The kashrut of self-control

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Kashrut observance is one of the defining rituals of Judaism. For Jews, the food we put into our mouths is equally as important as the words that come out. Parashat Shemini cites the defining characteristics of Kosher mammals and fish. Mammals must have cleft hooves and chew their cud. Sea […]

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Jewish Religion

On rituals and traditions

By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. Ritual: any practice or pattern of behavior regularly performed in a set manner; a prescribed code of behavior regulating social conduct, such as the shaking of hands in greeting.[1] Tradition: the handing down of legends or customs from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice; a continuing

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Travel and Food

Guidelines for online comments

 Memo to our readers: Some of you may be wondering why some comments are posted below stories, and others aren’t. Our editors usually have the opportunity to review comments before they are posted.   As a matter of policy we send to the trash comments that include abusive language;  generic attacks on any nationality,  racial group, religious group, gender

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Donald H. Harrison

'Holyland' Hotel scandal rivets Israeli attention

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Normally  commentators would be worrying for days about the report in The Washington Post that a coterie of present and former National Security Advisors are pressing President Obama to proclaim their solution for Israel and Palestine. However, that story was below the fold on the front page of Ha’aretz, and is missing from

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Just a peace or a just peace?

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Avishai Margalit, arguably Israel’s most significant living philosopher, has recently published a book with the intriguing title, On Compromise and Rotten Compromises. As I haven’t read it, I’m not in a position to comment on it, but one quote as it appears in John Gray’s review in The New York Review of

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Middle East, USA

Doubts that Obama would recognize borders of self-declared Palestine state

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–On Tuesday we read that the Hamas regime in Gaza had reached a consensus with other rejectionist movements to cease firing into Israel. They were not giving up the struggle, but agreed that escalation at this time was not in their mutual interests. Today (Wednesday) we read that six mortars were fired toward

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

San Diego's Holocaust Commemoration to be held April 11th

By Michael Bart SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–San Diego’s Community Holocaust Commemoration will take place this year on Yom HaShoah, April 11th, at 1:30 pm at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, David and Dorothea Garfield Theater.  The theme for this year’s program is “Remember, Honor, and Teach: Liberation 65 Years Later.”  Each year San Diegans

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San Diego Calendar