Rav Bahya ben Joseph ibn Pakuda, the author of Chovot Halevavot, the Duties of the Heart, describes the ideal of t’mimut as “…complete harmony between inner and outward actions….We see in Psalm 15:2 that this ideal refers to someone “who lives without blame, who does what is right, and in his heart acknowledges the truth…” [Michael Mantell, PhD]
Noah an exemplar of t’mimut Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The capabilities of Jews in countless areas are no secret and if we were to award the highest prizes and recognitions based on accomplishments in all fields, Jews would receive even more awards than we already do. However, I do not think getting medals or trophies should be a reason for Jewish pride. I do not spend time counting the number of awards because it is not what we need to stand out for. We need to be prominent for fulfilling the role that the world truly expects from us. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]
Jewish Nobel Prize Winners; Does It Matter? Read More »
International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Sports & Competitions, USA
In Abraham ibn Ezra’s masterpiece, the twelve chapters of “Sefer Yesod Mora Ve-Sod Ha-Torah,” Treatise on the Foundation of Awe and The Secret of the Torah, ibn Ezra gave some of his explanations of the biblical commandments. He felt that each command, without exception was rational. The following are some of his other ideas. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Abraham ibn Ezra on Biblical Laws Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Hanukkah is coming! Here is a wonderful entertainment opportunity for kids ages 6-12 that incorporates the Hanukkah story into a fun mystery they can solve at home. Becky Cherlin Baird is the founding Artistic Director for the J’Company Youth Theatre at the Lawrence Family JCC. She is the proud owner of Kids on Stage Productions and has worked in a variety of Broadway productions, including Fiddler on the Roof. [Marcia Berneger]
Kids Team as Hanukkah Detectives in this Internet Production Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
With illustrations accurately depicting life as it was in the 1880s, this is the tale of Nate, a king-size, gentle spirit who loves helping people. His magic can stretch a small lump of chocolate big enough for an entire family or a small jar of oil long enough to last eight days. He takes a special liking to the Glaser family as they journey from Europe in the late 1870s and follows them as they work side by side with their neighbors, the O’Malleys in their new American life. [Marcia Bernegere]
Two Jewish tales to read to your youngsters Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Fiction, Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
The two-hour program kicked off with a review of Ashkenazi history by UCSD clinical Urology Professor Dr. Franklin Gaylis. He explained how the shtetl-confined Ashkenazi communities of Eastern Europe, complicated by consanguineous marriages, concentrated the incidence of BRCA 1 and 2 mutant genes in their population, to a rate of 1 in 40 persons. Eighty percent of modern Jews have Ashkenazi ancestry.These genes cause a predilection for breast and ovarian cancer. [Irv Jacobs, M.D]
SAJAC hosts forum on Jewish genetic risks Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Jerry Klinger BOYNTON BEACH, Florida — My mother was never a pacifist, at least I do not remember her ever having taught me a code of values that suggested so. She never spoke of the right to fight or even worse to kill. Yet she did teach me much about the value of life,
The Holocaust lessons my mother taught me Read More »
International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, USA
Police reported on Friday that they had arrested a 14-year-old boy in connection with an attack on Saturday, Oct. 10. in which Rabbi Yonatan Halevy of Kehillat Shaar Hashamayim was clobbered on top of his head by an assailant who then rode off on his bicycle. The 31-year-old rabbi, whose Sephardic congregation is engaged in outreach as part of a Shiviti movement, was knocked down but not seriously hurt. At the time, Halevy was walking on Governor Drive in University City with his father, a stroke victim in his late 60s. The father was not assaulted. [Donald H. Harrison, Our Shtetl San Diego County]
Juvenile arrested for attack on rabbi Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA
Adam and Eve were very special souls, created from the earth by the ‘hands’ of the Almighty. They were infused with the Divine Spirit as, ‘G-d blew into his nostrils a living soul,’ and from Adam fashioned Eve. G-d created the first humans in His ‘image,’ which means they were endowed with a G-dly spark to serve as their soul and the great gift of free choice. It is only by virtue of the fact that we have free choice that we are able to refine and uplift the world in a way that nothing else can. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: A New Beginning, Again Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Next week, an online event organized by the human rights group “3 Generations” will feature New York Times op-ed columnist Roger Cohen, who sparked an international furor in 2009 when he visited Iran and announced that the oppressed Jews there were not really so oppressed, after all. Cohen’s assertion that Iranian Jews were “living, working and worshiping in relative tranquility” was met with scorn across the political spectrum. Jeffrey Goldberg, in The Atlantic, called him “credulous.” The Anti-Defamation League charged Cohen with viewing Iran through “dangerous rose-colored lenses.” J.J. Goldberg, in The Forward, characterized Cohen as “simply naive, and dangerously so.” [Rafael Medoff, Ph.D]
A new blow to Iran’s forgotten Jews Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
By Marcia Berneger SAN DIEGO — The first book of the Torah begins with the Creation story. This story is read during Simchat Torah, the holiday celebrated last week that marks reading the end of the last book of the Torah and immediately starting over. (See last week’s description of the Creation story.) This week’s
Torah for Children: We Begin Again Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
Compiled by Laurie Baron, Ph.D SAN DIEGO — All times are Pacific Daylight Time. Sunday, October 18 8 am Luca Ascoli, “The Jews of Italy,” Sephardic World. 8 am Yevilah McCoy, “Keynote Address,” Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity Virtual Conference. 8 am Moshe Halbertal and Jonathan Sacks, “Strange New World- Conversations in Times of Crisis- Religious
Streaming Jewish programs (Oct. 18-23) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USABy Irv Jacobs, MD LA JOLLA, California — This essay covers creation stories; rivers in the Eden and pagan stories; and snakes and serpents in mythology. Genesis 1:1-6:8 The creation stories, and Genesis in general, offer a different focus in my year-long project, because they are more legendary than historical in flavor. I have
Bereishis and Ancient Creation Stories Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida –One of the most brilliant ancient Jewish thinkers was Abraham ibn Ezra (1089 or 1092-1164). Being human, he, like all other people including the best of humans, without exception, made mistakes in his thinking, such as his belief that astrology is a true science. But overall. He
The Brilliant Ideas of Abraham ibn Ezra Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion