In this week’s Torah parshah we meet Abram and Sarai. (We’ll discover, in a bit, they are really Abraham and Sarah, our first Jewish ancestors.) God tells Abram to take his wife and family and move to a new place far away. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah for Children: Having Faith Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
With the coming of Halloween, San Diego Jewish World introduces a new feature — a three-part video reporting series by my daughter, Sandi Masori, who has been after me for years to utilize originally produced video. “Fine,” said I, “you do it!” And so she did. In this series, which can be viewed above and will continue tomorrow, and Halloween night, Sandi interviews Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Ohr Shalom Synagogue in San Diego about some of the parallels between Halloween and Jewish mythology. They discuss the stories of golems — human-like creatures created by great rabbis — intended to protect their communities, and how golem stories were background to Mary Shelley’s famous tale about Frankenstein’s monster. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish connections to Halloween? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Sandi Masori, USA
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday that henceforth U.S. passports issued to American citizens born in Jerusalem will say at their choice “Jerusalem, Israel,” rather than simply “Jerusalem,” as has been the case up to now. [Donald H. Harrison]
U.S. Passports Can List ‘Jerusalem, Israel’ as Birthplace Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Lekh Lekha (Genesis 12-17) is about the aging Abram’s blessing and chosen status by God, followed by his travels, exploits-both good and bad, rescue of Lot, concern for an heir with Sarai, and the group circumcision of his entourage.
Ancient Practices: Misidentifying Wives; Determining Heirs Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Laurie Baron, PhD, compiles scholarly programs of Jewish interest available on the Internet during the week of Nov. 1-7.
Streaming Jewish Programs (Nov. 1-7) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
On November 9th 1938, mobs burned synagogues, destroyed Jewish homes and businesses, vandalized Jewish hospitals, orphanages and cemeteries, and dragged thousands of Jewish men, women and children into the streets, where they were beaten and humiliated. The Germans later called this night “Kristallnacht” – The Night of Broken Glass – because of the tons of shattered glass that scattered throughout German cities, after it had taken place. The Jews began to call that date the beginning of the Holocaust because of the tremendous violence, which started on that night and grew even more dreadful as time had passed. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
The world must remember Kristallnacht Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, International, Jewish History, USA
London (dpa) – Britain’s opposition Labour party suspended former leader Jeremy Corbyn on Thursday, after he rejected parts of a report into anti-Semitism in the party during his time in office, saying the issue was “dramatically overstated.”The report by the independent Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) uncovered “serious failings” regarding investigations of anti-Semitism in
Labour party suspends Corbyn over reaction to anti-Semitism report Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
Congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar, reacting to an unfavorable story carried about him by the Breitbard news organization, reiterated on Wednesday his support for a peaceful two-state solution for the Israelis and Palestinians, and his opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. [Donald H. Harrison]
Campa-Najjar tells stands on Mideast Peace, BDS Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Regardless of the outcome of next week’s election, former Vice President Joe Biden will have the distinction of being the first American presidential candidate to draw attention to the U.S. government’s shameful record of friendly relations with Nazi Germany in the 1930s. During the final presidential debate on October 22, President Donald Trump claimed that he has “a good relationship” with North Korea and argued that “having a good relationship with leaders of other countries is a good thing.” Former Vice President Biden retorted that “we had a good relationship with Hitler before he in fact invaded Europe.” [Rafael Medoff, Ph.D]
Biden told of shameful U.S. relations with Nazis Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA
In this, the third parasha of this year, Hashem speaks to Avraham for the very first time, “Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.” What a way to greet someone for the first time. Go! So, what’s this teaching us? Let’s learn…
The word, “lecha” is seemingly redundant. Commentators suggest various meanings of this word, from “Go to yourself,” “Go for yourself,” and “Go by yourself.” [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
Like Abraham, let Hashem be your guide Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Often politics is eschewed by rabbis because by its very nature it polarizes us. We often lose sight of the humanity of others, believing that “everyone’s entitled to MY opinion” or failing to believe that someone with diametrically opposed views is just as caring and compassionate a person as we are. Personally, I have experienced this on multiple fronts: in rabbinical school, where I was more conservative than the majority of my peers and in a previous synagogue where some felt I was a “bleeding heart liberal.” I take it in good stride, believing that if I displeasing people on multiple sides, I’m doing my job. [Rabbi Benjamin Herman]
The Election from Jewish Perspectives Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
Besides being angry at Republicans for pushing Barrett’s confirmation through — in contrast to the way they refused to act on former President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland — some left-wing Democrats are also angry at Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California). Like all other Democratic Senators, Feinstein was opposed to Barrett, but unlike the rest of them, she congratulated Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) on the way he conducted hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Graham is in a tight reelection battle against Democrat Jaime Harrison, and some Democrats feel Feinstein’s friendliness toward Graham may hurt Harrison’s chances as well as those of Democrats hoping to flip the Senate from Republican to Democratic control. [Donald H. Harrison]
Dianne Feinstein now in political hot water Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
I’ve decided to change the name of my column from “Our Shtetl San Diego County” to “Jewish News from San Diego and Beyond.” The reason probably is self-evident. While much of the news that affects our readers occurs in San Diego, important stories with a bearing on our lives also come from other places as well, including Washington D.C., New York, Sacramento, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv, to name just a few. So the new column name allows me to be more inclusive in my coverage. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish News from San Diego and Beyond Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The notion of covering one’s face has more than just medical implications. Biblically, there are a whole host of meanings tied to both covering and exposing one’s face. What are those exactly? [Teresa Konopka]
Covering faces goes back to biblical times Read More »
Jewish Religion, Teresa_Konopka