By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — First, remember our troops, living and dead, who served the United States in Afghanistan since 2001. They are owed our gratitude for their steadfast presence in a difficult country and our help as they and their families, and the families of the dead, navigate the emotionally terrible terrain of a […]
3 Takeaways from Afghanistan for Us at Home Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA
This week’s Torah reading is Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20); Haftorah is Isaiah 61:10-63:9 By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — These strong poetic verses extracted from the Book of Isaiah are again from Isaiah III. They constitute the seventh and last Haftorah of Consolation, preceding Rosh Hashonah. Again, it has no connection to
Haftorah Reading for September 4, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
By Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D MARRAKECH, Morocco — Twenty-seven years ago, I lived in a village called Amsouzerte in the Tifnoute Valley, the south side of the High Atlas Mountains, closeby to the burial location of the Moroccan-Hebrew saint David-Ou-Mouche. The Tifnoute community and its region long desired for the building of a fruit tree nursery
The Significance of the New Signage at the Ouarzazate Tree Nursery in Morocco Read More »
Middle East, Yossef Ben-Meir
By Moshe Phillips PHILADELPHIA — The news media had a field day recently with the man-bites-dog story of the self-proclaimed atheist who was recently named chief chaplain at Harvard University. After nearly 400 years of having chief chaplains who believe in G-d, Harvard has gone in a surprising new direction. Not only that, but the
The Real Danger of that Atheist Harvard Chaplain Read More »
USA
NEW YORK (Press Release) — The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have agreed to form a partnership aimed at combating the alarming rise in antisemitic rhetoric and violence through education and advocacy. This partnership will make ADL’s expertise and tools readily accessible to almost 600 USCJ-affiliated synagogues through the
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, ADL Form Partnership to Combat Antisemitism Read More »
USA
By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — On August 29, Jane Fantel of Carmel Valley posted a heartfelt message on Facebook to mark one year since an “amazing young woman came into my life” — referring to Klil Amar, The Jewish Agency for Israel’s ShinShinit (service year emissary) at the KAVOD Charter School, Congregation Beth
Bringing Israel to San Diego: The ‘Magic’ of Hosting a Young Emissary Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County
These are the Developments of the Human by Ethan Daniel Davidson; self-published 2021; ISBN 1978057-883010; 459 pages; price not listed. By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Ethan Daniel Davidson’s These are the Developments of the Human is a collection of poetic commentaries on thoughts drawn from the Pentateuch. His background is
‘These are the Developments of the Human’ Offers Novel Concept, Poetic Commentaries Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Karmel Melamed (JNS) After a visit to Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in late July, Khosrow Beitollahi, a former Iranian air force pilot and activist against Iran’s current regime, said he was devastated to learn of the magnitude of the Nazi genocide also but inspired by the spirit of the Jewish people to rebuild
Iranian Americans Motivated to Build New Bridges with Israelis Read More »
Middle East, USA
(JNS) The Israeli Navy and the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet held a joint exercise for the first time on Tuesday in the Red Sea, in an event the IDF Spokesperson described as “historic.” “During the exercise, the two navies practiced a variety of scenarios including defense and rescue operations,” the IDF said. “The exercise saw
Israeli Navy, US Navy’s Fifth Fleet Hold ‘Historic’ Exercise in Red Sea Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Sam Glaser LOS ANGELES — As a yeshiva student in the Old City of Jerusalem in my 20s, I learned that the month of Elul was a big deal, a 29-day period to buckle down on preparation for the imminent High Holidays. I remember the rabbis telling us that “the King is in the
High Holiday Preparations in the Jungle Read More »
Jewish Religion, Sam Glaser, Travel and Food
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s Torah portion Nitzavim, with its majestic and simultaneously chilling tone, is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah. That’s right, it’s only a few days away. It asks us where we stand as we enter the new year. The parasha teaches that Hashem tells us, “I
Parashat Nitzavim: Choosing Life Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — During his 1968 presidential campaign, Robert F. Kennedy proposed sending 50 military planes to Israel. Two decades later, Sirhan B. Sirhan revealed that RFK’s support of Israel motivated him to fatally shoot RFK in the pantry of a Los Angeles hotel on June 5, 1968. Five months from now,
RFK Assassin Calls Himself a ‘Peacemaker,’ But Does He Deserve Parole? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
By Liam Aron JERUSALEM — The Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe) — including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — are some of the most intense, if not the most intense, days on the Jewish calendar. Days when we look back on the year that passed us by, both the moments we are proud of and
Doing the Next Godly Thing Read More »
Jewish Religion
NEW YORK (Press Release) — The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and United Synagogue Youth (USY) today released the following statement in response to recently reported allegations of child sex abuse: For all of us at USY and USCJ, the past several weeks have been deeply painful. We are very saddened by the heartbreaking
Conservative Movement Groups Respond to Child Sex Abuse Allegations Read More »
USA