Judaism

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

Sassoon Family History on Display in New York’s Jewish Museum

Published by DPA The story of the Sassoons, a family whose history spans centuries and nations, is now on show at New York’s Jewish Museum. The new exhibition follows four generations, from Iraq to India, China and England, showing their role in trade, art collecting, architectural patronage and civic engagement through more than 120 objects

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Jewish History

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

Parashat Ki Tisa and Parah: Do You Count Time, Or Make Time Count? 

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — What do you do when you feel vulnerable, defenseless, in danger? Like the Israelites in this week’s Torah reading, perhaps you find that your neck stiffens as you shift into an alarm reaction. Life was good when just a short while ago, the Israelites felt the presence

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Thoughts on the Torah Portion Ki Tisa, Superstition, and Rabbinical Judaism

By Rabbi Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The weekly portion of Ki Thissa begins with counting the adult male Israelites from age twenty, by each giving a half shekel so “that there not be a plague among them when you count them,” and raises the question if this is superstition. This is followed by

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

‘Shushan on the Farm:’ A Festive Retelling of the Purim Story 

By Eva Trieger ENCINITAS, California — In recognition of the upcoming Purim celebration, the Hive at the Leichtag Commons, Coastal Roots Farm, and the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival melded their strengths to bring us a spirited retelling of the Purim Story. “Shushan on the Farm” was performed twice on February 26 by

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Eva Trieger, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Today, Purim is Practiced Differently Than the Biblical Requirement

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The current practice is that Purim is celebrated as a one-day holiday. Cities that were walled at the time of Joshua’s conquest of Israel – most notably Jerusalem – celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar to recall the end of hostilities in the walled city

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Temple Emanu-El Celebrates Purim with a Carnival

Chairs were cleared from the sanctuary of Temple Emanu-El on Sunday, March 5, and the space was converted into a carnival to celebrate one day in advance the Jewish dress-up day of Purim. The holiday celebrates Queen Esther’s foiling of the evil Haman’s plot against the Jews of Persia. [SDJW staff report]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

Latke Defeats Hamantash in Rematch Debate in La Jolla

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — In a rematch of our legendary (in relative terms) Chanukah 2021 debate, in which I defeated Rabbi Eric Ertel of the San Diego Jewish Experience (SAJE) but sustained a fractured heel in the process, Rabbi Ertel and I duked it out once again on Wednesday night at the

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Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Trivia, Humor & Satire