By Teresa Konopka SAN DIEGO — Why do we believe what we do? Is our religion any better than others? Street epistemology aims to find out. In contrast to evangelism where one tries to convert another to a belief, street epistemology is quite different in that it does not aim to sway anyone. It is
Does Your Faith Stand Up to the Test? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Opinion, Teresa_Konopka
By Rabbi Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The mistreatment by too-many rabbis of women is inexcusable. Many alterations were made in biblical marriage and divorce laws, but not for agunot. The Hebrew Bible gives few details about marriage and divorce. Deuteronomy 24:1 states: “If a man takes [yikach] a wife and has sex with
A Horrible Rabbinical Mistake! Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. When you walk into a synagogue, what do you feel? A deep-rooted home, a sense of connection and a feeling of being appreciated regardless of your age, religious ritual practices, sexual orientation, cultural background, family life? I seek to feel an authentic connection, a well-anchored link and emotional stir to
Parashat Matot – Massei: Helping Our Synagogues Do Better Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – The San Diego Rescue Mission received a donation of $1,800 from Leo Fink, a 13-year-old San Diego resident from Carmel Valley who recently had his bar mitzvah and wanted to give part of his gift money to help his neighbors experiencing homelessness. Leo has been volunteering at the San Diego
After her divorce from her cantor husband, author Zark wanted to make certain that the small son whose custody they shared would be brought up Jewishly in both homes. She wanted to make Shabbats and the full range of Jewish holidays interesting and accessible to her son, and in the process, she reflected upon the meanings of the holidays, Torah passages, and various Jewish customs. [Donald H. Harrison]
Single Mom Stokes Her Son’s and Her Own Jewish Faith Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
The Book of Jewish Knowledge, Rabbi Yanki Tauber, ed., The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, Brooklyn, NY, ©2022, ISBN 978-1-63668-012-5 p. 432, plus Appendices, $69.75. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Is it feasible to adequately convey the skills, information, and wisdom acquired by the Jewish people who, after nearly 4,000 years of living in
Surveying the Full Range of Jewish Life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
A member of the Jewish community, known for his self-deprecating sense of humor, Kolender grew up at the Reform Congregation Beth Israel. However, when it was time for his bar mitzvah, he honored his grandfather’s wishes and had it at Beth Jacob Congregation, which is Orthodox. “The rabbi there was Baruch Stern, and it was the first bar mitzvah for him after the war,” Kolender told me back in 1996 when I profiled him for the now defunct San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage. Rabbi Stern’s children “had been killed in front of him by the Nazis, and he started crying and I started crying, and I’m not sure if we ever did get through the whole thing. It was something I never will forget.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Kolender Was City’s First Jewish Police Chief, County’s First Jewish Sheriff Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
(JNS) The Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced on Wednesday that it had unearthed an ancient Jewish ritual bath (mikveh) dating back to the Late Second Temple period, or the first century C.E. The ritual bath was found inside a private village, the University’s statement said, “hewn into the bedrock and featuring a vaulted ceiling with
Ritual Bath Dating to Eve of Second Temple’s Destruction Uncovered Near Temple Mount Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha comes once again filled with lessons to live life optimally. For example, we learn of the essential component of greatness. The Torah tells us, “And Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Take to yourself Yehoshua ben Nun, a man in whom there is spirit…’” The story
Parashat Pinchas: Having a Seeker’s Mindset Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Dr. Richard A. Freund passed away in Charlottesville, Virginia on July 14, 2022 from complications arising from the rejection of a bone marrow transplant he had received 18 years ago. He held an MA, PhD, and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Bertram and Gladys Aaron
Jewish Studies Scholar Richard Freund (1955-2022) Read More »
Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, USA
A highlight of the proceedings was a ten-minute video, Jews in Medicine: A Legacy of Healing and Hope, much of it based on the book written by Dr. Ron Eisenberg, Jews inMedicine: Contributions to Health and Healing Through the Ages (Urim Publications, 2019). [Eileen Wingard]
Genesis Prize Ceremony Relied on Work of Doctor/ Author Ron Eisenberg Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
The Book of Life symbolizes promises from one generation to the next – – promises that ensure the long-term strength and vibrancy of our Jewish community. The Book itself is a treasured community archive and housed at the Jewish Community Foundation. [Press Release]
‘Book of Life’ Ceremony at Beth Am Aided Jewish Continuity Read More »
California, Jewish History, San Diego County, USAThe concept of BC and AD was apparently invented by a monk around the year 533 who thought Jesus was born 533 years before the day he invented the system. BC stood for “before Christ” and AD for the Latin “anno domini.” the year of our Lord. He was mistaken. [Rabbi Israel Drazin]
‘B.C.’; ‘New’ Testament and Other Historic Mistakes Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
September 23, 1940, German bombs smashed into a residential pub in Manor Park, Newham, a few blocks from where Lewis was stationed. Beneath the pub was a bomb shelter with 60 people trapped inside. The building burning, collapsing. A water main burst. The basement shelter was flooding, threatening to drown any survivors.
Lewis and a colleague ran to the site. [Jerry Klinger]
King George VI Personally Pinned Medal on Jewish Air Raid Warden Read More »
International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History