By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Although we Jews firmly believe we can argue with God, bargaining with God is another story. Of course there is nothing that forbids us from trying to formalize an agreement with God, but if we think we will receive confirmation from above, we are sadly mistaken. Jacob’s words, therefore, are […]
What do rabbis say about Jacob trying to bargain with God? Read More »
Jewish Religion
SAN DIEGO– There are days, of course, when you can’t take a Torah or a Chumash with you, but for Melanie Rubin that was no problem. It was as if the Book of Genesis and the Book of Exodus came looking for her on the roadways. We have added both biblically inspired license plates to
Is Torah stalking Melanie Rubin on the freeways? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy David Kroll SAN DIEGO — This week’s parsha was Chayey Sarah, the life of Sarah, a text which actually begins following the time of her death. As compared with other parshas which involve a great many subjects and topics, Chayey Sarah deals with only three: The negotiation between Abraham and Efron the Hittite for
Jews and money: an essay on an old stereotype Read More »
Jewish Religion
Hey Waiter…There’s God in My Soup! Learning Kabbalah through Humor by Sam “Simcha” Krause with Terry Krause; ISBN 978-1-553-4537-2980-9, ©2010, $16.00, 98 pages By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Jewish tradition holds that Moses received three things from God on Mt. Sinai. First, he received the Written Law, known as the Torah and Five
A humorous approach to understanding Kabbalah Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Ledeman SAN DIEGO — Rivkah was the perfect wife for Yitzchok because she possessed chessed (loving kindness). Caring kindness and sensitivity to others, are hallmarks of the Jewish people as the following true story, documented in A Mother’s Favorte Stories by Sheina Medwed, illustrates: Beth Shapiro was shopping with her elderly
Jews have something far more precious than rings Read More »
Jewish ReligionNEW YORK (Press Release)– A new cohort of 25 congregations from Judaism’s Conservative Movement will enroll in The Jewish Theological Seminary’s groundbreaking Mitzvah Initiative this fall, joining the nearly 50 synagogues, Solomon Schechter day schools, and Ramah camps already involved with the program, among them Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. The 2010–2011 cohort includes
25 Conservative congregations latest to join ‘Mitzvah Initiative’ Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Rabbis are fond of telling couples they are marrying that the chuppah beneath which they stand resembles Avraham Avinu’s tent. How so? Just as the chuppah is open on all four sides, so was Avraham’s tent. Avraham’s tent was open on all four sides to welcome guests from
Non-Jewish visitors should be taught about Judaism’s values Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–Avraham was visited by three angels, one of whom was there to heal him after his recent bris milah (ritual circumcision). This brings to mind the following story: Rav Shlomo Kluger ztz”l accepted a new position as Rav. Shortly thereafter, there was bris (ritual circumcision) to which he of course
Why a mitzvah must be performed as soon as possible Read More »
Jewish ReligionJERUSALEM (WJC) — The Dead Sea scrolls, containing some of the oldest-known surviving Biblical texts, are to go online as part of a cooperation project between Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) and the internet giant Google, the French news agency AFP reports. The US$ 3.5 million project by the IAA and Google’s Israeli branch aims to
Dead Sea Scrolls’ photographic archives to go on line Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your native land and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” (Gen. 12:1) There is a general consensus among rabbinic sources that God’s command to Abraham to leave his family and all that he knew in
Why God didn’t identify the ‘land I will show you’ Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Avraham grew up in a world where the norm was idolotry. His father was a card carrying idolator. That was the family business. But Avraham, through his penetrating insight and honest analysis, realized that this norm was wrong. Despite the social mores, despite fierce, even violent resistance he held on
Avraham would have been proud of bridge builder’s spirit Read More »
Jewish ReligionSAN DIEGO — Two veteran members of Congress, who also are members of our Jewish community, deserve reelection to Congress. They are Bob Filner and Susan Davis, both Democrats. Filner currently serves as chairman of the House Veteran Affairs Committee, and has campaigned tirelessly for recognizing the rights and needs of veterans. He is particularly
Two endorsements for the U.S. Congress Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Not long after the flood (“Noah, he built him, he built him an ark-ee, ark-ee…”) human beings got into mischief once again. (Humans, it seems, are very slow learners!) “Everyone on earth had the same language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon
Did God make a mistake scattering the people from Babel? Read More »
Jewish ReligionCARLSBAD, California (Press Release)– Rabbi Karen Sherman of Etz Rimon Synagogue on Oct. 13 will conduct the first class in a three-session class on the prophets and their impassioned messages of justice and peace. “We will explore the prophets’ contributions to our history as well as their influence on our contemporary lives,” said the rabbi. Participants may attend
Etz Rimon begins classes on the prophets Oct. 13 Read More »
Jewish Religion