt water as part of the Passover meal, called the Seder.Marty Caivano/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images Molly Jackson, The Conversation Boxes of matzah stacked high in grocery stores? It’s almost Passover. Wednesday, April 5, marks […]

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Jewish Religion

A Rational Understanding of Numbers and When Shabbat and Years Start

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The second weekly biblical portion in the third Book of Moses is called Tzav. The Torah addresses the five types of sacrifices mentioned in the prior portion. In the former weekly portion, the focus was on the people bringing the offering. Here it contains instructions for

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

‘His Only Son,’ Movie about Abraham and Isaac, Opens March 31

On March 31, in theatres around the country, His Only Son, a Christian movie by David Helling depicting the binding of Isaac, will open.  Except for some Christian references at the beginning and end of the epic, the film fits in well with Jewish exegesis. It’s a fascinating cinematographic midrash on Genesis 22:1-19.  [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

A New Outstanding Commentary on the Biblical Book Leviticus

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Koren Press’ “The Koren Tanakh of the Land of Israel – Leviticus” follows its predecessors on the Biblical books Exodus and Samuel as a third outstanding biblical commentary. It contains a wealth of scholarly information written in an easy-to-read and interesting — even fascinating — fashion

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

First-in-a-Generation Study Shows Positive Influence of Rabbis on Young American Jews

(Press Release) Young American Jews want more experiences with rabbis because those interactions help them feel more spiritually connected and more connected to a Jewish community, says a new report released today from Atra: Center for Rabbinic Innovation. The first-in-a-generation research, conducted by the Benenson Strategy Group, paints a rich picture of what factors lead

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Jewish Religion, USA

Rational Thoughts on Vayakhel, Pekudei, Shabbat, Synagogues, and More

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Two biblical Torah portions are read this week. The portion of Vayakhel, Exodus 35:1-38:20, contains the Sabbath law, which the rabbis translated as “You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the Sabbath day,” which the Sadducees translated as “You shall have no fire throughout

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei, Hachodesh: Combining Our Hearts and Talents as One

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — There are many lenses we can bring to our deep study of each week’s Torah reading. The lens I prefer is one that helps search for and find ways to lead a healthier, more meaningful, and purposeful life. This week’s double reading from Vayakhel- Pekudei is brimming with

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

B’Shalom: ‘Jacob’s Staff’; TV’s ‘Equalizer,” and Israel in the WBC

The tall ocotillo plant (Fouquieria splendens) that abounds in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has many common names, among them, according to the Britannica website, “coachwhip” and “vine cactus.”  “Ocotillo” translates from Spanish to “little torch” because of the red flowers that grow at the end of its branches. Perhaps its most mysterious nickname is one that may or may not tell a Jewish story, “Jacob’s staff.”[Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

The Jews of Baja California Sur

Chabad has established vibrant and growing Jewish communities on either side of the southern tip of the Baja California Sur peninsula. The larger one, on the Pacific Ocean side in Cabo San Lucas, has strong connections to San Diego County.  The other in La Paz, along the Sea of Cortez, is smaller yet also quite active. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Jose Galicot, San Diego County

Jewish Studies Professor Says Ethics Demand More Humane Treatment of Animals

“I think the single most important thing Jews can do if they want to reduce animal suffering, to practice the value of tzaar baalei Chayim, compassion for animals, is to reduce or altogether stop eating animal products,” says Gross, who is vegan.  “Even if one still continues to eat meat when out and about, it makes sense for food to be more deliberate in Jewish communal settings, which I think should be places where we aspire to have our food represent the best of our values.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, The World We Share, USA

How Jews Made Purim Personal

By Sarah Ogince (JNS) “Cursed is Hitler, cursed is Mussolini … Blessed is Roosevelt, blessed is Churchill.” With these words, the Moroccan scribe Prosper Hassine concluded his account of World War II and the Holocaust. The story was familiar, but what made Hassine’s work unique was its style: Written on a long parchment scroll, it

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA