Micah Goodman’s Maimonides is an important book. The following are some major points in it. The quotes are from the book. Maimonides’ God: Goodman states that Maimonides’ God is transcendental, meaning God is not involved in the daily activities of the world. God placed in the world the laws of nature, and then withdrew entirely from it…. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The remarkable thinking of Maimonides Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Suzanne Choney posted a photo on Facebook today of her parents, Rosa Rubel and Icek Choinowski, who 75 years ago today were “among 60,000 human beings being liberated from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany.” Choney added, “I know we all have so much to worry about now. But I think of my parents, known in America as Rose and Irving Choney, the bravery of the Allies and the good people everywhere, and the evil faced by millions. And I remember. Just as all of us will remember this time.” The photo, at left, of her parents was taken in London in 1947, two years after their liberation. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Remembering dear ones of now and then Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA
There is a sense of solidarity when an internationally acclaimed artist shares a living room space with the community at large, and a heightened sense of togetherness when viewers from all over the world take a moment in time to experience a resonant musical event as a people. Idan Raichel’s “In Your Living Room” Live Concert from his home in Tel Aviv, Israel, continued the new format of live concerts in situ in this time of quarantine. [Omr Zalmanowitz]
Idan Raichel’s concert voiced a universal plea Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Mishmash of Jewish Films, Lectures, Podcasts, and Programs [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
More streaming Jewish content Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
We are living through the most emotionally taxing time of our lives. Filled with loss, economic instability, fear and isolation, we are asked to live up to the test with faith, strength, emunah and bitachon. This week’s parasha, Shemini, follows a Passover holiday that surely gave new meaning to the question, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” It presents us with the abrupt, heart-rending, seemingly inexplicable loss, the passing of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
The silence of Aaron from a pandemic perspective Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
”Things are worse in my books,” Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood told CBC radio interviewer Tom Power via Zoom from her home Toronto, insisting to the producer and his global radio audience worldwide that “we’ll get through this pandemic as we have before.” [Dan Bloom]
Novelist Margaret Atwood optimistic during pandemic Read More »
Travel and Food
When we read in the Haggadah about the Four Children, one wise, one “wicked,” one simple, and one who is too young to ask questions, it is the “wicked,” son, whom I preferably identify as “the contrarian child.” His question cuts to the essence of the holiday: “What does this holiday mean to you?” The contrarian son’s honesty is refreshingly different from the other sons at the seder. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
The chutzpah of the contrarian child Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
As the final days of Passover are only hours away (sunset of April 14 through nightfall of April 16) we are pleased to share information and resources about the final days of Passover and the customary ‘Meal of Moshiach.’ which is held on the last day of Passover; a tradition that was instituted over 250 years ago by the Baal Shem Tov (The Baal Shem Tov, which means Master of the Good Name, was the originator of Chasidic Philosophy. ) [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A word of Torah: The final days of Passover Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiNow is the springtime of our confinement
Made mournfully frightful by the toll in New York.
A surfeit of time spent alone in our homes
Sheltering in place and bending the curve. …
[Parody by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
How Shakespeare might have described Covid19 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireHow has the coronavirus shelter-at-home mandate impacted a cornerstone of your healthy lifestyle, physical activity? In a very recent study of nearly 13,000 people from 139 countries looking at how the coronavirus outbreak impacted exercise, the researchers found that folks are exercising at a greater frequency than before this pandemic. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
To be fit without A gym get WIT GRIT Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Residents throughout our county are joining a unique, worldwide virtual memorial to remember the victims of the Holocaust. Sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic from attending this year’s “March of the Living” which brings thousands of Jews to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration complex in Poland to mourn those who were murdered by the Nazis, members of the Jewish community instead are posting their sentiments on line via the Never Means Never website created for the purpose by March of the Living organizers. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Remembering via a virtual March of the Living Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA
They say it’s like a war, but it isn’t. Our wars are shorter, more dramatic, with something like an end coming after days or weeks. And those running them are more regimented and united. It’s possible to exaggerate, of course. Our wars have their civilian commentators, ranging across the board politically. But nothing like the variety we’re hearing from those talking about Coronavirus. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Coronavirus and coalition politics dominate Israeli news Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle Easthe senseless deaths seen in the coronavirus pandemic challenges religious people’s concept of God. How does one reconcile our faith in a personal God who loves life, but allows a natural evil to destroy everything in its path? What kind of God—if any—can allow the suffering of innocent children? Every natural catastrophe seems to make the belief in a personal God seem unlikely. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
God and the problem of suffering Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Federal relief funds for local universities and colleges and for their students in need during the coronavirus pandemic were announced on Monday by Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego). In total, 23 institutions of higher learning in the count are receiving grant totaling $137,435,195, and will be required to distribute at least $71,360,718 in grants to students to pay for housing food, and other essentials. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Congresswoman Davis announces financial help for students Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA