Virtually all, if not all that we are told about Isaac is obscure, as with Abraham and Jacob. The Torah leaves out explanations for behaviors, leaving it to us to imagine what occurred and to derive meaning from our own ideas. The following are some examples of opaque events. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
What Do We Know About Isaac, the Second Patriarch? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
A friend in the US recently asked me what I thought about Israel’s new government. My replay: It’s a government! Finally, after four elections in two years, the victory of a wide-ranging coalition government last spring meant that there was a good chance the election frenzy would end. The prerequisite for the government’s survival was to pass a budget before mid-November. If not, new elections would be scheduled and the government would be reduced to “caretaker” status only. [Steve Kramer]
At Long Last, Israel Has a Working Government Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
It has been speculated that the most “Jewish” characters on Sesame Street are Statler and Waldorf, the curmudgeonly critics in the balcony. What actual Jewish event has occurred on Sesame Street? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Sesame Street Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
In a style reminiscent of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs of Disney fame, this book, reissued for Hanukkah, features a series of unidimensional characters with Yiddish names: Noshy Boy, Kvetchy Boy, Shmutzy Girl, Klutzy Boy, Shluffy Girl, Shleppy Boy, Kibbitzy Girl, and Keppy Girl. [Donald H. Harrison]
Chanukah with Some Stereotypical Yiddish Characters Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
There have been several events worth mentioning. We have a budget. For the first time in several years. Bibi’s government couldn’t, or wouldn’t pass a budget bill, and continued with partial enactments, providing moneys needed to continue or expand certain services. Now, with a budget approved, the present government evades a limit on its existence, tied by legislation to having enacted a budget. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Wall-to-Wall Israeli Coalition Holds Firm on Budget Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
Published by Loudwire Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg revealed his new mask at Knotfest Los Angeles on Friday. Weinberg is the second member of Slipknot to don a new mask with vocalist Corey Taylor debuting his new mask at Rocklahoma Festival in September. As all maggots know, each new Slipknot album comes with new visuals, including
Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg Reveals New Mask Read More »
Jewish Celebrities
Although many countries at the COP26 Climate Summit concur that the world must address the threat posed by global warming, none seem willing to immediately adopt radical measures to deal with it sufficiently.
At the COP-26 (Conspiracy of Polluters), big corporations have proposed their own solutions. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: Corporate Industry to the Rescue Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Published by Reuters By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel stepped up its public opposition on Saturday to a plan by President Joe Biden’s administration to reopen a U.S. consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem, suggesting such a mission should be in the occupied West Bank. Under former President Donald Trump, Washington delighted Israelis and outraged
Israel suggests U.S open consulate for Palestinians in West Bank, not Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East
Published by DPA The 84-year-old Rabbi Israel Meir Lau is to remain chairman of the advisory board of the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem in Jerusalem for another four years. The Israeli government approved a request to this effect by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday, according to his office. Lau is Israel’s former chief rabbi.
Rabbi Israel Meir Lau to remain chair of advisory board of Yad Vashem Read More »
Middle East
I created the Jaclyn Beth Kaufman Tauber Memorial Fund through the Jewish Community Foundation to honor the memory of my beautiful daughter Jackie, she was my best friend. Jackie had the ability to connect with people on a very personal level, especially children. Jackie was creatively gifted. A master puppeteer, she was a member of the San Diego Guild of Puppetry, a non-profit organization created to educate through the magic of Puppet Theater [Dale Kaufman]
A Mother’s Plea on the Sixth Anniversary of Her Daughter’s Death Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County
Abe Goldberg’s mother, Bronia, and stepfather Harry Sajgeman died within three months of each other in the mid-1980s, but due perhaps to a communications error, most people at Tifereth Israel Synagogue were unaware that he and his wife, Bea, were sitting shiva, alone, at their home. Because the Goldbergs lacked the ten Jewish adults necessary to say kaddish during the seven-day mourning period, they were left feeling forlorn. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Grateful Synagogue Bids a Surprise Farewell to Constant Volunteers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA
Seacrest Village Retirement Community dedicated a portable Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark) donated by Jeanne Gold in memory of her late husband Rabbi Aaron S. Gold at Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, Nov. 5. [Donald H. Harrison]
Portable Holy Ark Dedicated at Seacrest Village Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
These combination poetry-prose passages from Malachai are from the ‘minor prophet’ Malachai. Malachai is not really a person’s name, but actually means ‘My messenger.’ The writer(s) of these words were post-exilic, 514 BCE, i.e. soon after the second Temple was built. They constitute nearly the last passages of the Tanakh’s Book of Prophets. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah Reading for November 6, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Philo of Alexandria’s insights is among the most original expositions of Parshat Toledot, this week’s Torah portion. According to him, Isaac is well-aware of Esau’s shortcomings, but he wishes to bless his son so that he might realize his hidden spiritual potential. Bu in the end, as we know, Jacob took his brother’s blessings. Philo saw Jacob’s relationship to Esau as a spiritual mentor. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Philo on the Rivalry between Jacob and Esau Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi