Judaism

Compassion and Civility Keys to Improving the World, Says Activist Rabbi

Rabbi Yanklowitz spoke with San Diego Jewish World about the roles compassion and civility can play in people’s personal interactions, in the run-up toward America’s Nov. 5 presidential election, and in the ongoing war between Israel and Iran and Iranian proxies. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

What Hitler’s General in the Netherlands Was Really Like

De Vries has every reason to express dismay about a man who admires Hitler, a man who wishes his generals were more like Hitler’s generals. For it is one of those generals, totally loyal to the Führer and blindly following his orders, who was directly responsible for the deportation of 110,000 Dutch Jews — 75 percent of the entire Dutch Jewish population at the time — to Nazi concentration camps. Only approximately 5,000 returned home alive after the war. [Dorian de Wind, The Moderate Voice]

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Antisemitism, Dorian de Wind, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, News Media, The Moderate Voice, USA

Some Theorize Elijah Was Pinchas Reincarnated

Virtually every Jew—regardless of age—has heard of Elijah, whose presence inspired the “Cup of Elijah” ritual seen at every Passover celebration. Elijah’s name is also evoked in the Havdalah ceremony in a special prayer expressing our hope that Elijah will be the precursor of the Messianic Era. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Biography: Herbert Marcuse, Anti-Western Revolutionary

Marcuse was born into an assimilated Jewish family. After the Nazis came to power in Germany, he emigrated to Switzerland and then to the United States. From 1940-50 he worked for the Office of Strategic Services and the State Department. Since 1950, Marcuse devoted himself fully to academic teaching as a professor at Columbia, Harvard, Brandeis, and the University of California-San Diego. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Diverse days in Israel

How were Jews supposed to celebrate Simhat Torah (simcha means joyous) on the anniversary of the massacre? At our synagogue, ordinarily we would go outside and take turns dancing with the Torah scrolls. This year, in a more sedate manner, we stayed inside and made do with circling around the sanctuary. This was done to denote the subdued atmosphere and for safety reasons, because of the daily rocket attacks, mostly from Lebanon, which attack many areas of Israel. [Steve Kramer]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food

Comparing Trump to Hitler is Immoral, Misleading, and Potentially Dangerous

Comparing Trump—or any modern figure—to Hitler ignores the unique atrocities committed by Hitler, who orchestrated the genocide of six million Jews and millions of other marginalized people. The Nazi regime’s campaign of systematic extermination is unprecedented and incomparable to any contemporary American political situation. Equating Trump’s actions with Hitler’s dilutes the severity of the Holocaust and risks turning its horrors into mere political rhetoric, disrespecting the memory of those who suffered under the Nazis. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Religion, Traditions, and Animals

Recently I was reading that in Halakhah (Jewish law), animals are to be fed before humans. I had to laugh since if I tried to make my coffee before giving my angora rabbit, Freckles, a snack, she is right there with her paws on my legs and letting me know, she comes first. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Parsha Bereishit: Humans Were Created Last for a Reason

For an answer to grow with, investigate the Talmud, Sanhedrin 38a. Here we are told that if we came first, as some might haughtily believe we “should,” we and our children might erroneously believe that the creation of the world was NOT entirely Hashem’s doing, that somehow, we humans were co-architects, co-authors, of the world with Him. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Stories of Oct. 7, 2023 Losses and Resilience at San Diego Event

These stories, spoken with raw emotion and courage, offered a window into the profound loss and resilience of a community forever changed by the tragedy. As voices broke and tears were shed, the room was united not only in grief but also in the hope that these memories would ensure the lives taken would never be forgotten. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, Israel, Jewish History, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at Historic Church in Abu Ghosh a Welcome Respite from War’s Impact

Suddenly this year, in the midst of the war and tragedy that has befallen us, there was a beam of light. The Israel Barrocada Ensemble, which plays on period instruments and has been giving concerts in Tel Aviv, announced that it was returning to Abu Ghosh, and would start with a performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah.’ The sublime music, using texts taken from Isaiah, Psalms and other books of the Bible, has always inspired me and uplifted my spirit. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors