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:

*A Shepherd’s Song
*Gentle Judaic Wisdom for a Troubled World
*Maimonides Hidden Torah Commentaries: Genesis 1-21
*Maimonides Hidden Torah Commentaries: Genesis: 22-50
*Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator (Vol 1): Genesis
*Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator (Vol 2): Exodus
*Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator (Vol 3) Leviticus
*Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator(Vol 4) Numbers
*Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator (Vol 5) Deuteronomy

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 […]

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Children interview Survivors, write their stories

Deb Bowen and Cassie Brown, A Walk With Esther;  Never Forget Publishing, 2015, $10.  Order via http://www.abookbyme.com/Pages/default.aspx By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel  CHULA VISTA, California — Many years ago, while I was serving a congregation in Rock Island, Illinois, I was privileged to work with a number of Jewish and Christian professionals in designing one of the

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Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Obama’s policies restrain allies, encourage terrorists

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The term “quisling” refers to anyone who collaborates with an enemy occupying force. The word originates from the Norwegian war-time leader Vidkun Quisling, who headed a domestic Nazi collaborationist regime during WWII. That era also produced appeasers, such as as former British Prime Minister Arthur Neville

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

No Oscar for Shirley MacLaine’s theology

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Shirley MacLaine is a better actress than she is a philosopher or theologian. Jewish groups are justifiably upset with some comments she penned in her new memoir, “What If… A Lifetime of Questions, Speculations, Reasonable Guesses, and a Few Things I Know For Sure.” The quote that is

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Two leaders’ very different reactions to ISIS brutality

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The world quickly forgets– almost with blazing light speed… Some of us have short memories and some of us have long memories. This writer in particular will not ignore two noteworthy events that occurred in the last six months. Both of these events involved ISIS executing

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA