Was Rashi correct in thinking Jacob was righteous? Some might argue that, in many ways, he was like other humans. He had good and bad points. He made mistakes, as we all do. But generally speaking, he was not uniformly righteous. They will say that Jacob’s mistakes are recorded in the Bible to teach us that we must avoid mistakes. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Was Jacob Righteous? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Israel Drazin’s Who Was the Prophet Elisha? is a thought-provoking exploration of one of the Bible’s most enigmatic figures. Through a blend of scholarly rigor and accessible analysis, Drazin offers a comprehensive examination of Elisha’s life, ministry, and legacy, presenting new insights into the prophet’s role in biblical narratives. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Elisha Expanded on His Mentor Elijah’s Role as Prophet Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors
College football season comes to an end in the next couple of weeks. The college football playoffs are so confusing for us who grew up with just the bowls. My Dad z”l took me to the “Holiday Bowl” here in San Diego. [Cailin Acosta]
Bowl Games to Highlight College Football at the End of this Month Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
The first Jews to settle in Korea included Jewish soldiers who fought there during the Korean War in the early 1950’s. A Chabad House was established in 2008, and a mikveh was opened in 2019. What book that is connected to Judaism or Israel is a best seller in South Korea? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: South Korea Read More »
International, Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
At the age of 14, Ludwig left his parents’ home to attend a real gymnasium in Linz, where his fellow student was Adolf Schicklgruber, the future Hitler, who was born six days earlier than Wittgenstein. Although the Wittgenstein family had converted to Christianity, they were considered Jews throughout the neighborhood. Therefore, the appearance of a Jew in the classroom provoked the ill-will of his classmates and the hatred of Hitler. “This Jew we did not particularly trust, […] we doubted his trustworthiness,” Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf. [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosopher and Logician Read More »
Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
This emotional piece captured the poignant moment of young children and women lighting Chanukah candles before facing the unknown. As a self-taught artist, Racheli seamlessly weaves her Jewish family tradition into her artwork, reminiscent of how Holocaust prisoners expressed their experiences through drawing what they saw. [Sandy Scheller]
Racheli Boudjnah Paints with a Jewish Heart Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors
There are two miracles in the story of Chanukah, Rebbetzin Chaya Andrusier of Chabad of East County stated during a “Torah and Tea” discussion on Thursday, Dec. 5. The first was the military victory of the Maccabees who gathered up volunteers to defeat against the Syrian Greeks who wished to impose their Hellenist religion on the Jews. [Cailin Acosta]
Miracles of Oil Happened Several Times in Jewish Religious History Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined ContributorsChanukah, Hannukah, Hanukah, Hanukka, Hanuka. Hmm, so many ways the holiday is spelled. Personally, I like the spelling of Chanukah. Some of my non-Jewish friends would pronounce the “ch” sound phonetically saying cha-nukah and I would giggle. When my 12-year-old twins were learning to spell and read they would ask why there is a “ch” but is pronounced as a “huh.” [Cailin Acosta]
Chanukah, Hannukah, Hanukah, Hanukka, Hanuka Read More »
Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei, we witness Yaakov embarking on a deeply transformative journey. Fleeing the threats of his brother Esav and venturing toward his uncle Lavan, Yaakov pauses amidst his uncertainty to connect with Hashem in prayer. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Parsha Vayeitzei: Jacob’s Prayer is a Model for Us Today Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined ContributorsDo Jews believe in angels? An interesting article I read from myjewishlearning.com includes a midrash about angels. [Cailin Acosta]
A Midrash: Jews and the Good and Evil Angels Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Spending a week in London in mid-November is not really a good idea for someone who has become used to the Mediterranean climate of Israel, but the arrival there of our son from Las Vegas proved an overriding attraction, so we went. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Maybe it’s Because I’m a Londoner… Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
Courtesy of Wikipedia Anna Freud (December 3, 1895 – October 9, 1982) was a British psychoanalyst of Austrian–Jewish descent. She was born in Vienna, the sixth and youngest child of Sigmund Freud and Martha Bernays. She followed the path of her father and contributed to the field of psychoanalysis. Alongside Hermine Hug-Hellmuth and Melanie Klein, she may be considered the founder of psychoanalytic child psychology.
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Anna Freud Read More »
Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
While she has never felt the need in the past to warn her children about Jodenhaat (hate against Jews), Femmetje now realizes that they are discovering it themselves. Her oldest daughter received threatening remarks after writing about the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and its consequences. [Dorian de Wind]
The Netherlands Faces Antisemitic Echoes of its Nazi Occupation Read More »
Antisemitism, Dorian de Wind, International, Israel, Jewish History, The Moderate Voice
With the author having grown up in western Christianity and the illustrator having experienced eastern religions, their collaboration, written in couplets on left-facing pages and with explanatory information on right-facing pages, uses the alphabet as a teaching vehicle. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘The ABC’s of the World’s Religions’ Shows Their Similarities Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA