Jewish Religion

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — When I was a child attending summer camp, I dreaded pool days. I did not know how to swim and hated being forced in the water. I always made sure to stay in the shallow end of the pool and no amount of coaxing would entice me to

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Parashat Shoftim contains the obtuse ritual of the eglah arufah (heifer whose neck was broken). If a murder victim is found outside of one or more towns and the slayer is unknown, the residents of the town closest to the victim must take responsibility for their burial. Before doing so

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The breaking of the glass at the end of a Jewish wedding was originally not greeted by cries of joy but rather with tears. This custom originates from a story in the Talmud. In the middle of sumptuous feast a rabbi stood up and threw an expensive goblet

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Balak, the King of Moab, hated the Israelites. He asked Balaam, a well-known prophet and soothsayer, to curse them on his behalf. When Balaam refused, Balak changed his mind by promising him a generous honorarium. Balaam, however, did have one condition: “I can utter only the word that God puts

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–It is not easy to be the leader of a club or organization. Some people like you, others dislike you, and you need to develop a thick skin. No one knew this better than Moses. No matter how hard he tried, the Israelites criticized and judged him and at times,

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–In this week’s parasha we find one of the most infamous disputes in Jewish history: that of Korach and his followers. Korach led an uprising agaisngt Moses and Aaron.  He wanted to remove them from leadership and make himself the ruler instead. Moses challenged Korach to a “duel.” Korach and