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:

In spirit of Halloween, here’s the Witch of Endor

By Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Most of you are familiar with Macbeth, which is considered to be one of the most psychologically gripping plays by Shakespeare. Macbeth tells the story about a Scottish lord named Macbeth, who chooses evil as a means of attaining power. He commits regicide to become king and

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

The power of one

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —There is hardly a day that passes when I don’t marvel at the power of individuals to move mountains and change history. Abraham believed he could change and transform the world.  It is all the more remarkable, when we consider Abraham’s age. The Torah tells us that

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Transcripts tell story of White House and Benghazi

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — It’s a pity that gentiles don’t study Talmud. While there are a number of arguments in the Talmud that are pedantic and unexciting, the study of this ancient rabbinic work teaches people how to critically examine a text. During the second debate, President Obama called the

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East

When Jews seek spirituality elsewhere

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Obviously Jewish survival must depend upon something more than empty sentimentalism. There must be something more than a cultural Jewish identity that finds Jewish fulfillment in bagels and lox. While many Jews live a nostalgically religious life, at least an equally large number have become ambivalent

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

‘The Good Friday Prayer’ challenges Catholic theology

The Good Friday Prayer by Howard Rubenstein (San Diego: Granite Hills Press, 2012); ISBN-10: 1929468237; 520 pages; $24:95; Rating 4* By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — When one considers all the new books that have appeared in the news about Jesus, Howard Rubinstein’s book, The Good Friday Prayer is one of the

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Religion like rain: sometimes soft, sometimes murderous

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —Today in the news I came across the following article: · On September 18, 2012, Muhib Ru’yat Al-Rahman, a senior writer on leading jihadi forum Shumoukh Al-Islam, suggested that   Muslims living in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.S. kill   Westerners and display their decapitated heads

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Forgiving adultery

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California– Some of you may think that today’s lesson on forgiveness will be a little boring. If so, I ask that you please forgive me. Just like a picture says more than a thousand words, parables, too, also convey lessons that are timeless as they are obvious, requiring

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi