By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Every once in a while something occurs to remind us that we are living in a Jewish country. Currently there are two moderate flaps, and one minor curiosity. Never a major flap that I can recall. Religion is not that important for most Israeli Jews. The qualifier is important. For some, religion is the […]
Israel has its internal religious controversies Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — No serious thinker has done more harm to the Jewish people than Friedrich Nietzsche, whose writings were an important inspiration for Adolph Hitler and Nazism. Yet far from being an antisemite, Nietzsche was one of the most pro-Jewish German writers of his time. How can this paradox be
Nietzsche was a philo-Semite, notwithstanding Nazis’ admiration for him Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA –As Kramer from “Seinfeld” might say, it’s a Chanukah miracle!!! The word “Christmas” was removed from the 15-foot-high “Christmas Village” sign welcoming visitors to a Christmas market in front of Philadelphia’s City Hall by order of Managing Director Richard Negrin on Nov. 29. Some city workers and visitors griped about
A reason for the season – for all of us Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Yaakov and Yosef, after years of separation, were finally reunited. Yaakov thought his beloved son had been killed. Yosef, though a viceroy in Egypt, was still essentially a prisoner. He believed he would never be able leave Egypt to see his father again. How great was their joy
How wise is that asher yatzar benediction! Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–On Thursday morning, the last day of Chanukah, Sol Minsberg gave me an article to read after minyan. It was published on the website of Reform Judaism (www.rj.org). Its author, William Berkson, points out the how Chanukah is understood in Israel versus the United States. “In Israel, Chanukah is largely
Chanukah in America raises the question of assimilation Read More »
Jewish ReligionNEW YORK (Press Release)– Stereotypes about Jews and money – the notions that Jews are cheap and miserly, or that they horde money, or control the banks and levers of international finance – have endured through the centuries and thrive even today. The pernicious stereotype about an alleged connection of Jews to money is one
New Foxman book debunks persistent myths about Jews and money Read More »
Jewish ReligionSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Write Out Loud presents its annual celebration of the season with a program of short stories designed especially for the whole family. This year Sean Sullivan and Lynne Griffin, popular San Diego actors, are flying into town from Toronto just in time to participate. Sullivan, a San Diego native, and his wife,
Christmas and Chanukah to share spotlight in ‘Giving Season’ production Read More »
Jewish Religion, Travel and Food
SAN DIEGO — We’ve written about Melanie Rubin and her eagle eye for spotting Jewish interest license plates. Well, now her mother, Penni Rubin, who lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio, has caught the bug. We can’t tell whether this license plate was meant to be plural or possessive, but we know it’s Yiddish for grandpas.
Jewish license plate hunting proves contagious to Rubins Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — This year, the first night of Chanukah is Wednesday December 1, 2010, at which time we will light one Chanukah light plus the shamash. The second night we light 2 lights plus a shamash. The third night we light 3 lights plus a shamash, and so on and
Some rules for the observance of Chanukah Read More »
Jewish ReligionCAIRO (WJC) — Rabbi Marc Schneier, vice-president of the World Jewish Congress and a pioneer in fostering closer Jewish-Muslim relations in North America and Europe, has praised leaders of the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif University in Cairo, the oldest center of Islamic scholarship in the world, for opening up inter-religious dialogue to the Jews. The ‘Banu Ibrahim
World Jewish Congress welcomes Muslim center’s desire for inter-religious dialogue Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — When I lived in Orange County, California, I was the director of a small Jewish Day School. I was responsible for the administrative, as well as educational aspects of the school. Shortly after I arrived, a vendor contacted me and in making his sales pitch, tried to impress
Should we expect more of our fellow Jews? Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — In the Torah portion Vayishlach, Yaakov was determined to get back home. Back to the loving environment of Torah and Mitvos in the home of his parents Yitzchok & Rivkah. He encountered many serious obstacles along the way – Lavan’s trickery and treachery – Esav’s bloodthirsty army –
The lure of teshuvah Read More »
Jewish Religion
Torah Tapestries: Words of Wisdom Woven from the Weekly Parashah, Bereishis by Shira Smiles, Feldheim Publishers, New York; ISBN 978-1-59826-641-2, ©2010, $19.99, 201 pages plus bibliography, index, and glossary (Also available as a Kindle eBook) By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — In the Book of Deuteronomy (31:10-12), God commanded that every seventh year, at
This Torah collection brings out the Smiles Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Although we Jews firmly believe we can argue with God, bargaining with God is another story. Of course there is nothing that forbids us from trying to formalize an agreement with God, but if we think we will receive confirmation from above, we are sadly mistaken. Jacob’s words, therefore, are
What do rabbis say about Jacob trying to bargain with God? Read More »
Jewish Religion