Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, legendary head of the Migdal Ohr Institutions in Migdal HaEmek in the Jezreel Valley – known as the “Disco Rabbi” because of his practice of entering noisy nightclubs to find potential returnees to Torah – related the following extraordinary incident in his most recently column in the weekly BaKehillah. In the
When a rabbi wore jeans and a wig to save a Jew Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastWhen three-time heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali passed away last Friday, media outlets were swamped with eulogies for the 74-year-old former boxer, highlighting his cultural impact at the height of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. Indeed, Ali”s legacy goes far beyond the ring. His conversion to Islam in 1964 marked his metamorphosis from
Muhammad Ali’s forgotten legacy of anti-Semitism Read More »
Jewish History, Sports & CompetitionsSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego’s oldest and largest Jewish congregation, has engaged Interim Associate Rabbi Alyson Solomon along with Rabbinic Intern Jeremy Gimbel, Development Director Meg Mandel and Program Director Ilene Tatro. Rabbi Alyson Solomon studied at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Massachusetts and at the American Jewish
Beth Israel announces personnel additions, changes Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County
Story by Donald H. Harrison; Photos by Shor M. Masori SAN DIEGO – More than 200 Jewish community members attended a talk on the history of American delicatessens on Sunday afternoon, June 5, many hoping that the turnout at the event would lure more Jewish Community Cente-sponsored programming in the eastern portions of the city.
Zollman’s deli history talk draws 200 plus Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, USARussian President Vladimir Putin has sent his regards to his country’s Jewish community, hailing the Soviet Union for saving both them and Europe from the Nazis. For the third year in a row Russia will mark a holiday intended to celebrate the “Salvation and Liberation” of Jews from the Nazis during World War II. The
Putin Salutes Russian Jews Over Soviet ‘Liberation’ Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –There is a long running dispute in Jewish tradition over which is more important: the study of Torah or the performance of mitzvot. It is generally accepted that Torah study is more important, but only because it leads to the performance of mitzvot. Nevertheless, Torah study, in and of
Study Torah or do the mitzvot? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — If after all these hardships befall you, you continue to act improperly, “Those remaining from you will perish in the land of your enemies because of your sins and even from the sins of your fathers which are with you, you will perish.” (Leviticus 26:39) This statement presents
Weekly Torah portion: Bechukosi Read More »
Jewish Religion
-59th in a series– Exit 33, Willows Road, Alpine (eastbound) By Donald H. Harrison VIEJAS INDIAN RESERVATION, California — I wrote the following story for the Sept. 19, 1997 edition of the San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage, of which I was editor. The sentiments expressed in this excerpt still apply today, and provide background for any
I-8 Jewish Travel: Jews and Native Americans Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USATwo babies were hospitalized at Schneider Children’s Hospital in Petach Tikva for being infected with herpes during circumcision, Kikar HaShabbat reports Wednesday night – and a prominent mohel has demanded that fellow mohels get checked for the disease before performing the ceremony. Mohel Rabbi Shlomo Mahfoud told the daily that mohels must “check themselves first
Mohels warned to get checked for herpes after babies infected Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationIn 1990, Jihad Al-Mohammed moved into an abandoned building in the old city of Sidon in south Lebanon. The Lebanese civil war had just come to end. The Palestinian refugees who had been sheltering in the centuries-old structure had gone. “But it was filled with rats and garbage,” says Mohammed. “So I cleaned it up.”
It took this man 10 years to realize he was living in a synagogue Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
NEW YORK (WJC) — The World Jewish Congress mourns the passing of veteran Israeli diplomat Mordechai Arbell. Arbell was for a long time chairman of the World Jewish Congress Research Institute in Jerusalem and in addition a founding board member of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations ICFR). He passed away on Monday in Jerusalem at the age of 87.
Mordechai Arbell, 1929-2016 Read More »
International, Middle East, Obituaries & memorialsJewish historian pens bio of ‘seminal figure’ of the 20th century Linda Forgosh holds a copy of her new book, Louis Bamberger: Department Store Innovator and Philanthropist. Photo by Robert Wiener Louis Bamberger, center, with shovel, at the ground breaking of The Newark Museum in 1930. Photos courtesy Jewish Historical Society of New Jersey A
Bamberger book is author’s ‘obsession’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, USA
By Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — What is a nice Jewish boy from Western Canada doing as a General in the Chinese Army? Well, not exactly a boy, maybe not so nice, but definitely Jewish. Morris Abraham Cohen was born on August 3, 1887 in a Polish shtetl. While an infant, his family fled Poland
Morris ‘Two-Gun’ Cohen a hero in China Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy Stanley Tiger SAN DIEGO– The BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel) continues to gain support among bewildered college students, naïve church groups and anyone who really chooses to learn nothing from history. It is a new variation of the old Czarist technique of wreaking havoc against the Jews. In this incarnation, it
BDS: A pogrom in sheep’s clothing Read More »
Jewish History