By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–One of my congregants asked a recent synagogue class, “How can we try to be respectful and understanding of the ultra-Orthodox when they are at the forefront of hostile activities like rioting at places which are open on Shabbat and more recently, vandalizing a girls’ school in Bet […]
Is everyone worthy of our respect? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–The other day, I came across an interesting story, worthy of a Sherlock Holmes tale. Some time ago in 2011, Lubavitcher women sponsored a special collection for Shaarei Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. Deena Yellin writes, “The herd of brightly-colored stuffed animals filled our front porch with all the panache of
In defense of unkosher animal toys Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi“[My] book is telling the Jews to reclaim Jesus, the authentic Jesus, the historical Jesus, the Jewish Jesus” and to be inspired by his “beautiful” teachings, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach said this week in Jerusalem. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Shmuley Boteach reminds me a lot of Paul, the Apostle. In fact, I
‘The Kosher Jesus’ raises eyebrows but is not very deep Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — One of the more noticeable differences between Reform and more traditional worship services is how the congregation says the first two lines of the Sh’ma. Most Reform congregations stand for the Sh’ma while more traditional congregations remain seated. Additionally, Reform congregations say the second line of the
Why some sit and others stand for the Sh’ma Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Some time ago, I had a friendly discussion with Rabbi Yisrael Goldberg, a young Chabadnik who lives in Israel. In the course of our talk, he told me that Rabbi Avraymo Levitanski (a former teacher of mine) had recently died. Avraymo was a great man;
Should a Chabadnik say “Today is Thursday, January 5th, in Santa Monica”? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The commotion over the place of women in buses and on sidewalks reminds us that religion plays a central role in Israeli politics. There is no formal separation of religion and politics. Moreover, Judaism is a religion that gives a central role to political history, political criticism, and political maneuvering.
Israel’s democracy nourished by biblical arguments Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–A benevolent calendar coincidence, occurring every few years, brings us on Dec. 24 to the shared lighting of solstice calendars by both Christians and Jews. The solar and lunar calendar cycles have intertwined, and so this Christmas Eve will share the fifth night of Hanukkah, 5772. The circumstances should work
The co-incidence of Christmas and Chanukah Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Our sages taught that the entire point of lighting a Chanukah Menorah is pirsumei nisa, “to publicize the miracle of Chanukah.” To accomplish this they instructed that the Menorah be lit at dusk, the time people returned from work in ancient times, and placed outside the front door
The significance of that menorah in the window Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The ancient Near East has always been a good-old-boy’s club. Testosterum was (and still is) always in the air and especially in religion and culture; women, especially, lived politically marginal lives. That part of the world has hardly changed. Just look in the Middle East today;
Alexandra Salome, queen of Ancient Judea Read More »
Jewish ReligionAllen Miliefsky of San Diego forwarded the link for this Chanukah gem by the Fountainheads. Happy Chanukah to all our readers!
Fountainheads ‘light up the night’ Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The other day, I watched an interview with the Jewish Reggae singer Matisyahu, shortly after he had shaven his beard! I could just imagine what some of his Hassidic fans were saying to one another after they heard the news, “Matisyahu! Please
More than a shave, Matsiyahu’s shorn beard represents a change in outlook Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — After Joseph is thrown into jail in Egypt he meets Pharaoh’s former cupbearer and baker. Each had offended his master. Their sleep was interrupted by disturbing dreams as they agonized over their fate Joseph noticed their torment and asked them: “Why do you appear downcast today?” They answered:
The symbolism of the baker and cupbearer, Joseph’s cellmates Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — When we light the menorah we instill the light of Yiddishkeit into the hearts of those outside and of those inside, as the following true story, heard from Yichel and Baila Lederman, illustrates: The German Invasion of Poland began on September 1, 1939. Jews fled from the city
Who’s your daddy? A Holocaust story Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California– Stephen Hawking in the beginning of his book, A Brief History of Time, relates a story he believes originated with the scientist-philosopher Bertrand Russell, who once fielded an interesting question asked by an elderly woman after finishing a lecture he gave on astronomy: “He described how the
Reflections on ‘the God Particle’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi