Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Many people would say that there is a lot to like about Rabbi Manis Friedman. He is a leading exponent of Chabad theology and his book, Doesn’t Anyone Blush Anymore?: Reclaiming Intimacy, Modesty, and Sexuality discusses a very important concept that is seldom heard or discussed in modern […]

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

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — In this week’s Torah portion, we read about a strange story that nearly costs Moses his life (Exod. 4:24-27). As he was about to return to Egypt, Moses takes his wife (Tsipporah) and sons and travel toward Egypt. However, along the way, it appears that Moses

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

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — A Chabad friend of mine sent me the following email that I would like to comment on. It comes from the Lubavitch Headquarters regarding how the Lubavitcher (Chabad) Hasidim must conduct themselves on Christmas Eve. Many Jews and Christians may find this custom interesting but very

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — In this week’s parsha we conclude the trilogy of the Joseph narrative; the biblical narrator was especially skilled in creating a sense of drama and suspense. To summarize, Joseph has created new circumstances to see whether his brothers’ attitude has really changed over the last 22

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — I often get asked, “What is the symbolism of the dreidel? What exactly is its origin?” The dreidel is a four cornered top that was popular in the medieval era and originally used for gambling. Jewish folklore purports that when the Syrians prohibited the study of

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

Rabbi Wayne Dosick, The Real Name of God: Embracing the Full Essence of the Divine; Publisher: Inner Traditions; Date 2012; ISBN-10: 1594774730: 224 pages; Price $19.95. Rating: **** ___________________________________________________________________________ Rabbi Wayne Dosick responds to the review below: https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2012/12/05/r-dosick-responds-to-book-review-of-the-real-name-of-god/  __________________________________________________________________________ By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Hassidic interpretations have an endearing quality that is often ignored by

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —  Is revenge or vengeance permissible in Judaism? Has the view of revenge  changed over time? Answer: You ask a difficult question and the answer is far from simple. Numerous laws and passages proscribe revenge and vengeance. Conversely, revenge plays an important role in rectifying injustices that occurred. The