I have chosen four passages for a comparison with texts from ancient Israel’s pagan neighbors, concerning divine wrath, wisdom, divine rescue, and sacred voices. (Irv Jacobs, M.D.)
Ancient practices: divine wrath, rescue, wisdom, sacred voices Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
I am presenting this missive during the thickly arduous days of mid-summer, 2020. Our nation is gripped by immersed disease, painful racial reckonings, and a suffocating lack of thoughtful leadership. (Ben Kamin)
I still believe in the American spirit Read More »
International, Lifestyles, USA
Supposedly, the name Kaputnik was assigned to the family at Ellis Island, when Mrs. Kapustin (her real name) worried aloud that if the baby dragon they had smuggled into the U.S. were discovered they would be Kaput (finished). “Is that your name, Kaput?” a translator asked. “Nicht (No),” responded Mrs. Kapustin. And so the immigration inspector wrote down what he thought he heard — “Kaputnik.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Ellis Island and the name ‘Kaputnik’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, USA
There is a very famous, very holy wall in Jerusalem called the Kotel, the Western Wall. It is all that remains of the two great Jewish temples built over 2000 years ago. It is the destruction of those two temples that we remember when we observe the holiday called Tisha B’Av. (Marcia Berneger)
Judaism for children: Tisha B’Av’s lessons Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
In all faiths, cultures, and communities, the question of evil plays a prominent role in that specific group’s philosophies. What is evil, and how does one comprehend it in our lives? In Judaism, the question of evil and suffering is expressed in the following statement “Tzadik ve ra lo- A righteous person, and bad to him, rasha vetov lo- a wicked person, and good to him.” The question is why do righteous people suffer and experience hardship, while others who are “wicked “do not experience pain and suffering? [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
What Rav Soloveitchik taught about suffering Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
“And you shall teach them to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk on the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7) That’s quite a lot of teaching and speaking, isn’t it? (Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D)
Learn Torah, know it, act upon it Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s announcement on Tuesday that it will not accept new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications is cruel and unnecessary. (Michael Hopkins)
JFS leader denounces latest DACA diktat Read More »
San Diego County, USAThis week’s Torah portion in Deuteronomy (Parshah Vaetchanan) continues Moses’ plea with the Jewish people to obey God’s laws. Like parents encouraging their children to grow up to be the best they can be, Moses is trying to insure the same future for God’s children. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah for Children: Ten Commandments Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
A Republican senator has deleted an ad that made his Jewish opponent’s nose bigger. Georgia Sen. David Perdue’s campaign is insisting it was just an error by a graphic artist, an explanation that many aren’t buying. (Joe Gandelman)
Politics: Winning or losing by a nose Read More »
USA
The Supreme Court decided on June 15 that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination. Discrimination ‘because of sex’ is unlawful. But what is it that makes discrimination morally wrong? It is useful to examine this from a Kantian standpoint because Immanuel Kant lays the foundation for recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual – and discrimination is indeed an affront to human dignity. [Sam Ben-Meir]
Kant on why we must not discriminate Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Sam Ben-Meir, Science, Medicine, & Education
Recently an Ethiopian refugee, Sintayehu Garedew, American Rapper Kosha Dillz aka Rami Matan Even-Esh and I held an event via Zoom. It was to raise awareness of the Jewish community called Beta-Avraham who inhabit the North Shewa mountains and town of Kechene near Addis Ababa. The nearly 80,000 people live in cramped and dangerous conditions and the fundraiser aims to raise funds for masks and protective equipment for the elderly and workers in the community affected by the strict lockdown of the Ethiopian government in response to COVID. [Sam Litvin]
Neo-Nazis disrupt Ethiopian Jewish fundraiser Read More »
International, Jewish History, Sam Litvin
Coronavirus is a puzzle. Or several of them. Individuals in health differ on several issues: Who is most and least likely to become infected? Can a person who is cured become ill with it again? Is it possible to produce a vaccine? Or do repeated bouts by individuals indicate that there is no way to achieve immunity? How accurate are the tests for having the disease? What about programs to trace contacts, in order to decide how someone became infected? How long should someone be quarantined? (Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D)
Coronavirus chaos infects Israeli politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
Where is Auschwitz? What is it? Who did it concern? Who cares now? We are now living in the 21st century and that happened so long ago. Older generations will say, “Enough let it alone; it is long gone.” Younger generations will raise their eyebrows puzzled, “What are you talking about?” (Jacklyn Lewicki)
“Auschwitz” — What does the word mean to youngsters? Read More »
International, Jewish History
Congressman Yoho traveled to Israel in 2013, where he met with many Israeli political, military and civilian leaders, but also with Saeb Erekat, the chief negotiator for the Palestinian Authority. Yoho found the trip to be very educational, as he noted “It’s always fascinated me how screwed up that whole region is.” After returning from his trip, Yoho told a Gainesville Sun reporter that Erekat conceded Israel’s right to exist, but rejected that it should be populated by Jewish people. Noting that such a position undermined any real chance of peace negotiations, Yoho then said what? (Mark D. Zimmerman)
Jewish trivia quiz: Congressman Yoho Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA