Jewish Religion

Glenda Sacks Retires after Serving San Diego’s Jewish Community for 36 Years

Retirement date was June 30th and almost immediately, the South African native traveled to a retreat center at Kfar Blum, Israel, for a family reunion that brought together relatives from various parts of the English-speaking world. Having just returned to San Diego, her most immediate task is training her Hillel successor, Danielle Botvin, but beyond that she is looking forward to “learning how to chill – I’m not good at that.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

It’s Not Always About What You Say, But How You Say It: Preparing for Tisha B’Av

Parshat Devarim / Shabbat Chazon 5783 By Rabbi Daniel Reich LA JOLLA, California — In the remaining time leading up to Moshe Rabbeinu’s death, he embarks on a five-week-long monologue addressing the Jewish people. This forms the content of the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy). He prepares the nation for its final ascent to the land

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Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion

Did God Dictate the Biblical Book Deuteronomy to Moses?

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Dr. Micah Goodman says, “No,” in his new book, “The Last Words of Moses.” Deuteronomy is “a human document authored by Moses whose inclusion in the Bible lends it divine authority. Goodman is a Research Fellow of the Kogod Research Center at Shalom Hartman Institute in

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Tisha B’Av: Time Not Only for Lamentations, But Also for Kindness

We might want to reflect this Tisha B’Av, which begins on Wednesday evening, July 26, on how we can help our fellow Jews who have fallen on hard times – an obvious reversal of the unkindness and factionalism that twice led to the downfall of ancient Jerusalem. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County

The Three Weeks: A Time of Reflection, Reconnection, and Rebuilding

Parshiot Matos-Maasei 5783 By Rabbi Daniel Reich The Jewish people currently find themselves in a period of mandated reflection. The three weeks between the 17th of Tamuz and the 9th of Av are dedicated to mourning the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash and our longing for the rebuilding of the holy temple in Jerusalem. Unfortunately,

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Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion

San Diego’s Lone Reconstructionist Congregation Makes Its Home at the Lawrence Family JCC

Ridberg had plenty of opportunities to compare the different denominations of Judaism before she committed to Reconstructing Judaism. As a child in Rockville, Maryland, she attended the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, which offers classes from kindergarten through 12th grade. Her family belonged to a Conservative synagogue. After graduating with a major in women’s studies and communication arts from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, she worked with the Reform movement in Washington D.C. In the nation’s capital, she also attended the non-denominational Farbrengen Havurah, “one of the oldest havurot that came out of the 1960s-1970s era.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Parashat Pinchas: Every Generation Receives the Leader it Deserves

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — There’s a Jewish maxim, “Every generation receives the leader it deserves.” Parasha Pinchas seems to provide a foundation for this adage. The parasha distinguishes between the leadership of Moses, who in today’s language would be described as a wise, dauntless, self-aware, “we” not “me,” conscious leader, and Joshua,

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

On This Special Day, Caterer is Refused Entry to Chabad of La Costa’s Kitchen

Cooking is Lebovitz’s world. The kitchen from which she has been banished, for that one night only, officially has been named “Grammy’s Kitchen” in honor of Lebovitz, 85, who is called “Grammy Sheila” by the nine children and 15 grandchildren of Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort and Rebbetzin Nehama Eilfort, as well as by other younger members of the congregation. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Comparing Biblical Stories With Other Tales Enhances Their Meaning

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — One of the ways rabbis and secular scholars acquire a deeper understanding of the Bible is by comparing the events in the story with events in other biblical tales. They also compare two Bible sections that use the same word. David Curwin does both in his

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

Book Offers Compelling Integration of Torah and Contemporary Medicine

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Ahh, a book on “The Torah Path to Health, Fitness and a Holy Life.” Music to my ears. It was the Rambam who wrote, “Maintaining a healthy body is among the ways of serving Hashem, since it is impossible for one who is not healthy to understand

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

22 Youths at Congregation Beth Israel Earn Presidential Volunteer Service Awards

In a letter to each youth, Biden wrote: “The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. I congratulate you on taking it upon yourself to contribute to the public good … Throughout our country’s history, the American story has been strengthened by those who combine an optimism about what can be with the resilience to turn that vision into reality. I know I’m not alone in recognizing that those who are willing to step up and volunteer in service of community and country are essential to the ongoing work of forming our more perfect union.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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