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

Egypt’s Parliament reflects Muslim Brotherhood’s animus against Israel

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Barely eight months have passed since the “Arab Spring” has taken root in Egypt. At the time of his departure from power, President Obama and Hillary Clinton hailed Hosni Mubarak’s eviction from office as one of  President Obama’s crowning achievements. Nearly eight months later, the Muslim Brotherhood […]

Egypt’s Parliament reflects Muslim Brotherhood’s animus against Israel Read More »

Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East

Kandahar massacre illustrates how war can tarnish a soul

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — In his classical work on masculine spirituality, Iron John, Robert Bly notes how our contemporary society no longer provides the necessary rituals to help reintegrate warriors after a war. Unlike the ancient societies, which presented a series of complex rituals to help their soldiers make a

Kandahar massacre illustrates how war can tarnish a soul Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Metsitsa b’peh is a custom mohels should discard

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –For the past 2000 years, enemies of the Jews have often portrayed the Jews as leeches and vampires. Some people think Bram Stoker’s gothic novel about the blood-thirsty demon bears an uncanny resemblance to the pale-skinned Jew, who hates anything associated with the light of Christianity. Over

Metsitsa b’peh is a custom mohels should discard Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

What Shmuley Boteach could have written in ‘Kosher Jesus’

Kosher Jesus by Shmuley Boteach; Gefen Publishing House; ISBN-10: 9652295787 ©2012, $26, 300 pages. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Shmuley Boteach is a complicated man. At the risk of sounding obvious, Shmuley is not your typical Chabad rabbi. His past associations with singer Michael Jackson and his book on Kosher Sex

What Shmuley Boteach could have written in ‘Kosher Jesus’ Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Who’s right in debate over President Obama’s apology?

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — National Public Radio commentators recently discussed a very interesting question: Should President Obama have “apologized” for the accidental burning of the Qur’an? Some argue that the President should have expressed “regret” over the incident, which acknowledges some degree of culpability. Regret does not contain any element

Who’s right in debate over President Obama’s apology? Read More »

Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

Leaders of other religions should not tolerate burning of Quran

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel   CHULA VISTA, California–The German Jewish poet Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) once wrote, “Those who begin by burning books will end by burning people.” Heine’s admonition certainly became a prophetic portent in the days of the Holocaust. However, his words are no less an admonition for the future we are now—once

Leaders of other religions should not tolerate burning of Quran Read More »

Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

‘The Grey’ is an irresponsible attack on wolves

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Liam Neeson has always been one of my favorite actors in Hollywood. His films have often been stimulating, entertaining, and often contemplative. His latest film, The Grey, disturbs me for many reasons. It is surprising to see Hollywood produce a movie that portrays

‘The Grey’ is an irresponsible attack on wolves Read More »

Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Free speech vs. religious sensibility at issue in Pennsylvania case

  By Rabbi Michael Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Last Halloween, two atheists decided to poke some adolescent fun at the expense of Catholicism and Islam. One person dressed up as “Zombie Pope” and the other dressed up as “Zombie Mohammed.” Their behavior was outrageous. This is what happened afterwards. A Muslim man named Talaag Elbayomy

Free speech vs. religious sensibility at issue in Pennsylvania case Read More »

Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

Gulf widens between Haredim and Modern Orthodox

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Somebody recently asked me, “Are Haredim changing the face of Traditional Judaism? Is the divide between the ultra-Orthodox and other denominations (Modern Orthodox, Conservative and Reform) too great to promote a better understanding and respect between each other?” This is a very important question. In the 19th

Gulf widens between Haredim and Modern Orthodox Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Rabbi Samuel offers wide-ranging religious discussion in ‘Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis’

Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis: A Timeless Theological Conversation, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-3 by Rabbi Michael L. Samuel, Aeon Publishing,  ISBN 978-1-4563-0171-3 ©2011,  p. 495, including excursuses, bibliography, and index; $20.70. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — The biblical narrator of the first three chapters of Genesis, whoever he may be: Moses at God’s direction,

Rabbi Samuel offers wide-ranging religious discussion in ‘Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis’ Read More »

Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi