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:

Artson examines God’s test of Abraham and its impact on us

  Passing Life’s Tests: Spiritual Reflections on The Trial of Abraham, The Binding of Isaac by Rabbi Bradley Shavit-Artson. Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing (2012). ISBN-10: 1580236316. 150 pages. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Rabbi Bradley Shavit-Artson’s new book, Passing Life’s Tests: Spiritual Reflections on The Trial of Abraham, The Binding of

Artson examines God’s test of Abraham and its impact on us Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

What does Judaism have to say about love and marriage?

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Here is a question I received from one my students in our synagogue Introduction to Judaism class.  There seems to be a tension between the Jewish mitzvah (commandment) concerning marriage (and subsequently being fruitful), and the concept of love (specifically romantic love, as defined in terms

What does Judaism have to say about love and marriage? Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Rabbi Kahn’s insights stimulating, well worth reading

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel  CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most exciting exegetical works I have read in years is Rabbi Ari D. Kahn’s Echoes of Eden on Sefer Shemot: Salvation and Sanctity—Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion on the Book of Exodus. Publisher: Gefen Publishing House, 2012. ISBN-10: 965229585X, 350 pages. Price: $29.95  His

Rabbi Kahn’s insights stimulating, well worth reading Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

‘A Kosher Christmas’ tells of Jews and Dec. 25th

Joshua Eli Plaut, “A KOSHER CHRISTMAS: ’Tis the Season to Be Jewish” ISBN 0813553806; Publisher: Rutgers University Press, 2012. 207 pages. Rating: **** By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Many Jews I know have a profound feeling of ambivalence when it comes to Christmas season each year. There is a hidden anxiety

‘A Kosher Christmas’ tells of Jews and Dec. 25th Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Not the victory of military power, but that of spirit

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Historically, the holiday of Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday when compared to holidays like Passover or Yom Kippur, or the Sabbath. Nevertheless, its significance should not be under-appreciated. I realize many Jews try to make more out of the Hanukkah holiday in order to make

Not the victory of military power, but that of spirit Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

A tale of two caves

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — There is a famous legend about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (135-170 C.E.) who once expressed a disparaging opinion about the Roman Empire and its cultural depravity. Afterwards, the Roman authorities decided to have him arrested for disrespecting the Empire. Rabbi Shimon and his son soon hid

A tale of two caves Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi