By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — On Mondays and Thursdays, the market days of times gone by, we read the Torah during daily minyan. We normally read the first three aliyot of the parasha of the approaching Shabbat. On Thursday a member of our minyan nudged me during the Torah reading and said, “I […]
A moral code for those people and companies making headlines and the rest of us Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –The combined parshiot of Tazria and Metzora deal with different types of skin disease that are found on people and fungus that grows in their homes. The Torah tells us that these afflictions are sources of ritual impurity and designates the different rites that must be carried out in
Judaism’s injunctions against ‘slanderous speech’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Kashrut observance is one of the defining rituals of Judaism. For Jews, the food we put into our mouths is equally as important as the words that come out. Parashat Shemini cites the defining characteristics of Kosher mammals and fish. Mammals must have cleft hooves and chew their cud. Sea
The kashrut of self-control Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — On Passover some Jews obsess about chametz. They spend so much time worrying about Passover Kashrut that they forget what the holiday is all about. One such Jew was Rabbi Yechiel of Kozmir. He was fixated on observing every single law of the holiday and ridding his house
Remembering the true meaning of Passover Read More »
Jewish Religion
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Margaret “Midge” Costanza, 77, died in San Diego on Tuesday after a battle with cancer. Midge was a tireless advocate and impassioned champion for equality, justice and human rights. She was the first woman to hold the office of Assistant to the President of the United States, when President Jimmy Carter
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–For the past several years I’ve been putting out a light-hearted ’18 Ways You Know Pesach is Coming In Israel’ piece to describe the frenetic days leading up to Pesach in the holy city. This year, there are a few additional notable events that are driving the news cycles over here.
20 ways to know Pesach is coming to Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Joel A. Moskowitz, MD LA JOLLA, California — In anticipation of spending a Seder with our daughter and her family, I chanced upon a book that describes how one hundred and one famous and not so famous persons recall their experience on Pesach. Nancy Rips, a book commentator, has gathered a small volume, of
‘Seder Stories’ by Nancy Rips may prompt good conversation at your seder Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — I meet with our Abraham Ratner Torah School students one Wednesday a month. We usually meet in our Goodman Chapel. This month I introduced them to a new addition to our chapel, the Mishebeirach tapestry that was fashioned from the creative contributions of many members of our Sisterhood
Tifereth Israel preschoolers experience a sacred moment Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Despite his role as the rescuer of Israel, the Torah takes great pain to de-emphasize the role of Moses in the Exodus. Credit for the miracles is given to God alone, Moses dies without entering the Promised Land, and no one knows where he is buried. This tradition
Pshaw! said the Red Sea, it’s only Moses Read More »
Jewish ReligionPOETIC SAN DIEGO By Dr. Will Kramer, z”l (From his column ‘My Shtetele California,” November 12, 1971 in the Jewish Heritage newspapers) The San Francisco correspondent of The Jewish Voice of St. Louis wrote this San Diego item in his paper’s March 31, 1893 edition: The other day a gentleman, who has made a
Rabbi Will Kramer: Poetic San Diego Read More »
Jewish History, San Diego CalendarBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — For late night edification and amusement, there is nothing I love better than watching infomercials. (“But wait! There’s more!”) Some of my favorites are those extolling the virtues of $19.99 exercise machines. The ads feature athletic men and women effortlessly going through their paces while the announcer informs
Torah lesson: you don’t get something for nothing Read More »
Jewish Religion, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — I admire Abba Eban, z”l, I do not agree with his view on governing by consensus. Eban wrote: “A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually.” I have the opposite opinion: a consensus means that everyone has put aside their personal reservations
Consensus seekers are true leaders Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East
Why Should I Care? Lessons from the Holocaust by Jeanette Friedman and David Gold; The Wordsmithy, LLC 2009; 263 pages By Marcia Tatz Wollner SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–Why Should I Care? Lessons from the Holocaust is an easy to read and engaging text to add to one’s personal library and definitely a recommendation for a
A concise and relevant Holocaust compendium for classrooms Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Marcia Tatz Wollner, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–One of the creepiest television programs on cable is “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.” Andrew (who is Jewish, of course) tours the world sampling unusual local cuisine. Some of his favorite dishes have been roasted Wallaby tail, raw crocodile eggs, and juicy cheese worms. While all of these
What we eat helps to forge our Jewish identity Read More »
Jewish Religion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food