The Fed-Up Man of Faith: Challenging God in the Face of Tragedy and Suffering by Shmuley Boteach, Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, New York; ISBN 978-965-229-606-1 ©2012, $24.95, p. 340, plus addenda By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — World-renown Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, in his latest book The Fed-Up Man of Faith, continues on the path
Challenging God in the face of tragedy Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Purim is here once more. For me, it is a bitter-sweet holiday. The year was 1996. Earlier that day, I went to the hospital to wish my father a “Freilach Purim” (Happy Purim). I was reading the Megillah for my synagogue, when suddenly, somebody informed
A Survivor chooses the day to die Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo SamuelCHULA VISTA, California — Purim Fest 1946. During the Holocaust years, Purim celebrations were forbidden to the Jews. Christians and Jews could not even own the book of Esther. Such decrees did not stop the Nazis from poking fun at the Jews on this Jewish holiday. With diabolical glee, the Nazis
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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Nothing in Jewish life is easy. What could be complicated about a triangular shaped pastry with filling inside? Hamantaschen, the preferred perennial Purim treat, seem simple enough at face value. But a little research proves that this holiday delicacy has a vast and perplexing history. First of all,
All about hamantaschen Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — It seems strange, but there is scarcely a day when we don’t hear about some person losing his or her grip on reality. We are bombarded by a series of rampage shootings that we hear on the radio and television that occur with almost clockwork regularity. Christopher
Dorner rampage: How war can taint a soul Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — Whenever I think of people I knew who dressed impeccably, I recall three of my favorite people. One was my maternal grandfather, a businessman who was firmly dedicated to religious observance, but who chose his clothing carefully and was proud of his collection of cufflinks, tie clips, and
Clothes make the man… and the woman Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — It’s one thing to visit in a synagogue and talk with God about life and death, fate and fortune, mortality and miracles, cruelty and compassion. It’s another thing to share this conversation with a sweet old man who has experienced all of these things and could easily debate
Lou Dunst, a victim turned philanthropist Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The Chafetz Chaim was one of the greatest Jewish ethicists and moralists of all time. He took his name from the verse from the book of Psalms, chapter 34: “Who is the man who is eager for life; who desires years of good fortune? Guard your tongue from
The privilege of sustaining a holy community Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — In 1991, on Shabbos Terumah, the soul of our three-month-old son Shlomo Moshe Lederman was returned to its Creator. His shocking death was due to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndorme), meaning that he was a perfectly healthy happy baby who suddenly and inexplicably died. The funeral was held
A bus versus a funeral Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Joel A. Moskowitz, MD LA JOLLA, California — The father of JFK and Bobby and Ted Kennedy was intimately involved in the world events leading up to World War II. And David Nasaw’s book The Patriarch: The remarkable life and turbulent times of Joseph Patrick Kennedy tells it all. Published by Penguin Press this
Biography examines Joe Kennedy’s attitudes toward Jews Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, USA
Fox Lodge News Southwestern Jewish Press, April 19, 1957, Page 5 The next regular meeting of the Samuel I. Fox Lodge will be held on Tuesday, April 30th, 1957, at 8:30 p.m. at the Beth Jacob Center. At this meeting we will have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Norman Simon, Assistant Grand Secretary of Southern
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Adventures in SD History, Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK–Scholars have long disagreed about what distinguishes human beings from the rest of the animal world. Some have argued that it is man’s intelligence and use of language that distinguishes him; hence the term Homo Sapiens. Others have maintained that it is the fact that he uses tools that
Using discretion in our charitable giving Read More »
Jewish Religion
Press Notes Southwestern Jewish Press, April 18, 1957, Page 3 By Julia Kaufman Sound Off! 1-2-3-4 During and after the last war, because of my U.S.O. affiliations, I attended many Naval ceremonies in this area. Last Saturday, I had a personal interest in the graduation exercises for “Boots” at the Naval Training Center. I had
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Adventures in SD History, Jewish HistoryPALM BEACH, Florida (Press Release) … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has posthumously honored Varian Fry, an American journalist responsible for aiding thousands of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, with the ADL Jan Karski Courage to Care Award The award was presented posthumously to Fry on February 8 during the League’s National Executive Committee Meeting in
Varian Fry receives posthumous award from ADL Read More »
Jewish Religion