Ancient laws regarding wrongdoing, adultery, and nazarites

Numbers 4:21-7: 89 I have chosen three passages from these readings, for comparison with ancient pagan practices, from material on the internet. I must inform the reader that it often is difficult to pull from internet the information desired. I repeatedly re-phrase and simplify my questions, often with little or no yield. My reports reflect the limited information I find. I also make no pretense to be as academic as a university scholar. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Where now after the George Floyd killing?

Rabbi Devorah Marcus of Temple Emanu-El offered this reflection in the aftermath of the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd: “My hope is that we will not let this moment fade into obscurity and apathy as we move on to other pieces of news, of suffering, of tweets.  My hope is that we will take this moment of brokenness and build in the cracks a garden seeded with our hope, our commitment to our neighbors and our community, and that we will reach out to everyone who is afraid right now for themselves, their children, and our world, and offer each other our comfort and our love.  [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

Immigrant women tell of their successes and challenges

It’s an ongoing debate whether immigration hurts our society by taking jobs away from Americans, or helps it by importing new workers, innovators and entrepreneurs. Taking the latter position, Dr. Bilha Chesner Fish, MD — herself and immigrant from Israel — interviews twenty-one different “inspiring and successful American immigrants.” [Eric George Tauber]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eric George Tauber, USA

San Diegan leads Shavuot service aboard USS Truman

 “The holiday commemorates the day upon which the Ten Commandments were given to the Jewish people beneath Mount Sinai over 3,000 years ago,” said Aviation Electronics Mate 2nd Class Michael Eskenazi, from San Diego, Truman’s Jewish lay leader. “It occurs precisely seven weeks and a day after the beginning of Passover.” The service, sponsored by Truman’s Command Religious Ministries Department was open to the entire crew, as the holiday provides an opportunity to build a community around religion and culture. [U.S. Navy press release by Tamara Vaughn]

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Jewish Religion, Travel and Food, USA

The annexation plague

The burning issue is, of course, the annexation of part of the West Bank. due to take place next month. Many countries, including those friendly to Israel, have urged Netanyahu not to go ahead with it. And, of course, we left-leaning liberal Jews have signed petitions urging him to desist also hoping that, in the end, Trump will curb Netanyahu’s enthusiasm and stop him, or at least “postpone” the deed. Trump has, of course, more serious problems at home. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

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International, Middle East, USA

In UK, US, and Israel, politicians flout the law

There has always been a certain divide between rulers and ruled. That is the way of the world, whether in ancient Mesopotamia, the ancient Land of Israel, ancient Greece and Rome, the various nations of Europe and all over the world. The relatively recent attempt (in historical terms) to introduce an element of fairness into the system has had its successes and its failures, whether in the shape of democracy or some form of socialism, but there is no getting away from the fact that countries have to be governed, and some people seem to feel the urge to govern them. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, USA

Continuing the Jewish fight against racism

My column yesterday dealt with reactions from various individuals and organizations within the Jewish community to the police killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd, and what role the Jewish community might play in helping to heal the divisions in our society.  I will continue to bring to readers such thoughts and suggestions. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

Jewish community urges combat against racism, bigotry

In the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and protest demonstrations across the country, rabbis and Jewish organizations are grappling with the issue of what Jews can do to combat racism and bigotry in the United States.  While there is general consensus that there is a need for action, it remains an open question just what kind of action would be appropriate.  Messages and news releases crossing my desk illustrate the contours of the debate so far. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

Stress is of our own making

President John F. Kennedy once observed, “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” Stress begins in the brain, in the way we think about our life. We are experts in creating our own stress. We aren’t expert in preventing, reversing or treating our own creation. This emotional education column may turn that around for you. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell