By Rabbi Baruch Lederman WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kohain Gadol wore a pure gold headplate inscribed with the words “Kodesh L’Hashem.” “Holy to G-d.” We can learn from here that all our thoughts should be holy and pure. Changing our attitudes is easier said than done as the following true story from the Talmud illustrates: […]
Failing to change wrong attitudes can be painful Read More »
Jewish ReligionWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – A meaningful effort is underway to ensure that Jewish chaplains who perished while serving on active duty are no longer excluded from Chaplains Hill in Arlington National Cemetery. Representatives Anthony Weiner (D- New York) and Tom Rooney (R-Florida), along with Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York), have introduced a bipartisan congressional resolution
Legislation urges memorialization of Jewish chaplains at Arlington National Cemetery Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel–Despite claims to the contrary, Israel is a secular country. There is, however, a modicum of truth in the assertion that the stream of Judaism defined as orthodox exerts undue influence, both political and social, over various aspects of life in Israel. Notwithstanding, the majority of Israelis remain doggedly secular,
Paradoxical as it sounds, the majority of this Jewish country is secular Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–This semester I am teaching the senior class at our new Community Jewish High School. There are only five students in the class but they are all exceptionally bright and Jewishly committed. We have been using a new book from a new series entitled, Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices, edited by Rabbi
Should we blame the credit card company or the naive youth who ran up debt? Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Dow MarmurJERUSALEM– In order to describe the differences within Orthodoxy we often use adjectives: “modern” for those who seek to combine Torah with derech erets (the way of the world); “national” for many of the settlers; and, of course, “ultra” for haredim. But we can’t count all haredim as one group either. There’re, for
MK Anselem advocates new face for Orthodoxy Read More »
Jewish ReligionWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–House Speaker John Boehner’s plan to subsidize religious schools in the District of Columbia would undercut civil rights and civil liberties and add to the federal budget deficit, while failing to improve education, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Boehner has announced that he will unveil a bill
First Amendment: Would Speaker Boehner bill would erode separation of church and state? Read More »
Jewish ReligionIDF Soldier Raised Christian Turned Muslim Now Jewish JERUSALEM–Korey Bronson was raised Christian, then converted with his mother to Islam, and finally found his way back to his mother’s Judaism. He tells of his journey in this interview.
Video: Christian who converted to Islam now a Jew Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The New Year of Trees (Tu Bish’vat) has been part of the Jewish calendar since Rabbinic times and has been celebrated in different countries ever since. But it has gained special significance in modern Israel where forestation has been part of the challenge of reclaiming the land and making
Tu B’Shevat project: planting tolerance in Israel Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — In Parshas Yisro, we read of the most significant event in human history – the giving and receiving of the Torah. The Children of Israel, agreed to follow the mitzvos (commandments) of the Torah sight unseen. They understood the deep love that Hashem (G-d) had for them, and
The Torah has meaning for readers of every age Read More »
Jewish ReligionHOUSTON (Press Release) — In a show of solidarity with the nation of Israel and the Jewish people, Joel and Victoria Osteen will travel to Israel to hold “A Historic Night of Hope” at the Jerusalem Theater on Thursday, February 3, at 7:00 p.m. The event will be broadcast around the world by the Trinity Broadcasting
Christian pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen head for rally in Jerusalem to support Israel Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Wednesday night Judy, Margalit, and I watched The Secret Life of Bees. The movie, produced in 2008, is based on the book by the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. The story takes place in Southern Carolina in 1964 in the midst of racial turmoil. The Civil Rights Act had
Remembering the Exodus and the American Civil Rights struggle Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
Battle of the Two Talmuds: Judaism’s Struggle with Power, Glory, & Guilt by Leon H. Charney and Saul Mayzlish, Barricade Books, Fort Lee, NJ; ISBN 978-1-56980-439-1 ©2010, $22.95, p. 224 plus glossary By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — One does not need to listen to very many rabbinic sermons before he or she hears the words, “And the
‘Battle of the two Talmuds’ looks at an ancient split between Israel and the Diaspora Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion, Travel and FoodJERUSALEM (Press Release)– The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s Israel Commission and Nefesh B’Nefesh – which works in close cooperation with the Jewish Agency – are pleased to announce the continuation of their joint Ma’alot program for a third year. Following the runaway success of the program over the past two years in deepening the connection
Conservative movement to continue to emphasize aliyah to Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion