By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — How important is Judaism for the Jews? We’ve long confused social science by being both an ethnic group (or tribe) and a religion. Among us are members of the tribe who deny religion, and converts to the religion who may have to wait a generation or two before being fully accepted […]
Ethnicity? Religion? Judaism is that — and more Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East
With this column we introduce Joe Spier, who loves to research and write about Jewish history. Based in Calgary, he is a frequent winter vacationer in San Diego. We thank Ernie Addleson for putting us in touch with him. By Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — The story of the modern exodus of “Beta Israel” the
Alaska Airlines and the Jews of Yemen Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — On Tuesday during one of my Community Jewish High classes, we discussed the recent events in Baltimore in the context of Judaism’s attitude toward civil disobedience. We talked about Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody and the public response to it. While the line between non-violent and
Judaism favors non- violent protest Read More »
Jewish ReligionProphecies and Providence: A Biblical Approach to Modern Jewish History by Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, Devorah Publishing, New York; ISBN 978-1-93444-059-9 ©2015, $24.95, p. 218, plus appendices By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Apocalyptic literature tells of the events that will occur at the end-of-days, such as Armageddon and the struggle between Gog and Magog. For fundamentalist Christians those
Rabbi helps decipher biblical prophecies Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
Editor’s Note: In my quest to find Jewish stories wherever I go, I decided there is no place like home to illustrate the concept that “there is a Jewish story everywhere.” Interstate 8 roughly follows the traditional route that settlers took in their covered wagons in the mid-19th century to get to San Diego from the
I-8 Jewish Travel ~ Bahia Hotel, San Diego Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Travel and Food, USA
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– Elie Shneour was born in France on December 11, 1925. The son of Zalman and Salomea Shneour, he had one sibling — Renee Shneour, who later became Spanish dancer Laura Toledo. Shneour was raised in Neuilly sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris. His family was of Jewish heritage, his father having emigrated from Czarist Russia
Elie Alexis Shneour (Dec. 11, 1925 — April 14, 2015) Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County
LA JOLLA, California (SDONA)–Hillel of San Diego announced Sunday the appointment of a new director for its programs for Jewish students at the UC San Diego campus. Rabbi David Singer will begin work in La Jolla in July. He was previously founder and director of Makom, a spiritual community for millennials affiliated with one of Dallas’ largest
Rabbi David Singer to head Hillel at UCSD Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Although invocations by Rabbi Michael Berk of Congregation Beth Israel and Monsignor Richard Duncanson of Mission San Diego de Alcala came in reverse chronological order as far as San Diego history was concerned, they were in correct historical order from the standpoint of world history. Jews were first on the
Inter- religious invocations honor San Diego’s history Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego CountyBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The California state senator who heads the first-in-the-nation Jewish legislative caucus says it’s time for Jews in the U.S. Congress to form a caucus too, and adds that U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the Florida congresswoman who chairs the national Democratic party, agrees with him “100 percent.” State Sen.
California legislator: Congress needs a Jewish caucus Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A number of individuals from my home town of Fall River have traveled to Ponta Delgada in the Azores to commemorate the refurbishing of a synagogue that they had financed. They also met with the one Jew still living in the islands. The story is long and interesting, and ironic from both
The Jews and Portuguese of Fall River Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish History, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The combined Parasha Tazria-M’tzora deals with various types of ritual impurities, specifically those that our ancestors connected with skin disease. Those who contracted the various ailments described in the Torah became ritually impure, were exiled from the Israelite camp, and could only return after they were cured
The penalty against gossip Read More »
Jewish ReligionObama refuses to meet Netanyahu until after Iran nuclear deal deadline (JNS.org) President Barack Obama reportedly said he will not meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until after the June 30 deadline for a final nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Citing anonymous sources familiar with a meeting between Obama and Jewish leaders
Jewish news briefs: April 23, 2015 Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
By Toby Klein Greenwald A Sabbath morning, late curled in a recliner reading a book about past lives around me more books, paintings stuffed animals and magazines the room I call a womb. Husband on the patio with coffee cup, ten feet away through the open door reading Talmud And in the silence of the
A poem for Yom Haatzmaut 2015 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Toby Klein Greenwald
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — The Men’s Club of Beth Israel of San Diego hosts Dr. Albert Ray as its featured speaker at the May 20th Dinner Forum. Dr. Ray’s presentation will cover the subject “Sex and the Torah, for Adult Audiences.” Ray received his B.A. in 1969 from Brooklyn College. He attended the Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
Sex and the Torah lecture May 20 Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County