The intellectual right, yea obligation, of independent thought

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Several of my columns commenting about the United States have produced angry responses, claiming that I do not understand, that my “opinions” are tainted, and that if I do not value the United States I should give up my citizenship. What I think these responses reveal is yet another side of the United […]

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Ira Sharkansky, USA

Helping miracles to occur

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO – Although midrash at times attempts to solve textual problems, at other times midrash seems an illogical flight of fantasy that creates more problems than it solves. Such is the rabbinic comment about Pharaoh’s daughter pulling Moses from the Nile River. The Torah says: “The daughter of Pharaoh came

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Jewish Religion

Bible Lands Museum program promotes friendships

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — The Bible Lands Museum, situated opposite the Israel Museum, houses a broad range of archeological artefacts from all over the Ancient Near East. In accordance with the vision of its founder, the late Eli Borovsky, it refers to the various cultures of the Ancient Near East, each of which contributed

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Science, Medicine, & Education

History told of soon-to-open Chesed Home

ESCONDIDO, California (Press Release)– Chesed Home, San Diego County’s adult residential facility serving Jews with serious mental illness, opens next month in this city. Hope Village San Diego, a 501 3c non-profit, has developed Chesed Home.  The mission is to provide a safe and nurturing residence for adults with serious mental illness, based on Jewish values and

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San Diego County

JNS news briefs: January 4, 2013

   Netanyahu to ambassadors: Palestinians must declare conflict over for peace accord (JNS.org) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, lecturing to Israeli ambassadors about regional concerns at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, said Palestinian claims of a “right of return” spell the end of Israel and prevent a peace agreement from being reached. “Hamas could take over the

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International

Rabbi Kahn’s insights stimulating, well worth reading

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel  CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most exciting exegetical works I have read in years is Rabbi Ari D. Kahn’s Echoes of Eden on Sefer Shemot: Salvation and Sanctity—Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion on the Book of Exodus. Publisher: Gefen Publishing House, 2012. ISBN-10: 965229585X, 350 pages. Price: $29.95  His

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Rabbis’ travels produce chocolate primer

On the ChocolateTrail by Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz, Jewish Lights Publishing, 2002, ISBN 978-1-58023-487-0-51899;  237 pages including index, appendices, $18.00 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Deborah Prinz, former spiritual leader of Temple Adat Shalom in nearby Poway, and her husband, Rabbi Mark Hurvitz, who led Congregation Etz Chaim in Ramona, have been

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Donald H. Harrison

Poll finds conservatives favor Israel, liberals less so

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) on Thursday, Jan. 3,  noted a recent poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press that shows the continuing large gap in support for Israel between Republicans and Democrats. The poll, taken in mid-December, asked, “In the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians,

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USA

What role will women play in Israel’s election?

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Israel’s largest political block (the unholy alliance between Netanyahu’s Likud and Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu) appears to believe what voters abroad have known for a long time: women can make a difference to the outcome of elections. That’s why it’s accusing its serious rival on the right, Naftali Bennet’s Habayit Heyehudi

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Middle East