Archeologists have uncovered in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem the first evidence of the capital being hit with an earthquake that was mentioned in the Bible, reported i24News. [JNS.org]
Archaeologists Find Evidence of Earthquake Mentioned in Tanakh Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
Artem Dolgopyat won a gold medal for Gymnastics, and became a national hero. Both the President and the Prime Minister telephoned their congratulations. Bibi also weighed in with a good word, but made an error of doing it on Shabbat. That got a bad reception from ultra-Orthodox Knesset Members. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Olympic Gold Medal Rekindles Debate on Israeli Civil Marriages Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Sports & Competitions
In the August 8, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–Israeli researchers discover early warning markers for secondary cancer.
–Israeli doctors save the sight of a toddler from Gaza.
–An Israeli startup is 3D-mapping 18 million Australian buildings.
–Israel’s economic rating is still A+ despite the pandemic.
–Two Israeli gymnasts have won Olympic gold medals.
–Israeli archeologists found evidence of an earthquake that was recorded in the Bible. [Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (August 8, 2021) Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, USA
By the time Dr. and Mrs. Bernardo Stein of Seminole, Florida, and Mr. and Mrs. David Abelson of Oldsmar, Florida, had finished the guest list for the wedding of their children, the number had mushroomed well past 400. By the time Arlyn Stein and Adam Abelson walked down the aisle last Dec. 19, the list of “guests” had shrunk to, well, zero. The entire wedding party consisted of the bride and groom, their parents, three siblings and two grandparents. Oh, and Cooper, their 10-month-old mini-poodle. [Bruce F. Lowitt]
Remembrance of a Covid Wedding Read More »
Bruce F. Lowitt, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Is your glass half empty, half filled, or as mine is, filled with 6 ounces of water and the rest, air? Yes, “the link is what you think,” and this week’s Torah reading underscores this idea with its words, “See, this day I set before you a
Parashat Re’eh: Finding the Right Sight Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Torah reading is Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17); Haftorah reading is Isaiah 54:11-55:5 By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — These simplistic short poetic passages extracted from Isaiah II (c. 538-530 BCE) comprise the third haftorah of consolation, leading up to the Sabbath before Yom Kippur. It has no connection to the corresponding Torah parsha. The
Haftorah Reading for August 7, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
One of the lesser known stories of Holocaust rescue is that of the Philippines, which welcomed refugees from Nazi Germany during the 1930s. The story is told in the documentary An Open Door: Holocaust Haven in the Philippines produced and directed by Noel “Sonny” Izon and SDSU history lecturer Bonnie Harris, Ph.D. [Beth Israel Men’s Club news release]
Philippines’ Rescue of the Jews Presentation Set for August 18 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, San Diego Calendar
The first of the two Torah sections presents twenty questions for each parashah (weekly Torah reading), such as, in parashat Chayei Sarah he asks, “Who in the Torah had 13 children? And in parashat Shoftim, “Which word is an acronym for the four types of leaders in Israel mentioned in parashat Shoftim?” The second of the two Torah sections offers 169 general Torah questions. For example, “Why did Paroh (Hebrew for Pharoah) change Joseph’s name?” and “What is the only birthday party mentioned in the Torah?” [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]
‘Torah IQ’ Provides More Than 1,000 Questions and Answers Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The Navy officially will name one of its newest Virginia-class attack submarines, the future USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795), during a 9 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, July 31, 2021, at General Dynamics/Electric Boat, in Groton, Connecticut. [San Diego Jewish World compilation]
Navy to Name 2nd Submarine for Hyman G. Rickover Read More »
Jewish History, USAThis fully poetic, artistic passage from Isaiah II comprises the second haftorah prophecy of consolation after the 9th of Av, leading up to the Sabbath before Yom Kippur. As stated in the previous essay, it has no connection to the corresponding Torah parasha.This fully poetic, artistic passage from Isaiah II comprises the second haftorah prophecy of consolation after the 9th of Av, leading up to the Sabbath before Yom Kippur. As stated in the previous essay, it has no connection to the corresponding Torah parasha. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah Reading for July 31, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
While one form or another of “Holy Inquisition” ravaged Europe and the Iberian Peninsula for at least two centuries before and after the discovery of the New World, the year 1492 is often considered significant in the Spanish Inquisition as in that year – and in 1502 for Muslims – Catholic King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain issued an ultimatum, El Decreto de la Alhambra (the Alhambra Decree) ordering Jews to convert to Catholicism, or else be expulsed from Castile. [Dorian de Wind]
Is Spain Backtracking on Its Promise of Citizenship for Sephardic Descendants? Read More »
Dorian de Wind, International, Jewish History
It’s a well-worn political observation that “it took a Nixon to go to China,” meaning because President Richard M. Nixon was identified as a staunch conservative, he was trusted to go to mainland China and open a dialogue with that nation’s communist rulers, a dialogue that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two adversary countries. [Donald H. Harrison]
Former Israel ‘Hawk’ Tells of His Transformation to a ‘Dove’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East
Maggid Books in association with Steinsaltz Center has published part of the text of one of the two famous books by the founder of Chabad Hasidim, also called Lubavitcher Hasidim, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812). Rabbi Zalman’s other famous book is Shulchan Arukh Harav, a book that only partially survived, which deals with Jewish law. This book, a translation and commentary of part of the Tanya, originally published in Hebrew in 1797, is by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (1937-2020) a Chabad Hasid, the author of over 60 books and more than 100 articles. Not all of Steinsaltz’s writings focus on Chabad mysticism, but this book is about Rabbi Shneur Zalman’s view of mysticism. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
An Explanation of the Famous Book ‘Tanya’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Winston Churchill once wrote, “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to go.” I thought of those words recently after watching Upheaval, a new documentary film produced by the Hidden Light Institute in Denver about the life of Menachem Begin, Israel’s sixth Prime Minister. Begin’s public life ended almost three decades ago, but this film offers insights and lessons in leadership, civility, anti-Semitism and Israel that are surprisingly relevant today. [Joseph Lieberman]
Joe Lieberman: Lessons Learned from Menachem Begin’s Life Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USA