When my kids were very young, we had a Thanksgiving tradition (no doubt like so many other American families) of going around the table and saying what we were thankful for. The answers ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous, depending on the age and mood of the three boys. [Heidi Gantwerk]
Counting Our Blessing Every Friday Night Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
“When can we eat?” Not only do we hear this as we gather for Passover, but I am sure this question was asked in many homes on Thanksgiving. It is always the debate. Do you serve Thanksgiving lunch, something between noon and 6 p.m., or serve as the sun sets for dinner? [Cailin Acosta]
Jews Divide Along Denominational Lines over Thanksgiving Celebrations Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Courtesy of Wikipedia Chaim Weizmann (November 27, 1874 – November 9, 1952) was a Russian-born Israeli statesman, biochemist, and Zionist leader who served as president of the Zionist Organization and later as the first president of Israel. He was elected on 16 February 1949, and served until he died in 1952. Weizmann was instrumental in obtaining the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and convincing the
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Chaim Weizmann Read More »
International, Israel, Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Eight of Elie Wiesel’s fifty-seven books could be called “Theological Biographies.” They are books on biblical figures and stories about Hasidim. They are Souls on Fire (1972), Four Hasidic Masters and Their Struggle Against Melancholy (1978), Somewhere a Master (1982), and Wise Men and Their Tales (2003), which focus on Hasidim. Messengers of God (1976), Five Biblical Tales (1981), and Sages and Dreamers (1991) look at biblical people. Filled with Fire and Light is a 2021 posthumous book addressing biblical, Talmudic, and Hasidic figures. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Hasidic Rebbes and what they taught us Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Recently we followed in the footsteps of many Israelis and traveled south to the “Gaza envelope” (the area of Jewish communities adjacent to the border). We were on one of two buses sponsored by the ESRA organization going to the area where 1,269 Israelis (and some others) were killed, thousands were wounded, and 250+ were kidnapped. In addition to our bus there were many other busses and private cars visiting the area. [Steve Kramer]
Visiting the Gaza Envelope Read More »
Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodDo Jews believe in miracles? An article on myjewishlearning.com sparked my interest. Miracles appear throughout Jewish texts, from the splitting of the Red Sea to the bush that burned but was not consumed. [Cailin Acosta]
Are There Jewish Miracles? Yes, 8 Days of Chanukah Among Them Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Jewish themes were constantly present in Pervomaysky’s work. In the early “everyday” stories and novels they occupy a leading place. They were in the center of the story of The Promised Land, the stories The Umbrella of Pinchus-Moti (1926), In the Bookbinder’s Room (1928), From the Song of Songs (1935), and One Night of Ilyusha’s Childhood (1937). [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Leonid Solomonovych Pervomaysky, Ukrainian Author Read More »
Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Young Israel, Chabad East County, Beth Jacob—each a long-standing wellspring of Torah and inspiration. Together, they could become a beacon of unity, proving that our differences are not barriers but opportunities to strengthen each other. The Torah was given to us as one at Sinai. Let us live that way, too. Let’s do more than sing, “Acheinu Kol Beit Yisroel,” (“Our Brethren, the entire House of Israel”) let’s take visionary action and live this. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
‘That’s The Shul I Don’t Go To?’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The body of murder victim Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan was recovered Sunday in the United Arab Emirates, and that nation’s Interior Ministry announced the arrest of three suspects, giving no further details. [Donald H. Harrison]
The Jewish Citizen: Chabad Rabbi Slain in the United Arab Emirates Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Rabbi Jonathan Stein passed away on Shabbat, November 22, 2024 with his family at his side. He spent the last 50 years in service to the Jewish community, but his family always came first. He served at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation from 1974 to 1994, at Congregation Beth Israel from 1994-2001, and Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York City from 2001-2014. [Family Statement]
Obituary: Rabbi Jonathan Stein, z”l Read More »
Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Press Release, San Diego County, USA“Growing up, both of my grandfathers were engineers, and I was always told we needed more women in all areas of STEM,” Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) told 3rd to 8th grade girls who attended the All-Girls STEM Society meeting at the Mission Valley Branch Library on Saturday, Nov. 23. [Cailin Acosta]
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Discusses Science and Holiday Treats Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
Courtesy of Wikipedia Baruch Spinoza (November 24, 1632 – February 21, 1677), was a philosopher of Portuguese-Jewish origin. A forerunner of the Age of Enlightenment, Spinoza significantly influenced modern biblical criticism, 17th-century rationalism, and Dutch intellectual culture, establishing himself as one of the most important and radical philosophers of the early modern period. Influenced by Stoicism, Thomas Hobbes, René Descartes, Ibn Tufayl, and heterodox Christians,
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Jewish Fiction, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
In this novel, which was adopted from author Shorr’s unrealized screenplay, Abe Katz, a civil engineer, was imprisoned after he told New Dominion interrogators that yes, he was a Jew, even though he had stopped practicing Judaism following his bar mitzvah and had adopted the regime’s rigid secularism. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rescuing Judaism in a Post-Apocalyptic World Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined ContributorsRecently I read an interesting article on myjewishlearning.com debating when it’s best to wish someone a good Shabbat. Immediately thought, “Duh? It is sundown Friday night until sundown Saturday night, right?” Not necessarily, this article gave an interesting perspective acknowledging the middle of the week as the focal point of Shabbat. [Cailin Acosta]
When Do Jews Wish Each Other a ‘Shabat Shalom?’ Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors