By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The Torah tells us: “Now Dinah, the daughter whom Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land. Shechem, son of Hamor, the Hivite, chief of the country, saw her, and took her and lay with her by force.” (Gen. 23:1-2) The story […]
Treatment of Dinah in the Bible–and since–absolutely shameful Read More »
Jewish ReligionCompiled by San Diego Jewish World staff United Jewish Fund Board Resumes Activity After Holy Days Southwestern Jewish Press, September 7, 1956, Page 4 The United Jewish Fund will swing into action for its Fall session immediately after the holidays, Morris W. Douglas, President of the Fund, announced. Directors of the Fund will meet for
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, September 7, 1956, Part 2 Read More »
Adventures in SD History, Jewish History
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Recently this question was posed to me: God warns us explicitly not to follow in the ways of the other nations. How does this apply to our custom to give gifts on Chanukah, which seems to have been taken from the very not-Jewish tradition of
Is gift-giving on Chanukah permitted? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiCompiled by San Diego Jewish World staff New Year’s Message of Morris W. Douglas, President United Jewish Fund Southwestern Jewish Press, September 7, 1956, Page 1 The coming week will see the beginning of the Jewish New Year, 5717. Jews throughout the world and here in San Diego will be celebrating Rosh Hashonah. This is
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, September 7, 1956, Part 1 Read More »
Adventures in SD History, Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –Although Laban promised his daughter, Rachel, to Jacob in marriage, he tricked Jacob into marrying her older sister, Leah, instead. When Jacob complains to Laban about his deceit, Laban replies, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the older. Wait until the
The seven days and seven blessings for a bride and groom Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Mort Blumberg* (*name changed) once gave me a call concerning an upcoming heart bypass surgery he was slated to undergo. He asked me what religious things he could do for a successful operation. After ‘prescribing’ him the standard regimen of prayer, recitation of Psalms etc., I told him
Fixing the spiritual heart can help the physical one Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Dow Marmur TORONTO, Canada–Women are reviving Judaism. I’ve been part of the Reform Jewish movement since 1957 when I enrolled in a rabbinic college in England. Though in theory Reform Judaism was fully committed to gender equality, there was still little of it in practice other than that, unlike in Orthodox synagogues, women
Women reviving Judaism Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –Last Wednesday was “Stump the Rabbi Day” at our Torah School at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. I meet with most classes once a month and this month, instead of a prepared lesson, I let them ask whatever questions were on their minds. They took the opportunity seriously and asked questions
Oh, God hears you all right! Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of Erich Fromm’s most penetrating insights pertains to his distinction between authoritarian vs. humanistic religion. Fromm’s You Shall Be as Gods: A Radical Interpretation of the Old Testament and Its Tradition is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read on the early
Healing our dysfunctional images of God Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Melanie Rubin never fails to spot a Jewish-interest license plate. As “18” is the numeric equivalent of the Hebrew word “chai” (life), we can think of this license plate as reading “Chai David!”
Jewish-interest license plate: 18 David Read More »
Jewish Religion, Melanie RubinBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One cannot observe the politics of America or the Middle East without thinking, at least occasionally, about God. And one cannot be a decent political scientist without looking beyond one’s own locale, country, and continent, to see how things are done elsewhere. All this makes it hard for
God, in politics, is the All-Present and the All-Elusive Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Anyone who has ever confused “Veterans Day” with “Memorial Day” can understand how it might have happened. The plaque to be dedicated on Nov. 11–Veterans Day–came back with an inscription saying it was dedicated Memorial Day. But, no real harm done– Given that the permanent monument for the
JWV dedicates a temporary plaque at Miramar National Cemetery Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO– Some in my congregation may have noticed that I often leave the bima during Shabbat services to greet visitors to our congregation. Although this may appear disruptive, I am following in the footsteps of a most excellent role model: Avraham Avinu, Abraham our Father. Abraham, the first human being
Why Abraham was sad in his tent Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Hashem revealed to Avraham that He planned to destroy the wicked city of Sodom. Avrahom did not merely take this as intellectual information that was removed from him. Avraham thought about the actual people in the city. As such he pleaded with Hashem that there must surely be
Three instances of appreciating the others’ point of view Read More »
Jewish Religion