Why every baseball player should look upon ‘Bereishit’ as a favorite Torah portion

The sacrifice bunt is sacred. In what other sport is a player cheered for giving up their own turn at bat, absorbing a statistical out, simply to advance their teammate ninety feet closer to home? That is covenant in action: recognizing that collective purpose eclipses personal ambition. Individual stardom produces box-score glory; shared sacrifice wins the pennant. (Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel)

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Joint statement of StandWithUs, Israeli American Council, and Agudath Israel

LOS ANGELES (Press Release)  — StandWithUs, the Israeli American Council, and Agudath Israel strongly reject City Councilmember Nithya Raman’s repeated false accusations against Israel in her campaign for Mayor of Los Angeles. Additionally, we are deeply concerned about her lack of moral clarity regarding the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign and Hasan Piker’s

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Travel and Food

Anti-Israel forces take over New York City schools

Natalya Murakhver of the Upper East Side took her two children from a public school in 2024 and said, “Things have progressed very quickly. The language changes, the caliber of the venom. I think we’re entering a new phase. Back then, I think they were at least trying to pretend it was just about Israel. And now it’s pretty clear to those for whom it wasn’t clear before that anti-Zionism is Jew hate and antisemitism as we know it.” (Bruce S. Ticker)

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Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Satire: Pets at the polls

The Golden Deceiver claims he is a Golden Retriever, but he behaves like a rabid pit bull. He instituted a deportation program for dog breeds which didn’t originate in Europe and the United States. Chihuahuas, Afghan Hounds, Pekingese, among other breeds, live in terror of being picked up by roving dog catchers. Although he claims they will be relocated to their homelands, there are rumors that they get sent to countries where the humans eat dogs. [Elona Baron/ Laurie Baron]

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animals, Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Today’s Jewish birthday: R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine (October 8, 1943) is an American novelist. He is the writer of Goosebumps, a horror fiction novel series for children which has sold over 400 million copies globally in 35 languages, becoming the second-best-selling book series in history. The series spawned a media franchise including two television series, a video game series, a comic series, and two feature films. [Wikipedia]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Bereishit: The Psychology of Becoming

I sometimes wonder what might have happened if Cain had simply paused at the door. What if, rather than immediately following the impulse his jealousy created, he had been able to ask himself: What am I feeling right now? What story am I telling myself about what happened? What is this feeling asking me to do? And, perhaps most importantly, is that the person I want to be? [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D,]

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California, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: Oct. 7, 2026

” … On Oct. 7, Hamas-led attackers murdered civilians, committed sexual violence, mutilated bodies and took hostages. You are weaponizing a day meant for mourning the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust to recycle your usual antizionist talking points. … (SDJW staff roundup)

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Opinion, Press Release, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish community’s diverse reflections concerning Oct. 7, 2023

“Three years after Hamas’s October 7 massacre against Israel, we remember those who were murdered and stand with the survivors and people of Israel who will forever carry with them the indelible scars of that day…” (SDJW roundup)

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Press Release, San Diego County, USA

Elitzur Hajbi, sealed in his room since 2023, given a proper burial

Three years after the October 7 massacre, the final victim killed in the attack at Moshav Yakhini has been brought to rest after his family opened a bedroom that had remained locked since the morning he was murdered. (Press Release)

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Press Release, San Diego County

Memorializing the dead a Jewish obligation

Our Torah already knows this voice. “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, when you came out of Egypt… you shall not forget.” Amalek did not meet an army. Amalek struck the weary and the stragglers, the ones at the back who could not keep up. The commandment that follows is not “feel strongly.” It is remember, and because you remember, do not let the name of that attack be washed clean. [Rabbis Samuel and Rosenberg)

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Israel, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA