By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Board of Education on Tuesday, March 29, formally approved a sister-school agreement between Cabrillo Elementary School here and the Grundschule of Neuhaus-an-der-Oste, Germany, thereby making partners of schools in the hometown of Louis Rose and his adopted home in San Diego. Rose, an entrepreneur who […]
Beginnings: The First Love, the First Hate, the First Dream… Reflections on the Bible’s Intriguing Firsts by Meir Shalev, Translated from the Hebrew by Stuart Schoffman, Harmony Books, New York; ISBN 978-0-037-71718-4 ©2011, $25.00, 295 pages By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California– Americans relish someone accomplishing something first! Do you remember who flew the first airplane? How
Witty book examines ‘firsts’ in the Bible Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—It was no accident that Louis Rose Point was dedicated at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 24, rather than at some other time on some other date. Nor was it happenstance that hamantaschen, rather than some other sweet, was served at a reception immediately following the event. In fact, little
Louis Rose Point ceremony laden with symbolism Read More »
Jewish History
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–The Talmud’s words: “I have learned from all of my students” certainly holds true for me. On Tuesday evening my eighth grade class at our Community Jewish High School was studying an ancient aphorism quoted in the Talmud: “When we were young, [we were treated] like grown-ups; now that we
Beware misconceptions about the young — and the old Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman JERUSALEM — The Torah details the regulations and specifications of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) which was a precursor to the Bais Hamikdash (Holy Temple) in the Jerusalem. Hashem gave us special Mitzvos to be done in the land of Israel, as well as the ability to carry out those mitzvos as the
Shemittah paid off for observant potato growers Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–When most Jews hear the words, “Remember – do not forget!” they think of the Holocaust. Survivors and members of the Jewish community recite these words as an oath to the six million Jews who perished during the Shoah. We pledge not only to remember them and preserve their Jewish
Haman, Hitler, and modern Amalekites Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –The following true story, submitted by Yaakov Lederman, is documented in Kids Speak 4: My name is Chaim. I am eleven. I live in Israel. At the beginning of the school year my father met my teacher on the street. At first he tried to cross to the other
The power of praise Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Most people agree that everyone has an obligation to give tzedaka. What they don’t agree on is how much money is an appropriate gift. When we hear, “give until it hurts,” we believe that our neighbors have a much lower pain threshold than ourselves. I am often envious of Mormons.
How much tzedakah should one give? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — The book of Vayikra deals primarily with the offerings of the Mishkan (Temple). The offerings we bring, bring us closer to Hashem and bring atonement. The Chofetz Chaim wrote that when an inexplicable personal tragedy occurs, it is a kapara (atonement) for the Jewish people: In 1991, the
The infant’s funeral and the busdriver Read More »
Jewish ReligionNEW YORK (Press Release)– The Interfaith Coalition on Mosques (ICOM) has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a Muslim congregation in Georgia whose mosque expansion project was unlawfully blocked. The brief supports the contention of congregation Dar-e-Abbas that the city of Lilburn, Georgia affirmatively prevented the congregation from building a new house of worship, and
ADL backs Muslims in effort to build new mosque in Lilburn, Georgia Read More »
Jewish ReligionHAIFA (Press Release)–At the entrance to a flea market shop. On a train. Ecological. These are just three examples of numerous synagogues photographed and documented at the new “Synagogues and Congregations in Israel” exhibition currently on display at the University of Haifa. It is set to accompany the Third Israeli Conference on the Study of
Photo exhibit explores Israel’s diverse synagogues Read More »
Jewish ReligionThe Jew is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths That Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism by Tarek Fatah, McClelland & Stewart, Toronto; ISBN 978-0-7710-4783-1 ©2010, $24.95, p. 208 plus notes, bibliography, and index Reviewed by Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Like most people with an Internet account, I receive quite a few emails each day. Most
Muslim debunks some anti-Semitic myths in Islamic writings Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–So soon after attending Saturday morning services to attend the bat mitzvah of a friend’s daughter, here I was back again at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, causing some congregants’ eyebrows to raise. The Friday night crowd is different from the Saturday morning congregation, and more so on those evenings when Erev
Getting that Shabbat feeling … all over again Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — This week at minyan I pointed out that Conservative siddurim offer two alternative prayers before the morning’s first kaddish. The second selection contains the traditional text: “May it be Your will, Adonai our God and God of our ancestors, that the Temple be restored in our day, and
What about that prayer for restoring the Temple? Read More »
Jewish Religion