Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, California.
His books, available on Amazon, include:
(D)uring the journey through the wilderness, we come upon Korach with his self-aggrandizing, self-focused self-interest, and his lack of a relationship with Hashem. Korach’s style of leadership was doomed to fail. To Korach, material wealth and personal power far outweighed the benefit of being spiritually anchored. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Leaders and pretenders to leadership Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Thomas Sowell is one of the greatest intellectuals in the world today. Back in 1999, he wrote a remarkable book, The Quest for Cosmic Justice. He relates in his book about the time in 1919 when The Bolsheviks created the secret police known as the Cheka. The similarities between the rhetoric of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Cheka are astounding. Sowell cited records from that era, which ought to sound familiar to us—a century later: (Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel)
Thomas Sowell, Bolsheviks, and BLM rhetoric Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
Judaism Reclaimed: Philosophy and Theology in the Torah is an interesting book written by R. Shmuel Phillips who attempts to create a philosophical midrash of the text using primarily two important Judaic thinkers: Maimonides and Samson Raphael Hirsch, the founder of Modern Orthodoxy. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Author probes the philosophy of the Torah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiWhenever Election Day comes to Israel, you can always count upon the Haredi political parties to boost voter turnout in their cities. The religious politicians will often offer amulets and blessings to ensure their people will be blessed. This year, in particular, some of the Shas and United Torah Judaism political parties handed out amulets with prayers and excerpts from the Jewish liturgy, promising that their reelection would guarantee that the coronavirus would not affect the voters’ families. {Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Amulets, Coronavirus, & Election Day in Israel Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastOn May 30th, 2020, the nation witnessed a spectacle that was reminiscent of the time Hitler and his brownshirts seized power in Germany. As my fellow writer, Bruce S. Ticker observed in his penetrating article, “Rioting in Los Angeles was an anti-Jewish pogrom” for San Diego Jewish World, “The Jews of the Fairfax neighborhood of Los Angeles were exposed to a modern, American-style pogrom on May 30 that should enrage us all. Not only were Jewish businesses sacked but five synagogues and three Jewish schools were reportedly vandalized in George Floyd’s name by thugs.” Ticker drew inspiration from Daniel Greenfield, who wrote on his blog, “One small business owner described a ‘Late Saturday night with people driving down the Fairfax district streets screaming effing Jews.’” [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
BLM’s anti-Semitism must be addressed Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
In front of an outdoor menorah at Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, seven Christian ministers joined host Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel in an interfaith service Wednesday that condemned the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police, and extolled the teachings of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the importance of keeping protests non-violent. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Interfaith service condemns violence, lauds peaceful protest Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, USAGeorge Floyd’s death was tragic. What made his death all the more tragic is that it was at the hand of a policeman. As a country, we need to do some serious soul-searching. I am reminded of the early 19th century Baptist preacher, C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), where he writes about Cain’s question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Putting police practices under the microscope in the wake of George Floyd’s death Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, USAThe question has come up: Should churches and other houses of worship be considered, “an essential service”? The President recently announced that he would override governors who do not open up the houses of worship for services. Moreover, it has been argued by many that places of worship are no less “essential” than liquor stores or supermarkets. Both these places should not be reopened before religious services.[1] The President’s position here is logical; by insisting that houses of worship be reopened, he is appealing to his evangelical supporters. Presidents in office often use the “bully pulpit” to promote an agenda that the President personally endorses. {Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Should worship be considered an essential service? Read More »
International, Judaism, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
Rabbi Dov Singer’s Prepare My Prayer: Recipes to Awaken the Soul is one of the best books I have read in recent years on the meaning of Jewish prayer. The author is head of Yeshivat Makor Chaim in Israel and has done considerable work with Israelis showing them how Judaic prayer can facilitate a meaningful spiritual renewal in the worshiper. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Prayer can be Do-It-Yourself Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiWherever you go, whether to the local corner market or to the mall, the all-seeing eye of surveillance monitors virtually every segment of modern life—whether you go to the hospital, or to a school—even the sidewalks. Nobody ever thinks to question its legitimacy; it is a fact of today’s modern technological age. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Has Orwell’s ‘1984’ arrived 36 years later? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiThis past week one article from the Middle East created an uproar of discussion., Sabili Mehdi is the chairman of prophetic medicine society and has over 60,000 followers. In a video, Sabili urges his followers to drink camel urine, but it must be taken “fresh and warm.” [i] [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Ancient camel milk and urine remedy not recommended today Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationMark Twain is often credited with saying, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.” As American Jews, we grew up hearing how “America is andrish,” the Yiddish word for “different.” We thought we would never hear new libels accusing the Jew of being a carrier of disease and pandemics. But now the plague is here again, we’re beginning to hear that same old rhyme again. We thought these libels were behind us; it turns out we were wrong. This is very hard for Jews because we want to believe that human nature is essentially good. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
The Coronavirus and the Jewish Problem Read More »
International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USAWe wonder, “Did we really think hiding under our desk would protect us from a nuclear explosion?” Our teachers and parents realized that doing something, however minimal, might confer a degree of protection from a potential oncoming nuclear fireball that was likely to cause serious injury or death. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Yesterday’s ‘duck and cover’ and today’s coronavirus Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education, USALast week, we observed Yom HaShoah—Holocaust Memorial Day — which corresponds to the start of the famous Warsaw Ghetto uprising. On April 19, 1943, the Jews fought back and attempted to prevent the Nazis from deporting them to the concentration camps. This holiday helped the Jews realize that they cannot passively accept their fate. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Lessons from the Warsaw Ghetto uprising Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi