By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–This year, the first night of Chanukah is Tuesday December 16, 2014, at which time we will light one Chanukah light plus the shamash. The second night we light 2 lights plus a shamash. The third night we light 3 lights plus a shamash, and so on and so forth […]
Have yourself an Orthodox Chanukah Read More »
Jewish Religion
HAIFA, Israel (Press Release) — In two articles recently published in leading journals (Ugarit Forschungen and Semitica), Prof. Gershon Galil of the University of Haifa (Department of Biblical Studies) presented important information about the period of David’s reign, based on new archaeological and epigraphic data unearthed in northwestern Syria and southern Turkey. Prof. Galil points
In David’s time, Israel and Palistin were allies Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationLA MESA, California (Press Release) – Chabad of El Cajon has arranged a Chanukah celebration outside the Bath & Body Works at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, according to Rabbi Rafi Andrusier. The event will include live music, dancing, gelt, fresh latkes, coffee, a grand raffle, visits from elected officials, and the lighting of a
Balloon hannukiah to be lit at Grossmont Center Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego CalendarBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California–Hanukkah, the little holiday that could, begins with the lighting of the first candle against the darkness this Tuesday, December 16. Year after year, the assessments begin and the questions accumulate: Is Hanukkah the Jewish Christmas? Which one came first and how are they related? (Of course, the real inquiry
Why Chanukah is important to Christmas Read More »
Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Lashon Ha-rah, literally “bad tongue” is usually defined as saying or writing things which defame or slander one’s neighbor. However, what if one speaks the truth? If one’s neighbor has done something bad or unkind, is it still lashon ha-rah if you repeat it? Judaism says “yes.” If
Is evil speech okay if it’s true? Read More »
Jewish Religion
SANTA BARBARA (Press Release)– Charity Navigator, America’s premier independent charity evaluator, has ranked Direct Relief No. 1 on its list of “Ten of the Best Charities Everyone’s Heard Of.” Two Jewish organizations, Hadassah and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, nicknamed “The Joint,” came in third and sixth respectively. Charity Navigator, which helps inform intelligent giving decisions through
Hadassah, ‘Joint,’ place in Charity Navigator’s top 10 Read More »
Jewish Religion
AUSCHWITZ, Poland (WJC)–More than 100 Auschwitz survivors from at least 17 countries will travel to Poland to participate in the observance of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz on 27 January 2015, on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The official event will be organized
Auschwitz prepares for 70th anniversary of liberation Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — A mitzvah is a precious gift for us to cherish always, wherever we are, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, as the following true story illustrates: Thirty thousand Boy Scouts joined together in Virginia for a national Boy Scout Jamboree. Among the myriad groups of scouts who attend
Why give kosher food to a treif eater? Read More »
Jewish ReligionWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The following is the text of a joint statement issued December 8 by the United States of America and France. “Today, France and the United States have signed an agreement in Washington to establish a compensation fund for those Holocaust victims deported from France who had not been able to
France, U.S. formally agree on Shoah payments Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USABy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — I wasn’t searching specifically for this story, and I did not know the reporter’s byline until recently, but while surfing the internet last week for some news about France, I stumbled, happily, upon Cindy Mindell’s nice touch-your-heart story about the power of “thank you” and the redemption of
Jewish ‘thank you’ story resonates across time Read More »
International, Jewish History, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — In this week’s parasha Jacob wrestles with a Divine Being. Before releasing him, Jacob demands that the Being bless him. The Divine Being declares: “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with beings divine and human and have prevailed.” (Gen. 32:29) Theories
Eye witnesses may disagree without lying Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –A Rabbi was giving a lecture and commented that everything mentioned in the Torah teaches us a deep eternal lesson that has a dramatic impact on our lives today and for all time. Every word of Torah is precious. A scoffer in the audience sneered,”What great lesson do we
Everything in the Torah has importance Read More »
Jewish ReligionNEW YORK (Press Release)– Shurat HaDin, a civil rights organization based in Israel, has filed a whistleblower action against the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In its 38 page complaint, the group provides substantial evidence that PCUSA violated its non-profit tax-exempt status for engaging in a range of prohibited activities
Tax status challenge to Presbyterian Church USA Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USASAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Congregation Beth Israel will officially install Rabbi Jordie Gerson as its assistant rabbi in a Shabbat celebration on Friday, December 5 at 6:15 p.m. Rabbi Gerson started as assistant rabbi of Beth Israel in July. Rabbi Gerson’s father, Rabbi Gary Gerson, rabbi emeritus of Oak Park Temple in Oak Park, Illinois
CBI’s Rabbi Jodie Gerson to be installed Dec. 5 Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County