A Word of Torah: The Shavuot holiday

This Friday and Saturday we celebrate the awesome Holiday of Shavuot. Shavuot means ‘Weeks,’ and it also means ‘Oaths.’ Shavuot is also called Z’man Matan Toratainu, which means ‘The Time of the Giving of Our Torah.’ Additionally it is called Chag HaBikurim, ‘The Festival of the First Fruit,’ as the holiday marks the beginning of the season when the First Fruit Offerings would be brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Biblical Shavuot and its practice today

The current observance of Shavuot has no relationship to its biblical ancestor and doesn’t even occur at the same time. Very few people know the truth about this day. Most Jews think Shavuot recalls the day the Torah was revealed to the Israelites during the days of Moses. This is not true. This significance was given to the holiday in the middle ages when the holiday had lost one of its original purposes; the sacrifice prescribed for the day was discontinued when the second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. I am not advocating that Jews should not observe Shavuot. Judaism today is not Torah Judaism. It is Rabbinic Judaism. Jews observe the Torah as it is interpreted by the rabbis. I observe Shavuot. The purpose of this article is simply to reveal its historical development. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Sustainable development requires community consensus

How can we achieve sustainable development, not just globally, but specifically in Morocco? We must first consider what the central features of this development are. We must incorporate many factors in creative and innovative design: education, gender, ethics, economics, politics, culture, history, geography, finance, and technical aspects in order for sustainable projects to have enduring success. We also need to employ a participatory approach. We have learned over time through trial and error and observation of how development assistance has been institutionalized in the past 70 years that participation and sustainability are inextricably linked. [Yossef Ben-Meir]

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Middle East, Yossef Ben-Meir

Booming or dooming through COVID-19?

During this pandemic, we are all, perhaps particularly boomers, challenged to avoid becoming “doomers.” A key to avoid this declining mindset is living a fully active life with a “regardless” mindset, one that is filled with high hopes of living a long time, to 100. Dr. Bortz tells us that “most of the changes commonly associated with older people are not really dependent on the passage of time; they result mostly from disuse.” He further tells us, “Who you get to be—how old, wise, competent, creative, sexy, fun you become—depends on how you plan. Decrepitude and loss are not predetermined. How you… set your course is highly predictive of the journey you will take.” [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Travel and Food

A ‘Mischling’ growing up in WWII Hamburg

Marione Ingram was born in Hamburg in 1938 to a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father, and so was defined as a ‘mischling’ (half-breed) by the Nazi authorities. Her autobiographical book begins with her account of having been sent by her mother when she was eight years old to take her younger sister to their aunt. She decided to return unbidden and found her mother in the throes of an attempt to commit suicide by putting her head in their gas oven. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History

Rush to reopen houses of worship may be deadly

No doubt that millions of Americans have prayed as much or more than they ever prayed since the coronavirus crisis clutched us by the throat. They prayed at home – for survival and a return to pre-Covid-19 life. While we are it, many of us can pray for the resumption of traditional religious services where we will again be surrounded by friends and relatives inside a comfortable building such as a synagogue, church or mosque. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Jewish Religion, USA

‘Open Skies Treaty’ as outdated as cassette player

In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed to the Kremlin that the U.S. and the USSR each be permitted to conduct aerial reconnaissance of the other’s territory and collect data on each other’s military forces and activities to enhance confidence that neither was planning a surprise attack. Moscow refused, calling it a license for American spying. Intensification of the Cold War made the issue dormant until President George H.W. Bush revived it in 1999 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The “Open Skies Treaty” was signed and ratified in 2002 and now has 34 members. According to the Arms Control Association, “All of a state-party’s territory can be overflown. No territory can be declared off-limits by the host nation.” In addition, “Observation aircraft used to fly the missions must be equipped with sensors that enable the observing party to identify significant military equipment, such as artillery, fighter aircraft, and armored combat vehicles.” [Shoshana Bryen]

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International, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Beth Jacob to begin highly regulated prayer sessions

Beth Jacob Congregation will hold outdoor weekday prayer services by reservation only beginning on Sunday morning, its rabbis and lay leaders announced.  No decision has yet been reached on resuming Shabbat services, which normally attract far larger crowds than weekday services. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Should worship be considered an essential service?

The question has come up: Should churches and other houses of worship be considered, “an essential service”? The President recently announced that he would override governors who do not open up the houses of worship for services. Moreover, it has been argued by many that places of worship are no less “essential” than liquor stores or supermarkets. Both these places should not be reopened before religious services.[1] The President’s position here is logical; by insisting that houses of worship be reopened, he is appealing to his evangelical supporters. Presidents in office often use the “bully pulpit” to promote an agenda that the President personally endorses. {Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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International, Judaism, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

Stalking brazen bunnies during the pandemic

Ever since the pandemic began, I have noticed rabbits congregating in increasing numbers behind the fence surrounding the school playground in my neighborhood.  As a hound with a primordial instinct to hunt and kill rabbits, I slowly freeze into my stalking position and then tug on the lease to let my owner know I’m ready to chase and pounce on them.  I never get that far because the school has been closed and the gate to the playground is locked.  [Elona Baron as told to Laurie Baron]

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Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire

ADL to universities: Oppose campus anti-Semitism

As universities begin preparing to reopen campuses in the fall semester, ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) is calling on administrators and faculty to take meaningful steps to ensure an inclusive campus climate for all students in response to a series of disturbing anti-Israel and antisemitic actions at U.S. colleges in 2019. [Press release from Anti-Defamation League]

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Now boarding: JNF’s virtual tours of Israel

With the latest predictions suggesting Israel’s tourism industry could lose up to $1.16 billion due to the COVID-19 crisis, Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) is helping Israeli tour guides through an innovative new “virtual travel” initiative. A group of San Diegans embarked on this novel experience and returned with wide eyes and open hearts. Led by JNF-USA First Lady and San Diego Board Member Lauren Lizerbram, the group “traveled” from north to south and saw unique and captivating Israeli sites. [Press Release from Jewish National Fund]

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Middle East, San Diego County

On ‘The Devil and Daniel Webster’

In “The Devil and Daniel Webster” Benet depicts Daniel Webster saving a New Hampshire farmer from the Devil and from Hell. In the story, the farmer Jabez Stone was impoverished; every effort he made on his farm turned out bad. Exacerbated, he agrees to sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for ten years of great prosperity. His request is granted. At the end of the ten years, Jabez rushes to the famed orator and lawyer Daniel Webster to come and save him. The Americanized Devil, who calls himself Scratch, comes to collect the farmer’s soul. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion