Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, California.

His books, available on Amazon, include:

God needs worthy people as partners for His miracles

God and Politics in Esther, 2nd Edition, by Yoram Hazony; Cambridge University Press; (2015); ISBN-10: 1107583454; $18.27 on Amazon. Rating ***** out of 5 Stars. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Yoram Hazony’s exposition of the Book of Esther is priceless. In my Judaism 101 class, everyone read a little bit from God […]

God needs worthy people as partners for His miracles Read More »

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

SDJW thanks its February 2016 contributors

SAN DIEGO — This publication would like to thank and express appreciation to the writers and photographers whose works appeared during February 2016 in San Diego Jewish World.  They include: Judy Lash Balint Kenneth Bandler Laurie Baron Boaz Bismuth Dan Bloom Shoshana Bryen Stephen Bryen Cynthia Citron Richard L. Cravtts Jack Forman Donald H. Harrison

SDJW thanks its February 2016 contributors Read More »

Barry Shaw, Cynthia Citron, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Eileen Wingard, Eric George Tauber, Eva Trieger, Fred Reiss, EdD, Lawrence Baron, Mark D. Zimmerman, Melanie Rubin, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Mimi Pollack, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County, Sheryl Rowling, Shoshana Bryen, Steve Kramer

Katz’s book on Israel’s war against terror is outstanding

The Ghost Warriors: Inside Israel’s Undercover War Against Suicide Terrorism by Samuel Katz; Berkley  (2016) ISBN: 1592409016; $18; Rated: 5* By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — There is hardly a day when we don’t read another story about a terrorist attack. For the most part, Radical Islam has demonstrated an almost uncanny ability to raise

Katz’s book on Israel’s war against terror is outstanding Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East

SDJW thanks 43 whose works appeared in January

SAN DIEGO (SDJW) — San Diego Jewish World expresses its appreciation to the 43 writers and photographers whose works appeared during January 2016.  These individuals included: David Amos Eitan Arom Kenneth Bandler Laurie Baron Amber Bartlett Ronnie Blair Dan Bloom Shoshana Bryen Stephen Bryen Cynthia Citron Richard L. Cravatts Judy Friedel Michael Freund Donald H. Harrison Natasha

SDJW thanks 43 whose works appeared in January Read More »

Barry Shaw, Cynthia Citron, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Eileen Wingard, Eva Trieger, Fred Reiss, EdD, Ira Sharkansky, Lawrence Baron, Mark D. Zimmerman, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Mimi Pollack, Natasha Josefowitz, Sheryl Rowling, Shoshana Bryen, Steve Kramer

A new translation of Shadal’s comments on Exodus

Daniel Klein (editor and trans.) and Samuel David Luzzato,  Shadal on Exodus: Samuel David Luzzatto’s Interpretation of the Book of Shemot; Kodesh Press, 2015; ISBN-13: 978-0692522066. Price: $29.95. Rating ***** By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most remarkable modern day exegetes of the 19th century was the Italian biblical commentator,

A new translation of Shadal’s comments on Exodus Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

SDJW thanks its December 2015 writers

San Diego Jewish World thanks and acknowledges the wonderful contributions of the following writers whose works appeared on our pages in December, 2015: Stephen Baird Kenneth Bandler Laurie Baron Michal Beruven Dan Bloom Shoshana Bryen Richard L. Cravatts Jonathan Greenblatt Toby Klein Greenwald Ryan M. Greiss Donald H. Harrison Natasha Josefowitz Rabbi Ben Kamin Morton

SDJW thanks its December 2015 writers Read More »

Barry Shaw, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Eileen Wingard, Eric George Tauber, Eva Trieger, Ira Sharkansky, Lawrence Baron, Mark D. Zimmerman, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Mimi Pollack, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County, Sheryl Rowling, Shoshana Bryen, Steve Kramer

SDJW thanks its November writers

SAN DIEGO — San Diego Jewish World thanks and would like to acknowledge those writers whose works appeared on this news publication during the month of November.  They were: David Amos Kenneth Bandler Laurie Baron Jeremy Ben-Ami Dan Bloom Shoshana Bryen Stephen Bryen Dane Chapin Tamara Isaacs Ciocci Cynthia Citron Richard L. Cravatts Steve Diamond Joe

SDJW thanks its November writers Read More »

Barry Shaw, Cynthia Citron, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Eileen Wingard, Eric George Tauber, Fred Reiss, EdD, Ira Sharkansky, Lawrence Baron, Lloyd Levy, Mark D. Zimmerman, Melanie Rubin, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County, Sheryl Rowling, Shoshana Bryen, Steve Kramer

Call the enemy by its right name — Radical Islam

 “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, thinking it will eat him last.”–Sir Winston Churchill By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement policy is well known. The crocodile Churchill is referring to is Adolf Hitler. For decades, Europe had no problem sacrificing Israel to the

Call the enemy by its right name — Radical Islam Read More »

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

SDJW salutes its September 2015 writers

SAN DIEGO (SDJW) – During the month of August, San Diego Jewish World was privileged to publish works by the following writers and photographers.   We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and to publicly express our appreciation. To access works by these contributors on San Diego Jewish World, type or copy their name into the

SDJW salutes its September 2015 writers Read More »

Barry Shaw, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Eileen Wingard, Eric George Tauber, Fred Reiss, EdD, Lawrence Baron, Lloyd Levy, Mark D. Zimmerman, Melanie Rubin, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Michael Ordman, Mimi Pollack, Natasha Josefowitz, Sheryl Rowling, Shoshana Bryen, Steve Kramer

When God and humankind are lovers

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Rosh Hashanah is almost here! According to Jewish mystical tradition, Elul is a period of spiritual awakening. The name of Elul is an acrostic for:   אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לִי   “I belong to my beloved and my beloved belongs to me …” (Song of Songs 6:3). Hence, the time of

When God and humankind are lovers Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

SDJW thanks June, early July contributors

SAN DIEGO (SDJW)—San Diego Jewish World acknowledges and thanks those writers whose bylines and photo credit lines appeared during the month of June and the first few days of July on its website.  They included: David Amos Stephen Hazan Arnoff Laurie Baron David Bedein Edwin Black Dan Bloom Shoshana Bryen Stephen Bryen Garry Fabian Donald

SDJW thanks June, early July contributors Read More »

Barry Shaw, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Edwin Black, Eileen Wingard, Eric George Tauber, Eva Trieger, Fred Reiss, EdD, Ira Sharkansky, Lawrence Baron, Mark D. Zimmerman, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Michael Ordman, Mimi Pollack, Natasha Josefowitz, Sheryl Rowling, Shor M. Masori, Shoshana Bryen, Steve Kramer

On which side of the Kotel would Caitlyn Jenner pray?

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the best-known blessings Orthodox Jews recite every day is the blessing, “Thank you God for not making me a woman.” The recent transformation on the cover of Vanity Fair’s 22-page cover story featuring Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce, raises a number of fascinating questions pertaining to

On which side of the Kotel would Caitlyn Jenner pray? Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi