Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi Archives - Page 14 of 34

Embassy move affirms nation that prefers life over death

May 14, 2018

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Erich Fromm wondered: How can we account for humankind’s capacity for cruelty and violence? Fromm, like the ethologist Konrad Lorenz, believed that violence is something we share with the animal world—especially when it comes to directing our anger against members of our own species. On the […]

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

Abbas unveils his true Jew- hating identity

May 6, 2018

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –The world is full of surprises. I was stunned to read about a New York Times condemnation of the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas. The name of the Article was, “Let Abbas’s Vile Words Be His Last as Palestinian Leader.”[1] Abbas went on record saying that the

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

Natalie Portman raises a good issue about the Shoah

May 3, 2018

This is the second part in a two-part series To read the first part, click here. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Natalie Portman lately has developed a penchant for creating headlines about Jews. This past week, she went on record saying, “The Shoah is no more tragic than other genocides,” and

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International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

Natalie Portman is a fine actress, but …

May 1, 2018

First of two articles By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Lately, it seems as though Natalie Portman has transformed herself into a human lightning rod. She created a storm of controversy and gave the Palestinians in Gaza far more respectability than they deserved by canceling plans to receive a prestigious Genesis Award

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

The Bible and sex

April 1, 2018

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Anyone who really knows the Bible, probably knows that it is a book that is full of sexual themes—from one end of Tanakh to the other. Lot sleeps with his daughters; Reuben’s affair with his stepmother Bilhah, and the biblical version of Romeo and Juliet are

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

The best question of the Pesach seder

March 29, 2018

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Children have an unusual ability when it comes to confronting our spiritual hypocrisy as parents and as adults; very often they get to the essence of the problem as they perceive things. Frequently, as parents we often fail to hear the questions our young people ask

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Don’t worry about Trump’s motives. His actions count

December 11, 2017

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The theme of brotherhood is central to the entire Book of Genesis. On Shabbat we chant the words, “Hinei ma tov uma na’im, shevet achim gam yachad.” (“Look how good and pleasurable it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” Yet Genesis did not begin

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

Rabbi Michael Samuel injured by car while crossing street

November 28, 2017

CHULA VISTA, California (SDJW) — Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel, spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom, was hospitalized Monday night after being struck by a car as he was crossing a street towards his Conservative synagogue. According to Arlene LaGary, an active member of the congregation, the rabbi suffered two broken wrists and facial bruises. “When

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County

How a new word suppresses free speech

November 3, 2017

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –It is one thing to hear people pray in a Mosque saying “Allahu akbar” in unison, for we all have our unique way of expressing prayer. However, when you hear somebody on a jet that is flying 40,000 feet in the air screaming to the top of

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International, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

Novel ideas needed for Simchat Torah

October 15, 2017

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Simchat Torah is a relatively new holiday. Nowhere is it mentioned in the Talmud; nor is it mentioned in Maimonides or the Tur Shulchan Aruch. But it is explicitly mentioned in the Zohar,[1] a work that dates back to about 1270—although it is a holiday that

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Hearing another means really listening

September 21, 2017

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel Once a judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, “What are the grounds for your divorce?” She replied, “About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by.” “No,” he said, “I mean what is the foundation

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

What does Jewish tradition say about eclipses?

August 21, 2017

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — This past week, some of my congregants asked me: What does Jewish tradition have to say about solar eclipses? Like many ancient peoples, the Jews did not develop a scientific understanding of eclipses until much later in its history. Before we examine what exactly Jewish tradition

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education

Was the whale created by Jonah’s subconscious mind?

June 8, 2017

Unusual Bible Interpretations: Jonah and Amos, by Rabbi Israel Drazin; Gefen Publishing House, 2016; ISBN-10: 9652298859; ISBN-13: 978-9652298850 By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — I would like to begin this book review with a conversation I had with the publisher of San Diego Jewish World, Don Harrison. He asked me whether there was

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

How does the Jewish calendar work?

June 6, 2017

The Jewish Calendar: History and Inner Workings by Dr. Fred Reiss; (c) 2017; ISBN 9781544-72382. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The study of the Jewish calendar is not one of the easiest topics to research. It is an area that most rabbis have at best a general knowledge of the history.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Embassy move affirms nation that prefers life over death

Abbas unveils his true Jew- hating identity

Natalie Portman raises a good issue about the Shoah

Natalie Portman is a fine actress, but …

The Bible and sex

The best question of the Pesach seder

Don’t worry about Trump’s motives. His actions count

Rabbi Michael Samuel injured by car while crossing street

How a new word suppresses free speech

Novel ideas needed for Simchat Torah

Hearing another means really listening

What does Jewish tradition say about eclipses?

Was the whale created by Jonah’s subconscious mind?

How does the Jewish calendar work?

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