By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — The week’s Torah reading, Shemini, immediately following our Passover holiday, is filled with emotional and spiritual complexities that accentuate the importance of ritual, structure, awe, and reverence…all aimed at helping us connect with Hashem in a humble way. After this intense holiday period, do we really need
Parashat Shemini: Connecting in a Humble Way Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
News of Jewish interest broke on Tuesday at the International, National, State and Local Levels: [Donald H.Harrison]
News developments on Monday, April 10, found Jewish officials playing important roles at the international, national and local levels. [Donald H. Harrison]
B’Shalom: Pentagon Leaks, Louisville Murders; Justin Jones Reinstatement Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Jerry Klinger Julius Rosenwald was a first-generation Jewish American. He was born in 1862 in Springfield, Illinois, just a few blocks from where Abraham Lincoln lived. Rosenwald grew up and achieved the American dream. He became very wealthy through hard work, skill, and luck. He was a modest man with a philanthropic bent shaped
Touching the Past, for Today: Louisiana’s Rosenwald Schools Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion, USA
Mazal tov to Alyssa Sepinwall, who by a process of nominations by students, has been honored as the best professor in the California State University System. She was lauded for engaging students in discussions rather than simply lecturing to them from behind a lectern. [Donald H. Harrison]
B’shalom: Top CSU Professor; Jewish Political Scene; Obituaries Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
When South African-born civil engineer Brian Marcus relocated from his first American home in Dallas to La Jolla, it was just in time to volunteer his help for three major projects for Congregation Adat Yeshurun. First came the building of the sanctuary and campus of the Orthodox congregation. Next came the completion of a mikvah on the property. And third came the most complicated task of all: erecting an eruv. [Donald H. Harrison]
Adat Yeshurun’s Eruv Prompted Stiff Opposition From La Jolla Organizations Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
In an OpEd that was released over Cable News Service, U.S. President Joe Biden described the Passover seder as a “cautionary tale of the present and our future as a democracy.” He said that the Haggadah tells of “how evil in every generation has tried to destroy” Jews and warned that antisemitism is “rising to record levels today.” [Donald H. Harrison]
B’Shalom: Biden’s Pesach Greetings, Passover and Jewish Political News Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Rabbi Dr. Nachum L. Rabinovitch (1928-2020) authored “Pathways to Their Hearts,” an easy-to-read book by a renowned scholar about how we should think and live. His views are correct. They are based on the rational teachings of the “Great Eagle,” Judaism’s foremost philosopher Maimonides (1138-1204). Rabbi
How Should We Think and Live? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Who says our children are nervous or depressed? A recent Pew survey finds that around 40% of parents are extremely or very worried their children might struggle with anxiety or depression. Indeed, according to a Mental Health America report, 16% of youth surveyed reported having at least
Passover: An Antidote for Emotional Distress? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
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
Why is Passover Different From All Other Nights? 3 Essential Reads Read More »
Jewish Religion
Chances are the students who receive the scholarships know only a little about their benefactor, the late Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman, a Republican from New York and a member of the Jewish community. Towards the end of his congressional career, he urged his colleagues “to defray eligible study- or intern-abroad costs,” according to the website of the Gilman International Scholarship Program. “These costs include program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance, international airfare, passport and visa fees.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Congressman Benjamin Gilman Fostered Study Abroad Programs Read More »
Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — In “Yesterday’s World,” Stephan Zweig wrote: “For the Jews, being attached to the spirit of the people or country in which they live has become not only a means of external protection, but also a deep inner need. Their desire for a homeland, for peace, for refuge, for security,
The ‘Torch,’ or Anti-Freud, of Karl Kraus Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, OpinionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In this week’s Torah reading, parasha Tzav, we read of the continuing lessons of the offerings in the Holy Temple, introduced in parashat Vayikra, reminding us that these were meant to be a means of drawing closer to Hashem and atoning for our sins. This concept of
Parashat Tzav and Shabbat HaGadol: Peace Over Truth Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
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
A Rational Understanding of Numbers and When Shabbat and Years Start Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion