Here is a journal encouraging children between the ages of 7 and 13 to read, think, and write about everyday secular and Jewish topics. Because it will encourage their children’s self-expression, parents may find this an ideal gift for one of the days of Chanukah. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Journal to Prompt Children to Express Themselves Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentary: Numbers is the latest of the many brilliant, learned, eye-opening, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand books by the brilliant scholar Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel. It is another one of his excellent contributions to scholarship. San Diego County’s own Rabbi Samuel — currently the
A San Diego Rabbi’s Incisive Analysis of the Book of Numbers Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, San Diego County
(Press Release) For the first time ever, learners can experience a full digital, English translation of the Mishneh Torah interconnected with other Jewish texts, thanks to Sefaria, a non-profit organization that digitizes and freely shares Jewish texts in Hebrew and in translation. The Mishneh Torah, authored by Rambam (Maimonides) in the Medieval era, consists of
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Judaism has dozens of meaningful customs and ceremonies, but most people, even Jews, do not know all of them, their origins and their rationale. Rabbi Abraham Chill (1912-2004) gives readers of his book The Minhagim, Hebrew for customs and ceremonies, a very readable discussion of many
Questions About Sukkot Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — How’s your hearing lately? Are you listening? Ha’azinu is one of the seven songs in Tanakh and is one of the shortest parshiot in the Torah with just 52 verses, filled with a treasure of information and striking imagery. It is written in two narrow columns. This is
Parashat Ha’azinu: Personal Accountability and Responsibility Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
As with Rosh Hashanah, Orthodox Jews like me recognize that Yom Kippur is not mentioned in the Bible. It replaces another day known as Yom Hakippurim, mentioned in the Bible in Leviticus 16:29–31, 23:27–32, and Numbers 29:7–11. Orthodox Jews follow the Oral Law, the ways that the rabbis interpreted the Torah. This can be called Rabbinical Judaism in contrast to Biblical Judaism. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Yom Kippur is not a Biblical Holiday Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
By Kayla Swartzberg LA JOLLA, California — Take a second to look at the Second Commandment. It reads, “Thou shalt not make idols.” And I’m sure you’ve heard it before. Maybe once, maybe a thousand times. Our great rabbis, scholars, and sages tell us that the Torah is as relevant now as it was during
It’s Just Gold: Having Perspective on Idolatry and Materialism Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion
By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — Amid a return to relative normalcy following two-and-a-half years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congregation Adat Yeshurun of La Jolla is growing its community through what Rabbi Daniel Reich calls the “three Fs” — family, friends, and faith. “People are not feeling connected on a spiritual level and to
Congregation Adat Yeshurun Grows Through Spiritual Connection, ‘Cohesive Diversity’ Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. Remember leaving services last Yom Kippur, the grandeur of Neilah upon us, filled with promises to live better lives? Yet so soon afterwards many old habits reemerged – maybe even before that first morsel of food was swallowed, after the long fast. Like January’s New Year’s resolutions to “eat less
Parashat Vayeilech: Personal Transformation Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
From the time she was a child, author Sarah Birnbach always went to her father Marvin for comfort. Her strained relationship with her mother permitted no such interaction. When her father died, in some ways she felt like an orphan, even though her mother was still living. There was no recognition on her mother’s part that Sarah was grieving too. What would she know about loss, her mother would say, she wasn’t married for 54 years. [Donald H. Harrison]
Overcoming Obstacles to Honor a Father Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
Given our sophistication, what relevance does the birthday of man and creation have to do with scientific reality? Who are we fooling? What message might this holiday have for us as we enter the next millennia? How can you seriously believe that Adam and Eve were the first people ever to live on the earth? Or that “God made the world in just six 24-hr. days”? [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Science AND Religion Needed for True Understanding of the World Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
“So much of our liturgy this time of year is talking about, and confessing to God, about things I’ve done wrong,” says Rabbi Daniel Reich, leader of Congregation Adat Yeshurun of La Jolla. “And that’s important to do, and it’s important to recognize our mistakes so we can rectify them and move on to
Rabbi Daniel Reich on the High Holidays: From Confession to Declaration Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Jewish Federation of San Diego County concluded its first cohort of the San Diego Jewish Community Security Institute and announced a $10,000 donation to each participating synagogue to show communal support for their efforts. “The vital work done with the San Diego Jewish Community Security Institute ensures that Jewish organizations
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I suppose the etymology of the two phrases (Holy Days and Holidays) is the same, but their significance in this day and age is very different. Holidays are a time for enjoying oneself, whether relaxing on a beach or trekking up a mountain, whichever suits your taste. Holy
Holy Days and Holidays Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion