In Jewish tradition, this recognition of personal grief is supported by rituals that provide comfort and connection at every stage of loss — before a person’s passing, in the moment of transition, and throughout burial and mourning. [Elizabeth Ireland, Times of San Diego]
Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jason Nevarez on Grief, Mourning and Jewish Tradition Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Times of San Diego
Beth Jacob purchased the Bank of America building at 7404 Jackson Drive at an undisclosed price. Escrow closed on Feb. 13, according to a statement from Beth Jacob. [SDJW staff report]
Beth Jacob Congregation to Relocate from College Area to San Carlos Read More »
Business & Finance, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In contrast to Black-Jewish amity, Dumisani Washington said, Arab Muslims have historically enslaved millions of Africans, a practice that still goes on today. The Palestinian Liberation Organization and its political rival, Hamas, have cynically cozied up to Black leaders to portray themselves as interested in civil rights, but “they couldn’t have cared less; they just wanted other people to think that they did,” Washington declared. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews and Blacks are Natural Allies, IBSI Founder Tells Ministers and Rabbis Read More »
Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Devasting this must be for Yarden Bibas, the father, who was released from captivity on Feb. 1. The coffins carrying his children, Kfir and Ariel, were paraded through the streets like it was a festival. So was a coffin that Hamas said contained the remains of Yarden’s wife, Shiri, but which Israeli authorities discovered not to be Shiri, but an unknown Gazan woman. [Cailin Acosta]
Our Twins’ Birthday Celebration Saddened by News of the Bibas Family Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The statement “an eye for an eye” is in this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1–24:18). At first glance, this familiar saying appears to promote revenge. However, by carefully studying related biblical passages, we can understand why Judaism never understood this passage literally. Furthermore, to do so would contradict the Torah directive, “Do not seek revenge among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). [Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz]
Self-Defense versus Turning the Other Cheek Read More »
Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
This week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, is a profound exploration of law, ethics, and relationships, offering deep psychological insight into emotional well-being. Through a mental health lens examining this section of the Torah, we can extract valuable lessons about trust, mindfulness, and interpersonal dynamics—critical components of mental health and emotional resilience. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Parsha Mishpatim: ‘We Will Do and We Will Hear’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The weekly biblical portion of Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18) contains many common-sense rules demonstrating how the Torah humanized ancient laws in other cultures. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Common Sense Laws in Mishpatim Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
A little boy has styled himself “the Mitzvah Fairy,” and does six good deeds in a long, rewarding day. He brings chicken soup to his grandmother, who has the sniffles. He waters the plants for his neighbor, Mr. Gordon, whose leg is in a cast. He also fills up Mr. Gordon’s bird feeder. [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s Literature: A ‘Mitzvah Fairy’ Performs Six Good Deeds in a Single Day Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe Jewish Holiday of Tu B’Shvat has come and gone. It was celebrated on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 12 this year. My 12-year-old twins love this holiday since it celebrates the birthday of the trees. [Cailin Acosta]
A Tu B’Shevat Memory Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
After the Nazis came to power, Schoenberg emigrated to the United States. On his way there, in 1933, he underwent a rite of conversion to Judaism in a synagogue in Paris. [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Arnold Schoenberg, Composer and Latter-Day Jew Read More »
Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Three familiar songs “Chag Purim (Purim Holiday),” “Shoshanas Yaakov (The Rose of Jacob),” and Abraham Goldfaden’s “Heint Iz Purim Brider (Today is Purim, Brothers),” will be part of the dozen selections for this coming Thursday’s Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library. [Eileen Wingard]
Presentation of Purim Recorded Music at the JCC on Thursday, Feb. 20 Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
All We Carry is an 87 ½ -minute documentary distributed for sale by Good Docs that follows Honduran refugees through Mexico to their detention at the Tijuana/ San Diego border and later, as adoptees of a Seattle, Washington, synagogue as they awaited a decision on their applications for asylum in the U.S. [Donald H. Harrison]
Documentary Charts Journey of Honduran Refugees Helped by Jewish Congregation in Seattle Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Thomas Mann … set himself the monumental task of tackling the stories of the ancestors of the Jewish people and setting them in their wider context, thereby resurrecting them in a way that draws on archeology, history, geography, comparative religions, philosophy, and psychology to portray the events described in a skeletal manner in the Bible. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Mann O Mann, Could Thomas Write on Biblical Subjects! Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
One at a time, ten bears take their seats to watch a Purim shpiel. They all are dressed in costumes depicting a variety of occupations: baseball player, fire fighter; doctor; police officer, and so on. [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s Book Integrates Counting, Purim, Costumes and Occupations Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors