ROME (Press Release)—AJC (American Jewish Committee) has called for increased vigilance following grotesque manifestations of anti-Semitism in Rome during the Jewish Sabbath on January 25. A box with a pig’s head was delivered to Rome’s Grand Synagogue on Friday and similar packages were delivered on Saturday to the Israeli Embassy and to the Museum of […]
AJC Denounces new outrages, remembers old ones Read More »
Jewish History
JERUSALEM (Press Release)–“Despite what people might think, anti-Semitism does not strengthen our ties with Jews overseas” said Minister of Jerusalem & Diaspora affairs, Naftali Bennett, before presenting the annual report on the subject to the Israeli government in Jerusalem on Sunday, Jan. 26. “For every Jew who makes Aliya as a result of anti-Semitism,
Anti-Semitism prompts both assimiliation and aliyah Read More »
Jewish ReligionRabbi Moshe Walter, The Making of a Halachic Decision. Menucha Publishers.ISBN: 1614650896. 231 pages, $24. Rating: 3* out of 5. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Any student of Jewish law has often wondered about the origin of the Halachic decision-making process. True, the Talmud is full of arguments. If you
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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Question from Jewish Values Online: In the Torah parsha (selection for reading) Yitro, the Torah tells us that Jethro took Moses’ wife, Tziporah and their two sons, and sent them home. I once heard a teacher explain in a homiletical way that this was an example
What kind of a family man was Moses? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–As Governor Chris Christie’s staff recently found out, the truth always rises to the surface. During the week of reading parashat Mishpatim, Rabbi Menachem Mendle of Kotzk explained to his chassidim the meaning of the verse: “Truth springs from the earth.” (Ps. 85:12) He said that nothing grows from the
Biblical prophesy: The truth will out Read More »
Jewish Religion
WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release) — The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will open a new exhibition, “Camilla’s Purse,” Jan. 24 in the Albert Small Documents Gallery. The exhibition examines the life of Holocaust survivor, Camilla Gottlieb, through a display of letters, official documents and personal possessions. The records, collected and secured by Gottlieb in a
‘Camilla’s Purse’ new Shoah exhibit at Smithsonian Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion
A New Psalm: A Guide to Psalms as Literature by Rabbi Benjamin Segal; Gefen Publishing House (2013); ISBN-10: 965229618X; Price: $31.29 (on Amazon). By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Rabbi Benjamin Segal’s new commentary, A New Psalm: The Psalms as Literature is an excellent medley of numerous thoughts that Judaic commentaries have expressed on the Psalms
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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — There is nothing physically imposing about Lou Dunst—a cherubic, dignified man with a sweet smile yet deep, sorrowful eyes. At times, when he walks slowly by, it seems that a stiff wind could knock him down. But then you realize that not even the wind could do such
A Holocaust survivor celebrates a second bar mitzvah Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM – Yad Vashem has posthumously honored Maria Zurawska as Righteous Among the Nations from Poland. The medal and certificate of honor were accepted by her daughter Bronislawa Skoczylas who arrived from Poland to attend the ceremony. As told during the Jan. 16 ceremony, Zurawska’s story is one of self-sacrifice in the
Widowed by the Nazis, she agreed to again shelter Jews Read More »
Jewish HistoryA Social History of Hebrew: Its Origins Through the Rabbinic Period by William M. Schniedewind; Yale University Press, New HavenISBN 978-0-300-167668-1 ©2013, $45.00, p. 261, including notes, bibliography, and index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–William Schniedewind, UCLA professor of Mediterranean studies, Near Eastern languages, and the Bible, and author of A Social History of
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Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
ROME (WJC) – A delegation of 15 Argentine Jewish leaders was hosted Thursday for an informal kosher lunch at the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse by Pope Francis. Latin American Jewish Congress Executive Director Claudio Epelman, who organized the meeting together with Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka, said it was an “extraordinary gesture by Pope Francis to
Pope hosts kosher lunch for Argentine Jews Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–This week’s parasha begins: “Yitro priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.” (Ex. 18:1) So he decided to pay Moses a visit. Rashi asks: “What exactly had Yitro heard that
Why Yitro wanted to visit Moses Read More »
Jewish Religion
Editor’s Note: Rabbi Baruch Lederman, whose column regularly appears in San Diego Jewish World, this week introduces Rabbi Yehuda Simes as a guest columnist. In 2010 Rabbi Simes suffered injuries that left him a quadriplegic. The following true story is told in his own words. By Rabbi Yehuda Simes OTTAWA, Canada — Over the course
How the rabbi was able to observe yahrzeit Read More »
Jewish Religion
JERUSALEM (Press Release) — The Knesset of Israel held its first ever Tu’Bshvat Seder on Wednesday, Jan. 15. It was hosted by the Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein. The seder, which replicates the four cups of wine of the Passover Seder and includes traditional readings associated with land and produce, was conducted jointly by
Knesset Speaker hosts first Tu B’Shevat seder Read More »
Jewish Religion